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"There's no time to lose," said Tuppence, crossing the road. "I've got to stop her.

At all costs I must keep her here until----" She broke off. "Albert, there's a

telephone here, isn't there?"

The boy shook his head.

The flats mostly have their own, miss. But there's a box just round the corner."

"Go to it then, at once, and ring up the Ritz Hotel. Ask for Mr. Hersheimmer, and

when you get him tell him to get Sir James and come on at once, as Mrs.

Vandemeyer is trying to hook it. If you can't get him, ring up Sir James Peel

Edgerton, you'll find his number in the book, and tell him what's happening. You

won't forget the names, will you?"

Albert repeated them glibly. "You trust to me, miss, it'll be all right. But what

about you? Aren't you afraid to trust yourself with her?"

"No, no, that's all right. BUT GO AND TELEPHONE. Be quick."

Drawing a long breath, Tuppence entered the Mansions and ran up to the door of

No. 20. How she was to detain Mrs. Vandemeyer until the two men arrived, she

did not know, but somehow or other it had to be done, and she must accomplish

the task single-handed. What had occasioned this precipitate departure? Did

Mrs. Vandemeyer suspect her?

Speculations were idle. Tuppence pressed the bell firmly. She might learn

something from the cook.

Nothing happened and, after waiting some minutes, Tuppence pressed the bell

again, keeping her finger on the button for some little while. At last she heard

footsteps inside, and a moment later Mrs. Vandemeyer herself opened the door.

She lifted her eyebrows at the sight of the girl.

"You?"

"I had a touch of toothache, ma'am," said Tuppence glibly. "So thought it better to

come home and have a quiet evening."

Mrs. Vandemeyer said nothing, but she drew back and let Tuppence pass into the

hall.

"How unfortunate for you," she said coldly. "You had better go to bed."

102

The Secret Adversary