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"Oh, I shall be all right in the kitchen, ma'am. Cook will----"

"Cook is out," said Mrs. Vandemeyer, in a rather disagreeable tone. "I sent her

out. So you see you had better go to bed."

Suddenly Tuppence felt afraid. There was a ring in Mrs. Vandemeyer's voice that

she did not like at all. Also, the other woman was slowly edging her up the

passage. Tuppence turned at bay.

"I don't want----"

Then, in a flash, a rim of cold steel touched her temple, and Mrs. Vandemeyer's

voice rose cold and menacing:

"You damned little fool! Do you think I don't know? No, don't answer. If you

struggle or cry out, I'll shoot you like a dog."

The rim of steel pressed a little harder against the girl's temple.

"Now then, march," went on Mrs. Vandemeyer. "This way--into my room. In a

minute, when I've done with you, you'll go to bed as I told you to. And you'll

sleep--oh yes, my little spy, you'll sleep all right!"

There was a sort of hideous geniality in the last words which Tuppence did not at

all like. For the moment there was nothing to be done, and she walked obediently

into Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom. The pistol never left her forehead. The room

was in a state of wild disorder, clothes were flung about right and left, a suit-case

and a hat box, half-packed, stood in the middle of the floor.

Tuppence pulled herself together with an effort. Her voice shook a little, but she

spoke out bravely.

Come now," she said. "This is nonsense. You can't shoot me. Why, every one in

the building would hear the report."

I'd risk that," said Mrs. Vandemeyer cheerfully. "But, as long as you don't sing

out for help, you're all right--and I don't think you will. You're a clever girl. You

deceived ME all right. I hadn't a suspicion of you! So I've no doubt that you

understand perfectly well that this is where I'm on top and you're underneath.

Now then--sit on the bed. Put your hands above your head, and if you value your

life don't move them."

103

The Secret Adversary