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But the half-closed eyes seemed still to send an agonized message.

Moved by a sudden impulse, the girl said quickly:

"I shan't leave the flat. I shall sit up all night."

A flash of relief showed before the lids descended once more. Apparently Mrs.

Vandemeyer slept. But her words had awakened a new uneasiness in Tuppence.

What had she meant by that low murmur: "Mr. Brown?" Tuppence caught herself

nervously looking over her shoulder. The big wardrobe loomed up in a sinister

fashion before her eyes. Plenty of room for a man to hide in that.... Half-ashamed

of herself, Tuppence pulled it open and looked inside. No one--of course! She

stooped down and looked under the bed. There was no other possible hiding-

place.

Tuppence gave her familiar shake of the shoulders. It was absurd, this giving way

to nerves! Slowly she went out of the room. Julius and Sir James were talking in

a low voice. Sir James turned to her.

"Lock the door on the outside, please, Miss Tuppence, and take out the key.

There must be no chance of anyone entering that room."

The gravity of his manner impressed them, and Tuppence felt less ashamed of

her attack of "nerves."

Say," remarked Julius suddenly, "there's Tuppence's bright boy. I guess I'd

better go down and ease his young mind. That's some lad, Tuppence."

How did you get in, by the way?" asked Tuppence suddenly. "I forgot to ask."

Well, Albert got me on the phone all right. I ran round for Sir James here, and

we came right on. The boy was on the look out for us, and was just a mite worried

about what might have happened to you. He'd been listening outside the door of

the flat, but couldn't hear anything. Anyhow he suggested sending us up in the

coal lift instead of ringing the bell. And sure enough we landed in the scullery and

came right along to find you. Albert's still below, and must be just hopping mad

by this time." With which Julius departed abruptly.

Now then, Miss Tuppence," said Sir James, "you know this place better than I

do. Where do you suggest we should take up our quarters?"

115

The Secret Adversary