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Delightful," commented Tommy. "Especially coming from a clergyman's

daughter!"

The moral guilt," Tuppence pointed out, "would be theirs--not mine. You must

admit that there's a difference between stealing a diamond necklace for yourself

and being hired to steal it."

There wouldn't be the least difference if you were caught!"

Perhaps not. But I shouldn't be caught. I'm so clever."

Modesty always was your besetting sin," remarked Tommy.

Don't rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a business

partnership?"

Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces?"

That was only an illustration. Let's have a--what do you call it in book-keeping?"

Don't know. Never did any."

I have--but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit entries on the debit

side, and vice versa--so they fired me out. Oh, I know--a joint venture! It struck

me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures.

It's got an Elizabethan flavour about it--makes one think of galleons and

doubloons. A joint venture!"

Trading under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that your idea,

Tuppence?"

"It's all very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something in it."

"How do you propose to get in touch with your would-be employers?"

"Advertisement," replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit of paper and a

pencil? Men usually seem to have. Just like we have hairpins and powder-puffs."

Tommy handed over a rather shabby green notebook, and Tuppence began

writing busily.

The Secret Adversary