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What girl?"

Jane Finn, of course."

The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he said slowly, and as

though choosing his words with care:

Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?"

Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in coming face to face with

the girl he was seeking?

I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Not in so many words,

that is."

Then why see her?"

Tommy paused.

To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied at last.

Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did not quite

understand.

She will not be able to answer your question."

That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it."

And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a short disagreeable laugh.

More than ever, Tommy felt that there was a factor somewhere that he did not

understand. The German looked at him searchingly. "I wonder whether, after all,

you know as much as we think?" he said softly.

Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. His hold had slipped

a little. But he was puzzled. What had he said wrong? He spoke out on the

impulse of the moment.

There may be things that you know which I do not. I have not pretended to be

aware of all the details of your show. But equally I've got something up my sleeve

that you don't know about. And that's where I mean to score. Danvers was a

damned clever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much.

145

The Secret Adversary