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CHAPTER XVIII. THE TELEGRAM

BAFFLED for the moment, Tommy strolled into the restaurant, and ordered a

meal of surpassing excellence. His four days' imprisonment had taught him anew

to value good food.

He was in the middle of conveying a particularly choice morsel of Sole a la

Jeanette to his mouth, when he caught sight of Julius entering the room. Tommy

waved a menu cheerfully, and succeeded in attracting the other's attention. At

the sight of Tommy, Julius's eyes seemed as though they would pop out of his

head. He strode across, and pump-handled Tommy's hand with what seemed to

the latter quite unnecessary vigour.

Holy snakes!" he ejaculated. "Is it really you?"

Of course it is. Why shouldn't it be?"

Why shouldn't it be? Say, man, don't you know you've been given up for dead? I

guess we'd have had a solemn requiem for you in another few days."

Who thought I was dead?" demanded Tommy.

Tuppence."

She remembered the proverb about the good dying young, I suppose. There must

be a certain amount of original sin in me to have survived. Where is Tuppence, by

the way?"

Isn't she here?"

No, the fellows at the office said she'd just gone out."

Gone shopping, I guess. I dropped her here in the car about an hour ago. But,

say, can't you shed that British calm of yours, and get down to it? What on God's

earth have you been doing all this time?"

"If you're feeding here," replied Tommy, "order now. It's going to be a long story."

Julius drew up a chair to the opposite side of the table, summoned a hovering

waiter, and dictated his wishes. Then he turned to Tommy.

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The Secret Adversary