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"Fire ahead. I guess you've had some few adventures."

One or two," replied Tommy modestly, and plunged into his recital.

Julius listened spellbound. Half the dishes that were placed before him he forgot

to eat. At the end he heaved a long sigh.

Bully for you. Reads like a dime novel!"

And now for the home front," said Tommy, stretching out his hand for a peach.

We-el," drawled Julius, "I don't mind admitting we've had some adventures too."

He, in his turn, assumed the role of narrator. Beginning with his unsuccessful

reconnoitring at Bournemouth, he passed on to his return to London, the buying

of the car, the growing anxieties of Tuppence, the call upon Sir James, and the

sensational occurrences of the previous night.

But who killed her?" asked Tommy. "I don't quite understand."

The doctor kidded himself she took it herself," replied Julius dryly.

And Sir James? What did he think?"

Being a legal luminary, he is likewise a human oyster," replied Julius. "I should

say he 'reserved judgment.'" He went on to detail the events of the morning.

"Lost her memory, eh?" said Tommy with interest. "By Jove, that explains why

they looked at me so queerly when I spoke of questioning her. Bit of a slip on my

part, that! But it wasn't the sort of thing a fellow would be likely to guess."

They didn't give you any sort of hint as to where Jane was?"

Tommy shook his head regretfully.

"Not a word. I'm a bit of an ass, as you know. I ought to have got more out of

them somehow."

"I guess you're lucky to be here at all. That bluff of yours was the goods all right.

How you ever came to think of it all so pat beats me to a frazzle!"

164

The Secret Adversary