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"I say, Hersheimmer"--Tommy turned to him--"Tuppence has gone off sleuthing

on her own."

"Shucks!"

"Yes, she has. She went off in a taxi to Charing Cross in the deuce of a hurry after

getting a telegram." His eye fell on the letter in Julius's hand. "Oh; she left a note

for you. That's all right. Where's she off to?"

Almost unconsciously, he held out his hand for the letter, but Julius folded it up

and placed it in his pocket. He seemed a trifle embarrassed.

"I guess this is nothing to do with it. It's about something else--something I asked

her that she was to let me know about."

Oh!" Tommy looked puzzled, and seemed waiting for more.

See here," said Julius suddenly, "I'd better put you wise. I asked Miss Tuppence

to marry me this morning."

Oh!" said Tommy mechanically. He felt dazed. Julius's words were totally

unexpected. For the moment they benumbed his brain.

"I'd like to tell you," continued Julius, "that before I suggested anything of the

kind to Miss Tuppence, I made it clear that I didn't want to butt in in any way

between her and you----"

Tommy roused himself.

That's all right," he said quickly. "Tuppence and I have been pals for years.

Nothing more." He lit a cigarette with a hand that shook ever so little. "That's

quite all right. Tuppence always said that she was looking out for----"

He stopped abruptly, his face crimsoning, but Julius was in no way discomposed.

Oh, I guess it'll be the dollars that'll do the trick. Miss Tuppence put me wise to

that right away. There's no humbug about her. We ought to gee along together

very well."

Tommy looked at him curiously for a minute, as though he were about to speak,

then changed his mind and said nothing. Tuppence and Julius! Well, why not?

Had she not lamented the fact that she knew no rich men? Had she not openly

167

The Secret Adversary