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The other seemed to feel some excuse was necessary:

"I guess I'm acting like a frightened rabbit, but I can't help it. If they caught me

now they'd----" Her eyes opened wide and staring.

"DON'T!" implored Tuppence. "Lie back, and DON'T THINK. You can be quite sure

that Tommy wouldn't have said it was safe if it wasn't."

My cousin didn't think so. He didn't want us to do this."

No," said Tuppence, rather embarrassed.

What are you thinking of?" said Jane sharply.

Why?"

Your voice was so--queer!"

I WAS thinking of something," confessed Tuppence. "But I don't want to tell you-

not now. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. It's just an idea that came into my

head a long time ago. Tommy's got it too--I'm almost sure he has. But don't YOU

worry--there'll be time enough for that later. And it mayn't be so at all! Do what I

tell you--lie back and don't think of anything."

"I'll try." The long lashes drooped over the hazel eyes.

Tuppence, for her part, sat bolt upright--much in the attitude of a watchful terrier

on guard. In spite of herself she was nervous. Her eyes flashed continually from

one window to the other. She noted the exact position of the communication cord.

What it was that she feared, she would have been hard put to it to say. But in her

own mind she was far from feeling the confidence displayed in her words. Not

that she disbelieved in Tommy, but occasionally she was shaken with doubts as

to whether anyone so simple and honest as he was could ever be a match for the

fiendish subtlety of the arch-criminal.

If they once reached Sir James Peel Edgerton in safety, all would be well. But

would they reach him? Would not the silent forces of Mr. Brown already be

assembling against them? Even that last picture of Tommy, revolver in hand,

failed to comfort her. By now he might be overpowered, borne down by sheer force

of numbers.... Tuppence mapped out her plan of campaign.

As the train at length drew slowly into Charing Cross, Jane Finn sat up with a

227

The Secret Adversary