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Jane picked it up. Holding apart the frayed inner edges she extracted two thin
sheets covered with writing!
No dummy this time! The real thing!
"We've got it," said Tuppence. "At last...."
The moment was almost breathless in its emotion. Forgotten the faint creakings,
the imagined noises of a minute ago. None of them had eyes for anything but
what Jane held in her hand.
Sir James took it, and scrutinized it attentively.
"Yes," he said quietly, "this is the ill-fated draft treaty!"
"
We've succeeded," said Tuppence. There was awe and an almost wondering
unbelief in her voice.
Sir James echoed her words as he folded the paper carefully and put it away in
his pocket-book, then he looked curiously round the dingy room.
"
"
It was here that our young friend was confined for so long, was it not?" he said.
A truly sinister room. You notice the absence of windows, and the thickness of
the close-fitting door. Whatever took place here would never be heard by the
outside world."
Tuppence shivered. His words woke a vague alarm in her. What if there WAS
some one concealed in the house? Some one who might bar that door on them,
and leave them to die like rats in a trap? Then she realized the absurdity of her
thought. The house was surrounded by police who, if they failed to reappear,
would not hesitate to break in and make a thorough search. She smiled at her
own foolishness--then looked up with a start to find Sir James watching her. He
gave her an emphatic little nod.
"
Quite right, Miss Tuppence. You scent danger. So do I. So does Miss Finn."
Yes," admitted Jane. "It's absurd--but I can't help it."
"
Sir James nodded again.
"You feel--as we all feel--THE PRESENCE OF MR. BROWN. Yes"--as Tuppence
made a movement--"not a doubt of it--MR. BROWN IS HERE...."
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