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to be hidden. The way he helped me to get on the track of Tuppence and Annette

almost disarmed me, but not quite. I kept my mind open between the two of

them. And then I got a bogus note from Tuppence--and I knew!"

But how?"

Tommy took the note in question from his pocket and passed it round the table.

It's her handwriting all right, but I knew it wasn't from her because of the

signature. She'd never spell her name 'Twopence,' but anyone who'd never seen it

written might quite easily do so. Julius HAD seen it--he showed me a note of hers

to him once--but SIR JAMES HADN'T! After that everything was plain sailing. I

sent off Albert post-haste to Mr. Carter. I pretended to go away, but doubled back

again. When Julius came bursting up in his car, I felt it wasn't part of Mr.

Brown's plan--and that there would probably be trouble. Unless Sir James was

actually caught in the act, so to speak, I knew Mr. Carter would never believe it of

him on my bare word----"

"I didn't," interposed Mr. Carter ruefully.

That's why I sent the girls off to Sir James. I was sure they'd fetch up at the

house in Soho sooner or later. I threatened Julius with the revolver, because I

wanted Tuppence to repeat that to Sir James, so that he wouldn't worry about

us. The moment the girls were out of sight I told Julius to drive like hell for

London, and as we went along I told him the whole story. We got to the Soho

house in plenty of time and met Mr. Carter outside. After arranging things with

him we went in and hid behind the curtain in the recess. The policemen had

orders to say, if they were asked, that no one had gone into the house. That's all."

And Tommy came to an abrupt halt.

There was silence for a moment.

"By the way," said Julius suddenly, "you're all wrong about that photograph of

Jane. It WAS taken from me, but I found it again."

Where?" cried Tuppence.

In that little safe on the wall in Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom."

I knew you found something," said Tuppence reproachfully. "To tell you the

truth, that's what started me off suspecting you. Why didn't you say?"

250

The Secret Adversary