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"I don't see that that's got anything to do with it."

"No? But it has, you know, really it has." He smiled again in his tired way, and

continued reflectively. "So that brings us down to it again. What do you know

about Jane Finn?

Come now," he continued, as Tuppence remained silent. "You must know

SOMETHING to have advertised as you did?" He leaned forward a little, his weary

voice held a hint of persuasiveness. "Suppose you tell me..."

There was something very magnetic about Mr. Carter's personality. Tuppence

seemed to shake herself free of it with an effort, as she said:

We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?"

But to her surprise, her companion did not back her up. His eyes were fixed on

Mr. Carter, and his tone when he spoke held an unusual note of deference.

"I dare say the little we know won't be any good to you, sir. But such as it is,

you're welcome to it."

Tommy!" cried out Tuppence in surprise.

Mr. Carter slewed round in his chair. His eyes asked a question.

Tommy nodded.

Yes, sir, I recognized you at once. Saw you in France when I was with the

Intelligence. As soon as you came into the room, I knew----"

Mr. Carter held up his hand.

"No names, please. I'm known as Mr. Carter here. It's my cousin's house, by the

way. She's willing to lend it to me sometimes when it's a case of working on

strictly unofficial lines. Well, now"--he looked from one to the other--"who's going

to tell me the story?"

Fire ahead, Tuppence," directed Tommy. "It's your yarn."

Yes, little lady, out with it."

And obediently Tuppence did out with it, telling the whole story from the forming

The Secret Adversary