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was saved all right, but they didn't seem able to hear of her over this side. I

guessed they weren't hustling any, so I thought I'd come along over, and speed

things up. I phoned Scotland Yard and the Admiralty first thing. The Admiralty

rather choked me off, but Scotland Yard were very civil--said they would make

inquiries, even sent a man round this morning to get her photograph. I'm off to

Paris to-morrow, just to see what the Prefecture is doing. I guess if I go to and fro

hustling them, they ought to get busy!"

The energy of Mr. Hersheimmer was tremendous. They bowed before it.

"But say now," he ended, "you're not after her for anything? Contempt of court, or

something British? A proud-spirited young American girl might find your rules

and regulations in war time rather irksome, and get up against it. If that's the

case, and there's such a thing as graft in this country, I'll buy her off."

Tuppence reassured him.

"That's good. Then we can work together. What about some lunch? Shall we have

it up here, or go down to the restaurant?"

Tuppence expressed a preference for the latter, and Julius bowed to her decision.

Oysters had just given place to Sole Colbert when a card was brought to

Hersheimmer.

"Inspector Japp, C.I.D. Scotland Yard again. Another man this time. What does

he expect I can tell him that I didn't tell the first chap? I hope they haven't lost

that photograph. That Western photographer's place was burned down and all his

negatives destroyed--this is the only copy in existence. I got it from the principal

of the college there."

An unformulated dread swept over Tuppence.

You--you don't know the name of the man who came this morning?"

Yes, I do. No, I don't. Half a second. It was on his card. Oh, I know! Inspector

Brown. Quiet, unassuming sort of chap."

The Secret Adversary