www.freeclassicebooks.com

Well, shut it then," laughed the woman.

Tuppence removed herself speedily.

She dared not absent herself longer from the back premises, but she cleared

away and washed up with a breathless speed acquired in hospital. Then she

slipped quietly back to the boudoir door. The cook, more leisurely, was still busy

in the kitchen and, if she missed the other, would only suppose her to be turning

down the beds.

Alas! The conversation inside was being carried on in too low a tone to permit of

her hearing anything of it. She dared not reopen the door, however gently. Mrs.

Vandemeyer was sitting almost facing it, and Tuppence respected her mistress's

lynx-eyed powers of observation.

Nevertheless, she felt she would give a good deal to overhear what was going on.

Possibly, if anything unforeseen had happened, she might get news of Tommy.

For some moments she reflected desperately, then her face brightened. She went

quickly along the passage to Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom, which had long French

windows leading on to a balcony that ran the length of the flat. Slipping quickly

through the window, Tuppence crept noiselessly along till she reached the

boudoir window. As she had thought it stood a little ajar, and the voices within

were plainly audible.

Tuppence listened attentively, but there was no mention of anything that could

be twisted to apply to Tommy. Mrs. Vandemeyer and the Russian seemed to be at

variance over some matter, and finally the latter exclaimed bitterly:

With your persistent recklessness, you will end by ruining us!"

Bah!" laughed the woman. "Notoriety of the right kind is the best way of

disarming suspicion. You will realize that one of these days--perhaps sooner than

you think!"

"In the meantime, you are going about everywhere with Peel Edgerton. Not only is

he, perhaps, the most celebrated K.C. in England, but his special hobby is

criminology! It is madness!"

"I know that his eloquence has saved untold men from the gallows," said Mrs.

Vandemeyer calmly. "What of it? I may need his assistance in that line myself

some day. If so, how fortunate to have such a friend at court--or perhaps it would

The Secret Adversary