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Mrs. Who?"

I forgot. Of course you don't know all that."

I'm listening," said Julius, and gave vent to his favourite expression. "Put me

wise."

Tuppence thereupon related the events of the last two days. Julius's

astonishment and admiration were unbounded.

"Bully for you! Fancy you a menial. It just tickles me to death!" Then he added

seriously: "But say now, I don't like it, Miss Tuppence, I sure don't. You're just as

plucky as they make 'em, but I wish you'd keep right out of this. These crooks

we're up against would as soon croak a girl as a man any day."

Do you think I'm afraid?" said Tuppence indignantly, valiantly repressing

memories of the steely glitter in Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes.

"I said before you were darned plucky. But that doesn't alter facts."

"Oh, bother ME!" said Tuppence impatiently. "Let's think about what can have

happened to Tommy. I've written to Mr. Carter about it," she added, and told him

the gist of her letter.

Julius nodded gravely.

"I guess that's good as far as it goes. But it's for us to get busy and do

something."

What can we do?" asked Tuppence, her spirits rising.

I guess we'd better get on the track of Boris. You say he's been to your place. Is

he likely to come again?"

He might. I really don't know."

I see. Well, I guess I'd better buy a car, a slap-up one, dress as a chauffeur and

hang about outside. Then if Boris comes, you could make some kind of signal,

and I'd trail him. How's that?"

Splendid, but he mightn't come for weeks."

The Secret Adversary