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CHAPTER XII. A FRIEND IN NEED

FRIDAY and Saturday passed uneventfully. Tuppence had received a brief answer

to her appeal from Mr. Carter. In it he pointed out that the Young Adventurers

had undertaken the work at their own risk, and had been fully warned of the

dangers. If anything had happened to Tommy he regretted it deeply, but he could

do nothing.

This was cold comfort. Somehow, without Tommy, all the savour went out of the

adventure, and, for the first time, Tuppence felt doubtful of success. While they

had been together she had never questioned it for a minute. Although she was

accustomed to take the lead, and to pride herself on her quick-wittedness, in

reality she had relied upon Tommy more than she realized at the time. There was

something so eminently sober and clear-headed about him, his common sense

and soundness of vision were so unvarying, that without him Tuppence felt much

like a rudderless ship. It was curious that Julius, who was undoubtedly much

cleverer than Tommy, did not give her the same feeling of support. She had

accused Tommy of being a pessimist, and it is certain that he always saw the

disadvantages and difficulties which she herself was optimistically given to

overlooking, but nevertheless she had really relied a good deal on his judgment.

He might be slow, but he was very sure.

It seemed to the girl that, for the first time, she realized the sinister character of

the mission they had undertaken so lightheartedly. It had begun like a page of

romance. Now, shorn of its glamour, it seemed to be turning to grim reality.

Tommy--that was all that mattered. Many times in the day Tuppence blinked the

tears out of her eyes resolutely. "Little fool," she would apostrophize herself,

don't snivel. Of course you're fond of him. You've known him all your life. But

there's no need to be sentimental about it."

In the meantime, nothing more was seen of Boris. He did not come to the flat,

and Julius and the car waited in vain. Tuppence gave herself over to new

meditations. Whilst admitting the truth of Julius's objections, she had

nevertheless not entirely relinquished the idea of appealing to Sir James Peel

Edgerton. Indeed, she had gone so far as to look up his address in the Red Book.

Had he meant to warn her that day? If so, why? Surely she was at least entitled

to demand an explanation. He had looked at her so kindly. Perhaps he might tell

them something concerning Mrs. Vandemeyer which might lead to a clue to

Tommy's whereabouts.

The Secret Adversary