Chapter XV. Tuppence Receives a Proposal

by Agatha Christie

　　Julius sprang up."What?""I thought you were aware of that.""When did she leave?""Let me see. To-day is Monday, is it not? It must have beenlast Wednesday--why, surely--yes, it was the same evening thatyou--er--fell out of my tree.""That evening? Before, or after?""Let me see--oh yes, afterwards. A very urgent message arrivedfrom Mrs. Vandemeyer. The young lady and the nurse who was incharge of her left by the night train."Julius sank back again into his chair."Nurse Edith--left with a patient--I remember," he muttered. "MyGod, to have been so near!"Dr. Hall looked bewildered."I don't understand. Is the young lady not with her aunt, afterall?"Tuppence shook her head. She was about to speak when a warningglance from Sir James made her hold her tongue. The lawyer rose."I'm much obliged to you, Hall. We're very grateful for allyou've told us. I'm afraid we're now in the position of having totrack Miss Vandemeyer anew. What about the nurse who accompaniedher; I suppose you don't know where she is?"The doctor shook his head."We've not heard from her, as it happens. I understood she wasto remain with Miss Vandemeyer for a while. But what can havehappened? Surely the girl has not been kidnapped.""That remains to be seen," said Sir James gravely.The other hesitated."You do not think I ought to go to the police?""No, no. In all probability the young lady is with otherrelations."The doctor was not completely satisfied, but he saw that SirJames was determined to say no more, and realized that to try andextract more information from the famous K.C. would be mere wasteof labour. Accordingly, he wished them goodbye, and they left thehotel. For a few minutes they stood by the car talking."How maddening," cried Tuppence. "To think that Julius must havebeen actually under the same roof with her for a few hours.""I was a darned idiot," muttered Julius gloomily."You couldn't know," Tuppence consoled him. "Could he?" Sheappealed to Sir James."I should advise you not to worry," said the latter kindly. "Nouse crying over spilt milk, you know.""The great thing is what to do next," added Tuppence thepractical.Sir James shrugged his shoulders."You might advertise for the nurse who accompanied the girl. Thatis the only course I can suggest, and I must confess I do nothope for much result. Otherwise there is nothing to be done.""Nothing?" said Tuppence blankly. "And--Tommy?""We must hope for the best," said Sir James. "Oh yes, we must goon hoping."But over her downcast head his eyes met Julius's, and almostimperceptibly he shook his head. Julius understood. The lawyerconsidered the case hopeless. The young American's face grewgrave. Sir James took Tuppence's hand."You must let me know if anything further comes to light. Letterswill always be forwarded."Tuppence stared at him blankly."You are going away?""I told you. Don't you remember? To Scotland.""Yes, but I thought----" The girl hesitated.Sir James shrugged his shoulders."My dear young lady, I can do nothing more, I fear. Our clueshave all ended in thin air. You can take my word for it thatthere is nothing more to be done. If anything should arise, Ishall be glad to advise you in any way I can."His words gave Tuppence an extraordinarily desolate feeling."I suppose you're right," she said. "Anyway, thank you very muchfor trying to help us. Good-bye."Julius was bending over the car. A momentary pity came into SirJames's keen eyes, as he gazed into the girl's downcast face."Don't be too disconsolate, Miss Tuppence," he said in a lowvoice. "Remember, holiday-time isn't always all playtime. Onesometimes manages to put in some work as well."Something in his tone made Tuppence glance up sharply. He shookhis head with a smile."No, I shan't say any more. Great mistake to say too much.Remember that. Never tell all you know--not even to the personyou know best. Understand? Good-bye."He strode away. Tuppence stared after him. She was beginning tounderstand Sir James's methods. Once before he had thrown her ahint in the same careless fashion. Was this a hint? What exactlylay behind those last brief words? Did he mean that, after all,he had not abandoned the case; that, secretly, he would beworking on it still while----Her meditations were interrupted by Julius, who adjured her to"get right in.""You're looking kind of thoughtful," he remarked as they startedoff. "Did the old guy say anything more?"Tuppence opened her mouth impulsively, and then shut it again.Sir James's words sounded in her ears: "Never tell all youknow--not even to the person you know best." And like a flashthere came into her mind another memory. Julius before the safein the flat, her own question and the pause before his reply,"Nothing." Was there really nothing? Or had he found somethinghe wished to keep to himself? If he could make a reservation, socould she."Nothing particular," she replied.She felt rather than saw Julius throw a sideways glance at her."Say, shall we go for a spin in the park?""If you like."For a while they ran on under the trees in silence. It was abeautiful day. The keen rush through the air brought a newexhilaration to Tuppence."Say, Miss Tuppence, do you think I'm ever going to find Jane?"Julius spoke in a discouraged voice. The mood was so alien tohim that Tuppence turned and stared at him in surprise. Henodded."That's so. I'm getting down and out over the business. SirJames to-day hadn't got any hope at all, I could see that. Idon't like him--we don't gee together somehow--but he's prettycute, and I guess he wouldn't quit if there was any chance ofsuccess--now, would he?"Tuppence felt rather uncomfortable, but clinging to her beliefthat Julius also had withheld something from her, she remainedfirm."He suggested advertising for the nurse," she reminded him."Yes, with a 'forlorn hope' flavour to his voice! No--I'm aboutfed up. I've half a mind to go back to the States right away.""Oh no!" cried Tuppence. "We've got to find Tommy.""I sure forgot Beresford," said Julius contritely. "That's so.We must find him. But after--well, I've been day-dreaming eversince I started on this trip--and these dreams are rotten poorbusiness. I'm quit of them. Say, Miss Tuppence, there'ssomething I'd like to ask you.""Yes?""You and Beresford. What about it?""I don't understand you," replied Tuppence with dignity, addingrather inconsequently: "And, anyway, you're wrong!""Not got a sort of kindly feeling for one another?""Certainly not," said Tuppence with warmth. "Tommy and I arefriends--nothing more.""I guess every pair of lovers has said that sometime or another,"observed Julius."Nonsense!" snapped Tuppence. "Do I look the sort of girl that'salways falling in love with every man she meets?""You do not. You look the sort of girl that's mighty oftengetting fallen in love with!""Oh!" said Tuppence, rather taken aback. "That's a compliment, Isuppose?""Sure. Now let's get down to this. Supposing we never findBeresford and--and----""All right--say it! I can face facts. Supposing he's--dead!Well?""And all this business fiddles out. What are you going to do?""I don't know," said Tuppence forlornly."You'll be darned lonesome, you poor kid.""I shall be all right," snapped Tuppence with her usualresentment of any kind of pity."What about marriage?" inquired Julius. "Got any views on thesubject?""I intend to marry, of course," replied Tuppence. "That is,if"--she paused, knew a momentary longing to draw back, and thenstuck to her guns bravely--"I can find some one rich enough tomake it worth my while. That's frank, isn't it? I dare say youdespise me for it.""I never despise business instinct," said Julius. "Whatparticular figure have you in mind?""Figure?" asked Tuppence, puzzled. "Do you mean tall or short?""No. Sum--income.""Oh, I--I haven't quite worked that out.""What about me?""You?""Sure thing.""Oh, I couldn't!""Why not?""I tell you I couldn't.""Again, why not?""It would seem so unfair.""I don't see anything unfair about it. I call your bluff, that'sall. I admire you immensely, Miss Tuppence, more than any girlI've ever met. You're so darned plucky. I'd just love to giveyou a real, rattling good time. Say the word, and we'll runround right away to some high-class jeweller, and fix up the ringbusiness.""I can't," gasped Tuppence."Because of Beresford?""No, no, no!""Well then?"Tuppence merely continued to shake her head violently."You can't reasonably expect more dollars than I've got.""Oh, it isn't that," gasped Tuppence with an almost hystericallaugh. "But thanking you very much, and all that, I think I'dbetter say no.""I'd be obliged if you'd do me the favour to think it over untilto-morrow.""It's no use.""Still, I guess we'll leave it like that.""Very well," said Tuppence meekly.Neither of them spoke again until they reached the Ritz.Tuppence went upstairs to her room. She felt morally battered tothe ground after her conflict with Julius's vigorous personality.Sitting down in front of the glass, she stared at her ownreflection for some minutes."Fool," murmured Tuppence at length, making a grimace. "Littlefool. Everything you want--everything you've ever hoped for, andyou go and bleat out 'no' like an idiotic little sheep. It's yourone chance. Why don't you take it? Grab it? Snatch at it? Whatmore do you want?"As if in answer to her own question, her eyes fell on a smallsnapshot of Tommy that stood on her dressing-table in a shabbyframe. For a moment she struggled for self-control, and thenabandoning all presence, she held it to her lips and burst into afit of sobbing."Oh, Tommy, Tommy," she cried, "I do love you so--and I may neversee you again...."At the end of five minutes Tuppence sat up, blew her nose, andpushed back her hair."That's that," she observed sternly. "Let's look facts in theface. I seem to have fallen in love--with an idiot of a boy whoprobably doesn't care two straws about me." Here she paused."Anyway," she resumed, as though arguing with an unseen opponent,"I don't know that he does. He'd never have dared to say so.I've always jumped on sentiment--and here I am being moresentimental than anybody. What idiots girls are! I've alwaysthought so. I suppose I shall sleep with his photograph under mypillow, and dream about him all night. It's dreadful to feelyou've been false to your principles."Tuppence shook her head sadly, as she reviewed her backsliding."I don't know what to say to Julius, I'm sure. Oh, what a fool Ifeel! I'll have to say something--he's so American and thorough,he'll insist upon having a reason. I wonder if he did findanything in that safe----"Tuppence's meditations went off on another tack. She reviewedthe events of last night carefully and persistently. Somehow,they seemed bound up with Sir James's enigmatical words....Suddenly she gave a great start--the colour faded out of herface. Her eyes, fascinated, gazed in front of her, the pupilsdilated."Impossible," she murmured. "Impossible! I must be going madeven to think of such a thing...."Monstrous--yet it explained everything....After a moment's reflection she sat down and wrote a note,weighing each word as she did so. Finally she nodded her head asthough satisfied, and slipped it into an envelope which sheaddressed to Julius. She went down the passage to hissitting-room and knocked at the door. As she had expected, theroom was empty. She left the note on the table.A small page-boy was waiting outside her own door when shereturned to it."Telegram for you, miss."Tuppence took it from the salver, and tore it open carelessly.Then she gave a cry. The telegram was from Tommy!