Chapter XVI. Further Adventures of Tommy

by Agatha Christie

　　From a darkness punctuated with throbbing stabs of fire, Tommydragged his senses slowly back to life. When he at last openedhis eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating painthrough his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliarsurroundings. Where was he? What had happened? He blinkedfeebly. This was not his bedroom at the Ritz. And what thedevil was the matter with his head?"Damn!" said Tommy, and tried to sit up. He had remembered. Hewas in that sinister house in Soho. He uttered a groan and fellback. Through his almost-closed lids he reconnoitred carefully."He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. Herecognized it at once for that of the bearded and efficientGerman, and lay artistically inert. He felt that it would be apity to come round too soon; and until the pain in his headbecame a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of collectinghis wits. Painfully he tried to puzzle out what had happened.Obviously somebody must have crept up behind him as he listenedand struck him down with a blow on the head. They knew him nowfor a spy, and would in all probability give him short shrift.Undoubtedly he was in a tight place. Nobody knew where he was,therefore he need expect no outside assistance, and must dependsolely on his own wits."Well, here goes," murmured Tommy to himself, and repeated hisformer remark."Damn!" he observed, and this time succeeded in sitting up.In a minute the German stepped forward and placed a glass to hislips, with the brief command "Drink." Tommy obeyed. The potencyof the draught made him choke, but it cleared his brain in amarvellous manner.He was lying on a couch in the room in which the meeting had beenheld. On one side of him was the German, on the other thevillainous-faced doorkeeper who had let him in. The others weregrouped together at a little distance away. But Tommy missed oneface. The man known as Number One was no longer of the company."Feel better?" asked the German, as he removed the empty glass."Yes, thanks," returned Tommy cheerfully."Ah, my young friend, it is lucky for you your skull is so thick.The good Conrad struck hard." He indicated the evil-faceddoorkeeper by a nod. The man grinned.Tommy twisted his head round with an effort."Oh," he said, "so you're Conrad, are you? It strikes me thethickness of my skull was lucky for you too. When I look at you Ifeel it's almost a pity I've enabled you to cheat the hangman."The man snarled, and the bearded man said quietly:"He would have run no risk of that.""Just as you like," replied Tommy. "I know it's the fashion torun down the police. I rather believe in them myself."His manner was nonchalant to the last degree. Tommy Beresfordwas one of those young Englishmen not distinguished by anyspecial intellectual ability, but who are emphatically at theirbest in what is known as a "tight place." Their naturaldiffidence and caution fall from them like a glove. Tommyrealized perfectly that in his own wits lay the only chance ofescape, and behind his casual manner he was racking his brainsfuriously.The cold accents of the German took up the conversation:"Have you anything to say before you are put to death as a spy?""Simply lots of things," replied Tommy with the same urbanity asbefore."Do you deny that you were listening at that door?""I do not. I must really apologize--but your conversation was sointeresting that it overcame my scruples.""How did you get in?""Dear old Conrad here." Tommy smiled deprecatingly at him. "Ihesitate to suggest pensioning off a faithful servant, but youreally ought to have a better watchdog."Conrad snarled impotently, and said sullenly, as the man with thebeard swung round upon him:"He gave the word. How was I to know?""Yes," Tommy chimed in. "How was he to know? Don't blame thepoor fellow. His hasty action has given me the pleasure of seeingyou all face to face."He fancied that his words caused some discomposure among thegroup, but the watchful German stilled it with a wave of hishand."Dead men tell no tales," he said evenly."Ah," said Tommy, "but I'm not dead yet!""You soon will be, my young friend," said the German.An assenting murmur came from the others.Tommy's heart beat faster, but his casual pleasantness did notwaver."I think not," he said firmly. "I should have a great objectionto dying."He had got them puzzled, he saw that by the look on his captor'sface."Can you give us any reason why we should not put you to death?"asked the German."Several," replied Tommy. "Look here, you've been asking me alot of questions. Let me ask you one for a change. Why didn'tyou kill me off at once before I regained consciousness?"The German hesitated, and Tommy seized his advantage."Because you didn't know how much I knew--and where I obtainedthat knowledge. If you kill me now, you never will know."But here the emotions of Boris became too much for him. Hestepped forward waving his arms."You hell-hound of a spy," he screamed. "We will give you shortshrift. Kill him! Kill him!"There was a roar of applause."You hear?" said the German, his eyes on Tommy. "What have youto say to that?""Say?" Tommy shrugged his shoulders. "Pack of fools. Let themask themselves a few questions. How did I get into this place?Remember what dear old Conrad said--with your own password,wasn't it? How did I get hold of that? You don't suppose I cameup those steps haphazard and said the first thing that came intomy head?"Tommy was pleased with the concluding words of this speech. Hisonly regret was that Tuppence was not present to appreciate itsfull flavour."That is true," said the working man suddenly. "Comrades, wehave been betrayed!"An ugly murmur arose. Tommy smiled at them encouragingly."That's better. How can you hope to make a success of any job ifyou don't use your brains?""You will tell us who has betrayed us," said the German. "Butthat shall not save you--oh, no! You shall tell us all that youknow. Boris, here, knows pretty ways of making people speak!""Bah!" said Tommy scornfully, fighting down a singularlyunpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. "You will neithertorture me nor kill me.""And why not?" asked Boris."Because you'd kill the goose that lays the golden eggs," repliedTommy quietly.There was a momentary pause. It seemed as though Tommy'spersistent assurance was at last conquering. They were no longercompletely sure of themselves. The man in the shabby clothesstared at Tommy searchingly."He's bluffing you, Boris," he said quietly.Tommy hated him. Had the man seen through him?The German, with an effort, turned roughly to Tommy."What do you mean?""What do you think I mean?" parried Tommy, searching desperatelyin his own mind.Suddenly Boris stepped forward, and shook his fist in Tommy'sface."Speak, you swine of an Englishman--speak!""Don't get so excited, my good fellow," said Tommy calmly."That's the worst of you foreigners. You can't keep calm. Now, Iask you, do I look as though I thought there were the leastchance of your killing me?"He looked confidently round, and was glad they could not hear thepersistent beating of his heart which gave the lie to his words."No," admitted Boris at last sullenly, "you do not.""Thank God, he's not a mind reader," thought Tommy. Aloud hepursued his advantage:"And why am I so confident? Because I know something that putsme in a position to propose a bargain.""A bargain?" The bearded man took him up sharply."Yes--a bargain. My life and liberty against----" He paused."Against what?"The group pressed forward. You could have heard a pin drop.Slowly Tommy spoke."The papers that Danvers brought over from America in theLusitania."The effect of his words was electrical. Every one was on hisfeet. The German waved them back. He leaned over Tommy, his facepurple with excitement."Himmel! You have got them, then?"With magnificent calm Tommy shook his head."You know where they are?" persisted the German.Again Tommy shook his head. "Not in the least.""Then--then----" angry and baffled, the words failed him.Tommy looked round. He saw anger and bewilderment on every face,but his calm assurance had done its work--no one doubted but thatsomething lay behind his words."I don't know where the papers are--but I believe that I can findthem. I have a theory----""Pah!"Tommy raised his hand, and silenced the clamours of disgust."I call it a theory--but I'm pretty sure of my facts--facts thatare known to no one but myself. In any case what do you lose? IfI can produce the papers--you give me my life and liberty inexchange. Is it a bargain?""And if we refuse?" said the German quietly.Tommy lay back on the couch."The 29th," he said thoughtfully, "is less than a fortnightahead----"For a moment the German hesitated. Then he made a sign toConrad."Take him into the other room."For five minutes, Tommy sat on the bed in the dingy room nextdoor. His heart was beating violently. He had risked all on thisthrow. How would they decide? And all the while that thisagonized questioning went on within him, he talked flippantly toConrad, enraging the cross-grained doorkeeper to the point ofhomicidal mania.At last the door opened, and the German called imperiously toConrad to return."Let's hope the judge hasn't put his black cap on," remarkedTommy frivolously. "That's right, Conrad, march me in. Theprisoner is at the bar, gentlemen."The German was seated once more behind the table. He motioned toTommy to sit down opposite to him."We accept," he said harshly, "on terms. The papers must bedelivered to us before you go free.""Idiot!" said Tommy amiably. "How do you think I can look forthem if you keep me tied by the leg here?""What do you expect, then?""I must have liberty to go about the business in my own way."The German laughed."Do you think we are little children to let you walk out of hereleaving us a pretty story full of promises?""No," said Tommy thoughtfully. "Though infinitely simpler forme, I did not really think you would agree to that plan. Verywell, we must arrange a compromise. How would it be if youattached little Conrad here to my person. He's a faithful fellow,and very ready with the fist.""We prefer," said the German coldly, "that you should remainhere. One of our number will carry out your instructionsminutely. If the operations are complicated, he will return toyou with a report and you can instruct him further.""You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicateaffair, and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not,and then where shall I be? I don't believe one of you has got anounce of tact."The German rapped the table."Those are our terms. Otherwise, death!"Tommy leaned back wearily."I like your style. Curt, but attractive. So be it, then. Butone thing is essential, I must see the girl.""What girl?""Jane Finn, of course."The other looked at him curiously for some minutes, then he saidslowly, and as though choosing his words with care:"Do you not know that she can tell you nothing?"Tommy's heart beat a little faster. Would he succeed in comingface to face with the girl he was seeking?"I shall not ask her to tell me anything," he said quietly. "Notin so many words, that is.""Then why see her?"Tommy paused."To watch her face when I ask her one question," he replied atlast.Again there was a look in the German's eyes that Tommy did notquite understand."She will not be able to answer your question."That does not matter. I shall have seen her face when I ask it.""And you think that will tell you anything?" He gave a shortdisagreeable laugh. More than ever, Tommy felt that there was afactor somewhere that he did not understand. The German looked athim searchingly. "I wonder whether, after all, you know as muchas we think?" he said softly.Tommy felt his ascendancy less sure than a moment before. Hishold had slipped a little. But he was puzzled. What had he saidwrong? He spoke out on the impulse of the moment."There may be things that you know which I do not. I have notpretended to be aware of all the details of your show. Butequally I've got something up my sleeve that you don't knowabout. And that's where I mean to score. Danvers was a damnedclever fellow----" He broke off as if he had said too much.But the German's face had lightened a little."Danvers," he murmured. "I see----" He paused a minute, thenwaved to Conrad. "Take him away. Upstairs--you know.""Wait a minute," said Tommy. "What about the girl?""That may perhaps be arranged.""It must be.""We will see about it. Only one person can decide that.""Who?" asked Tommy. But he knew the answer."Mr. Brown----""Shall I see him?""Perhaps.""Come," said Conrad harshly.Tommy rose obediently. Outside the door his gaoler motioned tohim to mount the stairs. He himself followed close behind. Onthe floor above Conrad opened a door and Tommy passed into asmall room. Conrad lit a hissing gas burner and went out. Tommyheard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.He set to work to examine his prison. It was a smaller room thanthe one downstairs, and there was something peculiarly airlessabout the atmosphere of it. Then he realized that there was nowindow. He walked round it. The walls were filthily dirty, aseverywhere else. Four pictures hung crookedly on the wallrepresenting scenes from Faust. Marguerite with her box ofjewels, the church scene, Siebel and his flowers, and Faust andMephistopheles. The latter brought Tommy's mind back to Mr.Brown again. In this sealed and closed chamber, with itsclose-fitting heavy door, he felt cut off from the world, and thesinister power of the arch-criminal seemed more real. Shout ashe would, no one could ever hear him. The place was a livingtomb....With an effort Tommy pulled himself together. He sank on to thebed and gave himself up to reflection. His head ached badly;also, he was hungry. The silence of the place was dispiriting."Anyway," said Tommy, trying to cheer himself, "I shall see thechief--the mysterious Mr. Brown and with a bit of luck inbluffing I shall see the mysterious Jane Finn also. Afterthat----"After that Tommy was forced to admit the prospect looked dreary.