Chapter XX. Too Late

by Agatha Christie

　　In the street they held an informal council of war. Sir James haddrawn a watch from his pocket. "The boat train to Holyhead stopsat Chester at 12.14. If you start at once I think you can catchthe connection."Tommy looked up, puzzled."Is there any need to hurry, sir? To-day is only the 24th.""I guess it's always well to get up early in the morning," saidJulius, before the lawyer had time to reply. "We'll make tracksfor the depot right away."A little frown had settled on Sir James's brow."I wish I could come with you. I am due to speak at a meeting attwo o'clock. It is unfortunate."The reluctance in his tone was very evident. It was clear, onthe other hand, that Julius was easily disposed to put up withthe loss of the other's company."I guess there's nothing complicated about this deal," heremarked. "Just a game of hide-and-seek, that's all.""I hope so," said Sir James."Sure thing. What else could it be?""You are still young, Mr. Hersheimmer. At my age you willprobably have learnt one lesson. 'Never underestimate youradversary.' "The gravity of his tone impressed Tommy, but had little effectupon Julius."You think Mr. Brown might come along and take a hand? If hedoes, I'm ready for him." He slapped his pocket. "I carry a gun.Little Willie here travels round with me everywhere." Heproduced a murderous-looking automatic, and tapped itaffectionately before returning it to its home. "But he won't beneeded this trip. There's nobody to put Mr. Brown wise."The lawyer shrugged his shoulders."There was nobody to put Mr. Brown wise to the fact that Mrs.Vandemeyer meant to betray him. Nevertheless, Mrs. Vandemeyerdied without speaking."Julius was silenced for once, and Sir James added on a lighternote:"I only want to put you on your guard. Good-bye, and good luck.Take no unnecessary risks once the papers are in your hands. Ifthere is any reason to believe that you have been shadowed,destroy them at once. Good luck to you. The game is in yourhands now." He shook hands with them both.Ten minutes later the two young men were seated in a first-classcarriage en route for Chester.For a long time neither of them spoke. When at length Juliusbroke the silence, it was with a totally unexpected remark."Say," he observed thoughtfully, "did you ever make a darned foolof yourself over a girl's face?"Tommy, after a moment's astonishment, searched his mind."Can't say I have," he replied at last. "Not that I canrecollect, anyhow. Why?""Because for the last two months I've been making a sentimentalidiot of myself over Jane! First moment I clapped eyes on herphotograph my heart did all the usual stunts you read about innovels. I guess I'm ashamed to admit it, but I came over heredetermined to find her and fix it all up, and take her back asMrs. Julius P. Hersheimmer!""Oh!" said Tommy, amazed.Julius uncrossed his legs brusquely and continued:"Just shows what an almighty fool a man can make of himself! Onelook at the girl in the flesh, and I was cured!"Feeling more tongue-tied than ever, Tommy ejaculated "Oh!" again."No disparagement to Jane, mind you," continued the other. "She'sa real nice girl, and some fellow will fall in love with herright away.""I thought her a very good-looking girl," said Tommy, finding histongue."Sure she is. But she's not like her photo one bit. At least Isuppose she is in a way--must be--because I recognized her rightoff. If I'd seen her in a crowd I'd have said 'There's a girlwhose face I know' right away without any hesitation. But therewas something about that photo"--Julius shook his head, andheaved a sigh--"I guess romance is a mighty queer thing!""It must be," said Tommy coldly, "if you can come over here inlove with one girl, and propose to another within a fortnight."Julius had the grace to look discomposed."Well, you see, I'd got a sort of tired feeling that I'd neverfind Jane--and that it was all plumb foolishness anyway. Andthen--oh, well, the French, for instance, are much more sensiblein the way they look at things. They keep romance and marriageapart----"Tommy flushed."Well, I'm damned! If that's----"Julius hastened to interrupt."Say now, don't be hasty. I don't mean what you mean. I take itAmericans have a higher opinion of morality than you have even.What I meant was that the French set about marriage in abusinesslike way--find two people who are suited to one another,look after the money affairs, and see the whole thingpractically, and in a businesslike spirit.""If you ask me," said Tommy, "we're all too damned businesslikenowadays. We're always saying, 'Will it pay?' The men are badenough, and the girls are worse!""Cool down, son. Don't get so heated.""I feel heated," said Tommy.Julius looked at him and judged it wise to say no more.However, Tommy had plenty of time to cool down before theyreached Holyhead, and the cheerful grin had returned to hiscountenance as they alighted at their destination.After consultation, and with the aid of a road map, they werefairly well agreed as to direction, so were able to hire a taxiwithout more ado and drive out on the road leading to TreaddurBay. They instructed the man to go slowly, and watched narrowlyso as not to miss the path. They came to it not long afterleaving the town, and Tommy stopped the car promptly, asked in acasual tone whether the path led down to the sea, and hearing itdid paid off the man in handsome style.A moment later the taxi was slowly chugging back to Holyhead.Tommy and Julius watched it out of sight, and then turned to thenarrow path."It's the right one, I suppose?" asked Tommy doubtfully. "Theremust be simply heaps along here.""Sure it is. Look at the gorse. Remember what Jane said?"Tommy looked at the swelling hedges of golden blossom whichbordered the path on either side, and was convinced.They went down in single file, Julius leading. Twice Tommyturned his head uneasily. Julius looked back."What is it?""I don't know. I've got the wind up somehow. Keep fancyingthere's some one following us.""Can't be," said Julius positively. "We'd see him."Tommy had to admit that this was true. Nevertheless, his senseof uneasiness deepened. In spite of himself he believed in theomniscience of the enemy."I rather wish that fellow would come along," said Julius. Hepatted his pocket. "Little William here is just aching forexercise!""Do you always carry it--him--with you?" inquired Tommy withburning curiosity."Most always. I guess you never know what might turn up."Tommy kept a respectful silence. He was impressed by littleWilliam. It seemed to remove the menace of Mr. Brown fartheraway.The path was now running along the side of the cliff, parallel tothe sea. Suddenly Julius came to such an abrupt halt that Tommycannoned into him."What's up?" he inquired."Look there. If that doesn't beat the band!"Tommy looked. Standing out half obstructing the path was a hugeboulder which certainly bore a fanciful resemblance to a"begging" terrier."Well," said Tommy, refusing to share Julius's emotion, "it'swhat we expected to see, isn't it?"Julius looked at him sadly and shook his head."British phlegm! Sure we expected it--but it kind of rattles me,all the same, to see it sitting there just where we expected tofind it!"Tommy, whose calm was, perhaps, more assumed than natural, movedhis feet impatiently."Push on. What about the hole?"They scanned the cliff-side narrowly. Tommy heard himself sayingidiotically:"The gorse won't be there after all these years."And Julius replied solemnly:"I guess you're right."Tommy suddenly pointed with a shaking hand."What about that crevice there?"Julius replied in an awestricken voice:"That's it--for sure."They looked at each other."When I was in France," said Tommy reminiscently, "whenever mybatman failed to call me, he always said that he had come overqueer. I never believed it. But whether he felt it or not,there is such a sensation. I've got it now! Badly!"He looked at the rock with a kind of agonized passion."Damn it!" he cried. "It's impossible! Five years! Think ofit! Bird's-nesting boys, picnic parties, thousands of peoplepassing! It can't be there! It's a hundred to one against itsbeing there! It's against all reason!"Indeed, he felt it to be impossible--more, perhaps, because hecould not believe in his own success where so many others hadfailed. The thing was too easy, therefore it could not be. Thehole would be empty.Julius looked at him with a widening smile."I guess you're rattled now all right," he drawled with someenjoyment. "Well, here goes!" He thrust his hand into thecrevice, and made a slight grimace. "It's a tight fit. Jane'shand must be a few sizes smaller than mine. I don't feelanything--no--say, what's this? Gee whiz!" And with a flourishhe waved aloft a small discoloured packet. "It's the goods allright. Sewn up in oilskin. Hold it while I get my penknife."The unbelievable had happened. Tommy held the precious packettenderly between his hands. They had succeeded!"It's queer," he murmured idly, "you'd think the stitches wouldhave rotted. They look just as good as new."They cut them carefully and ripped away the oilskin. Inside wasa small folded sheet of paper. With trembling fingers theyunfolded it. The sheet was blank! They stared at each other,puzzled."A dummy?" hazarded Julius. "Was Danvers just a decoy?"Tommy shook his head. That solution did not satisfy him.Suddenly his face cleared."I've got it! Sympathetic ink!""You think so?""Worth trying anyhow. Heat usually does the trick. Get somesticks. We'll make a fire."In a few minutes the little fire of twigs and leaves was blazingmerrily. Tommy held the sheet of paper near the glow. The papercurled a little with the heat. Nothing more.Suddenly Julius grasped his arm, and pointed to where characterswere appearing in a faint brown colour."Gee whiz! You've got it! Say, that idea of yours was great. Itnever occurred to me."Tommy held the paper in position some minutes longer until hejudged the heat had done its work. Then he withdrew it. A momentlater he uttered a cry.Across the sheet in neat brown printing ran the words: With thecompliments of Mr. Brown.