Chapter X. Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton

by Agatha Christie

　　Tuppence betrayed no awkwardness in her new duties. The daughtersof the archdeacon were well grounded in household tasks. Theywere also experts in training a "raw girl," the inevitable resultbeing that the raw girl, once trained, departed elsewhere whereher newly acquired knowledge commanded a more substantialremuneration than the archdeacon's meagre purse allowed.Tuppence had therefore very little fear of proving inefficient.Mrs. Vandemeyer's cook puzzled her. She evidently went in deadlyterror of her mistress. The girl thought it probable that theother woman had some hold over her. For the rest, she cookedlike a chef, as Tuppence had an opportunity of judging thatevening. Mrs. Vandemeyer was expecting a guest to dinner, andTuppence accordingly laid the beautifully polished table for two.She was a little exercised in her own mind as to this visitor. Itwas highly possible that it might prove to be Whittington.Although she felt fairly confident that he would not recognizeher, yet she would have been better pleased had the guest provedto be a total stranger. However, there was nothing for it but tohope for the best.At a few minutes past eight the front door bell rang, andTuppence went to answer it with some inward trepidation. She wasrelieved to see that the visitor was the second of the two menwhom Tommy had taken upon himself to follow.He gave his name as Count Stepanov. Tuppence announced him, andMrs. Vandemeyer rose from her seat on a low divan with a quickmurmur of pleasure."It is delightful to see you, Boris Ivanovitch," she said."And you, madame!" He bowed low over her hand.Tuppence returned to the kitchen."Count Stepanov, or some such," she remarked, and affecting afrank and unvarnished curiosity: "Who's he?""A Russian gentleman, I believe.""Come here much?""Once in a while. What d'you want to know for?""Fancied he might be sweet on the missus, that's all," explainedthe girl, adding with an appearance of sulkiness: "How you dotake one up!""I'm not quite easy in my mind about the souffle," explained theother."You know something," thought Tuppence to herself, but aloud sheonly said: "Going to dish up now? Right-o."Whilst waiting at table, Tuppence listened closely to all thatwas said. She remembered that this was one of the men Tommy wasshadowing when she had last seen him. Already, although shewould hardly admit it, she was becoming uneasy about her partner.Where was he? Why had no word of any kind come from him? She hadarranged before leaving the Ritz to have all letters or messagessent on at once by special messenger to a small stationer's shopnear at hand where Albert was to call in frequently. True, it wasonly yesterday morning that she had parted from Tommy, and shetold herself that any anxiety on his behalf would be absurd.Still, it was strange that he had sent no word of any kind.But, listen as she might, the conversation presented no clue.Boris and Mrs. Vandemeyer talked on purely indifferent subjects:plays they had seen, new dances, and the latest society gossip.After dinner they repaired to the small boudoir where Mrs.Vandemeyer, stretched on the divan, looked more wickedlybeautiful than ever. Tuppence brought in the coffee and liqueursand unwillingly retired. As she did so, she heard Boris say:"New, isn't she?""She came in to-day. The other was a fiend. This girl seems allright. She waits well."Tuppence lingered a moment longer by the door which she hadcarefully neglected to close, and heard him say:"Quite safe, I suppose?""Really, Boris, you are absurdly suspicious. I believe she's thecousin of the hall porter, or something of the kind. And nobodyeven dreams that I have any connection with our--mutual friend,Mr. Brown.""For heaven's sake, be careful, Rita. That door isn't shut.""Well, shut it then," laughed the woman.Tuppence removed herself speedily.She dared not absent herself longer from the back premises, butshe cleared away and washed up with a breathless speed acquiredin hospital. Then she slipped quietly back to the boudoir door.The cook, more leisurely, was still busy in the kitchen and, ifshe missed the other, would only suppose her to be turning downthe beds.Alas! The conversation inside was being carried on in too low atone to permit of her hearing anything of it. She dared notreopen the door, however gently. Mrs. Vandemeyer was sittingalmost facing it, and Tuppence respected her mistress's lynx-eyedpowers of observation.Nevertheless, she felt she would give a good deal to overhearwhat was going on. Possibly, if anything unforeseen hadhappened, she might get news of Tommy. For some moments shereflected desperately, then her face brightened. She went quicklyalong the passage to Mrs. Vandemeyer's bedroom, which had longFrench windows leading on to a balcony that ran the length of theflat. Slipping quickly through the window, Tuppence creptnoiselessly along till she reached the boudoir window. As she hadthought it stood a little ajar, and the voices within wereplainly audible.Tuppence listened attentively, but there was no mention ofanything that could be twisted to apply to Tommy. Mrs.Vandemeyer and the Russian seemed to be at variance over somematter, and finally the latter exclaimed bitterly:"With your persistent recklessness, you will end by ruining us!""Bah!" laughed the woman. "Notoriety of the right kind is thebest way of disarming suspicion. You will realize that one ofthese days--perhaps sooner than you think!""In the meantime, you are going about everywhere with PeelEdgerton. Not only is he, perhaps, the most celebrated K.C. inEngland, but his special hobby is criminology! It is madness!""I know that his eloquence has saved untold men from thegallows," said Mrs. Vandemeyer calmly. "What of it? I may needhis assistance in that line myself some day. If so, how fortunateto have such a friend at court--or perhaps it would be more tothe point to say in court."Boris got up and began striding up and down. He was veryexcited."You are a clever woman, Rita; but you are also a fool! Be guidedby me, and give up Peel Edgerton."Mrs. Vandemeyer shook her head gently."I think not.""You refuse?" There was an ugly ring in the Russian's voice."I do.""Then, by Heaven," snarled the Russian, "we will see----" ButMrs. Vandemeyer also rose to her feet, her eyes flashing."You forget, Boris," she said. "I am accountable to no one. Itake my orders only from--Mr. Brown."The other threw up his hands in despair."You are impossible," he muttered. "Impossible! Already it maybe too late. They say Peel Edgerton can smell a criminal! How dowe know what is at the bottom of his sudden interest in you?Perhaps even now his suspicions are aroused. He guesses----"Mrs. Vandemeyer eyed him scornfully."Reassure yourself, my dear Boris. He suspects nothing. Withless than your usual chivalry, you seem to forget that I amcommonly accounted a beautiful woman. I assure you that is allthat interests Peel Edgerton."Boris shook his head doubtfully."He has studied crime as no other man in this kingdom has studiedit. Do you fancy that you can deceive him?"Mrs. Vandemeyer's eyes narrowed."If he is all that you say--it would amuse me to try!""Good heavens, Rita----""Besides," added Mrs. Vandemeyer, "he is extremely rich. I am notone who despises money. The 'sinews of war,' you know, Boris!""Money--money! That is always the danger with you, Rita. Ibelieve you would sell your soul for money. I believe----" Hepaused, then in a low, sinister voice he said slowly: "SometimesI believe that you would sell--us!"Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled and shrugged her shoulders."The price, at any rate, would have to be enormous," she saidlightly. "It would be beyond the power of anyone but amillionaire to pay.""Ah!" snarled the Russian. "You see, I was right!""My dear Boris, can you not take a joke?""Was it a joke?""Of course.""Then all I can say is that your ideas of humour are peculiar, mydear Rita."Mrs. Vandemeyer smiled."Let us not quarrel, Boris. Touch the bell. We will have somedrinks."Tuppence beat a hasty retreat. She paused a moment to surveyherself in Mrs. Vandemeyer's long glass, and be sure that nothingwas amiss with her appearance. Then she answered the belldemurely.The conversation that she had overheard, although interesting inthat it proved beyond doubt the complicity of both Rita andBoris, threw very little light on the present preoccupations. Thename of Jane Finn had not even been mentioned.The following morning a few brief words with Albert informed herthat nothing was waiting for her at the stationer's. It seemedincredible that Tommy, if all was well with him, should not sendany word to her. A cold hand seemed to close round her heart....Supposing ... She choked her fears down bravely. It was no goodworrying. But she leapt at a chance offered her by Mrs.Vandemeyer."What day do you usually go out, Prudence?""Friday's my usual day, ma'am."Mrs. Vandemeyer lifted her eyebrows."And to-day is Friday! But I suppose you hardly wish to go outto-day, as you only came yesterday.""I was thinking of asking you if I might, ma'am."Mrs. Vandemeyer looked at her a minute longer, and then smiled."I wish Count Stepanov could hear you. He made a suggestionabout you last night." Her smile broadened, catlike. "Yourrequest is very--typical. I am satisfied. You do not understandall this--but you can go out to-day. It makes no difference tome, as I shall not be dining at home.""Thank you, ma'am."Tuppence felt a sensation of relief once she was out of theother's presence. Once again she admitted to herself that she wasafraid, horribly afraid, of the beautiful woman with the crueleyes.In the midst of a final desultory polishing of her silver,Tuppence was disturbed by the ringing of the front door bell, andwent to answer it. This time the visitor was neither Whittingtonnor Boris, but a man of striking appearance.Just a shade over average height, he nevertheless conveyed theimpression of a big man. His face, clean-shaven and exquisitelymobile, was stamped with an expression of power and force farbeyond the ordinary. Magnetism seemed to radiate from him.Tuppence was undecided for the moment whether to put him down asan actor or a lawyer, but her doubts were soon solved as he gaveher his name: Sir James Peel Edgerton.She looked at him with renewed interest. This, then, was thefamous K.C. whose name was familiar all over England. She hadheard it said that he might one day be Prime Minister. He wasknown to have refused office in the interests of his profession,preferring to remain a simple Member for a Scotch constituency.Tuppence went back to her pantry thoughtfully. The great man hadimpressed her. She understood Boris's agitation. Peel Edgertonwould not be an easy man to deceive.In about a quarter of an hour the bell rang, and Tuppencerepaired to the hall to show the visitor out. He had given her apiercing glance before. Now, as she handed him his hat andstick, she was conscious of his eyes raking her through. As sheopened the door and stood aside to let him pass out, he stoppedin the doorway."Not been doing this long, eh?"Tuppence raised her eyes, astonished. She read in his glancekindliness, and something else more difficult to fathom.He nodded as though she had answered."V.A.D. and hard up, I suppose?""Did Mrs. Vandemeyer tell you that?" asked Tuppence suspiciously."No, child. The look of you told me. Good place here?""Very good, thank you, sir.""Ah, but there are plenty of good places nowadays. And a changedoes no harm sometimes.""Do you mean----?" began Tuppence.But Sir James was already on the topmost stair. He looked backwith his kindly, shrewd glance."Just a hint," he said. "That's all."Tuppence went back to the pantry more thoughtful than ever.