Chapter XXI. Tommy Makes a Discovery

by Agatha Christie

　　For a moment or two they stood staring at each other stupidly,dazed with the shock. Somehow, inexplicably, Mr. Brown hadforestalled them. Tommy accepted defeat quietly. Not so Julius."How in tarnation did he get ahead of us? That's what beats me!"he ended up.Tommy shook his head, and said dully:"It accounts for the stitches being new. We might haveguessed....""Never mind the darned stitches. How did he get ahead of us? Wehustled all we knew. It's downright impossible for anyone to gethere quicker than we did. And, anyway, how did he know? Do youreckon there was a dictaphone in Jane's room? I guess there musthave been."But Tommy's common sense pointed out objections."No one could have known beforehand that she was going to be inthat house--much less that particular room.""That's so," admitted Julius. "Then one of the nurses was acrook and listened at the door. How's that?""I don't see that it matters anyway," said Tommy wearily. "He mayhave found out some months ago, and removed the papers,then----No, by Jove, that won't wash! They'd have been publishedat once.""Sure thing they would! No, some one's got ahead of us to-day byan hour or so. But how they did it gets my goat.""I wish that chap Peel Edgerton had been with us," said Tommythoughtfully."Why?" Julius stared. "The mischief was done when we came.""Yes----" Tommy hesitated. He could not explain his ownfeeling--the illogical idea that the K.C.'s presence wouldsomehow have averted the catastrophe. He reverted to his formerpoint of view. "It's no good arguing about how it was done. Thegame's up. We've failed. There's only one thing for me to do.""What's that?""Get back to London as soon as possible. Mr. Carter must bewarned. It's only a matter of hours now before the blow falls.But, at any rate, he ought to know the worst."The duty was an unpleasant one, but Tommy had no intention ofshirking it. He must report his failure to Mr. Carter. Afterthat his work was done. He took the midnight mail to London.Julius elected to stay the night at Holyhead.Half an hour after arrival, haggard and pale, Tommy stood beforehis chief."I've come to report, sir. I've failed--failed badly."Mr. Carter eyed him sharply."You mean that the treaty----""Is in the hands of Mr. Brown, sir.""Ah!" said Mr. Carter quietly. The expression on his face didnot change, but Tommy caught the flicker of despair in his eyes.It convinced him as nothing else had done that the outlook washopeless."Well," said Mr. Carter after a minute or two, "we mustn't sag atthe knees, I suppose. I'm glad to know definitely. We must dowhat we can."Through Tommy's mind flashed the assurance: "It's hopeless, andhe knows it's hopeless!"The other looked up at him."Don't take it to heart, lad," he said kindly. "You did yourbest. You were up against one of the biggest brains of thecentury. And you came very near success. Remember that.""Thank you, sir. It's awfully decent of you.""I blame myself. I have been blaming myself ever since I heardthis other news."Something in his tone attracted Tommy's attention. A new feargripped at his heart."Is there--something more, sir?""I'm afraid so," said Mr. Carter gravely. He stretched out hishand to a sheet on the table."Tuppence----?" faltered Tommy."Read for yourself."The typewritten words danced before his eyes. The description ofa green toque, a coat with a handkerchief in the pocket markedP.L.C. He looked an agonized question at Mr. Carter. The latterreplied to it:"Washed up on the Yorkshire coast--near Ebury. I'm afraid--itlooks very much like foul play.""My God!" gasped Tommy. "Tuppence! Those devils--I'll neverrest till I've got even with them! I'll hunt them down!I'll----"The pity on Mr. Carter's face stopped him."I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it's no good.You'll waste your strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but myadvice to you is: Cut your losses. Time's merciful. You'llforget.""Forget Tuppence? Never!"Mr. Carter shook his head."So you think now. Well, it won't bear thinking of--that bravelittle girl! I'm sorry about the whole business--confoundedlysorry."Tommy came to himself with a start."I'm taking up your time, sir," he said with an effort. "There'sno need for you to blame yourself. I dare say we were a coupleof young fools to take on such a job. You warned us all right.But I wish to God I'd been the one to get it in the neck.Good-bye, sir."Back at the Ritz, Tommy packed up his few belongingsmechanically, his thoughts far away. He was still bewildered bythe introduction of tragedy into his cheerful commonplaceexistence. What fun they had had together, he and Tuppence! Andnow--oh, he couldn't believe it--it couldn't be true!Tuppence--dead! Little Tuppence, brimming over with life! It wasa dream, a horrible dream. Nothing more.They brought him a note, a few kind words of sympathy from PeelEdgerton, who had read the news in the paper. (There had been alarge headline: EX-V.A.D. FEARED DROWNED.) The letter ended withthe offer of a post on a ranch in the Argentine, where Sir Jameshad considerable interests."Kind old beggar," muttered Tommy, as he flung it aside.The door opened, and Julius burst in with his usual violence. Heheld an open newspaper in his hand."Say, what's all this? They seem to have got some fool ideaabout Tuppence.""It's true," said Tommy quietly."You mean they've done her in?"Tommy nodded."I suppose when they got the treaty she--wasn't any good to themany longer, and they were afraid to let her go.""Well, I'm darned!" said Julius. "Little Tuppence. She sure wasthe pluckiest little girl----"But suddenly something seemed to crack in Tommy's brain. He roseto his feet."Oh, get out! You don't really care, damn you! You asked her tomarry you in your rotten cold-blooded way, but I loved her. I'dhave given the soul out of my body to save her from harm. I'dhave stood by without a word and let her marry you, because youcould have given her the sort of time she ought to have had, andI was only a poor devil without a penny to bless himself with.But it wouldn't have been because I didn't care!""See here," began Julius temperately."Oh, go to the devil! I can't stand your coming here and talkingabout 'little Tuppence.' Go and look after your cousin.Tuppence is my girl! I've always loved her, from the time weplayed together as kids. We grew up and it was just the same. Ishall never forget when I was in hospital, and she came in inthat ridiculous cap and apron! It was like a miracle to see thegirl I loved turn up in a nurse's kit----"But Julius interrupted him."A nurse's kit! Gee whiz! I must be going to Colney Hatch! Icould swear I've seen Jane in a nurse's cap too. And that'splumb impossible! No, by gum, I've got it! It was her I sawtalking to Whittington at that nursing home in Bournemouth. Shewasn't a patient there! She was a nurse!""I dare say," said Tommy angrily, "she's probably been in withthem from the start. I shouldn't wonder if she stole thosepapers from Danvers to begin with.""I'm darned if she did!" shouted Julius. "She's my cousin, andas patriotic a girl as ever stepped.""I don't care a damn what she is, but get out of here!" retortedTommy also at the top of his voice.The young men were on the point of coming to blows. Butsuddenly, with an almost magical abruptness, Julius's angerabated."All right, son," he said quietly, "I'm going. I don't blame youany for what you've been saying. It's mighty lucky you did sayit. I've been the most almighty blithering darned idiot thatit's possible to imagine. Calm down"--Tommy had made an impatientgesture--"I'm going right away now--going to the London and NorthWestern Railway depot, if you want to know.""I don't care a damn where you're going," growled Tommy.As the door closed behind Julius, he returned to his suit-case."That's the lot," he murmured, and rang the bell."Take my luggage down.""Yes, sir. Going away, sir?""I'm going to the devil," said Tommy, regardless of the menial'sfeelings.That functionary, however, merely replied respectfully:"Yes, sir. Shall I call a taxi?"Tommy nodded.Where was he going? He hadn't the faintest idea. Beyond a fixeddetermination to get even with Mr. Brown he had no plans. Here-read Sir James's letter, and shook his head. Tuppence must beavenged. Still, it was kind of the old fellow."Better answer it, I suppose." He went across to thewriting-table. With the usual perversity of bedroom stationery,there were innumerable envelopes and no paper. He rang. No onecame. Tommy fumed at the delay. Then he remembered that therewas a good supply in Julius's sitting-room. The American hadannounced his immediate departure, there would be no fear ofrunning up against him. Besides, he wouldn't mind if he did. Hewas beginning to be rather ashamed of the things he had said. OldJulius had taken them jolly well. He'd apologize if he found himthere.But the room was deserted. Tommy walked across to thewriting-table, and opened the middle drawer. A photograph,carelessly thrust in face upwards, caught his eye. For a momenthe stood rooted to the ground. Then he took it out, shut thedrawer, walked slowly over to an arm-chair, and sat down stillstaring at the photograph in his hand.What on earth was a photograph of the French girl Annette doingin Julius Hersheimmer's writing-table?