1、PrologueIt was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were being lined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to hu
2、sbands and fathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her grave, steadfast eyes looked straight ahead. I beg your pardon. A mans voice beside her made
3、her start and turn. She had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first-class passengers. There had been a hint of mystery about him which had appealed to her imagination. He spoke to no one. If anyone spoke to him he was quick to rebuff the overture. Also he had a nervous way of looking ov
4、er his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance. She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads of perspiration on his brow. He was evidently in a state of overmastering fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet death! Yes? Her grave eyes met
5、his inquiringly. He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution. It must be! he muttered to himself. Yes - it is the only way. Then aloud he said abruptly: You are an American? Yes. A patriotic one? The girl flushed. I guess youve no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am! Dont be
6、offended. You wouldnt be if you knew how much there was at stake. But Ive got to trust some one - and it must be a woman. Why? Because of women and children first. He looked round and lowered his voice. Im carrying papers - vitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in
7、the war. You understand? These papers have GOT to be saved! Theyve more chance with you than with me. Will you take them? The girl held out her hand. Wait - I must warn you. There may be a risk - if Ive been followed. I dont think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you th
8、e nerve to go through with it? The girl smiled. Ill go through with it all right. And Im real proud to be chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards? Watch the newspapers! Ill advertise in the personal column of the Times, beginning Shipmate. At the end of three days if theres nothing - well, youl
9、l know Im down and out. Then take the packet to the American Embassy, and deliver it into the Ambassadors own hands. Is that clear? Quite clear. Then be ready - Im going to say good-bye. He took her hand in his. Good-bye. Good luck to you, he said in a louder tone. Her hand closed on the oilskin pac
10、ket that had lain in his palm. The Lusitania settled with a more decided list to starboard. In answer to a quick command, the girl went forward to take her place in the boat.Chapter 1 THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD.Tommy, old thing! Tuppence, old bean! The two young people greeted each other affectionat
11、ely, and momentarily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The adjective old was misleading. Their united ages would certainly not have totalled forty-five. Not seen you for simply centuries, continued the young man. Where are you off to? Come and chew a bun with me. Were getting a bit unp
12、opular here - blocking the gangway as it were. Lets get out of it. The girl assenting, they started walking down Dover Street towards Piccadilly. Now then, said Tommy, where shall we go? The very faint anxiety which underlay his tone did not escape the astute ears of Miss Prudence Cowley, known to h
13、er intimate friends for some mysterious reason as Tuppence. She pounced at once. Tommy, youre stony! Not a bit of it, declared Tommy unconvincingly. Rolling in cash. You always were a shocking liar, said Tuppence severely, though you did once persuade Sister Greenbank that the doctor had ordered you
14、 beer as a tonic, but forgotten to write it on the chart. Do you remember? Tommy chuckled. I should think I did! Wasnt the old cat in a rage when she found out? Not that she was a bad sort really, old Mother Greenbank! Good old hospital - demobbed like everything else, I suppose? Tuppence sighed. Ye
15、s. You too? Tommy nodded. Two months ago. Gratuity? hinted Tuppence. Spent. Oh, Tommy! No, old thing, not in riotous dissipation. No such luck! The cost of living - ordinary plain, or garden living nowadays is, I assure you, if you do not know - My dear child, interrupted Tuppence, there is nothing
16、I do NOT know about the cost of living. Here we are at Lyons, and we will each of us pay for our own. Thats it! And Tuppence led the way upstairs. The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table, catching odds and ends of conversation as they did so. And - do you know, she sat down a
17、nd CRIED when I told her she couldnt have the flat after all. It was simply a BARGAIN, my dear! Just like the one Mabel Lewis brought from Paris - Funny scraps one does overhear, murmured Tommy. I passed two Johnnies in the street today talking about some one called Jane Finn. Did you ever hear such
18、 a name? But at that moment two elderly ladies rose and collected parcels, and Tuppence deftly ensconced herself in one of the vacant seats. Tommy ordered tea and buns. Tuppence ordered tea and buttered toast. And mind the tea comes in separate teapots, she added severely. Tommy sat down opposite he
19、r. His bared head revealed a shock of exquisitely slicked-back red hair. His face was pleasantly ugly - nondescript, yet unmistakably the face of a gentleman and a sportsman. His brown suit was well cut, but perilously near the end of its tether. They were an essentially modern-looking couple as the
20、y sat there. Tuppence had no claim to beauty, but there was character and charm in the elfin lines of her little face, with its determined chin and large, wide-apart grey eyes that looked mistily out from under straight, black brows. She wore a small bright green toque over her black bobbed hair, an
21、d her extremely short and rather shabby skirt revealed a pair of uncommonly dainty ankles. Her appearance presented a valiant attempt at smartness. The tea came at last, and Tuppence, rousing herself from a fit of meditation, poured it out. Now then, said Tommy, taking a large bite of bun, lets get
22、up-to-date. Remember, I havent seen you since that time in hospital in 1916. Very well. Tuppence helped herself liberally to buttered toast. Abridged biography of Miss Prudence Cowley, fifth daughter of Archdeacon Cowley of Little Missendell, Suffolk. Miss Cowley left the delights (and drudgeries) o
23、f her home life early in the war and came up to London, where she entered an officers hospital. First month: Washed up six hundred and forty-eight plates every day. Second month: Promoted to drying aforesaid plates. Third month: Promoted to peeling potatoes. Fourth month: Promoted to cutting bread a
24、nd butter. Fifth month: Promoted one floor up to duties of wardmaid with mop and pail. Sixth month: Promoted to waiting at table. Seventh month: Pleasing appearance and nice manners so striking that am promoted to waiting on the Sisters! Eighth month: Slight check in career. Sister Bond ate Sister W
25、esthavens egg! Grand row! Wardmaid clearly to blame! Inattention in such important matters cannot be too highly censured. Mop and pail again! How are the mighty fallen! Ninth month: Promoted to sweeping out wards, where I found a friend of my childhood in Lieutenant Thomas Beresford (bow, Tommy!), w
26、hom I had not seen for five long years. The meeting was affecting! Tenth month: Reproved by matron for visiting the pictures in company with one of the patients, namely: the aforementioned Lieutenant Thomas Beresford. Eleventh and twelfth months: Parlourmaid duties resumed with entire success. At th
27、e end of the year left hospital in a blaze of glory. After that, the talented Miss Cowley drove successively a trade delivery van, a motor-lorry and a general! The last was the pleasantest. He was quite a young general! What blighter was that? inquired Tommy. Perfectly sickening the way those brass
28、hats drove from the War Office to the Savoy, and from the Savoy to the War Office! Ive forgotten his name now, confessed Tuppence. To resume, that was in a way the apex of my career. I next entered a Government office. We had several very enjoyable tea parties. I had intended to become a land girl,
29、a postwoman, and a bus conductress by way of rounding off my career - but the Armistice intervened! I clung to the office with the true limpet touch for many long months, but, alas, I was combed out at last. Since then Ive been looking for a job. Now then - your turn. Theres not so much promotion in
30、 mine, said Tommy regretfully, and a great deal less variety. I went out to France again, as you know. Then they sent me to Mesopotamia, and I got wounded for the second time, and went into hospital out there. Then I got stuck in Egypt till the Armistice happened, kicked my heels there some time lon
31、ger, and, as I told you, finally got demobbed. And, for ten long, weary months Ive been job hunting! There arent any jobs! And, if there were, they wouldnt give em to me. What good am I? What do I know about business? Nothing. Tuppence nodded gloomily. What about the colonies? she suggested. Tommy s
32、hook his head. I shouldnt like the colonies - and Im perfectly certain they wouldnt like me! Rich relations? Again Tommy shook his head. Oh, Tommy, not even a great-aunt? Ive got an old uncle whos more or less rolling, but hes no good. Why not? Wanted to adopt me once. I refused. I think I remember
33、hearing about it, said Tuppence slowly. You refused because of your mother - Tommy flushed. Yes, it would have been a bit rough on the mater. As you know, I was all she had. Old boy hated her - wanted to get me away from her. Just a bit of spite. Your mothers dead, isnt she? said Tuppence gently. To
34、mmy nodded. Tuppences large grey eyes looked misty. Youre a good sort, Tommy. I always knew it. Rot! said Tommy hastily. Well, thats my position. Im just about desperate. So am I! Ive hung out as long as I could. Ive touted round. Ive answered advertisements. Ive tried every mortal blessed thing. Iv
35、e screwed and saved and pinched! But its no good. I shall have to go home! Dont you want to? Of course I dont want to! Whats the good of being sentimental? Fathers a dear - Im awfully fond of him - but youve no idea how I worry him! He has that delightful early Victorian view that short skirts and s
36、moking are immoral. You can imagine what a thorn in the flesh I am to him! He just heaved a sigh of relief when the war took me off. You see, there are seven of us at home. Its awful! All housework and mothers meetings! I have always been the changeling. I dont want to go back, but - oh, Tommy, what
37、 else is there to do? Tommy shook his head sadly. There was a silence, and then Tuppence burst out: Money, money, money! I think about money morning, noon and night! I dare say its mercenary of me, but there it is! Same here, agreed Tommy with feeling. Ive thought over every imaginable way of gettin
38、g it too, continued Tuppence. There are only three! To be left it, to marry it, or to make it. First is ruled out. I havent got any rich elderly relatives. Any relatives I have are in homes for decayed gentlewomen! I always help old ladies over crossings, and pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in ca
39、se they should turn out to be eccentric millionaires. But not one of them has ever asked me my name - and quite a lot never said Thank you. There was a pause. Of course, resumed Tuppence, marriage is my best chance. I made up my mind to marry money when I was quite young. Any thinking girl would! Im
40、 not sentimental, you know. She paused. Come now, you cant say Im sentimental, she added sharply. Certainly not, agreed Tommy hastily. No one would ever think of sentiment in connection with you. Thats not very polite, replied Tuppence. But I dare say you mean it all right. Well, there it is! Im rea
41、dy and willing - but I never meet any rich men! All the boys I know are about as hard up as I am. What about the general? inquired Tommy. I fancy he keeps a bicycle shop in time of peace, explained Tuppence. No, there it is! Now you could marry a rich girl. Im like you. I dont know any. That doesnt
42、matter. You can always get to know one. Now, if I see a man in a fur coat come out of the Ritz I cant rush up to him and say: Look here, youre rich. Id like to know you. Do you suggest that I should do that to a similarly garbed female? Dont be silly. You tread on her foot, or pick up her handkerchi
43、ef, or something like that. If she thinks you want to know her shes flattered, and will manage it for you somehow. You overrate my manly charms, murmured Tommy. On the other hand, proceeded Tuppence, my millionaire would probably run for his life! No - marriage is fraught with difficulties. Remains
44、- to MAKE money! Weve tried that, and failed, Tommy reminded her. Weve tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try the unorthodox. Tommy, lets be adventurers! Certainly, replied Tommy cheerfully. How do we begin? Thats the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people might hire us t
45、o commit crimes for them. Delightful, commented Tommy. Especially coming from a clergymans daughter! The moral guilt, Tuppence pointed out, would be theirs - not mine. You must admit that theres a difference between stealing a diamond necklace for yourself and being hired to steal it. There wouldnt
46、be the least difference if you were caught! Perhaps not. But I shouldnt be caught. Im so clever. Modesty always was your besetting sin, remarked Tommy. Dont rag. Look here, Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a business partnership? Form a company for the stealing of diamond necklaces? That was on
47、ly an illustration. Lets have a - what do you call it in book-keeping? Dont know. Never did any. I have - but I always got mixed up, and used to put credit entries on the debit side, and vice versa - so they fired me out. Oh, I know - a joint venture! It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of musty old figures. Its got an Elizabethan flavour about it - makes one think of galleons and doubloons. A joint ven
