‘My plan is this,’ Tuppence went on calmly. ‘I’ll go alone tomorrow. I’ll put him off again like I did today. It doesn’t matter if I don’t get any more money at once. Fifty pounds ought to last us a few days.’
‘Or even longer!’
‘You’ll hang about outside. When I come out I shan’t speak to you in case he’s watching. But I’ll take up my stand somewhere near, and when he comes out of the building I’ll drop a handkerchief or something, and off you go!’
‘Off I go where?’
‘Follow him, of course, silly! What do you think of the idea?’
‘Sort of thing one reads about in books. I somehow feel that in real life one will feel a bit of an ass standing in the street for hours with nothing to do. People will wonder what I’m up to.’
‘Not in the city. Everyone’s in such a hurry. Probably no one will even notice you at all.’
‘That’s the second time you’ve made that sort of remark. Never mind, I forgive you. Anyway, it will be rather a lark. What are you doing this afternoon?’
‘Well,’ said Tuppence meditatively. ‘I had thought of hats! Or perhaps silk stockings! Or perhaps –’
‘Hold hard,’ admonished Tommy. ‘There’s a limit to fifty pounds! But let’s do dinner and a show tonight at all events.’
‘Rather.’
The day passed pleasantly. The evening even more so. Two of the five-pound notes were now irretrievably dead.
They met by arrangement the following morning, and proceeded citywards. Tommy remained on the opposite side of the road while Tuppence plunged into the building.
Tommy strolled slowly down to the end of the street, then back again. Just as he came abreast of the buildings, Tuppence darted across the road.
‘Tommy!’
‘Yes. What’s up?’
‘The place is shut. I can’t make anyone hear.’
‘That’s odd.’
‘Isn’t it? Come up with me, and let’s try again.’
Tommy followed her. As they passed the third floor landing a young clerk came out of an office. He hesitated a moment, then addressed himself to Tuppence.
‘Were you wanting the Esthonia Glassware?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘It’s closed down. Since yesterday afternoon. Company being wound up, they say. Not that I’ve ever heard of it myself. But anyway the office is to let.’
‘Th – thank you,’ faltered Tuppence. ‘I suppose you don’t know Mr Whittington’s address?’
‘Afraid I don’t. They left rather suddenly.’
‘Thank you very much,’ said Tommy. ‘Come on, Tuppence.’
They descended to the street again where they gazed at one another blankly.
‘That’s torn it,’ said Tommy at length.
‘And I never suspected it,’ wailed Tuppence.
‘Cheer up, old thing, it can’t be helped.’
‘Can’t it, though!’ Tuppence’s little chin shot out defiantly. ‘Do you think this is the end? If so, you’re wrong. It’s just the beginning!’
‘The beginning of what?’
‘Of our adventure! Tommy, don’t you see, if they are scared enough to run away like this, it shows that there must be a lot in this Jane Finn business! Well, we’ll get to the bottom of it. We’ll run them down! We’ll be sleuths in earnest!’
‘Yes, but there’s no one left to sleuth.’
‘No, that’s why we’ll have to start all over again. Lend me that bit of pencil. Thanks. Wait a minute – don’t interrupt. There!’ Tuppence handed back the pencil, and surveyed the piece of paper on which she had written with a satisfied eye.
‘What’s that?’
‘Advertisement.’
‘You’re not going to put that thing in after all?’
‘No, it’s a different one.’ She handed him the slip of paper.
Tommy read the words on it aloud:
‘WANTED, any information respecting Jane Finn. Apply Y. A.’
The next day passed slowly. It was necessary to curtail expenditure. Carefully husbanded, forty pounds will last a long time. Luckily the weather was fine, and ‘walking is cheap,’ dictated Tuppence. An outlying picture house provided them with recreation for the evening.
The day of disillusionment had been a Wednesday. On Thursday the advertisement had duly appeared. On Friday letters might be expected to arrive at Tommy’s rooms.
He had been bound by an honourable promise not to open any such letters if they did arrive, but to repair to the National Gallery, where his colleague would meet him at ten o’clock.
Tuppence was first at the rendezvous. She ensconced herself on a red velvet seat, and gazed at the Turners with unseeing eyes until she saw the familiar figure enter the room.
‘Well?’
‘Well,’ returned Mr Beresford provokingly. ‘Which is your favourite picture?’
‘Don’t be a wretch. Aren’t there any answers?’
Tommy shook his head with a deep and somewhat overacted melancholy.
‘I didn’t want to disappoint you, old thing, by telling you right off. It’s too bad. Good money wasted.’ He sighed. ‘Still, there it is. The advertisement has appeared, and – there are only two answers!’
‘Tommy, you devil!’ almost screamed Tuppence. ‘Give them to me. How could you be so mean!’
‘Your luggage, Tuppence, your luggage! They’re very particular at the National Gallery. Government show, you know. And do remember, as I have pointed out to you before, that as a clergyman’s daughter –’
‘I ought to be on the stage!’ finished Tuppence with a snap.
‘That is not what I intended to say. But if you are sure that you have enjoyed to the full the reaction of joy after despair with which I have kindly provided you free of charge, let us get down to our mail, as the saying goes.’
Tuppence snatched the two precious envelopes from him unceremoniously, and scrutinized them carefully.
‘Thick paper, this one. It looks rich. We’ll keep it to the last and open the other first.’
‘Right you are. One, two, three, go!’
Tuppence’s little thumb ripped open the envelope, and she extracted the contents.
Dear Sir,
Referring to your advertisement in this morning’s paper, I may be able to be of some use to you. Perhaps you could call and see me at the above address at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning.
Yours truly,
A. Carter
‘27 Carshalton Terrace,’ said Tuppence, referring to the