‘Correct. Proceed, O Sherlock!’
‘Now there’s just a chance, I admit it’s only a chance, that this woman may have been “Rita”.’
‘And if so?’
‘If so, we’ve got to hunt through the survivors of the Lusitania till we find her.’
‘Then the first thing is to get a list of the survivors.’
‘I’ve got it. I wrote a long list of things I wanted to know, and sent it to Mr Carter. I got his reply this morning, and among other things it encloses the official statement of those saved from the Lusitania. How’s that for clever little Tuppence?’
‘Full marks for industry, zero for modesty. But the great point is, is there a “Rita” on the list?’
‘That’s just what I don’t know,’ confessed Tuppence.
‘Don’t know?’
‘Yes, look here.’ Together they bent over the list. ‘You see, very few Christian names are given. They’re nearly all Mrs or Miss.’
Tommy nodded.
‘That complicates matters,’ he murmured thoughtfully.
Tuppence gave her characteristic ‘terrier’ shake.
‘Well, we’ve just got to get down to it, that’s all. We’ll start with the London area. Just note down the addresses of any of the females who live in London or roundabout, while I put on my hat.’
Five minutes later the young couple emerged into Piccadilly, and a few seconds later a taxi was bearing them to The Laurels, Glendower Road, N.7., the residence of Mrs Edgar Keith, whose name figured first in a list of seven reposing in Tommy’s pocket-book.
The Laurels was a dilapidated house, standing back from the road with a few grimy bushes to support the fiction of a front garden. Tommy paid off the taxi, and accompanied Tuppence to the front door bell. As she was about to ring it, he arrested her hand.
‘What are you going to say?’
‘What am I going to say? Why, I shall say – Oh dear, I don’t know. It’s very awkward.’
‘I thought as much,’ said Tommy with satisfaction. ‘How like a woman! No foresight! Now just stand aside, and see how easily the mere male deals with the situation.’ He pressed the bell. Tuppence withdrew to a suitable spot.
A slatternly-looking servant, with an extremely dirty face and a pair of eyes that did not match, answered the door.
Tommy had produced a notebook and pencil.
‘Good morning,’ he said briskly and cheerfully. ‘From the Hampstead Borough Council. The New Voting Register. Mrs Edgar Keith lives here, does she not?’
‘Yaas,’ said the servant.
‘Christian name?’ asked Tommy, his pencil poised.
‘Missus’s? Eleanor Jane.’
‘Eleanor,’ spelt Tommy. ‘Any sons or daughters over twenty-one?’
‘Naow.’
‘Thank you.’ Tommy closed the notebook with a brisk snap. ‘Good morning.’
The servant volunteered her first remark:
‘I thought perhaps as you’d come about the gas,’ she observed cryptically, and shut the door.
Tommy rejoined his accomplice.
‘You see, Tuppence,’ he observed. ‘Child’s play to the masculine mind.’
‘I don’t mind admitting that for once you’ve scored handsomely. I should never have thought of that.’
‘Good wheeze, wasn’t it? And we can repeat it ad lib.’
Lunch-time found the young couple attacking steak and chips in an obscure hostelry with avidity. They had collected a Gladys Mary and a Marjorie, been baffled by one change of address, and had been forced to listen to a long lecture on universal suffrage from a vivacious American lady whose Christian name had proved to be Sadie.
‘Ah!’ said Tommy, imbibing a long draught of beer. ‘I feel better. Where’s the next draw?’
The notebook lay on the table between them. Tuppence picked it up.
‘Mrs Vandemeyer,’ she read, ‘20 South Audley Mansions. Miss Wheeler, 43 Clapington Road, Battersea. She’s a lady’s maid, as far as I remember, so probably won’t be there, and, anyway, she’s not likely.’
‘Then the Mayfair lady is clearly indicated as the first port of call.’
‘Tommy, I’m getting discouraged.’
‘Buck up, old bean. We always knew it was an outside chance. And, anyway, we’re only starting. If we draw a blank in London, there’s a fine tour of England, Ireland and Scotland before us.’
‘True,’ said Tuppence, her flagging spirits reviving. ‘And all expenses paid! But, oh, Tommy, I do like things to happen quickly. So far, adventure has succeeded adventure, but this morning has been dull as dull.’
‘You must stifle this longing for vulgar sensation, Tuppence. Remember that if Mr Brown is all he is reported to be, it’s a wonder that he has not ere now done us to death. That’s a good sentence, quite a literary flavour about it.’
‘You’re really more conceited than I am – with less excuse! Ahem! But it certainly is queer that Mr Brown has not yet wreaked vengeance upon us. (You see, I can do it too.) We pass on our way unscathed.’
‘Perhaps he doesn’t think us worth bothering about,’ suggested the young man simply.
Tuppence received the remark with great disfavour.
‘How horrid you are, Tommy. Just as though we didn’t count.’
‘Sorry, Tuppence. What I meant was that we work like moles in the dark, and that he has no suspicion of our nefarious schemes. Ha ha!’
‘Ha ha!’ echoed Tuppence approvingly, as she rose.
South Audley Mansions was an imposing looking block of flats just off Park Lane. No. 20 was on the second floor.
Tommy had by this time the glibness born of practice. He rattled off the formula to the elderly woman, looking more like a housekeeper than a servant, who opened the door to him.
‘Christian name?’
‘Margaret.’
Tommy spelt it, but the other interrupted him.
‘No, g u e.’
‘Oh, Marguerite; French way, I see.’ He paused then plunged boldly. ‘We had her down as Rita Vandermeyer, but I suppose that’s correct?’
‘She’s mostly called that, sir, but Marguerite’s her name.’
‘Thank you. That’s all. Good morning.’
Hardly able to contain his excitement, Tommy hurried down the stairs. Tuppence was waiting at the angle of the turn.
‘You heard?’
‘Yes. Oh, Tommy!’
Tommy squeezed her arm sympathetically.
‘I know, old thing. I feel the same.’
‘It’s – it’s so lovely to think of things – and then for them really to happen!’ cried Tuppence enthusiastically.
Her hand was still in Tommy’s. They had reached the entrance hall. There were footsteps on the stairs above them, and voices.
Suddenly, to Tommy’s complete surprise, Tuppence dragged him into the little space by the side of the lift where the shadow