The Secret Adversary | Page 5

was charitably called Southern Belgravia.
For reasons of economy she did not take a bus.
She was half-way across St. James's Park, when a man's voice behind
her made her start.
"Excuse me," it said. "But may I speak to you for a moment?"
CHAPTER II
MR. WHITTINGTON'S OFFER
TUPPENCE turned sharply, but the words hovering on the tip of her

tongue remained unspoken, for the man's appearance and manner did
not bear out her first and most natural assumption. She hesitated. As if
he read her thoughts, the man said quickly:
"I can assure you I mean no disrespect."
Tuppence believed him. Although she disliked and distrusted him
instinctively, she was inclined to acquit him of the particular motive
which she had at first attributed to him. She looked him up and down.
He was a big man, clean shaven, with a heavy jowl. His eyes were
small and cunning, and shifted their glance under her direct gaze.
"Well, what is it?" she asked.
The man smiled.
"I happened to overhear part of your conversation with the young
gentleman in Lyons'."
"Well--what of it?"
"Nothing--except that I think I may be of some use to you."
Another inference forced itself into Tuppence's mind:
"You followed me here?"
"I took that liberty."
"And in what way do you think you could be of use to me?"
The man took a card from his pocket and handed it to her with a bow.
Tuppence took it and scrutinized it carefully. It bore the inscription,
"Mr. Edward Whittington." Below the name were the words "Esthonia
Glassware Co.," and the address of a city office. Mr. Whittington spoke
again:
"If you will call upon me to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock, I will

lay the details of my proposition before you."
"At eleven o'clock?" said Tuppence doubtfully.
"At eleven o'clock."
Tuppence made up her mind.
"Very well. I'll be there."
"Thank you. Good evening."
He raised his hat with a flourish, and walked away. Tuppence remained
for some minutes gazing after him. Then she gave a curious movement
of her shoulders, rather as a terrier shakes himself.
"The adventures have begun," she murmured to herself. "What does he
want me to do, I wonder? There's something about you, Mr.
Whittington, that I don't like at all. But, on the other hand, I'm not the
least bit afraid of you. And as I've said before, and shall doubtless say
again, little Tuppence can look after herself, thank you!"
And with a short, sharp nod of her head she walked briskly onward. As
a result of further meditations, however, she turned aside from the
direct route and entered a post office. There she pondered for some
moments, a telegraph form in her hand. The thought of a possible five
shillings spent unnecessarily spurred her to action, and she decided to
risk the waste of ninepence.
Disdaining the spiky pen and thick, black treacle which a beneficent
Government had provided, Tuppence drew out Tommy's pencil which
she had retained and wrote rapidly: "Don't put in advertisement. Will
explain to-morrow." She addressed it to Tommy at his club, from
which in one short month he would have to resign, unless a kindly
fortune permitted him to renew his subscription.
"It may catch him," she murmured. "Anyway, it's worth trying."
After handing it over the counter she set out briskly for home, stopping

at a baker's to buy three penny-worth of new buns.
Later, in her tiny cubicle at the top of the house she munched buns and
reflected on the future. What was the Esthonia Glassware Co., and what
earthly need could it have for her services? A pleasurable thrill of
excitement made Tuppence tingle. At any rate, the country vicarage
had retreated into the background again. The morrow held possibilities.
It was a long time before Tuppence went to sleep that night, and, when
at length she did, she dreamed that Mr. Whittington had set her to
washing up a pile of Esthonia Glassware, which bore an unaccountable
resemblance to hospital plates!
It wanted some five minutes to eleven when Tuppence reached the
block of buildings in which the offices of the Esthonia Glassware Co.
were situated. To arrive before the time would look over-eager. So
Tuppence decided to walk to the end of the street and back again. She
did so. On the stroke of eleven she plunged into the recesses of the
building. The Esthonia Glassware Co. was on the top floor. There was
a lift, but Tuppence chose to walk up.
Slightly out of breath, she came to a halt outside the ground glass door
with the legend painted across it "Esthonia Glassware Co."
Tuppence knocked. In response to a voice from within, she turned the
handle and walked into a small rather dirty outer office.
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