Chapter 19 Chapter 18 The Telegraph

Temporarily frustrated, Tommy wandered into the restaurant and ordered a sumptuous meal.Four days of captivity made him appreciate fine food even more. He was putting a slice of sole a la Jeannette into his mouth when he saw Julius walk in and Tommy waved the menu happily.Seeing Tommy, Julius' eyes seemed to pop out. He came over and took Tommy's hand firmly. ① French.It means: Grilled sole. ——Annotation. "Holy Serpent," he said aloud, "is it really you?" "Of course, why not?" "Why not, say, man, don't you know that you're supposed to be dead. I think there's a funeral Mass for you in a few days."

"Who thinks I'm dead?" Tommy asked. "Tuppence." "She remembered the proverb about young men dying, and I suppose there must be some remnants of original sin in me. By the way, where is Tuppence?" "Isn't she here?" "No, the people in the office said she was out." "I wanted to go shopping. I drove her back about an hour ago. Can't you be British and calm down? What the hell have you been doing all this time?" "If you're eating here," Tommy asked him, "order now. It's a long story."

Julius pulled up a chair, called a waiter, asked him for some food, and turned to Tommy. "Go on, I think you've taken an adventure." "One or two," replied Tommy modestly, and began his narrative. Julius was so fascinated by this that he was too surprised to speak.He forgot to eat the food in front of him.Finally he let out a long breath of relief. "Wow, that reads like a dime novel." "Now let's talk about the internal front," Tommy said, reaching out and hitting a torreya. "Well—" said Julius slowly, "I don't mind, I admit we had some adventures."

This time it is his turn to play the role of narrator.From his unsuccessful reconnaissance at Bournemouth, to returning to London to buy a motor vehicle, Tuppence was anxious, to visit Sir James, and to the sensational events of the night before. "Who killed her?" asked Tommy. "I don't quite understand." "The doctor deluded himself into thinking it was suicide," said Julius deadpan. "Then what does Sir James think?" "As a big name in the legal world, he's also been tight-lipped," Julius replied. "I'd say 'he reserves judgment.'" He went on to describe the morning's events.

"The thread she knows is broken?" Tommy asked concerned. "Net, that explains why they all looked at me so strangely when I mentioned her. A little negligent on my part. But they probably didn't." to her business." "As for where Jane is, have they not given you any hint?" Tommy shook his head regretfully. "Not a word. I'm kind of dumb, you know. I should have gotten more information from them." "I guess you're lucky to be here, you've done a great job of deceiving them. How you can play like that really makes me admire. "

"I'm in a state of panic and have to figure something out," said Tommy simply.After a pause, Tommy turned to Mrs. Vandermeyer's death. "No suspicion of chloral?" "I don't believe it. At least they call the heart failure an overdose, or something like that, and we won't bother with an autopsy. But, Tuppence and I, even that smug Sir James They all had the same idea." "Mr. Brown?" asked Tommy riskily. "affim." Tommy nodded. "All the same," he said thoughtfully, "Mr. Brown has no wings. How does he get in and out?"

"Do you think it was some kind of advanced mind-shifting device? Some kind of magnetic influence that forced Mrs. van der Meyer to commit suicide?" Tommy looked at him respectfully. "Okay, Julius, that's good. Especially the phrasing and the language. But it gives me chills. What I need to find is a Brown in flesh and blood. Talented young detectives should work hard, study entrance and exit, and pat their foreheads till we find the solution to the mysterious case. Let's take a look at the crime scene. I hope to find Tuppence. The Ritz will be delighted at this happy reunion."

They went to the office to inquire and learned that Tuppence had still not returned. "All the same, I want to go upstairs," said Julius. "She might be in my living room." Suddenly a kid at Tommy's elbow said, "Young lady—she's gone by train. I think, sir," he whispered sheepishly. "What?" Tommy turned to him suddenly, and the little boy's face was even redder than before. "Sir, I heard her tell the driver to go to Charing Street, hurry up." Tommy stared at him, his eyes wide open.The little boy bravely continued: "She asked for a national train timetable and a national station passenger transport schedule."

Tommy interrupted him: "When did she get those two watches?" "When I sent her the telegram." "A telegram?" "Yes, sir." "When was that?" "About half past twelve, sir." "Tell me exactly what happened." The little boy took a deep breath. "I sent the telegram to number 891—the lady was there—. She was breathless when she opened it. Then she said cheerfully: 'Get me a national train timetable and national station passenger schedule, hurry up. , Henry', my name isn't Henry, but—" "Never mind your name," said Tommy impatiently. "Go on."

"Yes, sir. I brought my watch and she told me to wait, looked up the watch, looked up at the clock and said, 'Quick, tell them to find me a taxi'. She brushed her hat at the window, Downstairs as fast as I was, into a cab, and I heard what she said aloud, I told you." The little boy stopped to catch his breath, Tommy still staring at him.Just then Julius approached with an open letter in his hand. "I say, Hersheimmer—" Tommy turned to him—"Tuppence went out to spy by herself." "Damn it!" "Yes, she did. She got the telegram, and after a moment of hasty reasoning, took a taxi to Charing Street."

His eyes looked at the letter in Julius's hand: "Oh, she left you a note, where is she?" He reached for the letter almost automatically, and Julius folded it and put it in his pocket, looking uneasy. "I don't think the letter has anything to do with that. It's something else—something I asked her and she told me." "Ah!?" Yang Mi was puzzled, as if waiting for more answers. "Listen," said Julius suddenly, "you'd better let me know. I asked Miss Tuppence to marry me this morning." "Ah!" said Tommy mechanically, feeling dizzy as Julius's words were so unexpected that his mind was numb. "I want to tell you," continued Julius, "that I have made it clear before I proposed to Miss Tuppence that I do not wish to come in any way between the two of you—" Tommy pulled himself together. "That's good," he said quickly, "Tuppence and I have been friends for many years, that's all." He lit a cigarette with a trembling hand. "That's good, Tuppence always says She's looking for-" He stopped talking suddenly, blushing, but Julius was not disturbed. "Hey, I think the dollar will work. Miss Tuppence made me understand that right away, no fraud, and we should get on well." Tommy looked at Julius curiously, as if about to say something, then changed his mind and said nothing.Tuppence and Julius!Ah, why not, hadn't she been miserable before she didn't know rich people?She didn't say publicly that she would marry for money, given the chance.A chance encounter with a young American millionaire offered her an opportunity she could not pass up.She was trying to get money, she always said so.Was she to be blamed for being true to her creed? " But Chang Mi didn't blame her.He was filled with intense, illogical resentment.It's no surprise to say this normally - but a real girl shouldn't marry for money.Tuppence was such a cold-blooded and selfish girl that I hated to see her again: what a wretched world it was! Julius interrupted Tommy's thoughts. "Yes, we get on very well. I heard that there is a girl who always rejects you. It is a custom." Tommy grabbed his hand: "No, you said no?" "Of course. Didn't I just say that? She just said no, sharply, without giving any reason. The Germans call it the Eternal Feminine. But she'll calm down quickly, and I urged her—" Tommy cut him off, out of courtesy. "What did she say in that text message?" he asked gruffly. Polite Julius handed him the letter. "There's no hint in the letter as to where she's going," he reassured Tommy. "If you don't believe it, you might as well see for yourself." The note, written by Tuppence in that famous schoolboy's calligraphy, reads as follows: Dear Julius: Things are best in black on white.I won't think about marriage until I find Tommy.Save that question for another time. Your beloved Tommy Tuppence handed the letter to Julius with a twinkle in his eye and a great shock in his heart.He felt that Tuppence had become more noble and impartial.Didn't she reject Julius without hesitation?It is true that this text message also revealed her weakness, but he can forgive it.The letter seemed to be a bribe for Julius to redouble his efforts to find Tommy.But he surmised that Tuppence didn't mean that.Dear Tuppence, there is no girl like her in the world!When he saw her--would pop his thoughts to her. "As you said," he cheered up, "the letter gave no hint of what she was going to do. Hey-!" The little boy came obediently, and Tommy came out with five shillings. "One more thing. Do you remember what the young lady did with that telegram?" "Sir, she crumpled the telegram into a paper ball and threw it into the fireplace with a clatter." "Very well, Henry," said Tommy. "Here's five shillings for you. Quick, Julius, we must find the telegram." They hurried upstairs.Tuppence's key was still on the door, and the room was as she had left it.There is a white ball of paper in the fireplace.After Tommy took it out, he laid it flat. Coming soon, Yorkshire, Ebury, Mott Kew House, much progress—Tommy. The two of them looked at each other, dumbfounded.Julius asked first, "You didn't send the telegram, did you?" "Of course not. What does it mean?" "I think it's the worst," said Julius softly. "They've got her." "what?" "Sure! They signed your name, and she fell into their trap like a little lamb." "My God! What should we do?" "Go and find her: there's just no time now. Luckily she didn't take the telegram away, or we'll never find her again. Where's the train timetable?" Julius's energy was so infectious that Tommy might have to sit and think for half an hour before making a decision to act. Busting around with Julius is inevitable, and Julius handed the train timetable to Tommy after a few muttered curses, as if he knew it well.Tommy would rather use the national train schedule than this one, "Here we go, Ebury, Yorkshire, from King's Cross or St Pancras (boy must have made a mistake, King's Cross instead of Charing Cross), the 12.50 is her train. The 2.10 is gone, and the 3.20 is the damned slow." "How about the car?" Tommy shook his head. "Get rid of the car if you like. We'd better take the train and keep calm." Julius snorted twice. "That's the way it is, and the thought of that innocent girl being in danger irritates me." Tommy nodded meaningfully.He was thinking, and after a while he said, "I say Julius, what do they want her for?" "Well, I don't borrow your ideas." "I mean, I don't think they'll hurt her," Tommy explained, frowning in thought. "She's a hostage, and she's in no danger at the moment. But it's not good for her if we act hastily. Now she's useful to them. As long as Tuppence is in their hands, they'll hold the whip to beat us, understand?" "Sure," said Julius, "that's exactly what happened." Furthermore, Chang added: "I have a lot of faith in Tuppence." Travel is tiring.The train stops many times along the way and the carriages are crowded.They changed trains twice, once at Doncaster and once at a side station.Ebury was a deserted station save for a lone porter.Zhang Mi talked to him: "Can you tell me the way to Mote Qiu Mansion?" "The Mott Kew house is very near here, the house by the sea." After Chang Mi patiently listened to the porter's wordy introduction, they left the station.It started to rain, and they walked on the muddy road with the collars of their coats turned up.Suddenly Chang Mi stopped. "Wait a minute." He ran back to the station and asked the worker again. "Listen, do you remember a young lady who came here on the morning train? She left London at ten past ten, and she might ask you for the way to Motley House." He described Tuppence's appearance in as much detail as he could, but the porter shook his head.Several people had come by that train, and he couldn't afford the young lady.But when he assured Tommy that no one had asked him the way to Morter Kew, Tommy and Julius were dismayed, and Tommy believed they would not succeed.The enemy has been on the move for three hours. That was more than enough for Mr. Brown.He would not ignore the possibility that the telegram could be discovered by others. The road seems to have no end. Once they take the wrong road, they will deviate from their goal.A child told them that Mott Kew was just around the next corner.It was past seven o'clock. A rusty iron gate dangling from its frame and a driveway overgrown with weeds chilled them both.They walked up the disused driveway.Walking on the weeds can not hear footsteps.The day has passed, and walking here is like walking in a world of ghosts.Overhead the branches crackled and the occasional sodden leaf fell silently and coldly on their faces, startling them. At the bend in the driveway, they saw the house.The house looked empty and uninhabited.The shutters were closed, and the steps leading to the door were covered with moss. Was it true that Tuppence had been tricked into this deserted place?It's hard to believe that no one has walked this road for months. Julius turned the rusty doorbell knob sharply. The discordant voice echoed in the empty room. No one came out. They rang the bell again, still lifeless.Then they walked around the house, and everything was quiet, the windows were closed, and it turned out that the house was empty. "Nothing to do," said Julius, and they walked slowly back to the gate. "There must be a village nearby," said the young American. "We can inquire about it. They may know something about it." "Yes, good idea." Take the main road and soon come to a village.On the way they met a farmer carrying a tool bag.Tommy stopped him and asked some questions. "Motte Kew House?" "Motte Kew has been empty for many years. If you're going there, Mrs. Sweeney has the key. She lives next door to the post office." After Tommy thanked him, they quickly found the post office, which was also a cozy textile store.They knocked at the door of the next cottage, and a healthy, tidy woman answered.She quickly produced the key to Mort Kew House. "I doubt this kind of place is suitable for you, the house is broken and needs repairing. The ceiling leaks and so on. It will cost a lot of money." "Thanks," said Tommy cheerfully, "I dare say the house is in a mess. It's hard to find a house these days." "It is true," said the woman, "that my daughter and son-in-law have been looking for a decent cottage for an indeterminate amount of time. It is because of the war, which has messed everything up. Please forgive me, sir." , it's too dark, you can't have a good look at the house, how about tomorrow?" "Never mind, let's go and see tonight. We got lost here, what's the best place around here to spend the night?" Mrs. Sweeney was suspicious. "There's an inn called the Yorkshire Arms, but it's not for gentlemen like you." "Oh, good. Thanks. By the way, did you see a young woman come here today asking for a key?" The woman shook her head. "No one has been here for a long time." "thank you very much." They were back at Mott Kew House again.The front door was still swinging on its frame and rattling loudly.Julius struck a match and examined it carefully.Then he shook his head. "I swear, no one has ever walked this road. Look at how thick the dust is. There are no traces." They walked around the empty house.It's the same everywhere, thick with dust that has never been swept. "It stumps me," said Julius. "I don't believe Tuppence ever came here." "She must have been here." Julius shook his head without answering. "We'll check back tomorrow," said Tommy, "and maybe we'll see something during the day." The next day, they went to check again, and barely came to the conclusion that no one had entered the room for a long time.Had it not been for a lucky discovery by Tommy, they would probably have gotten out of here.As they walked back to the gate, Tommy cried out suddenly, and stooped to pick up something from among the leaves and give it to Julius. It was a small gold brooch. "It's Tuppence's!" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely. I've seen her wear it." Julius took a deep breath. "It's clear, I think, that she's been here. We can use the tavern as our foothold, and look around here until we find her. Somebody must have seen her." So they set to work.Tommy and Julius searched separately and then reunited, with the same result.No one around here had seen Tuppence.Although the two of them suffered setbacks, they did not lose confidence.Finally they changed tactics.Tuppence's short stay at Motte Kew meant that she had been restrained and taken away in a motor vehicle.So the two re-investigated.Did anyone see a car that day near Mott Kew?The result failed again. Julius telegraphed the city for his car.They are full of energy and go around here every day.Once they followed a gray limousine, hopefully, all the way to Harrogate, and it turned out to belong to a respectable lady. Every day they start a new search.Julius was like a hound, searching for clues.He questioned every car that passed here that day.He also: Forcibly entered a country house and questioned the owner of the car.His apologies are as thorough as his methods, often dispelling the anger of those people.Day after day, they get no results.The hijacking was so well planned, it was like 'this girl has disappeared from this world. Tommy had been thinking of another matter. "Do you know how long we've been here?" Tommy asked one morning when they were having breakfast together. "It's been a week and we haven't found Tuppence yet. Next Tuesday is the twenty-ninth!" "Damn it!" said Julius, "I've almost forgotten about the twenty-ninth, and I haven't thought of anything else but Tuppence." "I thought, at least I haven't forgotten the twenty-ninth, but it's nothing compared to the search for Tuppence. It's the twenty-third, and time is running out. E.g. If we're to find her, we'll have to be on the twenty-ninth Before the nineteenth—because after that, her life was worthless, and the hostage game would be over by then. I'm starting to feel like we made a big mistake from the start. We wasted time and made no progress." "I'm with you, us fools, we took a big bite and couldn't chew. I'm quitting this nonsense at once!" "What do you mean?" "I tell you, I'm going to do what I should have done a week ago. Go back to London at once and take this case to you British police. We thought we were detectives! It's downright stupid!Come on, I've had enough, I'm going to Scotland Yard. " "You're right," said Tommy slowly. "I pray to God we'll go back right away." "Better late than never. We were like two kids playing around the mulberry woods. Now I'm going to Scotland Yard right now and asking for their advice. I think the pros always beat the amateurs in the end, you and I ?" Tommy shook his head. "What's the use? It's enough for one person to go. I might as well stay here and look around here. I might find some clues. No one knows for sure." "Sure. Well, good-bye. I'll shake hands with the Inspectors and be back. I'll ask them to pick some of the best." Things don't go according to Julius' plan.Later that day Tommy received a telegram: Meet me at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, with important news - Julius Julius stood on the platform when Tommy stepped off a slow train at half past seven that night. . "I expect you will come by this train when you have my telegram." Tommy grabbed his arm. "What's the matter? Have you found Tuppence?" Julius shook his head. "No, but I found the telegram was delayed in London. It has just arrived." He sent the telegram to Tommy, who read it with wide eyes: Jane Finn found.Come to the Midland Hotel, Manchester, at once - Peel Edgerton. Julius took the telegram back and folded it. "Strange," he mused, "I thought the lawyer had dropped the case!"