Chapter 6 Chapter Six

one Tang Mi showed a very cautious look, looking at the package of things that Qiu Pengsai gave him. "Is this the one?" "Yes. Be careful not to spill it on you." Tang Mi sniffed the bag carefully, then said energetically: "Ah, really be careful. What is this smelly thing?" "It's Asafoetida," Choppong said. "If a girl smells a little of that, her boyfriend won't be so hard on her, that's what the newspaper says." "It smells like BO (lonely stink)." Tang Mi said in a low voice. Not long after, several things happened in Xiaoyao Hotel.

The first thing was the "strange smell" found in Mr. Meadows' room. Mr. Meadows is not a person who likes to complain. At first, he only mentioned this matter lightly.Later, his tone became more and more certain. A secret meeting was held, and Mrs. Pliner, who was invited to attend and could not withstand unanimous objection, was compelled to admit that there was indeed a smell in the room, a distinct, unpleasant one.She said it might be a leak from the switch on the gas stove. Tang Mi bent down and sniffed suspiciously.He said he didn't think the smell was coming from there, or from under the floorboards.He himself thought it must be—from a dead rat.

Mrs. Pliner said she had heard such things, but she was sure the Getaway had no mice, maybe a little mouse, but she had never seen one herself. Mr Meadows was adamant that he thought the smell indicated the presence of at least one rat.At the same time, he added, more firmly, that he would not stay another night at the Happy Hotel unless some sort of solution could be found for the matter, and he asked Mrs. Pliner to change his room. Mrs. Pliner naturally said that she was going to suggest that."The only room available here was a fairly small one and, unfortunately, it didn't have a sea view," she said.But if Mr. Meadows doesn't mind that--Mr. Meadows said he doesn't mind that.His only wish was to get away from that smell.When Mrs. Pliner heard this, she accompanied him to a small room.It turned out that the door of that room happened to be opposite Mrs. Brunken's door.At the same time, she called the adenoid, half-crazed maid, Beatrice, to "move Mr. Meadows's things."She also explained that she was going to send someone to ask "a male worker" to open the floor and search for the source of the smell.

So, the matter was settled satisfactorily. two The second thing was that Mr. Meadows had hay fever, that's what he said at first.Later, he vaguely admitted: Maybe he just caught a cold.He was sneezing and crying, and as soon as Mr. Meadows took out his big silk handkerchief, there was a faint smell of raw onions in the nearby air, but no one noticed it.In fact, it was the strong perfume on top that covered up the pungent stench. Finally, overwhelmed by the constant sneezing and runny nose, Mr. Meadows went to bed and went to rest. It was that morning that Mrs. Brunken received a letter from her son Douglas.Mrs. Brunken was so excited that everyone in the Happy Hotel heard the news.She said that the letter was not checked at all because, fortunately, a friend of Douglas brought it for her while he was on vacation.So this time, Douglas writes in great detail.

"That means," said Mrs. Brunken, shaking her head solemnly, "that we really don't know much about the actual situation." After breakfast she went upstairs to the bedroom, opened the lacquered box, and put the letter away.She sprinkled some unnoticeable rice powder in the crease of the letter, then closed the box and pressed it tightly. When she left the room, she coughed, and then from the opposite room came a sneeze like a show. Qiu Peng smiled and continued to walk downstairs. She had given away the news that she was going to London for a day, because she had a matter to discuss with her lawyer, and to make some purchases.

The tenants were all assembled now, to see her off kindly, and to entrust her with several errands.They said, "Of course, it's just at your convenience." For this kind of women's nagging, Breqilei respected ghosts and gods and stayed away.He is reading the newspaper now, criticizing loudly from time to time: "Damn German pigs! They actually used machine guns to shoot pedestrians on the street. It is extremely cruel! If I were our military and political authorities!" When Qiu Peng broke up with him, he was still planning what he would do if he was responsible for planning military operations.

She went around the garden and found Betty Spurrow.She asked what present she wanted her to bring from London. Betty was ecstatically catching a snail with her two hairs, giggling happily to appreciate her masterpiece.Qiu Peng asked her: "Is the cat good? Is the picture book good? Or the color chalk for the picture book?" Betty then decided: "Betty wants to draw." A color pastel. Qiu Peng originally planned to return to the driveway in front by the path at the end of the garden.As she walked by, she bumped into Karl Denimo by accident.He was clenching his fists and leaning against the wall.When Qiu Peng came over, he turned his face away.His face was usually cold, but now he was convulsed with emotion.

Qiu Peng stopped unconsciously and asked: "Any questions?" "Yes, there are problems with everything." His voice was hoarse and unnatural. "There's a saying in your country that's not a donkey or a horse, doesn't it?" Qiu Peng nodded and said: "That's who I am. It can't go on anymore, I tell you, it can't go on anymore, and I think it's all over." "What is your intention?" The young man said: "You've always been able to talk to me. I think you'll understand. I ran away from my country because I hated the injustice and cruelty of the Nazis. I came here to be free. I hate Germany. But , alas! I am still a German, and this cannot be changed by any force."

Qiu Peng said in a low voice: "I know, you must have difficulties." "That's not the question. I'm telling you because I'm German. In my heart - in my feelings, Germany is still my country. Sometimes I see German cities in the newspapers that tell you The bombing, the German soldiers are dying, the German planes let you shoot down. At this time, I thought, those dead are my compatriots, and I am very sad. The grumpy major read the news from the newspaper. When I heard him say 'German pigs', I couldn't help but get angry, I couldn't stand it."

He continued calmly: "So, I think maybe it's better to get it over with. Yes, it's over." Qiu Peng held his arm tightly. "Nonsense," she said firmly. "Of course you will be upset, as anyone would be. But you must bear with it." "I wish they'd detain me, it'd be more bearable." "Yes, perhaps. But you're doing useful work—that's probably what I've been told. It's not just good for England, it's good for all of humanity. You're working on the degassing problem." ,Yes or no?" His expression became a little more cheerful.

"Ah, yes. Great achievements have been made slowly. I have now developed a method, which is very simple. This disinfectant is easy to make, but the way of application is very complicated." "Oh," said Choupong. "It's well worth the hard work."Anything that relieves pain is worth investigating.As long as it's constructive, not destructive, it's worth the effort.Naturally, when we speak of the enemy, we cannot avoid using ugly words.In Germany, they mentioned us, the same.They've got a lot of guys like Major Brecheley out there, and they're cursing and spitting at us.I hate the Germans myself.Whenever I mention the Germans, I get a fit of nausea.However, when I think of individual German people, my feeling is different.For example: the mother who is looking forward to the news of her son all day long, the strong soil who left home to go to the front line, the farmer who harvests, the owner of a small shop, and some kind Germans I know.I know they are just normal people and we all feel the same.This is real.The rest are but false masks put on the face.That's part of the war, maybe an essential part, but it's fleeting. " When she said this, she remembered what the nurse said: "Patriotism alone is not enough. There must be no hatred in my heart." This was what Tang Mi thought of not long ago. Tang Mi and his wife have always considered what the most patriotic woman said to be the best sacrifice. Karl DeNemo took her hand and kissed it, saying: "I want to thank you. What you said is beneficial to me and makes sense. I must be more patient." "Oh!" she thought when Qiu Peng walked down the mountain to the city. "Among them, the Germans are my favorites. What a misfortune! That makes everything worse." three Careful planning is the greatest strength of Qiu Peng.Although she didn't want to go to London, she thought that since she said she would go, it was better to go.If she doesn't go to London, but just wanders around other places, this matter will be reported to the Xiaoyao Hotel in the future. Yes. "Mrs. Brunken" had said she was going to London, and she had to. She bought a round-trip ticket on a third-class train, and just after leaving the ticket office, she met Sheila Priner. "Hello!" said Sheila. "Where are you going? I just went to the station to check a package. It seems to have been dropped in the wrong place." Qiu Peng told her his plan. "Ah, that's right." Sheila said casually. "I remember you talking about it, but I didn't expect to go today. I'll take you to the car." Sheila was in a better mood than usual today, and she showed neither a temper nor a gloomy look.She talked adorably about the little things of the day at the Happy Hotel, right down to when the train was about to leave. Qiupeng waved goodbye to the girl from the window until he disappeared. Then, she sat in a corner of the carriage and began to think seriously. She thought: Sheila was also at the station at this time. I wonder if it was a coincidence, or is it a proof of the enemy's careful planning?Is Mrs. Pliner trying to find out that this naughty Mrs. Brunken is really going to London? This seems likely. Four It was not until the next day that Qiu Peng could discuss with Tang Mi.They agreed with each other that they would never exchange news at Xiaoyao Hotel. The meeting between Mrs. Brunken and Mr. Meadows happened just as Mr. Meadows was recovering from his illness and went out for a walk on the Promenade.They sat down on a bench in the promenade. "How is it?" Qiu Peng said. Tang Mi nodded slowly, showing a rather unhappy look. "Yes," he said. "I've got some news. But, alas, I've had a rough day, peeping through doors, and my neck's stiff." "Let's not talk about your neck," Qiu Peng said ruthlessly. "Tell me what you saw." "That--of course, I saw the girls go in to make the beds and clean the room. And Mrs. Pliner went in too, but she went in to scold the girls while they were still in the room. The little girl I also ran in, and when I came out, I was holding a woolen toy dog." "Uh, uh. Anyone else?" "There is one more person." Tang Mi said. "Carl De Nemo." "Oh." Qiu Peng immediately felt a pain in his heart.It turns out that, after all, it is—— "When?" she asked. "Lunchtime. He left the dining-room early, went upstairs to his own room, then stole across the passage to your room. He was there about a quarter of an hour." He paused for a moment. "Then there is no doubt about it?" Qiu Peng nodded. Yes, there is no doubt about it.Denimo could not have had any other purpose than to spend a quarter of an hour in Mrs Brunken's bedroom.He is not a simple person, and it has been proved now.Qiu Peng thought: He must be a great actor... What he said to her this morning seemed to be true.Well, maybe it's true in a way.If you want to be successful in deceiving people, you must first know when to tell the truth.De Nemo is a patriot who is an enemy spy sent to work in England.For this, we must respect him, yes, but we must also destroy him. "I'm sorry." She said slowly. "Me too," Tang Mi said. "He would have been a fine young man." "If you and I were Germans, we would do the same," said Thuppong. Tang Mi nodded. "We now more or less know where we are. Karl Denimo and Sheila work with her mother. Maybe Mrs. Pliner is at the head, and there's that foreign woman who talked to Karl yesterday, more or less." Missing her is one of them." "Who knows now?" "We'll have to go to Mrs. Pliner's room when we get a chance. There may be something there that will give us some hints. We'll have to follow her—to see where she goes and who she sees. Tommy, I suggest that Albert be brought in." Tang Mi considered her suggestion. A few years ago, Albert was a hotel boy.At that time, he had already worked with the young Mr. and Mrs. Bi Zhifu and went through the adversity together.Later, he joined their organization and became a pillar of domestic intelligence in their organization.He married six years ago and is now proprietor of the Duck and Dog Tavern in South London. Qiu Peng quickly went on to say: "Albert's going to be very excited. We're going to have him here, and he can live in that tavern near the station. That way he can follow the Plinners, and anyone." "Then what about Mrs. Albert?" "Last Monday, she was planning to go to Wales to see her mother, but because of the air raid, she didn't go. It was a coincidence." "Yes, that's a good idea. Qiu Peng, we don't care which one. If we stare at the woman's tip, it will be too noticeable. If it was Albert, it would be fine. Now there is another thing. The so-called Didn't the Czech woman talk to Denimo and linger here? We should also be on our guard against her. It seems to me that she may represent the other side of this kind of work. That's what we are eager to find. clues." "Ah, yes, yes. I quite agree. She's here for an order, or a message. The next time we see her, someone must keep an eye on her, and make sure to know more about her. " "I think we can search Mrs. Pliner's room and Karl's room. What do you think?" "I thought his room would turn up nothing. He is a German, so the police probably searched his room, so he must be careful not to reveal anything suspicious. That Pliner Mrs. was not easy to search, because Sheila was often in the room when she went out. And Betty and Mrs. Spurrow were running about upstairs and downstairs. And Mrs. O'Rourke was often in her room. spend a lot of time in your bedroom." She paused for a moment. “Great lunch time.” "You mean when Master Karl searched your room?" "That's all right. I can pretend I have a headache and go back to my room. Oh, no, I'll be served in that way. I'll sneak in before lunch, and go upstairs unnoticed. Lunch Later, I can say I have a headache." "Is it better if I come? I can pretend to be ill again." "I think it's better if I come. In case I get caught, I'll go for aspirin or something. It's more suspicious if a male lodger sneaks into the landlady's room." .” Tang Mi laughed so hard that he couldn't keep his mouth shut. "There is an ulterior purpose." Then, his smile faded, and his expression became serious and eager again. "The sooner we have to do it, madam, the better. The news is not good today. We must do it sooner." Fives Tang Mi continued to walk, and soon came to the post office.He went in and made a long-distance call with Mr. Grant. His report was: "The recent operation has been successful. Mr. C is definitely related." Then he wrote a letter and sent it.The envelope read: Kensington Town, Glamor Dry Street, Duck and Dog, by Mr Albert Butt. After the letter was sent, Tang Mi bought a weekly newspaper that claimed to be able to report real news to the English-speaking world. Then, with a dazed look, he walked back to the Xiaoyao Hotel. Soon, I met Lieutenant Colonel Haidak.The lieutenant colonel greeted him leaning against the two-seater car. "Hello! Meadows—want a ride?" Respecting the lieutenant colonel's hospitality, Tang Mi jumped into the car. "So you're also reading that kind of old newspaper? Isn't that right?" Lieutenant Colonel Haidak asked, looking at the red cover of the "Insider Weekly". People who read this kind of insider news often feel a little embarrassed when asked. Tang Mi also showed this look. "This kind of bullshit sucks," he said, too. "But, you know, sometimes it seems like they do know what's going on behind the scenes." "However, sometimes it's wrong." "Ah, yes." "In fact," Lieutenant Colonel Haidak's car was on a somewhat wrong route.He rounded a one-lane island and narrowly missed hitting a van. "When those beggar reporters are wrong, you will remember. When they are unfortunate, you will forget." "There's a rumor on here that Stalin has negotiated with us. Do you think it's true?" "Oh, my friend, it's all our wishful thinking, wishful thinking! Old Russ is very bad. I tell you, don't trust them. I heard you are not very well, are you?" "A little bit of hay fever, though. I get it every year around this time." "Oh, oh. I've never had it myself, but a friend of mine does. Every June, he lays down. Has he got his strength back? How about a round of golf? " Tang Mi said that he was happy to accompany him. "Yeah! So what about tomorrow? I'll tell you what to do. Now I have to go to a meeting and talk to them about shooting enemy paratroopers. We are going to recruit a volunteer regiment locally. It is really a good idea. Now is the time. Everybody should do their part. Shall we have a game about six o'clock, then?" "Thank you, great, with you, with you!" "Good! Then, it's settled." The lieutenant colonel hurriedly stopped the car at the gate of Xiaoyao Hotel. "How is pretty Sheila?" he asked. "Probably very well. I don't see her very often." Lieutenant Colonel Haidak laughed as usual. "It's not what you're expecting. The lady is pretty, but she's fucking rude. She's too close to that German kid. Damn, so unpatriotic! Probably like me and you She's useless, old-fashioned. But in our own ranks, there are plenty of promising young lads. Why make friends with the damned German? I get mad when I think about it! " Mr Meadows said: "Be careful what you say, he is behind us now, coming up the mountain." "I don't care if he hears it! I hope he can hear it. I'll teach Master Karl a lesson! An upright German should defend his country and not slip away abroad to escape responsibility!" "This—" Tang Mi said. "Actually, it was this substandard German who invaded Britain by all means." "You mean the kind has invaded here? Ha! ha! That's pretty good! Meadows! Not because I believe this nonsense about invasion. We've never been invaded in England, Not in the future! Thank God! We still have a strong navy!" After finishing this set of patriotic words, the lieutenant colonel pulled the wrench of the car, and the car jumped and drove straight to the "smuggler's resting place". six At twenty minutes to two, Qiu Peng came to the gate of Xiaoyao Hotel.She left the drive, walked across the garden, and entered the living room through the open window.In the distance came the smell of mutton stew with potatoes and onions, the clinking of dishes and murmurs of conversation.The people at Xiaoyao Hotel are busy eating lunch. Qiu Peng waited at the door of the living room, and waited until the daughter-in-law walked through the hall and entered the door of the dining room, then she took off her shoes and hurried upstairs. She went into the room, put on soft felt slippers, and went from the podium to Mrs. Pliner's room. As soon as she entered the room, she looked around, and a feeling of disgust passed through her heart.She thought, this is really not a good job.If Mrs. Pliner were just an ordinary citizen, it would be unforgivable to pry into other people's private affairs like this. Qiu Peng shook his head like a hunting dog, as if to shake off his remaining childish thoughts.We are fighting now! She walked over to the dresser. Her movements were quick and mellow. There was a locked drawer on the tall chest of drawers, which seemed more promising. Tang Mi once received some tools from the intelligence department, and received short-term training to know how to use them.This kind of knowledge, he has passed on to Qiu Peng. Qiu Peng deftly turned his wrist once or twice, and the drawer opened. Inside there was a money-box containing twenty-pound notes and silver pieces, a silver box, and a jewel-box.There are also a bunch of files.This is what Qiu Peng Ding is interested in.She flipped through it quickly; the action had to be fast, and she could only glance at it hastily.Because she didn't have time to look closely. These documents include the signatures of the Xiaoyao Hotel, bank books and letters.Time flew by, Qiu Peng took a quick look, desperately trying to find some words that could be interpreted in two ways.There are two letters from a friend from Italy, both of a rambling nature, which seem to be all right.However, perhaps not as innocuous as it appears, there was a letter from London from a man named Latimer, a solemn and dry letter, containing nothing worth noting. .Qiu Peng thought: Why does she keep such a letter?Wasn't this Mr. Latimer as harmless as he appeared?Below the pile of letters was a letter with faded ink.It was signed by Potter, and began: "Eileen, dear! This is the last time I write to you—" No, don't watch this!Qiupeng really can't stand this.She folded the letter, arranged the rest of the letter, and put it on top.Then she suddenly became alert, and hastily closed the drawer.There's no time to lock it now.When the door opened, Mrs. Pliner walked in. She was rummaging among the bottles on the washstand. Mrs Brunken turned to the landlady with a troubled and stupid look on her face: "Oh, Mrs. Pliner, you must forgive me. I came in looking for medicine because I had a terrible headache. I wanted to take some aspirin and lie down, but I couldn't find my own, so I just came here to get a couple of slices, and I don't think you'd mind. I know you have them in your room, because I saw you give them to Miss Minton when she was ill last time." Mrs. Pliner walked quickly through the door, speaking with bitterness in her voice. "Oh, Mrs. Brunken, of course it's all right. Why don't you ask me?" "Well, well, yes, of course, I should have asked you. But, I know you're all having lunch. You know, I really don't like to make a fuss—" Mrs. Pliner walked past Choppon and grabbed the aspirin bottle from the washstand. "How many slices do you want?" she asked bluntly. Mrs Brunken asked for three slices.Then Mrs. Pliner accompanied her to her own room, and Mrs. Pliner's suggestion to fill her with a hot-water bottle refused. Mrs. Pliner left her room with a parting message: "But, Mrs. Brunken, you've got some aspirin yourself. I saw it." Qiu Peng hastily called out: "Ah, I know. I know I've got a few of them somewhere. But I'm such a fool that I can't find them." When Pliner spoke, he showed his big white teeth. "Well, have a good rest. See you at tea time." She went out, closing the door behind her.Qiu Peng took a deep breath, and she lay motionless on the bed, afraid that Mrs. Pliner would come back again. Was the landlady suspicious?Her teeth are so big and white.In fact, it is more suitable for eating you.As soon as Qiu Peng noticed her big teeth, he thought so.Mrs. Pliner's hand was the same, so big and terrible-looking! On the surface, Mrs. Pliner seemed to believe Qiu Peng's reasons.But, after a while, she would find that the drawers of the chest of drawers were unlocked.So, would she doubt it?Would she have thought she had forgotten to lock it by accident?A person tends to be like this.Qiu Peng thought again: Did she arrange the pile of letters in the same way as before? Even if Mrs. Pliner had noticed that something was wrong, she would have been more likely to suspect the maids than Mrs. Brunken.If she really had doubts about her, would she think the lodger was merely unduly curious?Qiu Peng knew that there was a kind of person who liked to meddle in other people's affairs. However, if Mrs. Pliner was the well-known German spy M, she would suspect that this was a counter-espionage operation. Was there an undue vigilance in her demeanor? She acted as though it were natural.One sentence about aspirin was too explicit, though. Qiu Peng sat up suddenly.She remembered that her aspirin was kept in the back of her desk drawer, along with iodine and a bottle of soda tablets.It was thrown there casually after she unpacked her luggage when she first arrived. So, it looked like she wasn't the only one sneaking into other people's rooms.Mrs. Pliner had checked her room first.