The Secret Adversary, Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley, Book 1

415 Pages·2001·1.08 MB·English

by  Agatha Christie

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The Secret
Adversary
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To all those who lead monotonous lives in the hope
that they may experience at second-hand the delights
and dangers of adventure.
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Contents
About Agatha Christie
The Agatha Christie Collection
E-Book Extras
Prologue 9
1 The Young Adventurers, Ltd. 13
2 Mr Whittington’s Offer 27
3 A Setback 41
4 Who is Jane Finn? 51
5 Mr Julius P. Hersheimmer 65
6 A Plan of Campaign 75
7 The House in Soho 87
8 The Adventures of Tommy 97
9 Tuppence Enters Domestic Service 113
10 Enter Sir James Peel Edgerton 127
11 Julius Tells a Story 139
12 A Friend in Need 155
13 The Vigil 181
14 A Consultation 197
15 Tuppence Receives a Proposal 207
16 Further Adventures of Tommy 219
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17 Annette 233
18 The Telegram 257
19 Jane Finn 277
20 Too Late 293
21 Tommy Makes a Discovery 303
22 In Downing Street 313
23 A Race Against Time 321
24 Julius Takes a Hand 331
25 Jane’s Story 347
26 Mr Brown 369
27 A Supper Party at the Savoy 379
28 And After 395
Copyright
www.agathachristie.com
About the Publisher
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Prologue
It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7th, 1915.
The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in
succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were
being launched with all possible speed. The women and
children were being lined up awaiting their turn. Some
still clung desperately to husbands and fathers; others
clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girl
stood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite
young, not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid,
and her grave steadfast eyes looked straight ahead.
‘I beg your pardon.’
A man’s voice beside her made her start and turn. She
had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the
first-class passengers. There had been a hint of mystery
about him which had appealed to her imagination. He
spoke to no one. If anyone spoke to him he was quick
to rebuff the overture. Also he had a nervous way
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