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The Secret Adversary is written by Agatha Christie, immediately after her most successful first crime novel "The Mysterious Affair at Styles". This novel moves around the key characters named Tommy and Tuppence and perhaps appears in five of the preceding novels of Agatha.
Thomas Bereford nicknamed Tommy is a young Englishman who participated in the Great War and wounded couple of times, now looking for generating income of his own. Prudence L Cowley, nicknamed Tuppence, a young women who was also serving the Great War. Tommy and Tuppence is now looking for their livelihood in the post war scenario. After frustrating days passed, they decided to form “Young Adventures Ltd” and advertise in the newspapers, that they can do anything for money, of course the advertisement enclose terms and conditions.
The rest of the story is narrated their way to landing into troubles, with lots of twists and turns in typical Agatha’s adventurous style. Though this novel may not be as good as her first novel, still it would a good food adventure readers.
END
PROLOGUE
It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 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 of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance.
She noticed now that he was greatly agitated. There were beads of perspiration on his brow. He was evidently in a state of overmastering fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet death!
“Yes?” Her grave eyes met his inquiringly.
He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution.
“It must be!” he muttered to himself. “Yes—it is the only way.” Then aloud he said abruptly: “You are an American?”
“Yes.”
“A patriotic one?”
The girl flushed.
“I guess you’ve no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!”
“Don’t be offended. You wouldn’t be if you knew how much there was at stake. But I’ve got to trust some one—and it must be a woman.”
“Why?”
“Because of ‘women and children first.’” He looked round and lowered his voice. “I’m carrying papers—vitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the war. You understand? These papers have
got
to be saved! They’ve more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?”
The girl held out her hand.
“Wait—I must warn you. There may be a risk—if I’ve been followed. I don’t think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?”
The girl smiled.
“I’ll go through with it all right. And I’m real proud to be chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards?”
“Watch the newspapers! I’ll advertise in the personal column of the
Times
, beginning ‘Shipmate.’ At the end of three days if there’s nothing—well, you’ll know I’m down and out. Then take the packet to the American Embassy, and deliver it into the Ambassador’s own hands. Is that clear?”
“Quite clear.”
“Then be ready—I’m going to say good-bye.” He took her hand in his. “Good-bye. Good luck to you,” he said in a louder tone.
Her hand closed on the oilskin packet that had lain in his palm.
The
Lusitania
settled with a more decided list to starboard. In answer to a quick command, the girl went forward to take her place in the boat.
END PROLOGUE It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had been struck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched with all possible…
THE YOUNG ADVENTURERS, LTD. “Tommy, old thing!” “Tuppence, old bean!” The two young people greeted each other affectionately, and momentarily blocked the Dover Street Tube exit in doing so. The adje…
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 assu…
A SET BACK The moment was not quite so triumphant as it ought to have been. To begin with, the resources of Tommy’s pockets were somewhat limited. In the end the fare was managed, the lady recollectin…
WHO IS JANE FINN? The next day passed slowly. It was necessary to curtail expenditure. Carefully husbanded, forty pounds will last a long time. Luckily the weather was fine, and “walking is cheap,” di…
MR. JULIUS P. HERSHEIMMER “Well,” said Tuppence, recovering herself, “it really seems as though it were meant to be.” Carter nodded. “I know what you mean. I’m superstitious myself. Luck, and all th…
A PLAN OF CAMPAIGN A veil might with profit be drawn over the events of the next half-hour. Suffice it to say that no such person as “Inspector Brown” was known to Scotland Yard. The photograph of Jan…
THE HOUSE IN SOHO Whittington and his companion were walking at a good pace. Tommy started in pursuit at once, and was in time to see them turn the corner of the street. His vigorous strides soon enab…
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