"You see," explained Tuppence still sweetly, "I'm so very fond of
money!"

"You're about the limit, that's what you are," growled
Whittington, with a sort of unwilling admiration.  "You took me
in all right. Thought you were quite a meek little kid with just
enough brains for my purpose."

"Life," moralized Tuppence, "is full of surprises."

"All the same," continued Whittington, "some one's been talking.
You say it isn't Rita.  Was it----? Oh, come in."

The clerk followed his discreet knock into the room, and laid a
paper at his master's elbow.

"Telephone message just come for you, sir."

Whittington snatched it up and read it.  A frown gathered on his
brow.

"That'll do, Brown.  You can go."

The clerk withdrew, closing the door behind him. Whittington
turned to Tuppence.

"Come to-morrow at the same time.  I'm busy now. Here's fifty to
go on with."

He rapidly sorted out some notes, and pushed them across the
table to Tuppence, then stood up, obviously impatient for her to
go.

The girl counted the notes in a businesslike manner, secured them
in her handbag, and rose.

"Good morning, Mr. Whittington," she said politely. "At least, au
revoir, I should say."

"Exactly.  Au revoir!"  Whittington looked almost genial again, a
reversion that aroused in Tuppence a faint misgiving. "Au revoir,
my clever and charming young lady."

Tuppence sped lightly down the stairs.  A wild elation possessed
her. A neighbouring clock showed the time to be five minutes to
twelve.

"Let's give Tommy a surprise!" murmured Tuppence, and hailed a
taxi.

The cab drew up outside the tube station.  Tommy was just within
the entrance.  His eyes opened to their fullest extent as he
hurried forward to assist Tuppence to alight.  She smiled at him
affectionately, and remarked in a slightly affected voice:

"Pay the thing, will you, old bean?  I've got nothing smaller
than a five-pound note!"



CHAPTER III

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 recollecting a
plebeian twopence, and the driver, still holding the varied
assortment of coins in his hand, was prevailed upon to move on,
which he did after one last hoarse demand as to what the
gentleman thought he was giving him?

"I think you've given him too much, Tommy," said Tuppence
innocently. "I fancy he wants to give some of it back."

It was possibly this remark which induced the driver to move
away.

"Well," said Mr. Beresford, at length able to relieve his
feelings, "what the--dickens, did you want to take a taxi for?"

"I was afraid I might be late and keep you waiting," said
Tuppence gently.

"Afraid--you--might--be--late!  Oh, Lord, I give it up!" said Mr.
Beresford.

"And really and truly," continued Tuppence, opening her eyes very
wide, "I haven't got anything smaller than a five-pound note."

"You did that part of it very well, old bean, but all the same
the fellow wasn't taken in--not for a moment!"

"No," said Tuppence thoughtfully, "he didn't believe it. That's
the curious part about speaking the truth. No one does believe
it.  I found that out this morning. Now let's go to lunch.  How
about the Savoy?"

Tommy grinned.