N or M by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online Page A

then he said:
    “Tell her from me, will you, that I eat dirt?”
    “And I suppose, now, she's in on this?”
    Mr Grant made an expressive grimace.
    “She's in on it whether we like it or not. Tell her the department will esteem it an honour if she will condescend to work with us over the matter.”
    “I'll tell her,” said Tommy with a faint grin.
    Grant said seriously:
    “You couldn't persuade her, I suppose, to go home and stay home?”
    Tommy shook his head.
    “You don't know Tuppence.”
    “I think I'm beginning to. I said that because - well, it's a dangerous business. If they get wise to you or to her -”
    He left the sentence unfinished.
    Tommy said gravely: “I do understand that, sir.”
    “But I suppose even you couldn't persuade your wife to keep out of danger.”
    Tommy said slowly:
    “I don't know that I really would want to do that... Tuppence and I, you see, aren't on those terms. We go into things - together!”
    In his mind was that phrase, uttered years ago, at the close of an earlier war. A joint venture...
    That was what his life with Tuppence had been and would always be - a Joint Venture...

N or M
    Chapter 4
    When Tuppence entered the lounge at Sans Souci just before dinner, the only occupant of the room was the monumental Mrs O'Rourke, who was sitting by the window looking like some gigantic Buddha.
    She greeted Tuppence with a lot of geniality and verve.
    “Ah now, if it isn't Mrs Blenkensop! You're like myself; it pleases you to be down to time and get a quiet minute or two here before going into the dining-room, and a pleasant room this is in good weather with the windows open in the way that you'll not be noticing the smell of cooking. Terrible that is, in all of these places, and more especially if it's onion or cabbage that's on the fire. Sit here now, Mrs Blenkensop, and tell me what you've been doing with yourself this fine day and how you like Leahampton.”
    There was something about Mrs O'Rourke that had an unholy fascination for Tuppence. She was rather like an ogress dimly remembered from early fairy tales. With her bulk, her deep voice, her unabashed beard and moustache, her deep twinkling eyes and the impression she gave of being more than life-size, she was indeed not unlike some childhood's fantasy.
    Tuppence replied that she thought she was going to like Leahampton very much, and be happy there.
    “That is,” she added in a melancholy voice, “as happy as I can be anywhere with this terrible anxiety weighing on me all the time.”
    “Ah now, don't you be worrying yourself,” Mrs O'Rourke advised comfortably. “Those fine boys of yours will come back to you safe and sound. Not a doubt of it. One of them's in the Air Force, so I think you said?”
    “Yes, Raymond.”
    “And is he in France now, or in England?”
    “He's in Egypt at the moment, but from what he said in his last letter - not exactly said - but we have a little private code if you know what I mean? - certain sentences mean certain things. I think that's quite justified, don't you?”
    Mrs O'Rourke replied promptly:
    “Indeed I do. 'Tis a mother's privilege.”
    “Yes, you see I feel I must know just where he is.”
    Mrs O'Rourke nodded the Buddha-like head.
    “I feel for you entirely, so I do. If I had a boy out there I'd be deceiving the censor the very same way, so I would. And your other boy, the one in the Navy?”
    Tuppence entered obligingly upon a saga of Douglas.
    “You see,” she ended. “I feel so lost without my three boys. They've never been all away together from me before. They're all so sweet to me. I really do think they treat me more as a friend than a mother.” She laughed self-consciously. “I have to scold them sometimes and make them go out without me.”
    (“What a pestilential woman I sound,” thought Tuppence to herself.)
    She went on aloud.
    “And really I didn't know quite what to do or where to go. The lease of my house in London was up and it seemed so foolish to