The Complete Tommy & Tuppence Collection by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online Page A

Piccadilly Circus is. There’s a huge bus bearing down on us. It would be too terrible if they killed the five-pound notes!”
    â€œGrillroom?” inquired Tommy, as they reached the opposite pavement in safety.
    â€œThe other’s more expensive,” demurred Tuppence.
    â€œThat’s mere wicked wanton extravagance. Come on below.”
    â€œAre you sure I can get all the things I want there?”
    â€œThat extremely unwholesome menu you were outlining just now? Of course you can—or as much as is good for you, anyway.”
    â€œAnd now tell me,” said Tommy, unable to restrain his pent-up curiosity any longer, as they sat in state surrounded by the many hors d’oeuvre of Tuppence’s dreams.
    Miss Cowley told him.
    â€œAnd the curious part of it is,” she ended, “that I really did invent the name of Jane Finn! I didn’t want to give my own because of poor father—in case I should get mixed up in anything shady.”
    â€œPerhaps that’s so,” said Tommy slowly. “But you didn’t invent it.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNo. I told it to you. Don’t you remember, I said yesterday I’d overheard two people talking about a female called Jane Finn? That’s what brought the name into your mind so pat.”
    â€œSo you did. I remember now. How extraordinary—” Tuppence tailed off into silence. Suddenly she roused herself. “Tommy!”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œWhat were they like, the two men you passed?”
    Tommy frowned in an effort at remembrance.
    â€œOne was a big fat sort of chap. Clean-shaven. I think—and dark.”
    â€œThat’s him,” cried Tuppence, in an ungrammatical squeal. “That’s Whittington! What was the other man like?”
    â€œI can’t remember. I didn’t notice him particularly. It was really the outlandish name that caught my attention.”
    â€œAnd people say that coincidences don’t happen!” Tuppence tackled her pêche Melba happily.
    But Tommy had become serious.
    â€œLook here, Tuppence, old girl, what is this going to lead to?”
    â€œMore money,” replied his companion.
    â€œI know that. You’ve only got one idea in your head. What I mean is, what about the next step? How are you going to keep the game up?”
    â€œOh!” Tuppence laid down her spoon. “You’re right, Tommy, it is a bit of a poser.”
    â€œAfter all, you know, you can’t bluff him forever. You’re sure to slip up sooner or later. And, anyway, I’m not at all sure that it isn’t actionable—blackmail, you know.”
    â€œNonsense. Blackmail is saying you’ll tell unless you are given money. Now, there’s nothing I could tell, because I don’t really know anything.”
    â€œH’m,” said Tommy doubtfully. “Well, anyway, what are we going to do? Whittington was in a hurry to get rid of you this morning, but next time he’ll want to know something more before he parts with his money. He’ll want to know how much you know, and where you got your information from, and a lot of other things that you can’t cope with. What are you going to do about it?”
    Tuppence frowned severely.
    â€œWe must think. Order some Turkish coffee, Tommy. Stimulating to the brain. Oh, dear, what a lot I have eaten!”
    â€œYou have made rather a hog of yourself! So have I for that matter, but I flatter myself that my choice of dishes was more judicious than yours. Two coffees.” (This was to the waiter.) “One Turkish, one French.”
    Tuppence sipped her coffee with a deeply reflective air, and snubbed Tommy when he spoke to her.
    â€œBe quiet. I’m thinking.”
    â€œShades of Pelmanism!” said Tommy, and relapsed into silence.
    â€œThere!” said Tuppence at last. “I’ve got a plan. Obviously what we’ve got to do is find out more about it