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First published in Great Britain by
The Bodley Head Limited 1922
Agatha Christie® Tommy & Tuppence® The Secret Adversaryâ¢
Copyright © 1922 Agatha Christie Limited. All rights reserved.
www.agathachristie.com
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Cover illustration based on photographs © 2014 Endor Productions. Stills photographer: Laurence Cendrowicz
Agatha Christie asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Source ISBN: 9780007590599
Ebook Edition © Jan 2015 ISBN: 9780007422777
Version: 2017-04-17
To all those who lead monotonous lives in the hope that they may experience at second-hand the delights and dangers of adventure.
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.
âI beg your pardon.â
A manâs 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!
âYes?â Her grave eyes met his inquiringly.
He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate irresolution.
âIt must be!â he muttered to himself. âYesâit is the only way.â Then aloud he said abruptly: âYou are an American?â
âYes.â
âA patriotic one?â
The girl flushed.
âI guess youâve no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!â
âDonât be offended. You wouldnât be if you knew how much there was at stake. But Iâve got to trust someoneâand it must be a woman.â
âWhy?â
âBecause of âwomen and children first.ââ He looked round and lowered his voice. âIâm carrying papersâvitally important papers. They may make all the difference to the Allies in the war. You understand? These papers have got to be saved! Theyâve more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?â
The girl held out her hand.
âWaitâI must warn you. There may be a riskâif Iâve been followed. I donât think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?â
The girl smiled.
âIâll go through with it all right. And Iâm real proud to be chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards?â
âWatch the newspapers! Iâll advertise in the personal column of