N or M_ - Agatha Christie [48]
‘No doubt whatever, you say?’
‘No doubt at all. Among his chemical formulae was a list of people in the factory to be approached, as possible Fascist sympathisers. There was also a very clever scheme of sabotage and a chemical process that, applied to fertilisers, would have devastated large areas of food stocks. All well up Master Carl’s street.’
Rather unwillingly, Tommy said, secretly anathematising Tuppence, who had made him promise to say it:
‘I suppose it’s not possible that these things could have been planted on him?’
Mr Grant smiled, rather a diabolical smile.
‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Your wife’s idea, no doubt.’
‘Well–er–yes, as a matter of fact it is.’
‘He’s an attractive lad,’ said Mr Grant tolerantly.
Then he went on:
‘No, seriously, I don’t think we can take that suggestion into account. He’d got a supply of secret ink, you know. That’s a pretty good clinching test. And it wasn’t obvious as it would have been if planted. It wasn’t “The mixture to be taken when required” on the wash hand-stand, or anything like that. In fact, it was damned ingenious. Only came across the method once before, and then it was waistcoat buttons. Steeped in the stuff, you know. When the fellow wants to use it, he soaks a button in water. Carl von Deinim’s wasn’t buttons. It was a shoelace. Pretty neat.’
‘Oh!’ Something stirred in Tommy’s mind–vague–wholly nebulous…
Tuppence was quicker. As soon as he retailed the conversation to her, she seized on the salient point.
‘A shoelace? Tommy, that explains it!’
‘What?’
‘Betty, you idiot! Don’t you remember that funny thing she did in my room, taking out my laces and soaking them in water. I thought at the time it was a funny thing to think of doing. But, of course, she’d seen Carl do it and was imitating him. He couldn’t risk her talking about it, and arranged with that woman for her to be kidnapped.’
Tommy said, ‘Then that’s cleared up.’
‘Yes. It’s nice when things begin to fall into shape. One can put them behind you and get on a bit.’
‘We need to get on.’
Tuppence nodded.
The times were gloomy indeed. France had astonishingly and suddenly capitulated–to the bewilderment and dismay of her own people.
The destination of the French Navy was in doubt.
Now the coasts of France were entirely in the hands of Germany, and the talk of invasion was no longer a remote contingency.
Tommy said:
‘Carl von Deinim was only a link in the chain. Mrs Perenna’s the fountain head.’
‘Yes, we’ve got to get the goods on her. But it won’t be easy.’
‘No. After all, if she’s the brains of the whole thing one can’t expect it to be.’
‘So M is Mrs Perenna?’
Tommy supposed she must be. He said slowly:
‘You really think the girl isn’t in this at all?’
‘I’m quite sure of it.’
Tommy sighed.
‘Well, you should know. But if so, it’s tough luck on her. First the man she loves–and then her mother. She’s not going to have much left, is she?’
‘We can’t help that.’
‘Yes, but supposing we’re wrong–that M or N is someone else?’
Tuppence said rather coldly:
‘So you’re still harping on that? Are you sure it isn’t a case of wishful thinking?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Sheila Perenna–that’s what I mean.’
‘Aren’t you being rather absurd, Tuppence?’
‘No, I’m not. She’s got round you, Tommy, just like any other man–’
Tommy replied angrily:
‘Not at all. It’s simply that I’ve got my own ideas.’
‘Which are?’
‘I think I’ll keep them to myself for a bit. We’ll see which of us is right.’
‘Well, I think we’ve got to go all out after Mrs Perenna. Find out where she goes, whom she meets–everything. There must be a link somewhere. You’d better put Albert on to her this afternoon.’
‘You can do that. I’m busy.’
‘Why, what are you doing?’
Tommy said:
‘I’m playing golf.’
Chapter 9
‘Seems quite like old times, doesn’t it, madam?’ said Albert. He beamed happily. Though now, in his middle years, running somewhat to fat, Albert had still the romantic boy’s heart which had first led him into associations with Tommy and Tuppence in their young and adventurous