Detectives and Young Adventurers: The Complete Short Stories

Tuppence laughed shamelessly.

‘Be a sport, Tommy. Try and forget you’re thirty-two and have got one grey hair in your left eyebrow.’

‘I was always weak where women were concerned,’ murmured her husband. ‘Have I got to make an ass of myself in fancy dress?’

‘Of course, but you can leave that to me. I’ve got a splendid idea.’

Tommy looked at her with some misgiving. He was always profoundly mistrustful of Tuppence’s brilliant ideas.

When he returned to the flat on the following evening, Tuppence came flying out of her bedroom to meet him.

‘It’s come,’ she announced.

‘What’s come?’

‘The costume. Come and look at it.’

Tommy followed her. Spread out on the bed was a complete fireman’s kit with shining helmet.

‘Good God!’ groaned Tommy. ‘Have I joined the Wembley fire brigade?’

‘Guess again,’ said Tuppence. ‘You haven’t caught the idea yet. Use your little grey cells, mon ami. Scintillate, Watson. Be a bull that has been more than ten minutes in the arena.’

‘Wait a minute,’ said Tommy. ‘I begin to see. There is a dark purpose in this. What are you going to wear, Tuppence?’

‘An old suit of your clothes, an American hat and some horn spectacles.’

‘Crude,’ said Tommy. ‘But I catch the idea. McCarty incog. And I am Riordan.’

‘That’s it. I thought we ought to practise American detective methods as well as English ones. Just for once I am going to be the star, and you will be the humble assistant.’

‘Don’t forget,’ said Tommy warningly, ‘that it’s always an innocent remark by the simple Denny that puts McCarty on the right track.’

But Tuppence only laughed. She was in high spirits.

It was a most successful evening. The crowds, the music, the fantastic dresses – everything conspired to make the young couple enjoy themselves. Tommy forgot his role of the bored husband dragged out against his will.

At ten minutes to twelve they drove off in the car to the famous – or infamous – Ace of Spades. As Tuppence had said, it was an underground den, mean and tawdry in appearance, but it was nevertheless crowded with couples in fancy dress. There were closed-in booths round the walls, and Tommy and Tuppence secured one of these. They left the doors purposely a little ajar so that they could see what was going on outside.

‘I wonder which they are – our people, I mean,’ said. Tuppence. ‘What about that Columbine over there with the red Mephistopheles?’

‘I fancy the wicked Mandarin and the lady who calls herself a Battleship – more of a fast Cruiser, I should say.’

‘Isn’t he witty?’ said Tuppence. ‘All done on a little drop of drink! Who’s this coming in dressed as the Queen of Hearts – rather a good get-up, that.’

The girl in question passed into the booth next to them, accompanied by her escort, who was ‘the gentleman dressed in newspaper’ from Alice in Wonderland. They were both wearing masks – it seemed to be rather a common custom at the Ace of Spades.

‘I’m sure we’re in a real den of iniquity,’ said Tuppence with a pleased face. ‘Scandals all round us. What a row everyone makes.’

A cry, as of protest, rang out from the booth next door and was covered by a man’s loud laugh. Everybody was laughing and singing. The shrill voices of the girls rose above the booming of their male escorts.

‘What about that shepherdess?’ demanded Tommy. ‘The one with the comic Frenchman. They might be our little lot.’

‘Any one might be,’ confessed Tuppence. ‘I’m not going to bother. The great thing is that we are enjoying ourselves.’

‘I could have enjoyed myself better in another costume,’ grumbled Tommy. ‘You’ve no idea of the heat of this one.’

‘Cheer up,’ said Tuppence. ‘You look lovely.’

‘I’m glad of that,’ said Tommy. ‘It’s more than you do. You’re the funniest little guy I’ve ever seen.’

‘Will you keep a civil tongue in your head, Denny, my boy. Hullo, the gentleman in newspaper is leaving his lady alone. Where’s he going, do you think?’

‘Going to hurry up the drinks, I expect,’ said Tommy. ‘I wouldn’t mind doing the same thing.’

‘He’s a long time doing it,’ said Tuppence, when four or five minutes had passed. ‘Tommy, would you think me an awful ass –’ She paused.

Suddenly she jumped up.

‘Call me an ass if you like. I’m going in next door.’

‘Look here, Tuppence – you can’t –’

‘I’ve a feeling there’s something wrong. I know there is. Don’t try and stop me.’

She passed quickly out of their own booth, and Tommy followed her. The doors of the one next door were closed. Tuppence pushed them apart and went in, Tommy on her heels.

The girl dressed as the Queen of Hearts sat in the corner leaning up against the wall in a queer huddled position. Her eyes regarded them steadily through her mask, but she did not move. Her dress was carried out in a bold design of red and white, but on the left hand side the pattern seemed to have got mixed. There was more red than there should have been . . .

With a cry Tuppence hurried forward. At the same time, Tommy saw what she had seen, the hilt of a jewelled dagger just below the heart. Tuppence dropped on her knees by the girl’s side.

‘Quick, Tommy, she’s still alive. Get hold of the manager and make him get a doctor at once.’

‘Right. Mind you don’t touch the handle of that dagger, Tuppence.’

‘I’ll be careful. Go quickly.’

Tommy hurried out, pulling the doors to behind him. Tuppence passed her arm round the girl. The latter made a faint gesture, and Tuppence realised that she wanted to get rid of the mask. Tuppence unfastened it gently. She saw a fresh, flower-like face, and wide starry eyes that were full of horror, suffering, and a kind of dazed bewilderment.

‘My dear,’ said Tuppence, very gently. ‘Can you speak at all? Will you tell me, if you can, who did this?’

She felt the eyes fix themselves on her face. The girl was sighing, the deep palpitating sighs of a failing heart. And still she looked steadily at Tuppence. Then her lips parted.

‘Bingo did it –’ she said in a strained whisper.

Then her hands relaxed, and she seemed to nestle down on Tuppence’s shoulder.

Tommy came in, two men with him. The bigger of the two came forward with an air of authority, the word doctor written all over him.