“Can’t you?  I can.  So can young Beresford, by his actions.  As a last hope Jane Finn was to be allowed to escape—­and the escape must be managed so that she harbours no suspicions of its being a put-up job.  They’re not averse to young Beresford’s being in the neighbourhood, and, if necessary, communicating with you.  They’ll take care to get him out of the way at the right minute.  Then Julius Hersheimmer dashes up and rescues you in true melodramatic style.  Bullets fly—­but don’t hit anybody.  What would have happened next?  You would have driven straight to the house in Soho and secured the document which Miss Finn would probably have entrusted to her cousin’s keeping.  Or, if he conducted the search, he would have pretended to find the hiding-place already rifled.  He would have had a dozen ways of dealing with the situation, but the result would have been the same.  And I rather fancy some accident would have happened to both of you.  You see, you know rather an inconvenient amount.  That’s a rough outline.  I admit I was caught napping; but somebody else wasn’t.”

“Tommy,” said Tuppence softly.

“Yes.  Evidently when the right moment came to get rid of him—­he was too sharp for them.  All the same, I’m not too easy in my mind about him.”

“Why?”

“Because Julius Hersheimmer is Mr. Brown,” said Sir James dryly.  “And it takes more than one man and a revolver to hold up Mr. Brown....”

Tuppence paled a little.

“What can we do?”

“Nothing until we’ve been to the house in Soho.  If Beresford has still got the upper hand, there’s nothing to fear.  If otherwise, our enemy will come to find us, and he will not find us unprepared!” From a drawer in the desk, he took a service revolver, and placed it in his coat pocket.

“Now we’re ready.  I know better than even to suggest going without you, Miss Tuppence——­”

“I should think so indeed!”

“But I do suggest that Miss Finn should remain here.  She will be perfectly safe, and I am afraid she is absolutely worn out with all she has been through.”

But to Tuppence’s surprise Jane shook her head.

“No.  I guess I’m going too.  Those papers were my trust.  I must go through with this business to the end.  I’m heaps better now anyway.”

Sir James’s car was ordered round.  During the short drive Tuppence’s heart beat tumultuously.  In spite of momentary qualms of uneasiness respecting Tommy, she could not but feel exultation.  They were going to win!

The car drew up at the corner of the square and they got out.  Sir James went up to a plain-clothes man who was on duty with several others, and spoke to him.  Then he rejoined the girls.

“No one has gone into the house so far.  It is being watched at the back as well, so they are quite sure of that.  Anyone who attempts to enter after we have done so will be arrested immediately.  Shall we go in?”