The Astonishing Adventure of Jane SmithWentworth, Patricia
General
The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith
Wentworth, Patricia
Adventure stories; Cousins -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories
By the time that Jane and Henry came into the house Blotson had set all
his machinery running once more. He himself presented a magnificent
front to two of the most dishevelled people whom he had ever been called
upon to receive. It was not until afterwards when it came home to Henry
how much green slime there was in his wildly ruffled hair, and how
little the original colour of his collar could be discerned, that he
realised how marvellous had been the unflinching calm of Blotson. He
referred neither to the explosion nor to Henry’s appearance. In point of
fact, what were emergencies and accidents that Blotson should notice
them? The hour being five o’clock, it was his business to announce tea.
He announced it.
“Tea is served in the library,” he said, and passed upon his way.
But in the library the tea cooled while Henry, very much relieved to
find that the wires had not been cut, galvanised the Withstead exchange
and got on to a distinctly relieved Sir Julian.
They arranged, speaking in Italian, that an explosion had occurred in
the course of an important experiment in Sir William’s laboratory. It
was agreed to notify Sir William and the press. The loss of two lives
was greatly to be deplored. When this was finished Piggy became less
official.
“That girl of yours is a brick; you can tell her so from me. She’s all
right, I hope?”
Henry said “Yes,” that Jane was quite all right. He sounded a trifle
puzzled.
Piggy laughed.
“Didn’t you know she had rung me up to say you’d been nobbled? Most
businesslike communication I’ve ever had from a lady in all my life.
Told me they’d got a motor-boat in Withstead Cove. And, thanks to her,
we ought to have gathered it in. I got through to the coastguard station
at once. Now look here, what’s the likelihood of laying hands on Ember’s
papers?”
“Ember’s papers?” repeated Henry. “Well, there was a safe down there,
and that’s where he’d be most likely to keep them; but I expect they’re
all gone to blazes, as the door was open.”
At this point Jane’s voice came in breathlessly:
“Henry, wait, keep him on the line!” she said, and was gone.
“It’s Jane, sir,” said Henry. “I think she’s gone to get something.”
In the middle of Piggy’s subsequent instructions Jane came back. She
held a bundle of closely written sheets. She spread them before Henry’s
eyes, holding them fan-wise like a hand at cards.
“I’d forgotten them till you said that about the papers—I’d actually
forgotten them. It’s lists of his agents in all the big towns
everywhere. I sat up all night copying them because I didn’t dare keep
the originals. I keep forgetting you don’t know what’s been happening.
But tell him, Henry, tell him we’ve got the lists.”
Henry told him.
Jane heard Sir Julian answer, and then Henry hung up the receiver and
hugged her.
“What did he say? Henry, you’re breaking my ribs! What did he say?”
“Jane, you’re a brick, and a wonder, and a darling, and he said—he said,
‘Bless you, my children!’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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