"With Carl von Deinim's papers I travelled to England and went to the address to which he had been recommended to go. That address was Sans Souci.
"Whilst I was there I played the part of Carl von Deinim and never relaxed. I found arrangements had been made for me to work in the chemical factory there. At first I thought that the idea was I should be compelled to do work for the Nazis. I realized later that the part for which my poor friend had been cast was that of scapegoat.
"When I was arrested and faked evidence. I said nothing. I wanted to leave the revelation of my own identity as late as possible. I wanted to see what would happen.
"It was only a few days ago that I was recognized by one of our people and the truth came out."
Sheila said reproachfully:
"You should have told me."
He said gently:
"If you feel like that - I am sorry."
His eyes looked into hers. She looked at him angrily and proudly - then the anger melted. She said:
"I suppose you had to do what you did..."
"Darling -"
He caught himself up.
"Come and dance..."
They moved off together.
Tuppence sighed.
"What's the matter?" said Tommy.
"I do hope Sheila will go on caring for him now that he isn't a German outcast with everyone against him."
"She looks as though she cared all right."
"Yes, but the Irish are terribly perverse. And Sheila is a born rebel."
"Why did he search your room that day? That's what led us up the garden path so terribly."
Tommy gave a laugh.
"I gather he thought Mrs Blenkensop wasn't a very convincing person. In fact - while we were suspecting him he was suspecting us."
"Hallo, you two," said Derek Beresford as he and his partner danced past his parents' table. "Why don't you come and dance?"
He smiled encouragingly at them.
"They are so kind to us, bless 'em," said Tuppence.
Presently the twins and their partners returned and sat down.
Derek said to his father:
"Glad you got a job all right. Not very interesting, I suppose?"
"Mainly routine," said Tommy.
"Never mind, you're doing something. That's the great thing."
"And I'm glad mother was allowed to go and work, too," said Deborah. "She looks ever so much happier. It wasn't too dull, was it, mother?"
"I didn't find it at all dull," said Tuppence.
"Good," said Deborah. She added, "When the war's over, I'll be able to tell you something about my job. It's really frightfully interesting, but very confidential."
"How thrilling," said Tuppence.
"Oh, it is! Of course, it's not so thrilling as flying -"
She looked enviously at Derek.
She said, "He's going to be recommended for -"
Derek said quickly:
"Shut up, Deb."
Tommy said:
"Hallo, Derek, what have you been up to?"
"Oh, nothing much - sort of show all of us are doing. Don't know why they pitched on me," murmured the young airman, his face scarlet. He looked as embarrassed as though he had been accused of the most deadly of sins.
He got up and the fair-haired girl got up too.
Derek said:
"Mustn't miss any of this - last night of my leave."
"Come on, Charles," said Deborah.
The two of them floated away with their partners.
Tuppence prayed inwardly:
"Oh, let them be safe - don't let anything happen to them..."
She looked up to meet Tommy's eyes. He said, "About that child - shall we?"
"Betty? Oh. Tommy, I'm so glad you've thought of it, too! I thought it was just me being maternal. You really mean it?"
"That we should adopt her? Why not? She's had a raw deal, and it will be fun for us to have something young growing up."
"Oh, Tommy!"
She stretched out her hand and squeezed his. They looked at each other.
"We always do want the same things," said Tuppence happily.
Deborah, passing Derek on the floor, murmured to him:
"Just look at those two - actually holding hands! They're rather sweet, aren't they. We must do all we can to make up to them for having such a dull time in this war..."
Agatha Christie, N or M?
(Series: Tommy & Tuppence # 3)
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