… "That's
the difficulty. If we could make ourselves known, people might hire us to
commit crimes for them."
… Look here,
Tommy, shall we really? Shall we form a business partnership?"
… a joint
venture! It struck me as such a romantic phrase to come across in the middle of
antiquated old figures. It's got an
Elizabethan flavour about it—makes one think of galleons and doubloons. A joint
venture!"
"Trading
under the name of the Young Adventurers, Ltd.? Is that your idea,
Tuppence?"
"It's all
very well to laugh, but I feel there might be something in it."
"How do you
propose to get in touch with your would-be employers?"
"Advertisement,"
replied Tuppence promptly. "Have you got a bit of paper and a pencil? Men
usually seem to have. Just like we have hairpins and powder-puffs."
Tommy handed
over a rather old green notebook, and Tuppence began writing busily.
"Shall we
begin: 'Young officer, twice wounded in the war—'"
"Certainly
not."
"Oh, very
well, my dear boy. But I can assure you that that sort of thing might touch the
heart of an elderly spinster, and
she might adopt you, and then there would be no need for you to be a young
adventurer at all."
"I forgot
you had a prejudice against it. I was only ragging you! The papers are full up
to the brim with that type of thing. Now listen—how's this? 'Two young
adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go anywhere. Pay must be good.'
(We might as well make that clear from the start.) Then we might add: 'No
reasonable offer refused'—like flats and furniture."
"I should
think any offer we get in answer to that would be a pretty UNreasonable
one!"
"Tommy!
You're a genius! That's ever so much more chic. 'No unreasonable offer
refused—if pay is good.' How's that?"
"I
shouldn't mention pay again. It looks rather eager."
"It
couldn't look as eager as I feel! But perhaps you are right. Now I'll read it
straight through. 'Two young adventurers for hire. Willing to do anything, go
anywhere. Pay must be good. No unreasonable offer refused.' How would that
strike you if you read it?"
"It would
strike me as either being a fraud, or else written by a lunatic."
… "Shall we
really try it?" he said at last. "Shall we, Tuppence? Just for the
fun of the thing?"
"Tommy,
you're a sport! I knew you would be! Let's drink to success." She poured
some cold sediments of tea into the two cups.
"Here's to
our joint venture, and may it prosper!"
"The Young
Adventurers, Ltd.!" responded Tommy.
They put down
the cups and laughed rather uncertainly. Tuppence rose.
"I must
return to my palatial suite at the hostel."
"Perhaps it
is time I strolled round to the Ritz," agreed Tommy with a grin.
"Where shall we meet? And when?"
"Twelve
o'clock to-morrow. Piccadilly Tube station. Will that suit you?"
"My time is
my own," replied Mr. Beresford magnificently.
"So long,
then."
"Good-bye,
old thing."
The two young
people went off in opposite directions. Tuppence's hostel was situated in what
was charitably called Southern Belgravia. For reasons of economy she did not
take a bus.
She was half-way
across St. James's Park, when a
man's voice behind her made her start.
"Excuse
me," it said. "But may I speak to you for a moment?"…
Vocabulary
Spinster: old
maid
St. James's Park is a 23 hectares park in the City of Westminster,
central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the
southernmost tip of the St James's area, which was named after a leper hospital
dedicated to St. James the Less.
Checking
understanding
Who wanted to
form a joint venture?
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