“My God!” gasped Tommy. “ Tuppence! Those devils⁠—I’ll never rest till I’ve got even with them! I’ll hunt them down! I’ll⁠—”

The pity on Mr. Carter’s face stopped him.

“I know what you feel like, my poor boy. But it’s no good. You’ll waste your strength uselessly. It may sound harsh, but my advice to you is: Cut your losses. Time’s merciful. You’ll forget.”

“Forget Tuppence? Never!”

Mr. Carter shook his head.

“So you think now. Well, it won’t bear thinking of⁠—that brave little girl! I’m sorry about the whole business⁠—confoundedly sorry.”

Tommy came to himself with a start.

“I’m taking up your time, sir,” he said with an effort. “There’s no need for you to blame yourself. I dare say we were a couple of young fools to take on such a job. You warned us all right. But I wish to God I’d been the one to get it in the neck. Goodbye, sir.”

Back at the Ritz, Tommy packed up his few belongings mechanically, his thoughts far away. He was still bewildered by the introduction of tragedy into his cheerful commonplace existence. What fun they had had together, he and Tuppence! And now⁠—oh, he couldn’t believe it⁠—it couldn’t be true! Tuppence⁠—dead! Little Tuppence, brimming over with life! It was a dream, a horrible dream. Nothing more.