Leave us together, Anna Michaelovna." "But, madame---"
"Leave us alone, I say."
She stamped her foot angrily. With considerable reluctance Anna Michaelovna left the room. The Grand Duchess
sat down and motioned to Jane to do the same.
"They are tiresome, these old women," remarked Pauline. "But one has to have them. Anna Michaelovna is better
than most. No, then, Miss--ah, yes, Miss Jane Cleveland.
I like the name. I like you too. You are sympathetic.
I can tell at once if people are sympathetic."
"That's very clever of you, ma'am," said Jane, speaking for the first time.
"I am clever," said Pauline calmly. "Come now, I will explain things to you. Not that there is much to explain.
62 Agatha Christie
You know the history of Ostrova. Practically all of my family are dead--massacred by the Communists. I am,
perhaps, the last of my line. I am a woman, I cannot sit
upon the throne. You think they would let me be. But no,
wherever I go, attempts are made to assassinate me. Absurd,
is it not? These vodka-soaked brutes never have any sense
of proportion."
"I see," said Jane, feeling that something was required of her.
"For the most part I live in retirement--where I can take precautions, but now and then I have to take part in public
ceremonies. While I am here, for instance, I have to attend
several semi-public functions. Also in Paris on my way
back. I have an estate in Hungary, you know. The sport
there is magnificent."
"Is it really?" said Jane.
"Superb. I adore sport. Also---I ought not to tell you this, but I shall because your face is so sympathetic--there
are plans being made there--very quietly, you understand.
Altogether it is very important that I should not be assassinated
during the next two weeks."
"But surely the police--" began Jane.
"The police? Oh, yes, they are very good, I believe. And we too--we have our spies. It is possible that I shall be
forewarned when the attempt is to take place. But then,
again,. I might not."
She' shrugged her shoulders.
"I begin to understand," said Jane slowly. "You want me to take your place?"
"Only on certain occasions," said the Grand Duchess eagerly. "You must be somewhere at hand, you understand?
I may require you twice, three times, four times in the next
fortnight. Each time it will be upon the occasion of some
public function. Naturally in intimacy of any kind, you could
not represent me."
"Of course not," agreed Jane.
"You will do very well indeed. It was clever of Feo-dot Alexandrovitch to think of an advertisement, was it
not?"
"Supposing," said Jane, "that I get assassinatedT" The Grand Duchess shrugged her shoulders.
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB 63
"There is the risk, of course, but according to our own secret information, they want to kidnap me, not kill me
outright. But I will be quite honest--it is always possible
that they might throw a bomb."
"I see," said Jane.
She tried to imitate the lighthearted manner of Pauline.
She wanted very much to come to the question of money,
but did not quite see how best to introduce the subject. But
Pauline saved her the trouble.
"We will pay you well, of course," she said carelessly.
"I cannot remember now exactly how much Feodor Alexandrovitch
suggested. We were speaking in francs or kronen."
"Colonel Kranin," said Jane, "said something about two
thousand pounds."
"That was it," said Pauline, brightening. "I remember
now. It is enough, I hope? Or would you rather have three
thousandT"
"Well," said Jane, "if it's all the same to you, I'd rather
have three thousand."
"You are businesslike, I see," said the Grand Duchess
kindly. "I wish I was. But I have no idea of money at all.
What I want I have to have, tha; is all."-
It seemed to Jane a simple but admirable attitude of mind.
"And of course, as you say, there is danger," Pauline
continued thoughtfully. "Although you do not look to me
as though you minded danger. I do not myself. I hope you
do not think that it is because I am a coward that I want
you to take my place7 You see, it is most important for
Ostrova that I should marry and have at least two sons.
After that, it does not matter what happens to me."
"I see," said Jane.
"And you accept?
"Yes," said Jane resolutely. "I accept."
Pauline clapped her hands vehemently several times.
Princess Poporensky appeared immediately.
"I have told her all, Anna," announced the Grand Duchess.
"She will do what we want, and she is to have three
thousand pounds. Tell Feodor to make a note of it. She is
really very like me, is she not? I think she is better-looking,
though."
64
Agatha Christie
The princess waddled out of the room, and returned with
Count Streptitch.
"We have arranged everything, Feodor Alexandrovitch,"
the Grand Duchess said.
He bowed.
"Can she play her part, I wonder?" he queried, eyeing Jane doubtfully.
"I'll show you," said the girl suddenly. "You permit,
ma'am?" she said to the Grand Duchess. The latter nodded delightedly.
Jane stood up.
"But this is splendid, Anna," she said. "I never imagined we should succeed so well. Come, let us see ourselves side
by side."
And, as Pauline had done, she drew the other girl to the glass.
"You see? A perfect match!"
Words, manner and gesture, it was an excellent imitation of Pauline's greeting. The princess nodded her head and
uttered a grunt of approbation.
"It is good, that," she declared. "It would deceive most people."
"You are very clever," said Pauline appreciatively. "I could not imitate anyone else to save my life."
Jane believed her. It had already struck her that Pauline was a young woman who was very much herself.
"Anna will arrange details with you," said the Grand Duchess. "Take her into my bedroom, Anna, and try some
of my clothes on her."
She nodded a gracious farewell, and Jane was convoyed away by the Princess Poporensky.
"This is what Her Highness will wear to open the bazaar," explained the old lady, holding up a daring creation of white
and black. "That is in three days' time. It may be necessary
for you to take her place there. We do not know. We have
not yet received information."
At Anna's bidding, Jane slipped off her own shabby garments and tried on the frock. It fitted her perfectly. The
other nodded approvingly.
"It is almost perfect--just a shade long on youz because you are an inch or so shorter than Her Highness."
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB 65
"That is easily remedied," said Jane quickly. The Grand Duchess wears low-heeled shoes, I noticed. If I wear the
same kind of shoes, but with high heels, it will adjust things
nicely."
Anna Michaelovna showed her the shoes that the Grand Duchess usually wore with the dress--lizard skin with a
strap across. Jane memorized them, and arranged to get a
pair just like them, but with different heels.
"I would be well," said Anna Michaelovna, "for you to have a dress of distinctive colour and material quite unlike
Her Highness's. Then in case it becomes necessary for you
to change places at a moment's notice, the substitution is
less likely to be noticed."
Jane thought a minute.
"What about flame-red marocain? And I might, perhaps, have plain glass pince-nez. That alters the appearance very
much."
Both suggestions were approved, and they went into further details.
Jane left the hotel with banknotes for a hundred pounds in her purse and instructions to purchase the necessary outfit
and engage rooms at the Blitz Hotel as Miss Montresor of
New York.
On the second day after this, Count Streptitch called upon her there.
"A transformation indeed," he said as he bowed.
Jane made him a mock bow in return. She was enjoying the new clothes and the luxury of her life very much.
"All this is very nice," she sighed. "But I suppose thal your visit means I must get busy and earn my money."
"That is so. We have received information. It seems possible that an attempt will be made to kidnap Her Highness
on the way home from the bazaar. That is to take place, as
you know, at Orion House, which is about ten miles out o!
London. Her Highness will he' forced to attend the bazaa
in person, as the Countess of Anchester, who is promotin£
it, knows her personally. But the following is the plan
have concocted."
Jane listened attentively as he outlined it to her.
She asked a few questions and finally declared that sh understood perfectly the part that she had to play.
66 Agatha Christie
The next day dawned bright and clear--a perfect day
for one of the great events of the London Season, the bazaar at Orion House, promoted by the Countess of Anchester in
aid of Ostrovian refugees in this country.
Having regard to the uncertainty of the English climate, the bazaar itself took place within the spacious rooms of
Orion House l which has been for five hundred years in the
possession of the Earls of Anchester. Various collections
had been loaned, and a charming idea was the gift by a
hundred society women of one pearl each taken from their
own necklaces, each pearl to be sold by auction on the
second day. There were also numerous side shows and attractions
in the grounds.
Jane was there early in the r61e of Miss Montresor. She wore a dress of flame-coloured marocain, and a small red
cloche hat. On her feet were high-heeled lizard-skin shoes.
The arrival of the Grand Duchess Pauline was a great' event. She was escorted to the platform and duly presented
with a bouquet of roses by a small child. She made a short
but charming speech and declared the bazaar open. Count
Streptitch and Princess Poporensky were in attendance upon
her.
She wore the dress that Jane had seen, white with a bold design of black, and her hat was a small cloche of black
with a profusion of white ospreys hanging over the brim
and a tiny lace veil coming halfway down the face. Jane
smiled to herself.
The Grand Duchess went round the bazaar, visiting every stall, making a few purchases, and being uniformly gracious.
Then she prepared to depart.
Jane was prompt to take up her cue. She requested a word with the Princess Poporensky and asked to be presented
to the Grand Duchess.
"Ah, yes!" said Pauline in a clear voice. "Miss Montre-sot, I remember the name. She is an American journalist,
I believe. She has done much for our cause. I should be
glad to give her a short interview for her paper. Is there
anywhere where we could be undisturbed?"
A small anteroom was immediately placed at the Grand Duchess's disposal, and Count Streptitch was despatched
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB
to bring in Miss Montresor. As soon as he had done s and withdrawn again, the Princess Poporensky remaini
in attendance, a rapid exchange of garments took place.
Three minutes later, the door opened and the Gra Duchess emerged, her bouquet of roses held up to her fac
Bowing graciously, and uttering a few words of farew to Lady Anchester in French, she passed out and enter
her car, which was waiting. Princess Poporensky took 1
place beside her, and the car drove off.
"Well," said Jane, "that's done. I wonder how Mi Montresor's getting on."
"No one will notice her. She can slip out quietly." "That's true," said Jane. "I did it nicely, didn't I?"
"You acted your part with great discretion."
"Why isn't the Count with us?"
"He was forced to remain. Someone must watch ov the safety of Her Highness."
"I hope nobody's going to throw bombs," said Jane a prehensively. "Hi! We're turning off the main road. Wh)
that?"
Gathering speed, the car was shooting down a side roa Jane jumped up and put her head out of the windo
remonstrating with the driver. He only laughed and i
creased his speed. Jane sank back into her seat again.
"Your spies were right," she said with a laugh. "We' for it, all right. I suppose the longer I keep it up, the saf
it is for the Grand Duchess. At all events we must give h
time to return to London safely."
venture appealed to her sporting instincts.
Suddenly, with a grinding of brakes, the car pulled t in its own length. A man jumped on the step. In his hat
was a revolver.
"Put your hands up," he snarled.
The Princess Poporensky's hands rose swiftly, but Ja merely looked at him disdainfully and kept her hands,
her lap.
"Ask him the meaning of this outrage," she said in Fren, to her companion.
68 Agatha Christie
But before the latter had time to say a word, the man broke in. He poured out a torrent of words in some foreign
language.
Not understanding a single thing, Jane merely shrugged her shoulders and said nothing. The chauffeur had got down
from his seat and joined the other man.
"Will the illustrious lady be pleased to descend?" he asked with a grin.
Raising the flowers to her face again, Jane stepped out
of the car. The Princess Poporensky followed her.
"Will the illustrious lady come this way?"
Jane took no notice of the man's mock insolent manner, but of her own accord she walked towards a low-built rambling
house which stood about a hundred yards away from
where the car had stopped. The road had been a cul-de-sac
ending in the gateway and drive which led to this apparently
untenanted building.
The man, still brandishing his pistol, came close behind the two women. As they passed up the steps, he brushed
past them and flung open a door on the left. It was an empty
room, into which a table and two chairs had evidently been
brought.
Jane passed in and sat down. Anna Michaelovna followed
her. The man banged the door and turned the key.
Jane walked to the window and looked out.
"I could jump out, of course," she remarked. "But I shouldn't get far. No, we'll just' have to stay here for the
present and make the best of iCI wonder if they'll bring
us anything to eat?"
About half
an hour later her question was answered.
A big bowl of steaming soup was brought in and placed on the table in front of her. Also two pieces of dry bread.
"No luxury for aristocrats evidently," remarked Jane cheerily as the door was shut and locked again. "Will you
start, or shall I?"
The Princess Poporensky waved the mere idea of food aside with horror.
"How could I eat? Who knows what danger my mistress might not be in?"
"She's all right," said Jane. "It's myself I'm worrying about. You know these people won't be at all pleased when
JANE IN SEARCH OF A JOB
69
they find they have got hold of the wrong person. In fact, they may be very unpleasant. I shall keep up the haughty
Grand Duchess stunt as long as I can, and do a bunk if the
opportunity offers."
The Princess Poporensky offered no reply.
Jane, who was hungry, drank up all the soup. It had a curious taste, but was hot and savoury.
Afterwards she felt rather sleepy. The Princess Poporen-sky seemed to be weeping quietly. Jane arranged herself on
her uncomfortable chair in the least uncomfortable way, and
allowed her head to droop.
She slept.
Jane awoke with a start. She had an idea that she had been a very long time asleep. Her head felt heavy and
uncomfortable.
And then suddenly she saw something that jerked her faculties wide awake again.
She was wearing the flame-coloured marocain frock. She sat up and looked around her. Yes, she was still in
the room in the empty house. Everything was exactly as it
had been when she went to sleep, except for two facts. The
first fact was that the Princess Poporensky was no longer
sitting on the other chair. The second was her own inexplicable
change of costume.
"I can't have dreamt it," said Jane. "Because if I'd dreamt it, I shouldn't be here."
She looked across at the window and registered a second significant fact. When she had gone to sleep, the sun had
been pouring through the window. Now the house threw a
sharp shadow on the sunlit drive.