The Mystery of Tunnel 51 (Wallace of the Secret Service Series) by Wilson Alexander

Author:Wilson, Alexander [Wilson, Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780749018504
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2015-04-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

A Surprise for Captain Williams

The aeroplane alighted on Lahore racecourse just before six o’clock. There were half a dozen syces exercising polo ponies in the far corner, and they stared in amazement at the unusual sight, while the ponies resented it, and shied in fright.

‘I had better explain to the steward about our taking possession of the course before we do anything else,’ said Sanders. ‘Then where do you want to go?’

‘To the Deputy Commissioner wherever he is to be found!’ replied Wallace.

‘Goodness knows!’ said the Colonel. ‘I don’t know his habits very well, but, if he is pious, he’ll be in church!’

Leonard smiled.

‘And if he’s not?’

‘He’ll probably be at home, calling for the first whisky and soda! Anyhow we’ll go there and see – I’ll ring up for a car, if I can borrow a phone somewhere handy!’ And he was off.

‘Useful man, Sanders!’ remarked Billy, as he filled his pipe.

‘Very. Well, Forsyth, what are you and Hallows going to do? We shall not leave here till the morning and perhaps not then!’

‘We thought of looking the RAF mess up, and making ourselves at home there. Have you any objection, Sir Leonard?’

Wallace rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

‘You have probably guessed by now that we are on a special mission – it was supposed to be a secret one, but isn’t!’ He added dryly: ‘Of course you realise that you are under the orders of the Secret Service?’

‘We could hardly fail to know that, sir,’ smiled Forsyth.

‘Well, I don’t want everybody to know that we are in Lahore, if I can help it. But I suppose we have been well watched in spite of our precautions, and certainly your fellows at the depot here will have noticed the arrival of a strange aeroplane. So I don’t suppose you can do any harm by going to see them. I tell you what! Fly there and put up for the night! Tell them any old yarn you like, but don’t let anybody know that we are here on any particular business.’

‘We didn’t know you were, Sir Leonard!’ said Hallows quietly and significantly.

‘Good lad! Here comes Colonel Sanders, back with the steward I presume! We’ll tell them you are going to the depot! Be ready to start away at any time after daybreak in the morning!’

‘Very well, sir.’

Sanders came up accompanied by a little rotund man who was looking sadly perplexed. The Colonel beckoned Wallace aside.

‘This fellow rather resents our being here, and I am sorry now I suggested the racecourse as a landing place,’ he said. ‘He has asked me a whole string of questions, but I did not tell him who we are or anything about our business. I thought there would not be the slightest objection to our alighting here! Of course I’ll use my authority if you wish!’

‘No, don’t do that! Forsyth and Hallows are flying to the RAF depot, and they’ll stop there for the night!’

The Colonel sighed with relief.

‘I fear I made a mistake – I hope

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