The Secret Adversary (Annotated) - English as a Second or Foreign Language UK-English Edition by Lazlo Ferran: Classics Adapted by a Qualified Teacher, #7

By Lazlo Ferran

This UK English edition includes student exercises at the end of every chapter with answers at the end of the book.

A girl on the sinking liner Lusitania is given a secret packet to save by a mysterious stranger. Pursued by criminals and the British government, she goes missing, leaving amateur detectives Tuppence and Tommy to find her and rescue the packet.

This version of the first Poirot story has been specially adapted for pupils studying English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL, ESOL, EFL, TOEFL, IELTS CEFR), ideal for those studying for Citizenship in English-speaking countries like USA and UK. The language and vocabulary are easy, and emphasis is on action using past, present and future simple tenses. The exercises are slightly harder than those in The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Includes:
1. Broad questions about the text that can be used for discussion or writing short essays.
2. More detailed questions about the text.
3. Questions about grammar.
4. Games you can play on your own or with a friend.

Punctuation meets UK or USA ESL/CEFR/IELTS Level B2.

Lazlo Ferran is a fully qualified English teacher and teaches in London. He has also published more than twenty novels, making him the ideal choice to adapt Agatha Christie's stories for students.

Vocabulary Stretcher and Kids' editions are also available.

Classics Adapted by a Qualified Teacher

Paperback available: http://bit.ly/esladuk

Categories: UK ESL, CEFR, IELTS Level B2, USA EFL, TOEFL, ESOL, teaching materials, leaning materials, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, English grammar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lazlo Ferran
• Release date: May 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463319703

Lazlo Ferran

Lazlo Ferran: Exploring the Landscapes of Truth. Educated near Oxford, during English author Lazlo Ferran's extraordinary life, he has been an aeronautical engineering student, dispatch rider, graphic designer, full-time busker, guitarist and singer, recording two albums. Having grown up in rural Buckinghamshire Lazlo says: "The beautiful Chiltern Hills offered the ideal playground for a child's mind, in contrast to the ultra-strict education system of Bucks." Brought up as a Buddhist, he has travelled widely, surviving a student uprising in Athens and living for a while in Cairo, just after Sadat's assassination. Later, he spent some time in Central Asia and was only a few blocks away from gunfire during an attempt to storm the government buildings of Bishkek in 2006. He has a keen interest in theologies and philosophies of the Far East, Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe. After a long and successful career within the science industry, Lazlo Ferran left to concentrate on writing, to continue exploring the landscapes of truth.

Book preview

Prologue

It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of 7 May, 1915, during the First World War. The ocean liner Lusitania had been struck by two German torpedoes and was sinking rapidly, while the boats were being launched quickly. The women and children were being lined up to wait their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands and fathers; others clutched their children closely to their chests. One girl stood alone. She was not more than eighteen. She did not seem afraid, and her serious, steady eyes looked straight ahead.

I beg your pardon.

A man’s voice beside her startled her and made her turn. She had noticed the speaker more than once amongst the first–class passengers. There had been a hint of mystery about him that had appealed to her. He spoke to no one. If anyone spoke to him, he was quick to turn them away. Also, he had a nervous way of looking over his shoulder with a swift, suspicious glance.

She noticed now that he was very upset. There were beads of sweat on his brow. He was obviously in a state of fear. And yet he did not strike her as the kind of man who would be afraid to meet death!

Yes? Her grave eyes met his.

He stood looking at her with a kind of desperate hesitation.

It must be! he muttered to himself. Yes—it’s the only way. Then aloud he said abruptly:

You are an American?

Yes.

A patriotic one?

The girl blushed.

I guess you’ve no right to ask such a thing! Of course I am!

Don’t be upset. You wouldn’t be if you knew how much there was at stake. But I’ve got to trust some one—and it must be a woman.

Why?

Because women and children will go into the lifeboats first. He looked round and lowered his voice. "I’m carrying papers—top-secret papers. They may make all the difference to the British and Americans in the war. You understand? These papers have got to be saved! They have more chance with you than with me. Will you take them?"

The girl held out her hand.

Wait—I must warn you. There may be a risk—if I’ve been followed. I don’t think I have, but one never knows. If so, there will be danger. Have you the nerve to go through with it?

The girl smiled. I’ll go through with it all right. And I’m real proud to be chosen! What am I to do with them afterwards?

Watch the newspapers! I’ll advertise in the personal column of the Times, beginning ‘Shipmate.’ At the end of three days if there’s nothing—well, you’ll know I’m dead. Then take the packet to the American Embassy and deliver it into the Ambassador’s own hands. Is that clear?

Quite clear.

Then be ready—I’m going to say good–bye. He took her hand in his. Good–bye. Good luck to you, he said in a louder tone.

Her hand closed on the waterproof packet that he had held in his palm.

The Lusitania settled with a more obvious lean to the right. In answer to a quick command, the girl went forward to take her place in the boat.

Chapter 1 — The Young Adventurers Ltd.

Tom, always called Tommy, and Prudence, called Tuppence by all her friends, had known each other since they were children but had last met when Tommy had been wounded in World War One and sent to recover in the hospital where Tuppence had been working. Tuppence bumped into Tommy outside Piccadilly London Underground station, so they went for a cup of tea in a small, but busy, café.

Tommy sat down opposite her. His bared head revealed a shock of carefully slicked–back red hair. His face was pleasantly ugly—plain, yet the face of a gentleman and sportsman. His brown suit was well cut but dangerously near the end of its life.

They were a very modern–looking couple as they sat there. Tuppence had no claim to beauty, but there was character and charm in the elf-like lines of her little face, with its determined chin and large, wide–apart grey eyes that looked mistily out from under straight, black brows. She wore a small, bright green hat over her black, bobbed hair, and her extremely short and rather shabby skirt revealed a pair of unusually pretty ankles. Her appearance made a brave attempt at smartness.

I can’t order more than tea! Tommy said. I’m broke!

Me too! After more than six months in that hospital they eventually promoted me to Wardmaid, complete with bucket and brush. Since then Prudence Cowley, fifth daughter of Archdeacon Cowley, has driven a delivery lorry, a long-distance lorry and a general’s staff car. But now I can’t find anything, even though I have applied for loads!

Me neither! After being brought back to good health by the smiles of Tuppence Cowley, Lieutenant Thomas Beresford was sent by the British Army to Turkey and then Egypt. There I remained until the end of the War! I thought it would be easy to get a job when I came back, but nobody seems to want a soldier. I won’t have a penny by the end of this week.

I will have to go home to mum and dad if I don’t find something! No rich relatives?

My uncle. But he hates me.

Oh.

Tuppence’s large, grey eyes misted over.

Never mind. It’s so good to see you!

Tommy and Tuppence had always shared the same sense of humour, so it didn’t take long for him to lean close to her and whisper:

Funny chat one hears. Two guys passed me in the street today, talking about Jane Finn. Such an unusual name! Jane; so English. Finn; so Irish!

They were interrupted by the waiter bringing their cups of tea, but conversation soon returned to the dreaded subject of cash.

Money! Money! Money! Tuppence burst out. "That’s all I can think about!