The Secret Adversary
by Agatha Christie
TO ALL THOSE WHO LEAD
MONOTONOUS LIVES
IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE
AT SECOND HAND
THE DELIGHTS AND DANGERS OF
ADVENTURE
Contents
PROLOGUE
It was 2 p.m. on the afternoon of May 7, 1915. The Lusitania had beenstruck by two torpedoes in succession and was sinking rapidly, while the boatswere being launched with all possible speed. The women and children were beinglined up awaiting their turn. Some still clung desperately to husbands andfathers; others clutched their children closely to their breasts. One girlstood alone, slightly apart from the rest. She was quite young, not more than