Q.
In Agatha Christie’s 1922 The Secret Adversary, Sir James Peel Edgerton has some pointed advice for Miss Prudence Cowley –  ‘known to her intimate friends for some mysterious reasons as “Tuppence.”

Sir James’ nugget? “Great mistake to say too much. Remember that. Never tell all you know – not even to the person you know best. Understand? Good-bye.”

There are no shortage of spies and detectives who live by the ‘don’t say too much’ philosophy of Sir. James Peel Edgerton. What kinds of words can we dig up from the secret world of vintage detectives?

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A.

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Argute
Shrewd

Birdwatcher
A spy

Cannon-Shooter
A private investigator who specializes in tracking down pickpockets

Chicken Feed
The real but ultimately harmless intelligence given to the enemy to feign allegiance

Cobbler
Spies who cook up fake papers, passports, visas

Creephole
Subterfuge

Cryptonym
A secret or code name

Cutout
The middle-person in an undercover operation

Dry Clean
Efforts taken to see if one is being watched

Elbow
A detective

Enambush
To hide, waiting to pounce

Flaps and Seals
The work of quietly sneaking in and out of envelopes

Glims
Spectacles. Candles

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Hawkshaw
A detective

Intelligencer
A person used to carry messages between designated people

Music Box
A hidden radio

Quizzing Glass
A long-handled magnifying glass allowing the viewer a close-up view

Shamus
A private investigator

Spiery
Being a spy; the act of spying

Spyboats
As advertised. A boat used by spies to gather intelligence.

Tec
Early 19^th Century robber slang for detectives

Thief Leader
A person whose job is to hunt down and catch thieves

Tiggy
A private investigator

Ugglesome
Something horridly frightening

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Header: Tom Adams’ cover for Agatha Christies At Bertram’s Hotel

Image 2: Tom Adams’ cover for Agatha Christies Cards on the Table