Tracking T&T: Why the Name “Tuppence”?

 Note: This post contains spoilers for The Secret Adversary!

During my reread of The Secret Adversary, I was once again made aware of the fact that we never know why Miss Prudence Cowley is called “Tuppence”. In the opening chapter of The Secret Adversary, Christie herself seems to tell us that she would not be giving us explanation:

…Miss Prudence Cowley, known to her intimate friends for some mysterious reason as ‘Tuppence.”

Christie may offer no answers, but I am here to offer a fun speculation.

Money, Money, Money

I think the choice to give Miss Prudence Cowley the nickname “Tuppence” ties in well with one of her personality traits in The Secret Adversary. Tuppence is very much zealous for money. She wants to be rich, so much that:

(1) She does random acts of "kindness" in hopes of getting reimbursement;

"I always help old ladies over crossings, and pick up parcels for old gentlemen, in case they should turn out to be eccentric millionaires. But not one of them has ever asked me my name—and quite a lot never said ‘Thank you.’"

(Quite the imagination you have there, Tuppence.)

(2) She made up her mind to marry rich;

"Of course," resumed Tuppence, "marriage is my best chance. I made up my mind to marry money when I was quite young. Any thinking girl would! I'm not sentimental, you know." She paused. "Come now, you can't say I'm sentimental," she added sharply.

(3) She seems to be…not entirely against doing certain crimes for money.

“...If we could make ourselves known, people might hire us to commit crimes for them.”

“Delightful,” commented Tommy. “Especially coming from a clergyman’s daughter.”

(The love of money is the root of all evil indeed.)

Now, let’s see what “Tuppence” means. In addition to being a person’s name, “tuppence” can be used as a word to refer to the sum of two pennies - money! Thus, the name “Tuppence” carries on this little theme we have going on about money. Perhaps her money-loving nature has always been evident and someone decided to give her that nickname, and it stuck.

“I suppose you prefer sterling worth.”

I feel like there’s also a fun little reference to the link between Tuppence and money during T&T’s confession scene - if that can be called a confession - at the end of the book.

"Don't you think she's the most lovely creature you've ever seen?"

"Oh, I dare say."

"But I suppose you prefer sterling worth," said Tuppence demurely.

"I—oh, dash it all, Tuppence, you know!"

The entire exchange between T&T in this last chapter is lovely, but it will be too long to put verbatim here. The conversation starts with Tuppence mentions her liking for Julius Hersheimmer. Knowing Julius had once proposed marriage to Tuppence (which she rejected), Tommy quickly grows displeased and forbids Tuppence from marrying Julius. Tuppence points out that Julius was never really sincere about the marriage proposal - the person he really wants to marry is Jane Finn. Tuppence then asks Tommy whether he thinks Jane Finn is “the most lovely creature” he’s seen. After a reply from the still-irritated Tommy, Tuppence boldly charges forth by suggesting that Tommy probably prefers “sterling worth”. Tommy’s reaction suggests Tuppence has hit the mark.

What’s interesting here is Tuppence’s usage of the word “sterling” to get her point across. Sterling, as an adjective, can be used to mean “relating to British money”. Therefore, by suggesting that Tommy probably prefers sterling worth, Tuppence is saying that Tommy probably doesn’t like foreign women like Jane Finn, but rather likes local women - among which Tuppence is a candidate. Jane Finn is American, remember, while T&T are British. So here we have an allusion to money and to Tuppence through the word “sterling”!

Tommy quickly understands what Tuppence is saying and replies that “she knows”. She knows that Tommy has feelings for her. And by teasing him through the “sterling worth” sentence, Tuppence is trying to get Tommy to fess up!

To sum up...

We may not know the exact reason why Miss Prudence Cowley took on the name “Tuppence”, but it might be related to money. I can think of two other writing-related reasons: (1) It alliterates with “Tommy”; (2) It can be used as a device in the story. Didn’t Tommy figure out Mr. Brown’s identity through the latter’s misspelling of Tuppence’s name? Whatever the reason is, I guess it’s quite the unique name for readers today. The only Tuppence I’ve encountered is this Tuppence - Prudence Cowley - so whenever the word pops up, she is the person I’m reminded of.