He took the visitors arm and walked with him to the
door. You also lost a lascar - washed overboard. There was no sign of life; no dog
barked.
Five days from Madeira - and I never spoke to you
till this afternoon. Keeping the light glowing from side to side, he passed up the
gloomy avenue. He thought of thin people in terms of brittleness - and she was
supple and plastic.
On either side was a tangle of thick bush, which
had grown at its will, unattended by a gardener. Have you had much correspondence
from him? Ive been waitin a chance to talk to you - I dont know you, though your
face is kind of familiar. You won a hundred from me last week, he said.
The prospecting member of the Flack crowd sneered.
He saw, by the lights of the headlamps, a gap, where there was evidently a
gate.
Dick nodded, impatient for her to continue. Before
he could reach his gun he was at grips with a something, naked, hairless,
bestial.
Oh, then, youre - - He paused
expectantly.
I expected something very valuable, especially as I
learnt that Senhor Silva was a very rich man. Walking to his desk he pressed a bell,
and his secretary made a reappearance.
Before he could reach his gun he was at grips with
a something, naked, hairless, bestial. As the clapper fell, he heard the sound
echoing hollowly through the hall. Keeping the light glowing from side to side, he
passed up the gloomy avenue.
Havelock nodded solemnly, puffing at his pipe. Dick
was alert, somewhere inside him a warning voice was speaking insistently. I expected
something very valuable, especially as I learnt that Senhor Silva was a very rich
man.
Evidently the detective was expected, for the clerk
in the outer office was almost genial.
But here, as in the passage, everything was inches
thick in dust.
Two solemn blue eyes surveyed him thoughtfully.
Before he unfastened the thin flap of the purse he knew what it contained. No, Miss
Lansdown, youre not being trite.
And behind him, did he but know it, stalked the
shadow of death. Cody, his head on one side, waited expectantly.
Yes, yes, said Slick again, staring down at this
evidence of his embarrassment.
He gave you no indication as to who the man was he
feared?
He waited a second before he mounted the two steps
that brought the knocker within reach. The little motor whined round, but the engine
did not move.
And, when the other nodded: May I see
it?
There was no need, for the little indicator dial
said Empty. If I kick you into the dock, theyll hold me for the inquest - seep!