mg.cyro-第26节

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　　The　Shadow　had　heard　Danforth　Gaudrin　turn　and　remove　the　original　key。
　　The　Shadow　had　inserted　a　new　key　in　its　place；　but　from　the　porch　side　of　the　door。
　　Going　to　a　window；　The　Shadow　opened　it　softly　and　edged　outward。　Clinging　to　a　ledge；　he　closed　the　window　behind　him。　He　dropped　to　the　ground。　He　was　totally　obscured　by　the　darkness　that　clung　to　this　wall　of　the　mansion。
　　Moving；　The　Shadow　became　a　ghostly　shape　as　he　followed　the　long　stretch　of　blackness　laid　by　a　huge　oak　tree。　He　departed　past　a　line　of　palms。
　　
　　DOWN　in　the　French　Quarter；　Raoul　Brilliard　and　Tracy　Lence　were　chatting　in　the　artist's　studio。　Both　were　attired　in　evening　clothes；　preparing　for　their　trip　to　the　Gaudrin　home。
　　〃I　saw　Larribez　this　afternoon；〃　remarked　Brilliard；　in　a　tone　of　finality。　〃He　met　his　friends…the　old　pals　of　the　Porto…and　they　performed　missionary　work　along　the　water　front。　The　new　crew　is　ready。〃
　　〃You　can　rely　upon　them？〃
　　〃Certainly。　Larribez　prefers　them　to　the　old。　They　are　tough；　they　know　nothing。　Tabac　will　be　with　them。　He　knows　but　little。　Larribez　will　be　in　direct　charge。　His　crew　will　cover　the　left　side　of　the　grounds。〃
　　〃And　Link　Ruckert　will　be　at　the　right；　with　the　gorillas。　I　contacted　with　him　today。〃
　　〃Good！　Well；　Lence；　it　is　time　for　you　to　leave。　Start　for　Gaudrin's　at　once。　I　shall　follow　shortly。　There　we　will　meet　and　be　introduced；　presumably　for　the　first　time。〃
　　〃And　Cyro？　Will　he　be　there？〃
　　〃He　should　be。　But　we　will　not　know　him。　You　know　his　methods；　Lence。　He　will　not　appear　as　a　member　of　the　game。　Unless…〃
　　〃Unless　an　emergency　arises。　Then　we　can　count　on　him。〃
　　Tracy　Lence　strolled　from　the　studio。　Raoul　Brilliard　started　shortly　afterward。　Men　of　crime　had　moved　at　the　order　of　the　relentless　Cyro。
　　
　　IN　a　room　at　the　Hotel　Douran；　Joe　Cardona　was　pacing　restlessly　while　Lieutenant　Wayson；　calm…faced；　watched　him　from　a　chair。　They　were　preparing　for　another　trip　to　the　Vieux　Carre。
　　〃Your　lead；　Cardona；〃　remarked　Wayson；　bluntly。　〃Say　the　word　and　we　start　for　another　round。　I'll　find　the　places　where　your　man　might　be。〃
　　〃It　seems　hopeless；　Wayson；〃　returned　Cardona。　〃If　it　weren't　for　orders　from　the　missioner；　I'd　call　the　game　quits。　I　told　him　I'd　be　after　a　needle　in　a　haystack。〃
　　〃I'm　on　special　duty；〃　reminded　Wayson。　〃No　reports　necessary。　Orders　straight　from　you。　That's　the　ticket　the　chief　gave　me。　If　you　want　to　try　the　water　front；　where　they　had　that　battle　last　night…〃
　　〃It　doesn't　sound　like　a　Cyro　proposition；〃'　interposed　Joe。　〃Still；　those　thugs　at　Debeq's　didn't　fit　either…〃
　　He　broke　off　as　the　telephone　rang。　Joe　picked　up　the　instrument。　Wayson　saw　a　strange　fixed　gaze　e　into　Cardona's　eyes。　The　detective's　voice　became　mechanical　as　he　uttered　short　responses。
　　Joe　Cardona　was　listening　to　a　weird　voice　that　he　recognized。　It　was　the　whisper　of　The　Shadow！　Orders　were　ing　over　the　wire；　fierce…toned　instructions　that　Cardona　could　not　fathom；　yet　which　he　instinctively　promised　to　obey。
　　〃Yes。。。　〃Cardona　spoke　mechanically。　〃Yes。。。　One　moment。。。　Yes；　I'll　make　sure。。。〃
　　The　detective　turned　to　Wayson　and　spoke　in　a　steady　tone。
　　〃You　are　game　for　anything？〃　questioned　Joe。　〃You　are　with　me；　wherever　I　lead？〃
　　〃Absolutely！〃　responded　the　lieutenant；　a　bit　puzzled。　〃Wherever　you　lead；　Cardona。〃
　　Joe　babbled　the　assurance　into　the　telephone。　He　heard　a　whispered　laugh；　then　the　click　of　the　receiver　at　the　other　end。　For　a　moment；　Cardona　stared　straight　ahead；　then　he　hung　up　and　again　turned　to　Wayson。
　　〃You　remember？〃　questioned　the　detective；　slowly。　〃You　remember　how　we　were　helped　at　Debeq's？　By…by　some　rescuer？〃
　　Wayson　nodded。
　　〃I　thought　I　knew　him；〃　continued　Cardona。　〃Now　I　am　sure　of　it。　I　have　heard　from　him。　He　told　me…gave　me　orders…about　tonight。　We　are　starting；　Wayson〃…Cardona　paused　for　emphasis…〃and　at　the　end　of　the　trail；　we　shall　find…〃
　　〃Cyro？〃　questioned　Wayson。
　　〃Cyro！〃　replied　Cardona。
　　There　was　positive　assurance　in　Cardona's　tone。　It　came　with　a　note　of　prophecy。　For　that　was　the　promise　that　the　ace　detective　had　received　from　The　Shadow！
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XX　
　　　STROKE　AND　COUNTERSTROKE　
　　DINNER　had　ended　at　the　Gaudrin　mansion。　Alicia's　party　had　been　a　great　success。　Danforth　Gaudrin　arose　from　his　chair　at　the　head　of　the　table　and　sighed　reluctantly。
　　〃Captain　Emory　is　waiting　in　the　study；〃　he　remarked。　〃We　must　talk　with　him；　Marr…about　the　transfer　of　the　Nautilus。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　responded　Marr。　〃But　the　professor　went　in　there；　Danforth；　just　before　those　crew　members　left。　Perhaps　we　should　not　disturb　Babcock　while　he　is　arranging　his　coral　specimens。〃
　　〃We　shall　not　disturb　him。　e；　Marr。　Captain　Emory　may　be　anxious　to　have　us　plete　this　matter。〃
　　The　two　men　left。　Alicia　suggested　to　the　others　that　they　go　out　to　the　veranda。　They　left　the　dining　room　by　a　front　door　that　led　to　the　living　room。
　　This　was　directly　across　the　hall　from　the　parlor　that　lay　in　front　of　the　study。
　　Reaching　the　porch；　Alicia　and　her　brother　Luke　began　to　chat　with　their　guests。　Reginald　Exeter　had　little　to　say。　Lighting　his　pipe；　the　Australian　stared　off　across　the　lawn　while　Raoul　Brilliard　and　Tracy　Lence　kept　up　their　conversation。
　　Brilliard　was　voluble　in　his　French　accent。　Lence；　playing　the　part　of　a　quiet　gentleman；　displayed　a　surprising　knowledge　of　art。　He　had　rehearsed　this　with　Brilliard　in　preparation　for　the　visit　here。　All　their　conversation　was　a　buildup　to　what　was　ing　later。
　　〃Luke；〃　remarked　Lence；　suddenly；　〃why　don't　you　drive　out　ahead　to　the　Club　Caprice？　You　can　have　my　roadster。　I　can　e　later；　in　a　taxi；　and　drive　back　with　you。　I'd　like　to　chat　a　while　more　with　Monsieur　Brilliard。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　agreed　Luke。　〃But　why　don't　you　leave　him　to　Exeter？　The　way　they　were　talking　French　at　the　table；　you'd　think　they　were　old　pals。〃
　　〃Eet　ees　not　about　ze　art　that　I　talk　with　Monsieur　Exeter；〃　put　in　Brilliard。　〃Eet　ees　about　Paree。　Ah；　moi！　He　has　known　ze　Paree…〃
　　Exeter　took　his　pipe　from　his　lips　and　shot　a　remark　in　fluent　French。
　　Brilliard　replied；　both　men　chuckled。　Luke　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　started　into　the　house。
　　〃I'll　drive　out　to　the　Club　Caprice…〃
　　Luke　broke　off　as　he　encountered　the　butler　whom　the　Gaudrins　had　hired　for　this　occasion。　The　servant　spoke　quietly；　and　Luke　nodded。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　in　a　puzzled　tone。　〃I'll　talk　to　him　in　the　parlor。〃
　　〃Who　is　it；　Percival？〃　inquired　Alicia；　as　the　butler　stepped　out　to　pick　up　some　glasses。　Luke　had　already　gone　on　toward　the　parlor。
　　〃A　gentleman　to　see　Mr。　Luke；〃　responded　Percival。　〃His　name；　miss；　is　Mr。
　　Medbrook…Mr。　Royal　Medbrook。〃
　　〃The　chap　from　the　Club　Caprice！〃　exclaimed　Lence。　〃I　remember；　now。　He　said　he　might　drop　in　here　some　time　when　he　was　ing　by。〃
　　
　　BRILLIARD　resumed　a　conversation　with　Exeter。　While　they　parried　in　French；　Alicia　sat　in　troubled　silence。　She　was　worried　about　the　advent　of　Royal　Medbrook。　Lence；　puffing　a　cigar；　sat　meditative。
　　Lence　was　conscious　of　two　facts：　One；　that　Percival；　the　butler；　had　left。　Like　the　other　servants；　Percival　had　been　hired　for　the　dinner。　The　help　had　eaten　beforehand；　Percival；　since　he　did　not　reappear；　must　have　joined　them　in　their　departure　from　the　mansion。
　　The　other　fact　was　that　neither　Royal　Medbrook　nor　Luke　Gaudrin　had　gone　out。　The　two　must　still　be　talking　together　in　the　parlor　on　the　other　side　of　the　house。　Brilliard；　too；　was　conscious　of　these　circumstances。　He　proved　it　when　he　turned　suddenly　to　Lence。
　　〃Ah；　monsieur！〃　exclaimed　the　artist。　〃If　you　must　go　so　soon；　eet　ees　that　I　must　show　you　ze　sketches　zat　I　have　breeng　with　me。〃
　　〃Where　are　they？〃　inquired　Lence。
　　〃In　ze　room　where　we　have　dined；　monsieur。　Eef　you　will　so　kindly　excuse；　Mademoiselle　Alicia；　we　shall　go　zere…Monsieur　Lence　and　I…〃
　　〃Certainly；　Monsieur　Brilliard。〃
　　Brilliard　shot　another　chatty　remark　to　Exeter。　The　Australian　laughed　and　delivered　a　response　in　French。　Exeter　was　still　chuckling　when　Brilliard　and　Lence　went　into　the　living　room。
　　〃Interesting　chap；〃　remarked　Exeter　to　Alicia。　〃Quite　witty。　Well；　we　can　forget　the　others　for　a　while。　Do　you　realize　that　we　are　alone　together　for　the　first　time　this　evening？〃
　　〃I　do；〃　replied　Alicia；　with　a　smile。
　　
　　IN　the　parlor；　Luke　Gaudrin　and　Royal　Medbrook　were　engaging　in　a　buzzed　conversation。　Luke　was　promising　the　money　that　he　owed；　assuring　Medbrook　that　the　treasure　had　arrived。
　　〃I　saw　the　boxes　e　in；〃　he　said。　〃Honest；　Royal；　nine　of　them。　Supposed　to　be　coral…〃
　　〃And　maybe　that's　all　they　were；〃　interposed　the　gambler。　He　stared　suspiciously　toward　the　hall。　〃How　do　you　know　different？〃
　　〃They　were　heavy；　Royal。　Too　heavy　for　coral　specimens。　They're　being　opened　now；　in　the　study。〃
　　Medbrook　glanced　toward　the　door　of　the　connecting　passage；　as　Luke　indicated　it。　A　keen　look　appeared　upon　the　gambler's　face。
　　In　the　dining　room；　Lence　and　Brilliard　were　drawing　revolvers。　They；　too；　were　whispering　when　they　stalked　toward　a　door　that　le