"Doc Savage Adventure 1945-01 The Hate Genius" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doc Savage Collection)

"Yeah, she has Buffalo Bill tendencies when she gets excited," Monk said.

Pat came back, and began hunting for her heirloom. Doc and Monk pretended to help for a few minutes.

Then Doc said, "We'll have to let it go."

"But that gun was Dad's!" Pat wailed. "I wouldn't take a fortune for it."

"We can't kill more time," Doc said.

Pat got mad.

"Look, you!" Pat poked Doc's chest angrily with a forefinger. "Next time you rig a piece of funny business, don't pass my six-shooter around so freely. I put a lot of stock in that weapon. He might have run off with it"

"What makes you think the business was funny?"

"Listen, I know a goat when I see one. Why didn't you just say you wanted to hand that fellow some information, then turn him loose."

They went back to the cab, where Ham was waiting. "What happened?" Ham demanded.

"A shenanygin," Pat said bitterly. "Our fiery-headed friend was stuffed with information and turned loose."

Ham stared at Doc. "What was the idea?"

Doc Savage glanced at his watch. "I am supposed to have a conference with a gentleman who handed us this job. Suppose you sit in on It. You'll get an idea of what we're up against."



III


THE building was nice but not spectacular. It was on the Terreiro do Paco, the spacious square, facing the river. The building itself did not face the river, but was on one of the sides, the side opposite the post office and some of the ministries.

Inside the arcaded entrance there was a wine shop of the better type.

"I want a port wine," Doc told one of the two middle-aged clerks. "The brand I prefer is L'Imperatore da Liberade."

"A particular vintage?" the clerk asked.

"Nineteen thirty-eight."

"Would you care to visit our cellars and make a selection?"

The thing was done so naturally that Pat wasn't sure that a code was passing. She nudged Monk and asked him about it, and Monk said damned if he could tell.

They went down a flight of steps into a typical vaulted wine cellar, cool and spicy. The clerk showed them some wine bottles, and the bottles had spots of. different-colored paint on each. Doc selected a blue and yellow combination, said, "I like this one. But I would like more than you seem to have in stock."

"Perhaps, you would consult the wholesaler person- ally," the clerk said apologetically. "I am sorry, but we have had a slight misunderstanding with the fellow, and he will not supply us more. I will give you his address, if you wish."

"I would appreciate that," Doc assured him.