"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 006 - The Death Tower" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

seen at the Argo ClubтАФbut had no sustained conversation with any one. Before that, he was observed at
a theater. He was also seen in a ticket agency.

"Is there any witness yet who might not have been easily deceived?"

"No."

"He also left the Marimba Apartments, after visiting Doctor Albert Palermo. That was just before he
went to the theatrical ticket agency. I believe the hallman remembered his departure.

"Am I correct?"

"You are."

"The hallman, like the others, is a poor witness. But now"тАФ Clarendon was no longer smiling, and his
voice was lowтАФ"now we have reached a solid link in the chain. Chatham spent some time with Doctor
Palermo. We may consider the physician to be a reliable witness."

Burke nodded his assent.

"Therefore," concluded Clarendon, "the last man who really and authentically saw Horace Chatham was
Doctor Albert Palermo. He is the one who should be questioned as to the identity of Horace Chatham."

It was amazing to Burke. Yet the newspaperman was used to facts in preference to fancies.

"But so many persons saw Chatham," he protested weakly. "It seems incredible that everybody could
have been deceivedтАФ"

"Burke," interposed Clarendon, with his odd smile, "I know the efficacy of a good disguise. I could cause
a dozen peopleтАФfriends of yoursтАФto swear that they had seen you on Broadway, or in a newspaper
office, while you never left this room.

"It is my knowledge of disguise that leads me to supposeтАФsimply to suppose, mind youтАФthat the last
person who saw the actual Horace Chatham was Doctor Palermo. That is, if Doctor Palermo saw him."

"Now it's becoming more confusing," objected Burke. "If we reject Doctor PalermoтАФ"

"We are not rejecting him," returned Clarendon. "It is possible, of course, that Palermo was also duped.
But, there are also other possibilities.

"For example: Palermo may be shielding the false Horace Chatham. Or Chatham may have dropped out
of the picture after he left Palermo's apartment. OrтАФ"

The speaker stopped. He simply spread his hands in an expressive gesture. Somehow, Burke
understood the significance more thoroughly than if Clarendon had spoken.
"Perhaps," murmured the former reporter, "perhaps something happened to Horace Chatham when he
was with Doctor Palermo!"

"Exactly." Clarendon spoke firmly. "That is why, Burke, I expect you to resume an old role
to-nightтАФthat of a newspaper reporter, seeking an interview. You will call on Doctor Palermo, and