"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 008 - The Black Master" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

Russian."

Zerndorff raised his brow.

"A cab driver brought him to the Classic office along with one of the reporters, Tewkson. The other
reporter, Grimes, met them.

"It may be that the Russian was going there to warn Raynor, the managing editor. There was a
five-thousand-dollar reward, you know."

"It is strange," said Doctor Zerndorff. "It is very strange, yes. These men that say they are communists,
that want no money. They are the first to try to get money when it is offered to them!"

"Maybe we can bait some of them!" said Burke bluntly.

The white-haired criminologist shrugged his shoulders. He seemed speculative for a few moments; then
he spoke slowly and thoughtfully, making much of his words.

"We have to deal with a carefully deliberated crime," he stated. "Not the kind that springs from anger or
from the quick impulse. It is the crime of the plotter, of the man that moves by stealth.

"Who is the man? Maybe I could tell you now. But I must have more time to think; I must not make a big
mistake. It may not be just the one man - it may be two or three. But these will be the men who plan.

"Beneath them are the little men, those who have placed the bombs where they have exploded. You must
find them, Herr Inspector. Have them for me!"

"You're right, professor," interposed Burke. "Joe Cardona will get the small fry. Leave it to him. But how
long will it be before you haul in the big shots?"

"It shall not be long. I shall tell you this. It is not the time of which I am thinking. It is of explosions."

"Just what do you mean by that?"

"There have been one - two - three - four," replied Doctor Zerndorff, counting on the fingers of his left
hand. "Perhaps there shall be no more. Perhaps" - he pointed to the last outstretched finger - "perhaps
there shall be one more, yes?

"If that is so, I can promise you, there will be no more after that."

"We don't want any more if we can help it!"

"Listen to me, Herr Inspector." Zerndorff's voice was emphatic. "My brain" - he tapped the fingertips of
both hands against his forehead - "my brain is understanding. I am like one who is in dreaming, yes?
"People I can see. Faces I can recognize; but I cannot grasp. Should they move once, I shall have them.
But I can only wait.

"Perhaps they shall not move. If they do not, my brain shall work of itself and I shall find them. You
understand me, yes?"