"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 011 - Double Z" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"I know where Farmington lives," he said. "I'll go up there right away."

When the detective arrived at the banker's home, he was ushered into a room that served as an office. It
adjoined a large living room.

Cardona took a chair near a huge mahogany desk, and awaited the return of Philip Farmington. The
banker arrived within half an hour.

JOE CARDONA was keenly interested in the meeting. He had seen Philip Farmington, but had never
spoken to him before. The man was a keen, hard-faced individual; one who possessed a powerful
physique and a commanding personality. Cardona knew that he was reputed to be a multimillionaire, and
was a strong figure in the activities of international bankers.

After shaking hands with the detective, Farmington seated himself by the desk and got down to business.
He opened a box of cigars that was on the desk. Cardona accepted one. Farmington was already
smoking.

"Well," asked Farmington, "what do you think of this Double Z matter?"
"The man is crazy," declared Cardona. "Nevertheless, he is dangerous."

"Unquestionably," acknowledged the banker. "Not only dangerous, but methodical. I see a purpose in his
threat."

"What is it?"

"He knows that I understand his message. I have already replied to it."

"What! You know where he is -"

"No," smiled Farmington. "I have replied by action, knowing what is in his mind."

Cardona appeared puzzled, but waited without asking questions.

"For some time," continued the millionaire, "a group with which I am associated has been considering a
loan to the Fascist government. The matter awaited my decisionтАФto-day. The letter arrived while I was
at breakfast. I took it with me to the office. It was obviously a threat if I gave my approval to the loan."

"Did you approve?"

"I did. The announcement of the loan appeared in the early editions of the evening newspapers. So
Double ZтАФif he is watchingтАФknows now that I have failed to heed his instructions."

"Hm-m-m," said Cardona. "Did you have any previous indication of this?"

"No," replied Farmington.

"When did you announce that your decision would be made to-day?"

The millionaire chewed the end of his half-finished cigar; then threw the perfecto into a tubular ash