"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 026 - Murder Trail" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"Where is he?" came Von Werndorff's tense question. "You are sure that no one has seen him?"

"He has been unobserved, Herr Captain. I met him at the appointed place. I brought him aboard the
dirigible. He is waiting in the corridor."

Von Werndorff gave a relieved sigh. With a kindly commendation that one would not have expected
from so stern an individual, he clapped his brawny hand upon the lieutenant's back, and spoke in a tone
that was almost fatherly.

"Excellent, Fritz," he said, "excellent! You will show the visitor in, and then leave the ship. Wait below,
and make sure that no one comes aboard. Above all, Fritz, remember -"

"My lips are closed, Herr Captain."

A FULL minute passed, while Captain von Werndorff drummed upon the table. Again, the door of the
cabin opened, and a short, heavy-set figure entered. This was the visitorтАФa man whose face could not
be seen within the huge collar of the coat which he was wearing.

The visor of a large cap was over the man's forehead; but when he saw that the captain sat alone, the
visitor threw aside the cap and turned down his collar. Von Werndorff, rising, stood with his huge bulk at
attention. His stern face was impassive, while his eyes gazed toward the solemn, haughty countenance of
the shorter man before him.

A quiet smile appeared upon the visitor's lips. The man motioned the commander to his chair, and took a
seat beside the table.

"All is prepared?" he questioned, in an even voice.

"Yes, your excellency," responded the captain.

"Good," said the visitor, in a tone of satisfaction. "I knew that I could rely upon you, Von Werndorff."

The commander bowed in acknowledgment. He had flown Zeppelins during the period of the War; and
this man had been his superior then. Captain von Werndorff was loyalty personified. He had not
forgotten.

"Baron Hugo von Tollsburg," the captain began a low-voiced statement, "I shall always obey your orders
-"

The visitor stopped Von Werndorff with an imperious gesture. He smiled wanly, and slowly shook his
head as the captain became silent.

"Baron von Tollsburg is no more," he said quietly. "The old regime is forgotten. Peace, not war, is my
mission to-day. I told you that, Von Werndorff, when I visited you months ago, at the time when this
great ship was in course of construction."

"I remember," nodded the commander.

"You promised then," resumed the visitor, "to make the arrangements that I requested. I relied upon
youтАФalthough I was not to see you until this night, the eve of your voyage to America. I am here,