"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 027 - The Silent Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

first."

He seated himself and looked from one man to the other. Leaning back, still smiling, Professor Folcroft
Urlich emitted a cackling laugh of satisfaction. It brought a grin from Ricordo, a nervous shrug from
Jocelyn.

"So," declared Urlich. "We shall see our first plan work, eh? We are obliged to Ricordo, eh, Jocelyn? He
has arranged very well."

"I do not relish it," objected Jocelyn, in a testy tone. "This is not my business, Urlich. I do not disapprove
of death, where it is necessary; but to be a witness -"

Professor Urlich held up his hand by way of interruption. Jocelyn subsided while Ricordo glared
maliciously.

"You can end such qualms, Jocelyn," stated the professor, "and it is well that you should do so at the
start. That is one reason why I have summoned you here to-night. The other is that we may discuss our
plans plainly. I want no misunderstanding later on.

"Death is my idea. To a scientist such as myself, human life is a mass. The ego must be forgotten. What is
one life? Nothing. But one death"тАФas Urlich paused, the smile writhed snakelike across his lips - "may
mean much to those who live to profit by it.

"Death means millions to the three of us. Millions! Do you understand, Jocelyn? Death paves our
wayтАФand I am the master who provides death. But one who provides death requires human tools.
Ricordo has brought those instruments. Moreover, one who provides death wisely must have a chance
for gainтАФand you bring that opportunity, Jocelyn."

The dignified man nodded. He chewed his lips thoughtfully; then his eyes lighted as though the talk of gain
had served as inspiration.

PROFESSOR URLICH leered as though he had read the old man's mind.

"That we may all understand," continued Urlich, lowering his evil tones, "I shall recapitulate the desires
which have brought us together. For years I have taken lifeтАФseldom the life of human beings, I admit;
but life, just the same. I do not quail at the thought of taking human life. To me, it is experimentation on a
higher plane.

"Ricordo has chosen a career of crime. He is criminal by instinct, shrewd in all his dealings. He knows
how to control and utilize men of the criminal type. Therefore, he is following his inclinations.

"You, Jocelyn, have profited by others' losses. You call yourself a financier. You are actually one who
traffics in the failures of those less fortunate. Your opportunity will be greater now; for where living men
once blocked your schemes, dead men will not."

Jocelyn shuddered at the frank terms, then smiled weakly. Professor Urlich seemed to possess an
insidious influence over the financierтАФ one which caused the man to forget his qualms despite himself.

"Simple plans are most effective." As Professor Urlich proceeded with this statement, he drew a folded
paper from his pocket. "Here is the list which you gave me, Jocelyn. It names more than a dozen