"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 243 - Room of Doom" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)IT was Nevlin who called for order among the startled, horrified guests. There were nearly a dozen of them by this time, and men were giving excited exclamations, while women were on the verge of screams - with one exception. Joan Kelburn was moving toward the den, a fixed expression on her face. She felt that Arthur Aldriff had cheated her of the purpose that had brought her here: the vindication of her uncle. If Aldriff still had life, the girl intended to force a confession of his own guilt from his lips. It was Joan's move, as much as any other, that prompted Nevlin to efficient action. He sprang past Joan, reached the door and stood with his back against it, calling for others either to join him quietly and promptly or to go to the reception room across the hall and calm themselves there. Servants were appearing from other parts of the house, and Nevlin snapped orders at them. He told them to go outside and make sure that no one had broken in by one of the den windows; then to stay there and keep watch, until summoned back into the house. Fortunately, some of the guests were joining Nevlin before the servants had time to start. Since people were blocking the route to the vestibule from which Shadow in comfortable possession of his convenient lookout post. Nevlin was rattling at the knob of the den door. Finding it latched, he announced ruefully that Aldriff had the only key. The guests suggested breaking it down, but Nevlin preferred to pound away, shouting through the door in hope of an answer from Aldriff. None coming, guests hurried away to find implements for breaking down the door. Two guests met a servant coming in to report that the bars of the windows were still tight in place, the panes of glass unbroken, and the shades drawn. The windows were well up from the ground, but the servant suggested breaking them. He produced a fire ax from the closet under the stairs, and the guests, considering Nevlin in charge, decided to ask the secretary if he wanted the windows smashed. At sight of the ax, Nevlin seized it. "What would be gained by smashing the windows?" he demanded. "You might see Mr. Aldriff, but you couldn't help him. We'd have to tear down the house walls to get those bars out of place!" Turning to the door, Nevlin poised the ax and took a hard slash at a panel. The wood was stout, but the ax blade cracked it. Another slash, and Nevlin splintered away a chunk of wood. He chopped again, widening the hole. |
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