"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 254 - Syndicate of Sin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

It was Cotswold's home that Bobo and Sam approached. A dignified butler answered the door.
"Mr. Cotswold home?" Sam asked.

The butler looked at the unsavory faces of the two callers.

"I'm afraid not," he said with icy politeness. He started to close the door.

"Don't give us that!" Bobo snarled.

As he spoke, he gave the butler a quick shove, toppling him backward into the vestibule. Sam hit him
with a clubbed .38.

Bobo caught the unconscious body before it could hit the floor. Sam had already closed the street door.

They carried the butler into the foyer and shoved him out of sight. It was a gorgeous hallway, with a thick
rug on the floor and priceless art objects everywhere. But the two snatch artists paid no attention to the
display of wealth. They had a job to do.

They crept up the staircase to the second floor. They knew exactly where to find Cotswold's study. Their
boss had been a visitor in Cotswold's palatial home more than once.

The study door was open. The thugs could see Cotswold at his desk. He was talking to Herbert Strang,
his confidential secretary. Bobo and Sam waited patiently. They were in no hurry.

Cotswold's hands were trembling as he talked to Strang. He seemed to be nervous. Strang laughed
reassuringly.

"It's all a pack of nonsense," he said. "You're foolish to worry about the smuggled Leonardo da Vinci
painting."

"I wish I hadn't bought it," Cotswold replied faintly. "I was afraid it might get me into trouble. But I
couldn't resist purchasing it. Lord, how some of the other collectors would envy me if they knew I had it!
One of the most magnificent Da Vinci's in existence! Stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris! I'll never
give it up! I paid for it. I'll keep it!"

"Of course," Strang rejoined calmly. "The only man who knows you have it is the dealer you bought it
from. And he's not going to blab. That anonymous threat you received doesn't mean a thing. Some crank,
probably. All millionaires get crank threats like that."

"But I've had a second phone call," Cotswold said. "A voice warned me that precautions couldn't keep
him from robbing me."

"Did the voice mention the Leonardo da Vinci painting? Did he accuse you of buying a smuggled
masterpiece for your secret collection?"

"No, but -"

"Then why worry?" Strang smiled.