"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 279 - The Freak Show Murders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

"They're satisfied on one thing," acknowledged Steve. "This alloy you
term
alumite is so much lighter than any known metal that it's a shame to even
compare them."
"Does that mean they are interested in buying the formula?"
"It means they would be if you delivered enough alumite for them to give
it
the required tests."
Treft nodded as though he had received the very answer that he expected.
Gesturing Steve to an easy chair, Treft stepped to the corner of the room and
pointed out a life-sized bust that stood on a marble pedestal.
"An excellent bronze," remarked Treft. "It represents Absalom Pettigrew,
the man who invented alumite, or I might say discovered it."
Steve raised his eyebrows.
"Is there a difference?"
"In this case, yes," replied Treft. "Pettigrew was a sculptor and he came
across a process of inflating metal, which works only with a certain alloy.
That
is the real secret of alumite; it is an expanded substance, honeycombed with
microscopic air pores which in no way reduce its tensile strength, because of
their irregular arrangement."
As he finished, Treft lifted the bust from its pedestal and with a sudden
fling sent it straight at Steve. Ducking involuntarily, Steve looked past his
upraised hands to see the object practically drifting at him. Grabbing, he
caught it and was amazed at its featherweight.
"Solid alumite," chuckled Treft. "Old Pettigrew gave it a bronze spray,
as
he did with the Twelve Hours."
"The Twelve Hours?"
"Twelve full-sized statues representing the hours of the day," explained
Treft. "Being a sculptor, Pettigrew naturally turned his discovery to
statuary.
It remained for us to recognize its commercial possibilities."
"For us?"
"I mean myself and my associates. In my letter to your company I stated
that I could supply a sufficient quantity of alumite for whatever tests might
be
demanded. I take it that you supposed I had the alumite here."
Steve nodded.
"I have purposely furthered that impression," continued Treft, with a
smile, "even among my servants, in order to protect my fellow-investors, who
own
the statues that I have mentioned. I have the formula" - Treft's smile
broadened
- "but they have the alumite, that is, most of it."
Treft finished with a gesture to the bust that Steve was holding, to
indicate that it represented his only supply of the priceless alloy. Then,
folding his arms, Treft demanded in his blunt tone:
"Have I made my terms clear? If your company receives every ounce of
alumite in existence and finds that it meets requirements, will they pay my