"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 009 - The Czar of Fear" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

A moment later, a dark limousine rolled up to the curb. The rear was heavily curtained.

The driver leaned from behind the wheel and advised: "Get in!"

It was Slick Cooley, partially disguised by a raincoat and a low-pulled hat.

Judborn Tugg placed his bags in the front, then got in the back. At this point, his hair almost stood on
end.

The rear seat held a figure incased from head to foot in a black sack of a garment. On the front of the
raven gown was painted a big green bell.

The unholy apparition in black held two silenced revolvers in dark-gloved hands.

"Do not mind the guns," said a hollow, inhuman voice from the murksome form. "I am the Green Bell, and
the weapons are merely to remind you not to snatch at my hood in an effort to learn my identity."

The limousine now rolled out into traffic.

"I was walkin' down the street when he called to me from the back of this car," Slick advised. "There
wasn't any driver -- "

"I simply parked the car ahead of you, before donning my hood," interposed the sepulchral tones of the
Green Bell. "Incidentally, this machine is stolen. But I do not think the owner will miss it for some hours.
Tugg -- what happened to you?"

Judborn Tugg started. He had been cudgeling his brain in an effort to identify the Green Bell's voice. But
there was nothing the least familiar about the disguised tones.

Rapidly, Judborn Tugg explained the unhappy outcome of his visit to Doc Savage.

"You have served me very inefficiently!" Anger had come into the booming voice of the Green Bell. "This
Doc Savage is not at all the type of man you thought him to be!"

Tugg, still smarting from his reception at the hotel, said angrily: "This is my first mistake!"

The Green Bell gazed levelly at him. The eye holes in the jet hood were backed by goggles which had
deep-green lenses. The effect was that of a big, green-orbed cat.

"I do not care for your angry tone!" said the dark being. "You are fully aware, Tugg, that I can get along
without those who do not cooperate fully with me. You are no exception! You are of service to me only
as an agent, a figurehead through which I can work. You pretend to be Prosper City's leading citizen,
and I choose to let you. Your milling concern, Tugg Co., was ready to fail when I came upon the scene,
thanks to your bad management. You have retained control of the company only because I have
furnished you money with which to pay the interest on your loans. You are but a cog in my great plan."

Judborn Tugg collapsed like an automobile tire which had picked up a nail.

"I did not mean to offend you," he mumbled. "I was excited because of the treatment Doc Savage gave
me."