"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 012 - The Man Who Shook the Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

one. For all of MonkтАЩs canniness, he was stumped.

The door opened in the same magic fashion as before, and Doc Savage reappeared. He carried a black
composition tube which resembled a cylindrical phonograph record.

Monk grinned. He knew what the record was. It was part of a device which was hooked to the telephone and
recorded all conversations. This apparatus monitored DocтАЩs phone wire continuously. When one record
became filled, another one shifted automatically into place.

"Nothing but the telephone seems to have been touched," Doc said.

Monk peered at the telephone. He considered himself a detective of fair ability. He was certain the instrument
was placed exactly as it had always been. He did not doubt that it had been used, though. Doc rarely made a
mistake.

Going to the telephone, Monk peered at it from several angles. He sniffed. Then he got it. There was a faint
tang of smokerтАЩs breath about the mouthpiece. Neither Doc nor any of his five men smoked; and no one else
used this instrument.

Monk had missed the smoke scent on his first round of the room. Doc, however, had caught it. DocтАЩs nostrils
had been trained to an animal sensitivity in smell perception.

Doc switched on the mechanism which played back the record. The pick-up was amplified and reproduced
through a loud-speaker. It was like listening to a bit of drama from a radio.

"Hello," said a voice from the loudspeaker. "Doc Savage speaking."

"Huh!" Monk gulped. "Why, the liar! ThatтАЩs the guy who told me his name was Velvet!"

Doc Savage requested silence with a lifted hand.

"This is John Acre," said a slow, wheezing voice from the reproducing instrument. "I sent you several
radiograms from the boat. I wonder if you have received any of them."

"Yes," said Velvet. "They referred to various mysterious earthquakes."

"Good!" exclaimed John Acre. "Then you know how important it is that I see you. I just landed from the
steamer Junio ."

"You wish to see me at once?" asked Velvet.

"Immediately, Mr. Savage. May I come to your office?"

"Not to my office," said Velvet. "Come to the Midas Club, on Park Avenue."

"Very well, Mr. Savage," agreed John Acre.

A sharp click ended the conversation. The recording had stopped automatically as soon as the receivers were
hung up.