"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 290 - Death has Grey Eyes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

It was then that Dick Whitlock really stared.
Straight across the card that he still held, he saw the original of the
penciled face, the girl with those deep brown eyes and russet hair, who
belonged in the whirl of impossible adventures that had never happened!


CHAPTER III
 A DAPPER assistant manager was introducing the dream girl to Dick's
companions, who, as members of the social set that regularly patronized the
Starview Roof, were entitled to meet any celebrity.
In his confusion, Dick didn't catch the girl's name, but he had hopes, for
Claire, in a style subtly feline, invited the brunette to take a chair between
herself and Dick. By this process of self-eclipse, Claire actually won a
ringside seat from which she observed what followed.
"I'm sorry," began Dick, "but I missed the introduction. My name is Dick
Whitlock - and yours -"
The girl was smiling, almost to the point of laughter, a contrast to the
subdued creature who had floated through the fog of Dick's nameless
recollections. She wasn't looking at Dick, but at the card he held, and now
she
plucked it lightly from his hand, to admire the sketch of herself.
"How nice," she said, in a warm alto tone. "You must have sketched me
while I was at the other table."
"Why, no," began Dick. Then, noting Claire's quick-darted glance across
the brunette's shoulder: "I mean yes - of course."
"And how appropriate," the brunette added. "I really should have it
printed on all the announcement cards."
She turned over the card which Dick had used by chance and on the other
side, Dick saw the printed announcement for the first time. It read:

NEXT WEEK
THE STARVIEW ROOF
WILL INTRODUCE
IRENE BRESLON
FAMED CHANTEUSE
PARISIENNE

Dick looked at the girl.
"You?"
"I suppose my accent surprises you," acknowledged Irene, as she nodded.
"I'm not really French, you know. I just happened to be in Paris for a long
time. I was there when the war started, and I didn't get away."
Dick gave a quick look toward Jerry, wondering if this would help explain
the Paris post-marked letter. Only Jerry wasn't interested; his eyes were on
Claire, as though seeking profit from the diversion caused by Irene.
And Claire, briefly forgetful of the scene between Dick and Irene, was
meeting Jerry's gaze with a look that was anything but vacant.
Something seemed to explode in Dick's brain with a little puff and the
mental jolt cleared his thoughts.
The people around Dick looked different now, more their own selves as he