"012 (B043) - The Man Who Shook The Earth (1934-02) - Lester Dent (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Times-Flash pays for this."
Monk smacked his lips loudly in satisfaction, took the bills, and pocketed them.
"Thanks, mister," he said. "I’ll leave you now."
"Sure," Velvet agreed. "You don’t want to be here when Doc Savage comes."
Monk squinted. His tiny eyes were almost lost in their gristle pits. "Do you
know Doc Savage by sight, Mr.—er—"
"Velvet, John Velvet," said Velvet, then grimaced. He had been caught off guard
a little. He had not intended to give his name. "Well, no, I’m not exactly sure
that I can recognize Doc Savage."
"Good night!" Monk exclaimed. "You’re about the only person here in New York who
wouldn’t know him by sight!"
Velvet dropped his lids to hide the sudden, ugly hardness in his eyes. "I’m a
new reporter—from the West."
"You’ll know Doc Savage easy enough when you see him," Monk said. "He’s a great
bronze giant of a figure. In appearance alone, he’s about the most remarkable
man you’ve ever seen. His eyes will strike you, too. They’re a strange color,
like pools of flake gold that are being stirred around all the time. When a man
looks at ‘em, something just kind of happens to him. It’s hard to explain—"
"You’d better explain it some other time," Velvet said hastily. "Clear out,
Monk. Savage might show up and find out you had let somebody into his office."
Without a word, Monk walked into the corridor. He shut the door behind him.
Velvet made a face after the retreating gorilla of a man. He chuckled. "That guy
is even dumber than Biff."
Then Velvet glanced about the office.
This was apparently the outer room of a suite. There was an expensive rug on the
floor. Chairs were big, and made for comfort. Near the two great windows stood a
table, the top of which was completely inlaid and looked costly. At one side,
near a door, stood a large locker. On the other side of the room was an enormous
safe.
Velvet went to the locker and gave its handle a twist. He failed to open it. He
tried the door alongside. That, too, resisted him.
Velvet swung over to the gigantic safe, and learned it was shut securely. It
would be about as easy to enter as a bank vault. Velvet shrugged and turned
away. He lit a cigarette.
"Well, what if they are locked," he grumbled. "I didn’t come up here to steal
anything. My game is bigger stuff."
He seated himself beside the telephone stand, which was near the great inlaid
table, remained there, smoking, staring steadily at the phone. He was waiting
for something. The expression on his face was eager, and utterly villainous.

MONK was grinning with all of his homely face as he left an elevator in the
lobby of the skyscraper. His expression was one of smug satisfaction, as he
swaggered across the lobby, heading for the street door.
Two elevator operators, standing at attention in front of their idle cages,
bowed from the waist as Monk passed. Their manner showed respect and possibly a
little awe.
Had Velvet been a witness, he would have thought it more than passing strange
for a janitor to rate such deference.
Out on the street, Monk walked rapidly. The fact that his arms were some inches
longer than his legs gave him a comical aspect. Several pedestrians turned