"028 (B088) - The Roar Devil (1935-06) - Lester Dent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

They were seated on chairs, stout steel chairs, and they were held by handcuffs to the chairs. Doc Savage could break ordinary handcuffs. He had not broken these. He had tried.
Doc and Johnny had recovered their senses some ten minutes before.
"It is hardly necessary to explain that I did this because I found you prowling on the roof of my house," the ageless man announced. "My burglar alarms, and very excellent they are, too, showed you there."
He waited, apparently for the two men to say something, but they were silent, and he rubbed his hands together and smiled. The skin on his hands looked so dry that it was strange that it did not crackle, seemingly.
"There are tiny gas vents in the roof," he said. "The gas is both colorless and odorless. But I believe that you, Doc Savage, are versed enough in chemistry to have already guessed the nature of the gas. You see, I recognized you the instant I came near you. Unfortunately, however, that was not until after you were senseless." He bowed to Johnny. "You are William Harper Littlejohn. I am indeed glad to meet such a learned man."
Johnny gave him only a steady stare.
The ageless man bowed.
"I am V. Venable Mear," he said. "I presume you came to see me. The roof of my house is of no use in gaining the roofs of other houses, for it sets apart. So I presume you were on my roof to see me."
He looked at them expectantly as he paused, and when they did not answer, smiled, shook his head and continued.
"Indeed, I am glad to meet you," he said. "I am a man of the sciences myself, although I have never put my knowledge to spectacular uses. I am a criminologist. I study crime and criminals. Study them, you understand, to devise methods of combating them."
"You," Johnny rapped suddenly, "are the Roar Devil!"
V. Venable Mear smiled, rubbed his hands and seemed about to bow, when the door snapped open.
Retta Kenn came in.
"There's the devil to pay!" she snapped. "Dove Zachies is outside with a gang. He thinks you are the Roar Devil. He's going to get you!"
THE girl was excited, but certainly not scared. She gave the impression of being rather delighted about the whole thing.
There was a gun in V. Venable Mear's hand. Just how it had gotten there was a mystery. He was very fast.
"Tell me about it," he suggested, as if there was all the time in the world.
"I went to Dove Zachies's place in Westchester to pick up his trail, as you directed," said Retta Kenn. "I saw Dove Zachies seize Doc Savage's two men, Monk and Ham. I saw the Roar Devil's men attack Zachies and drive him away and capture Monk and Ham."
"Did you see the Roar Devil?" V. Venable Mear demanded.
"No," She shook her head. "He was not with his men. I overheard enough to know that. Then Zachies escaped, and I trailed him and learned he was coming here. I tried to beat him. His men were getting out of cars at the corner as I entered the house."
"You should have called me for orders," snapped Mear.
"Why?" countered the girl.
"Because I would have had you follow the Roar Devil's men," Mear informed her.
"You told me you wanted Dove Zachies."
"My client wants Zachies," corrected V. Venable Mear. "I have taken a personal interest in this affair. For that reason, I want the Roar Devil."
"I'm no mind reader," said the girl.
V. Venable Mear rubbed his hands together. No sound had as yet come from the street door.
Mear turned on Doc Savage suddenly.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
"On occasion," Doc Savage admitted, without emotion.
"Who is the Roar Devil?" Mear demanded.
Doc Savage made no answer.
"What is he after?" Mear persisted.
Doc returned him silence.
Mear sighed. "I fear I do not have a trustworthy face. It must be my age. It is hard for an old man to look honest."
The girl said dryly, "And while we stand here singing songs, our enemies gather without. Brother, you'd better look in your hat for rabbits."
V. Venable Mear gave no indication of having heard her. He looked at Doc.
"You think I'm a crook, don't you?" he demanded. "An old shyster with a lot of words - Isn't that what you think?"
"You know what the Roar Devil is after, don't you?" Doc Savage asked.
"I do," said V. Venable Mear.
"You know why he and Dove Zachies are fighting," Doc asked.
"I do," admitted Mear.
"And you know who the Roar Devil is," Doc announced.
"I do," said Mear. "At least, I have an idea that will hold water."
"I think you are the Roar Devil," Johnny put in suddenly.
V. Venable Mear laughed. He came over and unlocked Doc Savage and Johnny.
While Doc and Johnny were moving arms and legs to restore circulation, V. Venable Mear moved over to the girl, stood with his back turned so that his lips could not be read, and said something into her ear in a voice so low they did not catch even the swishing of the whisper.
The girl walked rapidly toward the rear of the house and was lost to sight.
"Come," V. Venable Mear said.
He led Doc and Johnny to the front door and opened it.