"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 165 - The Devil is Jones" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

THE DEVIL IS JONES
A Doc Savage Adventure by Kenneth Robeson
This page formatted 2004 Blackmask Online.

http://www.blackmask.com

? Chapter I
? Chapter II
? Chapter III
? Chapter IV
? Chapter V
? Chapter VI
? Chapter VII
? Chapter VIII
? Chapter IX
? Chapter XI
? Chapter XII
? Chapter XIII
? Chapter XIV
? Chapter XV
? Chapter XVI
Originally published in Doc Savage Magazine November 1946
Chapter I
HE had been told by the manager of the hotel, a Mr. Thomas, that:

“Absurd, implausible, improbable are any chances that Paul Ben Hazard would be able to do a normal
thing such as establishing an office without, somewhere, some way, manifesting a trait.” The hotel
manager, Mr. Thomas, had the gift—which bordered on an affliction in this case—of words. “I once
heard one of Hazard's friends, referring to the office, say that for once the master had almost defeated his
narcissistic impulse, and when I asked what kind of an impulse that was, the friend, who spoke the same
language that Hazard speaks, said the narcissistic impulse is one toward self-advancement and
self-aggrandizement, but then he said the narcissistic impulse is toward the development of a phony self,
so when he said not to believe a word of it, I didn't. I didn't believe him. Not quite. Say about one day a
year, on St. Swithin's day, I didn't believe it.”

He had decided the manager was confusing, if not a bit of a goof, but he was beginning to see otherwise.

He said, “I wish to see Mr. Hazard.”

“You have an appointment?” asked the office girl.

“Yes.”

“What name?”

“Mr. Savage.”

“Oh, yes. Will you step this way.” The office girl, who was about sixty-five and as ugly as an alligator's
grandmother, arose and led the way to the door, at which she paused. She turned, said, “You will not
touch anything in Mr. Hazard's presence.”