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

doing something that it is difficult for me to do. I feel much benefit can accrue from such a practice.”

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean—maybe? You don't doubt it, do you?”

“Too much inwardness can be bad for a personality, particularly for one that is already touched with
inwardness.”

Hazard scowled. “You disagree with me?”

“Isn't that permissible?”

“Humph!”

“If it isn't permissible, say no. We might as well get that straightened out now, and I can catch the five
o'clock plane back home, back to New York.”

“You'd walk out on me?”

“Why not?”

Hazard threw himself back in his chair. “Christ, so you're a primadonna? I didn't expect that. I had heard
you were a remarkable man of the strong silent type, a combination of physical giant, mental genius and
scientific wizard. But as modest as they come—except that you do have a world-wide reputation for
solving criminal matters that are outside, for one reason or another, the normal abilities of law
enforcement agencies.”

“The question was—is it against the rules around here to disagree with you?”

“It sure is—but you don't need to catch that plane.”

“Why not?”

“I already suspended the rules in calling for your help,” Hazard said. “That's one reason.”



HE decided that Paul Ben Hazard was expecting trouble. The reasons for his deciding that were a little
indefinite, because—he had already concluded Hazard was a profound neurotic—the man was hard to
read, for his ability to have normal emotions was all beaten out of shape by the pummeling of his neurosis,
or his giving in to the neurosis, and, probably, even cultivating it and giving it play. The man was,
undoubtedly, peculiar. But he believed the man was also frightened.

“Do the rules include one against getting down to business, down to brass tacks?”

“They're suspended.”

“All right. What are you afraid of?”