1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:05,559 The Assassins Club by Gillette Burgess. Every time I see a gargoyle, said 2 00:00:05,639 --> 00:00:09,839 Astro, I feel a thrill of secret kinship. It's as if I were 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,919 the only one who understood its mystery. If I were romantic, I would 4 00:00:14,919 --> 00:00:19,559 say that in a previous incarnation I had lived in the dark ages. What 5 00:00:19,679 --> 00:00:25,839 do you think about gargoyle'spelesca? Astro looked up from a book of Violette Laduke's 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:32,799 architectural drawings and glanced across to the pretty blonde head. His assistant, busy 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:40,039 with her card catalog where she kept memoranda of the seer's famous cases, made 8 00:00:40,079 --> 00:00:46,159 a delightful picture against the dull crimson hangings of the wall. She came over 9 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:51,640 to him and looked down across his shoulder at the pictures of the grotesque stone 10 00:00:51,679 --> 00:00:56,719 monsters. Why, she said, I've seen those horrible, cynical old ones 11 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:03,159 on Notre Dame in Paris that gazed down on the city roofs. I've always 12 00:01:03,239 --> 00:01:08,280 wondered why they placed them on beautiful churches. It's a deep question, said 13 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:14,239 Astro, his eyes still on the engraving. But to my mind they symbolized 14 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:19,680 the ancient cult of wonder. In the Middle Ages, men really wondered. 15 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:26,079 They didn't anticipate flying machines years before they were invented, as we moderns do. 16 00:01:26,799 --> 00:01:32,439 They took nothing for granted. Everything in life was a miracle. Boleska 17 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:38,959 dropped quietly into a seat to listen. Astro had many moods. Sometimes he 18 00:01:38,159 --> 00:01:45,040 was the dreamy, occult seer, cryptic, mysterious. Again he was the 19 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:49,799 alert man of affairs, keen, logical, worldly. She had seen him 20 00:01:49,879 --> 00:01:57,439 too in society, affable, bland, jocose. But in this introspective, 21 00:01:57,599 --> 00:02:04,280 whimsical, analytic mood she got nearest him and learned something of the true import 22 00:02:04,439 --> 00:02:08,599 of his life. He went on his eyes half closed, his red silken 23 00:02:08,759 --> 00:02:15,439 robe enveloping him like a shroud, the diamond in his turban glittering as he 24 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:21,840 moved his head. His olive skinned, picturesque face, with its dark eyes, 25 00:02:22,319 --> 00:02:27,000 was serene and quiet. Now, a little blue tailed lizard, one 26 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:32,800 of Astro's many exotic fancies, frisked across the table. He caught it and 27 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:38,520 held it as he talked. In the thirteenth century, clergy and laity alike 28 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:45,840 believed that the forces of good and evil were almost equally balanced. They worshiped 29 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:52,560 the Almighty, but propitiated Satan as well. So these grotesque beasts leered down 30 00:02:52,719 --> 00:02:58,680 from the cornices of the House of God and watched the holy offices of priests. 31 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:04,360 The devil had his own litany, his own science. They were forbidden 32 00:03:04,439 --> 00:03:09,319 practices, but they flourished then among the most intellectual people, as they flourished 33 00:03:09,319 --> 00:03:15,759 now among the most ignorant. Magic was then a science, Now it is 34 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,360 a fake. Still. A man's chief desires to get something for nothing, 35 00:03:20,599 --> 00:03:24,599 to find a short cut to wisdom. The gargoyle is replaced by the dollar 36 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:30,840 mark. So be it, one must earn one's living. Selah, I 37 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:35,840 have spoken. He looked up with a smile and a boyish twinkle in his 38 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:40,159 eyes. Then his business like, cynical self returned. He jumped up, 39 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:47,360 tall and eager, a picturesque Oriental figure informed with the stirring life of the 40 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:53,479 West. Valesca. I've been reading about the devil worshipers of Paris, the 41 00:03:53,520 --> 00:04:00,039 Black Mass, infant sacrifices, and all that that's in a ENaC grenistic cult. 42 00:04:00,479 --> 00:04:05,599 I'd like to know if there really is any genuine survival of the worship 43 00:04:05,639 --> 00:04:12,159 of evil. Boleska shuddered. Oh, that would be horrible, but interesting. 44 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,920 He clasped his hands behind him and gazed up at the silver starred ceiling. 45 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:23,560 I don't mean degeneracy or insanity, but a man that does evil for 46 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:26,959 the love of it, as they did in the old days. Think, 47 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,120 for instance, of the lost art of torture, the science of human suffering. 48 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,920 Oh don't I hate to have you talk like that? Boleska put a 49 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:42,279 hand on his arm. Very well, I won't. He snapped his fingers 50 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,600 as if to rid himself of the thought, and walked into the reception room 51 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,079 adjoining the great studio. Bileska went back to her work for some minutes. 52 00:04:51,519 --> 00:04:57,639 She arranged her cards in their tin box, and hearing voices outside, she 53 00:04:57,759 --> 00:05:00,639 looked up and listened. Then she walked up, softly, across the heavy 54 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:06,120 rugs, and, touching a button in the mahogany wainscotting, passed through a 55 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:13,920 secret door. Scarcely had she disappeared when Astro returned, ushering in a young 56 00:05:13,959 --> 00:05:19,120 woman stylishly dressed in brown. When she put aside her veil, her face 57 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:25,560 shone out like a portrait, vivid instinct, with grace and a delicate, 58 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:30,600 rare high bred beauty, full of character and force. Astro showed her a 59 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:35,079 seat under the electric lamp. I thought you would help me, if any 60 00:05:35,079 --> 00:05:41,199 one could, she was saying, in continuation of her conversation in the reception 61 00:05:41,399 --> 00:05:46,480 room. If it were anything less vague, I'd speak to mother about it. 62 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,920 But it's too strange and elusive. I'm sure he has not been drinking. 63 00:05:51,319 --> 00:05:56,279 I would notice that in other ways. And yet he is different, 64 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,959 he is not himself. It frightens me. Have you spoken to him about 65 00:06:00,959 --> 00:06:04,680 it? Astro asked, yes, But he won't say anything. He evades 66 00:06:04,759 --> 00:06:10,240 it and says he's all right. But I don't dare to marry him till 67 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,959 I know what it is that has changed him. I know it seems disloyal 68 00:06:15,079 --> 00:06:18,720 to suspect him, but how can I help it? What is mister Cameron's 69 00:06:18,759 --> 00:06:25,680 business. He's a naval lieutenant in the construction department at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 70 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,199 and that is another reason why I'm worried. He has charge of work 71 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:35,800 that is important and secret. If this change, whatever it is, should 72 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:42,480 affect his work, he'd be disgraced. He might even be dishonorably discharged. 73 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:47,959 When have you noticed this peculiarity of his at any particular time, usually on 74 00:06:48,079 --> 00:06:53,800 Sundays, when he almost always comes to call, but sometimes in the middle 75 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:58,680 of the week. At times he talks queerly, almost as if in his 76 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,439 sleep, of and queer landscapes that have nothing to do with what we are 77 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:09,240 discussing. Sometimes he doesn't even finish his sentences and goes off into a sort 78 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:13,560 of days for a minute, and then he'll ask my pardon, and go 79 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,160 on as if nothing had happened. And when shall you see him next? 80 00:07:17,519 --> 00:07:23,959 He will probably come Saturday afternoon. Usually he stays to dinner, but of 81 00:07:24,079 --> 00:07:29,959 late he has been having engagements that prevent all right, said the seer, 82 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:32,920 I'll see what I can do. Knowing that he is at your house, 83 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:39,800 I shall be able to orient myself and thereby be more receptive to his astral 84 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:45,639 influence. I shall then be able to ascertain the cause of any psychic disservance. 85 00:07:46,079 --> 00:07:49,399 The young woman, rising to go looked at him plaintively. Oh, 86 00:07:49,439 --> 00:07:53,800 I hope I haven't done wrong in telling you about it. But I do 87 00:07:53,879 --> 00:07:58,160 love him, so I can't bear to see him so changed. My dear 88 00:07:58,199 --> 00:08:01,680 miss Mannering, said astro kindly, you need have no fear. I assure 89 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:07,600 you your business shall be kept absolutely confidential, with the exception of my assistant. 90 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:13,800 No one shall ever know that you came here. Your assistant, She 91 00:08:13,839 --> 00:08:18,199 looked at him doubtfully, Miss Wynn, she seemed surprised. A lady, 92 00:08:18,439 --> 00:08:24,480 she asked, then timidly, might I see her? Certainly? Astro touched 93 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:31,199 a bell. In a moment, Veleska appeared between the velvet portiere and waited 94 00:08:31,319 --> 00:08:37,120 there, her piquant, sensitive face questioning his wish. Her golden hair brightly 95 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:43,600 illuminated from behind. Miss Mannering walked to her impulsively and took her hand. 96 00:08:45,159 --> 00:08:48,399 Might I speak to you for a moment, she asked. Velleska, giving 97 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,639 Astro a glance, led the visitor into the reception room. I had no 98 00:08:52,759 --> 00:08:58,279 idea that Astro had a lady assistant, she said. I feel much better 99 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:03,840 about having told him now. Veleska smiled at her and held the hand in 100 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,399 both hers. Oh, I only do some of his routine works, she 101 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:13,240 said, but he often discusses his important cases with me. I'm sure that 102 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,200 he can help you. He is wonderful. I never knew him to fail, 103 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,679 Miss Wynn, said the visitor. No one but a woman can understand 104 00:09:20,759 --> 00:09:24,840 how distressed I am. I'm sure I can trust you. I can read 105 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:28,919 that in your face. I am always sure of my intuitions, and now 106 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:33,519 that I have seen you, I'm going to tell you something that I didn't 107 00:09:33,759 --> 00:09:37,919 quite dare to tell Astro. I know my fiancee is in some trouble, 108 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,879 but what I'm afraid of is too dreadful. It terrifies me. Here, 109 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:48,519 look at this. It dropped out of mister Cameron's pocket the last time he 110 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,879 called, and I found it after he had gone. She handed an envelope 111 00:09:52,919 --> 00:09:58,159 to Vealeska, who looked at it carefully and drew out a single sheet of 112 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:03,559 paper on This was rich and in green ink be at the Assassin's Saturday at 113 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:09,720 seven, Haskell's turn. What can that mean? Miss Mannering whispered, I 114 00:10:09,759 --> 00:10:13,639 didn't dare to show it for fear of getting Bob into trouble in some way. 115 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,879 That word assassin's. Oh it's awful. May I take this letter, 116 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:24,879 Bleska asked, No, I daren't leave it. Mister Cameron may miss it 117 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:28,600 and ask for it, but you may tell Astro if you think best. 118 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:33,320 Bleska gave another glance at the letter. And handed it back. My dear, 119 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,159 miss Mannering, don't worry about it, she said, pressing her hand. 120 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,039 It may not be so bad as you fear. Whatever it is, 121 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,600 Astro will find it out, you may be sure. When the visitor had 122 00:10:45,639 --> 00:10:50,879 departed, Bleska walked into the studio with the news. Astro listened in silence 123 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:56,159 till she had finished. Then he smiled, nodded, and took up his 124 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:01,919 water pipe lazily. The solution of this thing is so simple that I'm surprised 125 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:05,600 it hasn't occurred to you, my dear, But that's because of your lack 126 00:11:05,639 --> 00:11:09,799 of experience and the fact that you haven't read so much as I have. 127 00:11:09,159 --> 00:11:13,679 But all the same, there may be something deeper in it than appears now. 128 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,960 At any rate, the girl is to be helped, and the lieutenant 129 00:11:18,039 --> 00:11:22,240 as well, and that we shall do. But what about the assassins, 130 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:28,639 Velleska inquired anxiously. Oh that's the whole thing, of course. But I 131 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,879 think I'll let you study that out yourself. It will be good practice for 132 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:37,519 your reasoning powers. First, let's see if your powers of observation have improved. 133 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,399 Tell me all about the letter. He blew out a series of smoke 134 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:50,480 rings and regarded her quizzically well. Velleska puckered her brows. It was written 135 00:11:50,639 --> 00:11:56,519 on buff laid linen paper of about ninety pounds weight, very heavy stock anyway, 136 00:11:56,879 --> 00:12:03,080 in an envelope of the same marked Madison Square station April nineteenth, four 137 00:12:03,159 --> 00:12:09,320 p m. The handwriting was that of a stout, middle aged man who 138 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:15,440 had just had some serious illness, A foreigner, hard working, unscrupulous, 139 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:22,360 dishonest, with no artistic sensibility. Bravo is that all? No, the 140 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:28,759 stationery came from Perkins and Shawls. I saw the stamping under the flap very 141 00:12:28,759 --> 00:12:35,159 good. Unfortunately we can't ask there about the assassins, but perhaps will find 142 00:12:35,399 --> 00:12:41,320 my ideal criminal. After all, the easiest plan will be to follow Cameron 143 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:48,000 tomorrow night. Meanwhile, you had better do some thinking yourself. Bulesca sat 144 00:12:48,039 --> 00:12:52,320 down and gazed long into the great open fire, her brows frowning, her 145 00:12:52,360 --> 00:13:01,200 hands working mechanically absorbed in thought. Astro took a small folding chessboarding gatray amused 146 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:05,919 himself with an intricate problem in the logistics of the game. When at last 147 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,039 he had queened his white pawn according to his theory, he looked over at 148 00:13:11,039 --> 00:13:16,799 his assistant and smiled to see her seriousness. In that look, something seemed 149 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:22,360 to pass from him to her. Oh, she cried, jumping up. 150 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,519 Does it begin with an H, more properly with a cea, he replied. 151 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,679 She shook her head and went at the problem again, and kept at 152 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:37,519 it until it was time to close the studio. The next afternoon, Astro 153 00:13:37,639 --> 00:13:43,840 and Veleska waited for two hours across seventy eighth Street from Miss Mannering's house before 154 00:13:43,879 --> 00:13:48,879 they saw the lieutenant emerge. They had already a good description of him and 155 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:54,759 had no trouble in recognizing the tall, good looking fellow, who, at 156 00:13:54,799 --> 00:14:00,240 half past six o'clock walked briskly up the street, ran down the stairs to 157 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:05,679 the subway, and took a seat in a downtown local train. Astro and 158 00:14:05,799 --> 00:14:11,840 Veleska separated and took seats on the opposite side of the car, watching their 159 00:14:11,919 --> 00:14:16,480 man guardedly. At twenty third Street, he got out, went up to 160 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:22,120 the sidewalk, and walked eastward. Beyond Fourth Avenue was a row of three 161 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:28,039 story old fashioned brick houses. Back from the street. The lieutenant entered the 162 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:33,639 small iron gate to one of the yards, and taking a key from his 163 00:14:33,799 --> 00:14:39,080 pocket went in the front door of a house. It slammed behind him, 164 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:43,159 the headquarters of the assassins, said Astro, calmly, his hands in his 165 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:50,200 overcoat pockets, studying the windows. And what next, asked Bleska. We'll 166 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,240 wait, awhile, come into this next doorway. On the side of the 167 00:14:54,320 --> 00:15:00,919 doorway they now entered was a sign furnished rooms. It was now after seven 168 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:07,080 o'clock and had begun to snow. Veleska stood inside the vestibule, protected from 169 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:13,919 the weather. Astro waited just outside, watching the doorway of number one O 170 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:20,000 nine. The twenty third street cars clang noisily by the din of the traffic, 171 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:26,320 muffled by the carpet of snow. The open mouth of the subway sucked 172 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:33,000 in an unsteady stream of wayferrors. Suddenly, Velleska put her hand on Astro's 173 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:37,799 arm. Does it begin with C O, she asked. He smiled, 174 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,639 No, c A, he answered, Oh, dear, I thought I 175 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:46,320 had it, but don't tell me. I'm sure I'll work it out, 176 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,919 though, but it makes me anxious. Anything might happen on a night like 177 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,120 this, Yes, even an assassination. You don't fear that, really, 178 00:15:56,559 --> 00:16:02,360 She looked at him in alarm. But I do assassination of a sort. 179 00:16:02,679 --> 00:16:07,200 What else could the letter mean? She had not time to answer before the 180 00:16:07,279 --> 00:16:12,159 door of the next house opened and a man buttoned up in a fur trimmed 181 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:17,960 overcoat came out. He stopped a moment to raise an umbrella, and they 182 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:22,720 could see that he was a stout, pasty faced German of some fifty years, 183 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:29,639 with a curling yellow mustache. He wore spectacles and seemed to be near 184 00:16:29,759 --> 00:16:33,000 sighted. There's the man who wrote the letter. Follow him, Veleska. 185 00:16:33,399 --> 00:16:38,039 Find out who he is, and all it's possible, we must follow every 186 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:44,440 lead. Veleeska was off on the instant, running down the steps and walking 187 00:16:44,519 --> 00:16:49,159 swiftly up twenty third Street. Astro lighted a cigar, turned up his collar, 188 00:16:49,519 --> 00:16:55,039 and waited another half hour in the doorway, nobody having entered or left 189 00:16:55,159 --> 00:16:59,360 number one O nine. By that time he rang the bell of number one 190 00:16:59,399 --> 00:17:03,799 eleven. A sweetish maid came to the door. I'd like to see what 191 00:17:03,039 --> 00:17:07,839 rooms you have, said Astro. The only one is on the third floor 192 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:14,200 rear, she replied, and showed him up two flights of unlighted stairs, 193 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:21,759 steep and narrow to a small square room meagerly furnished. Walking to the window, 194 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,680 Astro saw that level with the floor was a tin covered roof over an 195 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:33,519 extension in the rear. It stretched along the whole width of the four houses 196 00:17:33,559 --> 00:17:37,559 in the row. On this he might easily stand and look into the adjoining 197 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:42,960 windows. Saying that he would move in later, Astro paid the girl for 198 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,799 a week's rent in advance, and left the house and walked home. Veleska 199 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:55,799 next morning came full of news. The German kept right along twenty third Street, 200 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,720 toward Broadway, she said, and it occurred to me that I might 201 00:17:59,759 --> 00:18:04,400 get him to make the first advances and get acquainted without being suspected. So 202 00:18:04,519 --> 00:18:08,920 I passed him, and very gracefully slipped on snow and dropped my purse. 203 00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:14,839 Then I began looking about on the sidewalk for the money that might have dropped 204 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,319 out. My German friend came along and offered to help me. It took 205 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,519 some time, and the long and short of it was that we had quite 206 00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:27,440 a conversation, and I convinced him that I was respectable. He walked along 207 00:18:27,559 --> 00:18:32,240 with me and asked me where I was going. I said that I had 208 00:18:32,279 --> 00:18:37,359 intended going to the hippodrome with a friend, but that I had been detained 209 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,359 and it was so late I thought i'd go home. He proposed having something 210 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,960 to eat, and of course I refused. I had to be urged and 211 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,319 urged. But the more I refused, the more anxious he was to have 212 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:56,880 me come. Finally, I reluctantly assented to his invitation, and we went 213 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,519 to the cafe. Riche well, you ought to have seen that German eat. 214 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:06,160 I mean you ought to have heard him eat. I couldn't eat anything 215 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,440 myself, but sipped the wine he ordered, and coyly led him on, 216 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:18,000 chattering away about myself ingenuously. I had an engagement with Richard Mansfield and three 217 00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:25,359 years contracted one hundred dollars a week. When he died and was awfully anxious 218 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:30,000 to get another chance, all the money I had was tied up in one 219 00:19:30,039 --> 00:19:33,759 of the trust companies, and so on. He kept on eating, taking 220 00:19:33,799 --> 00:19:40,319 the biggest mouthfuls I ever saw, and leaving half of it on his mustache. 221 00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:44,319 Oh, I put in some hard work, I assure you. Then 222 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,640 he began asking me questions and wanted to know if I would like to earn 223 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,400 some money on the side, would I I jumped at it. Five thousand 224 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,880 actor folk out of a job this season, you know, and all that. 225 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,640 He said, I reminded him of his dead daughter. You know, 226 00:20:02,079 --> 00:20:06,440 I'm always reminding people of somebody, and he thought he could trust me. 227 00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:10,880 I cast down my eyes and let him go on. He said there was 228 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:15,920 a man he knew who has stolen some confidential papers and he wanted to get 229 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:19,839 them away from him without publicity. He needed a good, clever woman to 230 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:25,519 help him out on the job. I brightened up considerably. He asked me 231 00:20:25,559 --> 00:20:29,599 to go home with him so that he could give me a photograph to identify 232 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,960 my victim. I said I would, although I confess I was getting nervous, 233 00:20:33,319 --> 00:20:37,599 not being quite sure what he was up to. He had begun paying 234 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:44,119 me compliments, and when a German begins to get sentimental, well you know. 235 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,319 I took the subway with him and we went up to one hundred and 236 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:53,160 twenty sixth Street. There was a big apartment hotel there called the Dahlia, 237 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:59,039 one of those marble halled affairs that look as if they were built of a 238 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:04,400 dozen different kinds of fancy soap, with a red carpet and awfully funny oil 239 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:11,839 paintings and Negro hall boys sitting in Renaissance arm chairs. I refused to go 240 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,160 upstairs. Well, after a while he came down the elevator and handed me 241 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:21,920 this photograph. What do you think? She handed Astro a cabinet photograph. 242 00:21:22,079 --> 00:21:26,759 He lifted his fine brows when he looked at it. Lieutenant Cameron Veleska nodded. 243 00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:32,160 I'm to scrape up an acquaintance with him, get his confidence, and 244 00:21:32,279 --> 00:21:37,640 then report to Herr Buymer for final instructions. I wonder what poor little miss 245 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:44,920 Mannering would say. She took off her sables, her saucy fur touch, 246 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,359 and touched up her hair. At the great carved mirror at one end of 247 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:55,319 the studio, Astro sat regarding the portrait in his hand. He looked up 248 00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:00,480 to ask, did you find out what his business was? She whirled round 249 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,559 to him. Oh, I forgot. He's the agent of a big German 250 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:10,960 firm connected with the Krupp's steel plant. They control the rights to a new 251 00:22:11,319 --> 00:22:17,279 magazine Pistol. I was awfully interested in machinery. You know, it bored 252 00:22:17,319 --> 00:22:21,119 me to death, but I listened half an hour to his description of a 253 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:27,119 new ammunition hoist for battleships. Astro was suddenly electrified with energy. Ah, 254 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:33,799 he exclaimed, You didn't remember that the Crupps stand in with the German government 255 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:38,000 and have the biggest subsidies and contracts in the world. He wants you to 256 00:22:38,079 --> 00:22:44,000 make up to a construction officer in the United States Navy. Does he He 257 00:22:44,079 --> 00:22:48,000 needs a clever woman, I should say he did. Was her Bimer sober 258 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:55,440 perfectly as far as I could see, except for his sentimentality. Of course, 259 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,119 he was a bit effusive. You know, Yes, I see it 260 00:22:59,279 --> 00:23:03,960 wasn't his night. It was Haskell's night, whoever Haskell is. But I 261 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,319 think we'll have to hurry. This looks more serious than I thought at first. 262 00:23:07,799 --> 00:23:12,319 I shall sleep at number one eleven East twenty third Street to night. 263 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:18,359 And meanwhile, I have a nice job of forgery for you. Velleska. 264 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,039 I wish you'd practice copying this writing till you can write a short note that 265 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:27,680 will pass for Lieutenant Cameron's handwriting. He took a letter from a drawer. 266 00:23:29,039 --> 00:23:33,920 The envelope was addressed to Misviolet Mannering. Velleska took it and read it over 267 00:23:34,039 --> 00:23:41,119 carefully. It was a single sheet torn from a double page, and read 268 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:47,519 partly as follows. I believe that just as everything seems somehow different at night, 269 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,599 when we can see farther than by day, For can we not see 270 00:23:51,599 --> 00:23:56,599 the stars when our emotions seem freer? So there are two worlds in which 271 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:03,759 it is possible to exist. One is the dreary, everyday place of business 272 00:24:03,799 --> 00:24:08,680 and duty and pain. The other is free from care or suffering. Don't 273 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:14,240 we enter that occult world at night through our dreams, where there is no 274 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,359 such thing as conscience. There are no consequences, There no doubt. It's 275 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:26,119 a dangerous place because it is abnormal, but its exploration is fascinating. Why 276 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:32,000 ignore the fact that it exists as a refuge from the worries of matter of 277 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:37,039 fact existence. Veleska read it thoughtfully. Her eyes looked through the paper as 278 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:42,680 if into a mist beyond no wonder. Poor mismannering is worried, she said 279 00:24:42,759 --> 00:24:47,960 to herself. She looked at Astro as if to ask a question. He 280 00:24:48,079 --> 00:24:55,519 was busy with a planimiter calculating the area of a queer irregular polygon drawn on 281 00:24:55,599 --> 00:25:00,759 a sheet of parchment. Seeing his tense look, she took turned to her 282 00:25:00,839 --> 00:25:04,799 study of the manuscript as soon as it was dark. Astro opened the window 283 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:11,759 of his room on twenty third Street and walked along the crackling tin roof till 284 00:25:11,759 --> 00:25:17,240 he came to the first window of the house occupied by the assassins. Looking 285 00:25:17,279 --> 00:25:22,400 in, he saw a small, bare hall bedroom furnished with a cot, 286 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,680 a washstand, and one chair. The next two windows were lighted. He 287 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:33,039 approached them carefully. Three men were seated at a library table strewn with magazines. 288 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:41,480 All were smoking comfortably. One Astro recognized as the Lieutenant, another as 289 00:25:41,559 --> 00:25:45,599 her Bimer. The third was a yellow faced man with red hair, high 290 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:52,079 cheek bones, and dark eyes deeply set into his skull. In front of 291 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,960 him was a plate filled with what looked like caviare sandwiches cut small and thin. 292 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:03,079 Her Bimer said something at which the others laughed loudly, then with a 293 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:10,519 flourish as if drinking their health. Lieutenant Cameron took one of the sandwiches and 294 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:15,599 ate it almost with an air of bravado. Bimer looked at his watch, 295 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:21,079 The lean yellow faced man walked out of the room. The Lieutenant took up 296 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:26,240 an illustrated paper and began to read. Astro tiptoed carefully back to his room, 297 00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:32,440 put on his overcoat and went downstairs. Walked over to the drug store 298 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:37,279 and at the telephone booth rang up Velesca. Have you written the letter? 299 00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,000 He asked, Not yet was the answer, Well, you must do it 300 00:26:41,079 --> 00:26:45,960 immediately as well as you can. Bring it to number one eleven and ask 301 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:51,519 for mister Silverman. He then went back to his room. Another stealthy glance 302 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:56,640 through the windows of the club showed the two still at the table. Cameron 303 00:26:56,799 --> 00:27:00,279 was busy with a pencil and a sheet of paper exploded, leaning something to 304 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:07,079 the German. The yellow faced man watched them over his book. The lieutenant 305 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:12,079 was evidently talking with a little difficulty. Every little while he stopped and began 306 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:18,400 again with an effort. One leg was twitching at the knee joint. He 307 00:27:18,519 --> 00:27:22,839 supported his head heavily on his hand. Going back to his room, Astro 308 00:27:23,079 --> 00:27:29,359 took a bottle of ammonia from his overcoat pocket and placed it on the sink. 309 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,880 Next, he poured a white powder from a paper and dissolved it in 310 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,440 a tumbler of water, stirring it with a spoon. This done, he 311 00:27:37,559 --> 00:27:41,599 took the wash bowl from the stand and put it on the table beside the 312 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:45,599 bed. Then he sat down to wait for Vealesca. In half an hour 313 00:27:45,759 --> 00:27:52,160 she appeared, breathing hard, her cheeks flushed with her haste. Here it 314 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:55,759 is, she said, as soon as the maid had left. It's the 315 00:27:55,799 --> 00:28:00,640 best I could do. She handed it over. It read please allow the 316 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,079 bearer to come in and see me on important business. At any time he 317 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:11,160 may present this Robert Cameron good, said Astro. Now you must wait here 318 00:28:11,319 --> 00:28:15,160 and listen at the window till you hear my whistle. Then come right along 319 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,640 the roof to me and be ready for anything. He started to open the 320 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:26,000 door when she put a hand on his arm. Does it begin with C 321 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:32,079 A N, she asked breathlessly. He nodded, How did you get it 322 00:28:32,279 --> 00:28:36,720 from the lieutenant's letter? Of course, Well, it may have begun with 323 00:28:37,039 --> 00:28:42,240 D A N. By this time d A N G E R perhaps be 324 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:48,240 ready. And he was downstairs. At the door of the Assassin's Club, 325 00:28:48,279 --> 00:28:52,279 A white haired negro answered the bell. Astro presented the letter. I wished 326 00:28:52,359 --> 00:28:57,880 to see Lieutenant Cameron immediately, he said, I don't perxactly know, SA 327 00:28:59,359 --> 00:29:03,519 said the darky ma Oda's is not to leave. Nobody come in. Yah, 328 00:29:03,839 --> 00:29:10,759 I expect ah better say no sa Astra brushed past him and had set 329 00:29:10,759 --> 00:29:15,799 his foot on the stair when a fat face looked down over the balusters. 330 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:21,960 The portly form of her Bimer followed it. Vat's the matter, he inquired, 331 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:26,839 as he started down. Without further parley, Astro ran up the stair, 332 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:32,440 and before there was any time for resistance from the astonished German, grasped 333 00:29:32,519 --> 00:29:37,240 him by the knees, and, pulling his feet from under him, sent 334 00:29:37,319 --> 00:29:42,920 him madly sliding down the stairs. Her Bimer, swearing a polysyllabic oath, 335 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,240 stumbled awkwardly to his feet and set off upstairs again after his attacker, but 336 00:29:49,319 --> 00:29:53,680 by this time Astro was at the top of the second flight. He dashed 337 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:59,240 into the square room in the rear where he had seen the group of men. 338 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,279 It was empty. Beside it, however, was a small hall bedroom, 339 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,480 and here, in his shirt sleeves, lying in a stupor on the 340 00:30:07,559 --> 00:30:14,880 cot lay Lieutenant Cameron. Astro sprang to the door and locked, just as 341 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:19,279 the excited German pumped ponderously on the panels. Next, he threw up the 342 00:30:19,279 --> 00:30:25,039 window and whistled, Then, taking the Lieutenant in his arms, he succeeded 343 00:30:25,079 --> 00:30:30,680 in carrying him to the window sill. Boleska was already on the roof outside 344 00:30:30,759 --> 00:30:33,920 waiting for him. Take his feet, said Astro under his breath, and 345 00:30:34,079 --> 00:30:40,440 so together they managed to get the lieutenant out on the roof and to the 346 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:45,920 window of the chamber in number one eleven. By this time the man had 347 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:52,200 begun to revive and to protest in word and action against his removal. They 348 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:56,599 paid no heed to him, however, and bundled him into the room and 349 00:30:56,799 --> 00:31:00,240 on the bed. Then Astro shook him energetically. Wake up, man, 350 00:31:00,279 --> 00:31:04,839 he cried, wake up now, you can if you try here, smell 351 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:11,200 this. He reached for the ammonia and held it under the lethargic man's nostrils. 352 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:15,480 The lieutenant turned away, his head, coughed, blinked, and partially 353 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,720 rose on one arm. Who are you, he said, gazing at them 354 00:31:19,759 --> 00:31:26,079 in surprise. Friends of miss mannerings, said Astro. The lieutenant shook his 355 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:32,559 head and stared, what's the matter, he brought out laboriously. I got 356 00:31:32,599 --> 00:31:37,000 you away from Buymer afraid of trouble. Want to help you, Astro spoke, 357 00:31:37,240 --> 00:31:41,839 very distinctly, as if to a deaf man. The lieutenant felt for 358 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:48,279 his coat, found himself without one. Seemed puzzled and dropped back again limply. 359 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,839 The draw His voice ended in a mumble. Yes, the drawer. 360 00:31:53,240 --> 00:32:00,599 What drawer, Astro asked, eagerly, find draw The lieutenant seemed to drop 361 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:05,079 asleep. I wonder what he means. There's something on his mind, No 362 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:10,839 doubt he has hidden something. Astro looked keenly at the lesca under drawn brows. 363 00:32:12,599 --> 00:32:15,799 Can't you revive him again, she asked, No use trying the ammonia 364 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:21,920 yet it seems to have too great a reaction and sends him into a deeper 365 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,799 sleep. We'll have to wait till he comes to himself for a moment. 366 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:29,799 Naturally. You know what it is, now, don't you? She nodded. 367 00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:34,000 And I found it out, curiously, only from the dictionary. I 368 00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:40,160 looked up the word assassin and found that it came from hashashin or hashish eater. 369 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:45,920 Then I looked up about the old man of the Mountain who used to 370 00:32:46,039 --> 00:32:52,640 drug his followers with bang until they would commit any crime. And that led 371 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:59,119 me, of course, to cannabis Indica or Indian hemp, and I found 372 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:05,039 out all about the effects of hashish. Yes, I thought these amateur assassins 373 00:33:05,079 --> 00:33:10,240 were innocent enough only a club to experiment with hasheish, for with a moderate 374 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:16,839 dose, the sensations are wonderful and well worth trying. But there's more in 375 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:21,720 this than that. What is Bymer up to? That's what I want to 376 00:33:21,799 --> 00:33:27,400 know. Is he really unconscious now? Veleeska asked, watching the prostrate form 377 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,720 of the lieutenant as he lay, flushed and breathing but otherwise inert. Not 378 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:37,480 really. He may be dimly aware that we are here, but his will 379 00:33:37,599 --> 00:33:42,960 is gone. He won't speak until he rises to the level of volition again. 380 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:49,039 It's a sort of double consciousness, a rhythmic process of alternate sinking into 381 00:33:49,079 --> 00:33:54,599 apathy where he sees visions, and rising into full consciousness when he can talk. 382 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:59,880 For a moment, I wish I knew what dose he had the enter 383 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,839 about three minutes. I tried hasheesh when I was in college, but I 384 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:09,559 took such an overdose the last time that I have dreaded to use it again. 385 00:34:10,079 --> 00:34:15,519 The lieutenant now began to mutter, as if talking in his sleep. 386 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:22,400 I'm tottering on the tops of tall pendulums. The world is full of spiralated 387 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:30,360 mucilages. Lovely color in a tunnel now twisting, turning, violet, green, 388 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:37,679 orange, floating, floating like a spirit, tops of tropic trees. 389 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:42,679 Suddenly, he gasped and sat up, staring hard at them. What did 390 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:46,119 I say? What was it? Quick before I go off again, I 391 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:52,599 was saying something. Find the drawer, Astro suggested, leaning to him, 392 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:59,639 draw draw What was it? Drawings? He exclaimed, Blimer wants the drawings, 393 00:35:00,079 --> 00:35:04,079 for God's sake, help me. I'm losing it again. Drawings. 394 00:35:04,599 --> 00:35:08,079 What is it about? Drawings? Where did you put them? Drawings? 395 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:15,679 Yes, under the mat. His eyes closed, Astro tried again under the 396 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:21,159 mat in the little room. The lieutenant stared stupidly. I forget, Matt. 397 00:35:21,559 --> 00:35:24,199 That meant something. I can't get it. Wait till I come up 398 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:31,159 again. All snaky now like live wires, pink and green. Ah. 399 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:37,159 The rest was inaudible. The moment he had again succumbed to the effects of 400 00:35:37,199 --> 00:35:42,079 the drug, Astro sprang to the window. He paused there to say, 401 00:35:42,159 --> 00:35:46,039 sharply, Buymer is trying to get some of the lieutenant's navy drawings. That's 402 00:35:46,079 --> 00:35:52,440 evident, and has given Cameron a big dose of hashish to keep him quiet 403 00:35:52,599 --> 00:35:57,320 till the papers can be found. I think Cameron must have suspected it and 404 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:01,960 has hidden the blueprints or whatever they are. I'm going to go through that 405 00:36:02,119 --> 00:36:07,719 bedroom and see if they're under the mat. You wait here. He is 406 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:13,159 likely to be unconscious for two or three minutes more now, and I'll just 407 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:17,960 have time with that. He had leaped out on the roof and was off. 408 00:36:19,079 --> 00:36:23,320 The Lieutenant still muttered in a whisper so low that Vealeska could make out 409 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:29,639 nothing. She went to the window just as astro reappeared. No mat, 410 00:36:30,079 --> 00:36:34,239 nothing but a carpet Buymer must have got away with him. You'll have to 411 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:38,360 get after him, Veleska while I pull the lieutenant through. If I know 412 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:44,719 anything about hashish, he's had a terrific dose and is going to have the 413 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:47,880 worst case of nausea he ever had in his life. I took a look 414 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:53,599 at those Hasheish sandwiches. They were fairly loaded with the stuff. His first 415 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:59,920 voyage wasn't a circumstance to the sea. Sickness he'll have in about happen. 416 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:04,719 You get right out to Bymer's place and see what you can do with him. 417 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:08,880 As Bleska threw on her furs, the Lieutenant was beginning to rouse again 418 00:37:09,159 --> 00:37:15,119 as She slipped out of the door and ran downstairs. He sat up on 419 00:37:15,199 --> 00:37:20,559 the bed, his eyes glassy, his fists clenched. The effort he was 420 00:37:20,679 --> 00:37:25,800 making to gain possession of his mental faculties was evident in his writhing mouth and 421 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:30,400 wild, staring eyes. What was it, he demanded. It's all right, 422 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:35,880 said Astro. Buymer has the drawings, but we'll get them for you. 423 00:37:36,199 --> 00:37:39,320 He turned with a glass of water on the table. The lieutenant clutched 424 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:44,159 his arm in a fierce grip. God's, he cried, help me. 425 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:49,800 The papers were secret plans for fire control. Man, it's ruined for me. 426 00:37:50,519 --> 00:37:53,519 You must drink this first of all, Astro replied, holding the glass 427 00:37:53,559 --> 00:37:59,360 to the man's lips. It's an emetic. We must get this hemp out 428 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,480 of your stomach before you can recover. It was too late. The lieutenant 429 00:38:02,639 --> 00:38:08,000 dropped back, now as rigid as a marble statue, only his wild eyes 430 00:38:08,159 --> 00:38:13,800 moving. He spoke painfully through his clenched teeth. Oh God, he murmured, 431 00:38:14,079 --> 00:38:16,840 take it away. I can't drink it. I'm going through hell. 432 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:22,880 His brow was furrowed with tense lines as he fought with the deathly nausea that 433 00:38:23,039 --> 00:38:28,320 was working in him. Astro put down the glass and waited. It was 434 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:32,400 evident that nothing could help now, and the drug, which had thoroughly impregnated 435 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:38,280 the man's system, must work off its own effects. It works so so 436 00:38:38,599 --> 00:38:45,400 fast. All black now, Oh god, I'm afraid, afraid. He 437 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:49,880 began to moan. You're all right, there's no danger. You're just a 438 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:54,840 little sick, that's all. I'm dying. It's no use tell Violet I'm 439 00:38:54,960 --> 00:39:00,599 dead, don't you see, man, I'm dall ready. The world is 440 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:07,559 full of spiralated mucilages. That's the inner secret of death. Spiral. I'm 441 00:39:07,559 --> 00:39:15,239 whirling through space dead. Astro smiled. It was he knew a common symptom 442 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:19,800 of an overdose of cannabis indica. There was, as he said, no 443 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:24,199 danger. He waited for the crisis, attending to his patient like a trained 444 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:30,719 nurse. For a while, the moaning continued. Then Cameron began to curse 445 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:35,960 wildly, like a man with the delirium tremens. Then of a sudden, 446 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:42,559 he sat up in bed and the convulsion came. His outraged stomach revolted at 447 00:39:42,679 --> 00:39:46,920 the burden it had to bear. During this, Astro waited on him kindly, 448 00:39:47,239 --> 00:39:52,920 and when the active stage of nausea had passed. He laid the lieutenant 449 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:57,920 back on the bed and waited till he sank into a natural sleep. Then 450 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:02,119 he took a small book from his pocket and began to read. For half 451 00:40:02,119 --> 00:40:07,360 an hour, he read the little volume of the Morte d'arteur. For another 452 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:13,519 half hour, he sat in a brown study, his eyes fixed on the 453 00:40:13,639 --> 00:40:19,199 pattern in the worn carpet. There was a zigzag figure in it, which 454 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:24,039 resembled the letter M. The lieutenant moaned in his sleep and felt under his 455 00:40:24,159 --> 00:40:30,159 bed mechanically with one hand. Astro's eyes followed him. Then, with his 456 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:37,480 face suddenly illumined, he rose quietly, threw up the window, and passed 457 00:40:37,519 --> 00:40:40,760 out on the roof. In less than five minutes, he returned with a 458 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:45,239 smile on his lips. He took up the book again and began reading. 459 00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:52,400 It was after midnight when Vealeska returned. In great disappointment. She took off 460 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:57,199 her coat and looked sadly at the lieutenant, who was now sleeping peacefully. 461 00:40:57,559 --> 00:41:00,639 It was no use, she said, Her Bim wasn't in, and no 462 00:41:00,679 --> 00:41:05,480 one knew when to expect him. I waited as long as I dared, 463 00:41:05,559 --> 00:41:08,320 for I hated to come back unsuccessful. It was too bad. I was 464 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:14,079 so stupid as to send you away out there, said Astro quietly. I 465 00:41:14,119 --> 00:41:17,039 should have taken time to think it over first. It came to me an 466 00:41:17,039 --> 00:41:22,719 hour after you had left. Here are the blueprints safe and untouched? Oh, 467 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:28,079 she exclaimed joyously. Did he tell you where they were after I left? 468 00:41:28,519 --> 00:41:31,679 No? Before you left? Didn't you hear him under the mat? 469 00:41:31,760 --> 00:41:37,320 But I thought you looked and found none there, my dear, said Astro, 470 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:40,760 with a whimsical expression on his face. You should learn to concentrate, 471 00:41:42,039 --> 00:41:47,280 to focus your subconscious mind upon itself, the psychic state of receptivity. Oh, 472 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:52,480 bother, Leska exclaimed, Where were they if they weren't under the mat? 473 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:58,280 Under the mattress? He answered? The lieutenant sat up, now fully 474 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:01,840 recovered, and looked at the two. Astro handed him the blueprints. He 475 00:42:02,079 --> 00:42:07,119 grasped them exultantly. For a while. He lay weakly looking at them, 476 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:14,079 saying nothing. Astro put on his overcoat and helped Veleska into her wraps. 477 00:42:14,679 --> 00:42:17,519 Just before he opened the door, he turned and said, I don't think 478 00:42:17,559 --> 00:42:22,599 I need give you any advice, Lieutenant. Go to sleep now and you'll 479 00:42:22,639 --> 00:42:25,239 be all right in the morning. If you have gone through what I did 480 00:42:25,280 --> 00:42:30,519 the last time I was an assassin, there is no danger of your ever 481 00:42:30,679 --> 00:42:36,599 trying it again. I think that Miss Mannering needn't know about this. Certainly 482 00:42:36,719 --> 00:42:39,280 I shall not tell her. What does she know? Did she send you 483 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:45,000 to help me, the lieutenant asked anxiously. She asked my advice, that's 484 00:42:45,039 --> 00:42:50,920 all. Unfortunately she saw the name assassins. But I think you can explain 485 00:42:51,000 --> 00:42:54,360 that easily enough. If you don't care to confess the truth, how can 486 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:59,880 I explain it, Cameron said, thoughtfully? Why tell her that the club 487 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:06,280 meant to kill time, said Astro, and that at that you are a 488 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:10,599 tolerably successful assassin. End of the Assassin's Club.