1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: The Assassins Club by Gillette Burgess. Every time I see 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:08,599 a gargoyle, said Astro, I feel a thrill of secret kinship. 3 00:00:08,839 --> 00:00:11,400 It's as if I were the only one who understood 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,320 its mystery. If I were romantic, I would say that 5 00:00:15,439 --> 00:00:19,079 in a previous incarnation I had lived in the dark ages. 6 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,879 What do you think about gargoyle'spelesca? Astro looked up from 7 00:00:23,879 --> 00:00:29,239 a book of Violette Laduke's architectural drawings and glanced across 8 00:00:29,359 --> 00:00:33,560 to the pretty blonde head. His assistant, busy with her 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:39,560 card catalog where she kept memoranda of the seer's famous cases, 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,079 made a delightful picture against the dull crimson hangings of 11 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:47,520 the wall. She came over to him and looked down 12 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,920 across his shoulder at the pictures of the grotesque stone monsters. Why, 13 00:00:53,079 --> 00:00:57,000 she said, I've seen those horrible, cynical old ones on 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,920 Notre Dame in Paris that gazed down on the city roofs. 15 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,439 I've always wondered why they placed them on beautiful churches. 16 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,040 It's a deep question, said Astro, his eyes still on 17 00:01:11,159 --> 00:01:15,280 the engraving. But to my mind they symbolized the ancient 18 00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:19,680 cult of wonder. In the Middle Ages, men really wondered. 19 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:24,519 They didn't anticipate flying machines years before they were invented, 20 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,159 as we moderns do. They took nothing for granted. Everything 21 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:34,120 in life was a miracle. Boleska dropped quietly into a 22 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:39,239 seat to listen. Astro had many moods. Sometimes he was 23 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:45,040 the dreamy, occult seer, cryptic, mysterious. Again he was the 24 00:01:45,079 --> 00:01:50,439 alert man of affairs, keen, logical, worldly. She had seen 25 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:58,359 him too in society, affable, bland, jocose. But in this introspective, whimsical, 26 00:01:58,599 --> 00:02:03,159 analytic mood she got nearest him and learned something of 27 00:02:03,239 --> 00:02:06,959 the true import of his life. He went on his 28 00:02:07,079 --> 00:02:11,280 eyes half closed, his red silken robe enveloping him like 29 00:02:11,319 --> 00:02:15,439 a shroud, the diamond in his turban glittering as he 30 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,879 moved his head. His olive skinned, picturesque face, with its 31 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,400 dark eyes, was serene and quiet. Now, a little blue 32 00:02:25,479 --> 00:02:31,680 tailed lizard, one of Astro's many exotic fancies, frisked across 33 00:02:31,759 --> 00:02:35,199 the table. He caught it and held it as he talked. 34 00:02:35,879 --> 00:02:40,719 In the thirteenth century, clergy and laity alike believed that 35 00:02:40,759 --> 00:02:44,639 the forces of good and evil were almost equally balanced. 36 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,599 They worshiped the Almighty, but propitiated Satan as well. So 37 00:02:49,759 --> 00:02:54,439 these grotesque beasts leered down from the cornices of the 38 00:02:54,479 --> 00:02:58,680 House of God and watched the holy offices of priests. 39 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:03,520 The devil had his own litany, his own science. They 40 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:07,919 were forbidden practices, but they flourished then among the most 41 00:03:08,039 --> 00:03:12,199 intellectual people, as they flourished now among the most ignorant. 42 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,120 Magic was then a science, Now it is a fake. Still. 43 00:03:17,199 --> 00:03:20,680 A man's chief desires to get something for nothing, to 44 00:03:20,759 --> 00:03:24,479 find a short cut to wisdom. The gargoyle is replaced 45 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,680 by the dollar mark. So be it, one must earn 46 00:03:28,719 --> 00:03:33,280 one's living. Selah, I have spoken. He looked up with 47 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,159 a smile and a boyish twinkle in his eyes. Then 48 00:03:37,159 --> 00:03:41,719 his business like, cynical self returned. He jumped up, tall 49 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:47,360 and eager, a picturesque Oriental figure informed with the stirring 50 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:51,960 life of the West. Valesca. I've been reading about the 51 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:57,879 devil worshipers of Paris, the Black Mass, infant sacrifices, and 52 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,919 all that that's in a ENaC grenistic cult. I'd like 53 00:04:02,039 --> 00:04:05,960 to know if there really is any genuine survival of 54 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:11,000 the worship of evil. Boleska shuddered. Oh, that would be horrible, 55 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,639 but interesting. He clasped his hands behind him and gazed 56 00:04:15,719 --> 00:04:19,800 up at the silver starred ceiling. I don't mean degeneracy 57 00:04:20,199 --> 00:04:23,720 or insanity, but a man that does evil for the 58 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,959 love of it, as they did in the old days. Think, 59 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,800 for instance, of the lost art of torture, the science 60 00:04:30,879 --> 00:04:34,839 of human suffering. Oh don't I hate to have you 61 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:38,480 talk like that? Boleska put a hand on his arm. 62 00:04:38,879 --> 00:04:42,720 Very well, I won't. He snapped his fingers as if 63 00:04:42,759 --> 00:04:45,600 to rid himself of the thought, and walked into the 64 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,279 reception room adjoining the great studio. Bileska went back to 65 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,199 her work for some minutes. She arranged her cards in 66 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,279 their tin box, and hearing voices outside, she looked up 67 00:04:58,319 --> 00:05:02,439 and listened. Then she walked up, softly, across the heavy rugs, and, 68 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:07,120 touching a button in the mahogany wainscotting, passed through a 69 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:13,120 secret door. Scarcely had she disappeared when Astro returned, ushering 70 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:18,000 in a young woman stylishly dressed in brown. When she 71 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,199 put aside her veil, her face shone out like a portrait, 72 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:27,319 vivid instinct, with grace and a delicate, rare high bred beauty, 73 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,959 full of character and force. Astro showed her a seat 74 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,560 under the electric lamp. I thought you would help me, 75 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,279 if any one could, she was saying, in continuation of 76 00:05:39,319 --> 00:05:43,319 her conversation in the reception room. If it were anything 77 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:47,319 less vague, I'd speak to mother about it. But it's 78 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,920 too strange and elusive. I'm sure he has not been drinking. 79 00:05:52,319 --> 00:05:55,560 I would notice that in other ways. And yet he 80 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,439 is different, he is not himself. It frightens me. Have 81 00:05:59,519 --> 00:06:03,279 you spoken to him about it? Astro asked, yes, But 82 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,120 he won't say anything. He evades it and says he's 83 00:06:07,199 --> 00:06:10,240 all right. But I don't dare to marry him till 84 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,519 I know what it is that has changed him. I 85 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,879 know it seems disloyal to suspect him, but how can 86 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,879 I help it? What is mister Cameron's business. He's a 87 00:06:20,959 --> 00:06:25,680 naval lieutenant in the construction department at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 88 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,199 and that is another reason why I'm worried. He has 89 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:35,120 charge of work that is important and secret. If this change, 90 00:06:35,319 --> 00:06:39,399 whatever it is, should affect his work, he'd be disgraced. 91 00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:44,240 He might even be dishonorably discharged. When have you noticed 92 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:49,680 this peculiarity of his at any particular time, usually on Sundays, 93 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,399 when he almost always comes to call, but sometimes in 94 00:06:53,439 --> 00:06:57,000 the middle of the week. At times he talks queerly, 95 00:06:57,439 --> 00:07:02,079 almost as if in his sleep, of and queer landscapes 96 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,079 that have nothing to do with what we are discussing. 97 00:07:05,399 --> 00:07:08,519 Sometimes he doesn't even finish his sentences and goes off 98 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,360 into a sort of days for a minute, and then 99 00:07:11,399 --> 00:07:14,879 he'll ask my pardon, and go on as if nothing 100 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,600 had happened. And when shall you see him next? He 101 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:23,439 will probably come Saturday afternoon. Usually he stays to dinner, 102 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,920 but of late he has been having engagements that prevent 103 00:07:28,519 --> 00:07:31,600 all right, said the seer, I'll see what I can do. 104 00:07:32,079 --> 00:07:34,839 Knowing that he is at your house, I shall be 105 00:07:34,879 --> 00:07:38,800 able to orient myself and thereby be more receptive to 106 00:07:38,959 --> 00:07:43,439 his astral influence. I shall then be able to ascertain 107 00:07:43,519 --> 00:07:47,639 the cause of any psychic disservance. The young woman, rising 108 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,959 to go looked at him plaintively. Oh, I hope I 109 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,600 haven't done wrong in telling you about it. But I 110 00:07:53,639 --> 00:07:56,240 do love him, so I can't bear to see him 111 00:07:56,439 --> 00:08:00,959 so changed. My dear miss Mannering, said astro kindly, you 112 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,000 need have no fear. I assure you your business shall 113 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,600 be kept absolutely confidential, with the exception of my assistant. 114 00:08:08,759 --> 00:08:13,240 No one shall ever know that you came here. Your assistant, 115 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:18,040 She looked at him doubtfully, Miss Wynn, she seemed surprised. 116 00:08:18,639 --> 00:08:23,399 A lady, she asked, then timidly, might I see her? Certainly? 117 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:28,040 Astro touched a bell. In a moment, Veleska appeared between 118 00:08:28,639 --> 00:08:34,679 the velvet portiere and waited there, her piquant, sensitive face 119 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:40,000 questioning his wish. Her golden hair brightly illuminated from behind. 120 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,600 Miss Mannering walked to her impulsively and took her hand. 121 00:08:45,159 --> 00:08:49,080 Might I speak to you for a moment, she asked. Velleska, 122 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,960 giving Astro a glance, led the visitor into the reception room. 123 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,200 I had no idea that Astro had a lady assistant, 124 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,840 she said. I feel much better about having told him now. 125 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:05,639 Veleska smiled at her and held the hand in both hers. Oh, 126 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,759 I only do some of his routine works, she said, 127 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,679 but he often discusses his important cases with me. I'm 128 00:09:12,759 --> 00:09:15,840 sure that he can help you. He is wonderful. I 129 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,399 never knew him to fail, Miss Wynn, said the visitor. 130 00:09:19,759 --> 00:09:23,240 No one but a woman can understand how distressed I am. 131 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,919 I'm sure I can trust you. I can read that 132 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,120 in your face. I am always sure of my intuitions, 133 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,039 and now that I have seen you, I'm going to 134 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,399 tell you something that I didn't quite dare to tell Astro. 135 00:09:35,919 --> 00:09:39,840 I know my fiancee is in some trouble, but what 136 00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:43,879 I'm afraid of is too dreadful. It terrifies me. Here, 137 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,600 look at this. It dropped out of mister Cameron's pocket 138 00:09:47,639 --> 00:09:50,879 the last time he called, and I found it after 139 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:55,159 he had gone. She handed an envelope to Vealeska, who 140 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,039 looked at it carefully and drew out a single sheet 141 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,279 of paper on This was rich and in green ink 142 00:10:01,639 --> 00:10:07,320 be at the Assassin's Saturday at seven Haskell's turn. What 143 00:10:07,519 --> 00:10:11,519 can that mean? Miss Mannering whispered, I didn't dare to 144 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,080 show it for fear of getting Bob into trouble in 145 00:10:14,159 --> 00:10:18,960 some way. That word assassin's. Oh it's awful. May I 146 00:10:19,039 --> 00:10:22,679 take this letter, Bileska asked, No, I daren't leave it. 147 00:10:23,279 --> 00:10:26,320 Mister Cameron may miss it and ask for it, but 148 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,799 you may tell Astro if you think best. Bleska gave 149 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,039 another glance at the letter and handed it back. My 150 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,600 dear miss Mannering, don't worry about it, she said, pressing 151 00:10:36,639 --> 00:10:39,759 her hand. It may not be so bad as you fear. 152 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,600 Whatever it is, Astro will find it out, you may 153 00:10:43,639 --> 00:10:47,919 be sure. When the visitor had departed, Bleska walked into 154 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,159 the studio with the news. Astro listened in silence till 155 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:56,000 she had finished. Then he smiled, nodded, and took up 156 00:10:56,039 --> 00:10:59,879 his water pipe lazily. The solution of this thing is 157 00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:03,279 so simple that I'm surprised it hasn't occurred to you, 158 00:11:03,399 --> 00:11:06,559 my dear, But that's because of your lack of experience 159 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,440 and the fact that you haven't read so much as 160 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,559 I have. But all the same, there may be something 161 00:11:12,639 --> 00:11:16,200 deeper in it than appears now. At any rate, the 162 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,600 girl is to be helped, and the lieutenant as well, 163 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,240 and that we shall do. But what about the assassins, 164 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,440 Velleska inquired anxiously. Oh that's the whole thing, of course, 165 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,240 But I think I'll let you study that out yourself. 166 00:11:31,519 --> 00:11:35,080 It will be good practice for your reasoning powers. First, 167 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:39,600 let's see if your powers of observation have improved. Tell 168 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,759 me all about the letter. He blew out a series 169 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:48,519 of smoke rings and regarded her quizzically well. Velleska puckered 170 00:11:48,519 --> 00:11:52,960 her brows. It was written on buff laid linen paper 171 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:57,960 of about ninety pounds weight, very heavy stock anyway, in 172 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:03,720 an envelope of the same marked Madison Square station April nineteenth, 173 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,480 four p m. The handwriting was that of a stout, 174 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:11,720 middle aged man who had just had some serious illness, 175 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:19,320 A foreigner, hard working, unscrupulous, dishonest, with no artistic sensibility. 176 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:24,440 Bravo is that all? No, the stationery came from Perkins 177 00:12:24,519 --> 00:12:29,039 and Shawls. I saw the stamping under the flap very good. 178 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:34,159 Unfortunately we can't ask there about the assassins, but perhaps 179 00:12:34,279 --> 00:12:39,399 will find my ideal criminal. After all, the easiest plan 180 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,919 will be to follow Cameron tomorrow night. Meanwhile, you had 181 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,960 better do some thinking yourself. Bulesca sat down and gazed 182 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:53,320 long into the great open fire, her brows frowning, her 183 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:58,120 hands working mechanically absorbed in thought. Astro took a small 184 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:03,799 folding chessboarding gatray amused himself with an intricate problem in 185 00:13:03,879 --> 00:13:07,320 the logistics of the game. When at last he had 186 00:13:07,399 --> 00:13:11,559 queened his white pawn according to his theory, he looked 187 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:15,279 over at his assistant and smiled to see her seriousness. 188 00:13:15,639 --> 00:13:20,559 In that look, something seemed to pass from him to her. Oh, 189 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:24,279 she cried, jumping up. Does it begin with an H, 190 00:13:24,759 --> 00:13:28,639 more properly with a cea, he replied. She shook her 191 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,679 head and went at the problem again, and kept at 192 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,879 it until it was time to close the studio. The 193 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:40,759 next afternoon, Astro and Veleska waited for two hours across 194 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:45,320 seventy eighth Street from Miss Mannering's house before they saw 195 00:13:45,399 --> 00:13:49,320 the lieutenant emerge. They had already a good description of 196 00:13:49,399 --> 00:13:52,919 him and had no trouble in recognizing the tall, good 197 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,200 looking fellow, who, at half past six o'clock walked briskly 198 00:13:57,279 --> 00:14:00,919 up the street, ran down the stairs to the subway, 199 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:05,440 and took a seat in a downtown local train. Astro 200 00:14:05,639 --> 00:14:10,120 and Veleska separated and took seats on the opposite side 201 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:15,279 of the car, watching their man guardedly. At twenty third Street, 202 00:14:15,399 --> 00:14:19,480 he got out, went up to the sidewalk, and walked eastward. 203 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,240 Beyond Fourth Avenue was a row of three story old 204 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:28,840 fashioned brick houses. Back from the street. The lieutenant entered 205 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:32,360 the small iron gate to one of the yards, and 206 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,799 taking a key from his pocket went in the front 207 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:40,279 door of a house. It slammed behind him, the headquarters 208 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,159 of the assassins, said Astro, calmly, his hands in his 209 00:14:44,279 --> 00:14:49,679 overcoat pockets, studying the windows. And what next, asked Bleska. 210 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,639 We'll wait, awhile, come into this next doorway. On the 211 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:57,279 side of the doorway they now entered was a sign 212 00:14:57,799 --> 00:15:02,039 furnished rooms. It was now after seven o'clock and had 213 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:08,080 begun to snow. Veleska stood inside the vestibule, protected from 214 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:12,960 the weather. Astro waited just outside, watching the doorway of 215 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:18,200 number one O nine. The twenty third street cars clang 216 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,960 noisily by the din of the traffic, muffled by the 217 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:26,320 carpet of snow. The open mouth of the subway sucked 218 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:31,759 in an unsteady stream of wayferrors. Suddenly, Velleska put her 219 00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:36,240 hand on Astro's arm. Does it begin with C O, 220 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:43,039 she asked. He smiled, No, c A, he answered, Oh, dear, 221 00:15:43,159 --> 00:15:46,039 I thought I had it, but don't tell me. I'm 222 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,279 sure I'll work it out, though, but it makes me anxious. 223 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,919 Anything might happen on a night like this, Yes, even 224 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:58,159 an assassination. You don't fear that, really, She looked at 225 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:02,360 him in alarm. But I do assassination of a sort. 226 00:16:02,679 --> 00:16:05,840 What else could the letter mean? She had not time 227 00:16:05,919 --> 00:16:09,519 to answer before the door of the next house opened 228 00:16:09,879 --> 00:16:14,000 and a man buttoned up in a fur trimmed overcoat 229 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,320 came out. He stopped a moment to raise an umbrella, 230 00:16:17,639 --> 00:16:20,759 and they could see that he was a stout, pasty 231 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:26,399 faced German of some fifty years, with a curling yellow mustache. 232 00:16:26,799 --> 00:16:31,120 He wore spectacles and seemed to be near sighted. There's 233 00:16:31,159 --> 00:16:34,759 the man who wrote the letter. Follow him, Veleska. Find 234 00:16:34,799 --> 00:16:38,360 out who he is, and all it's possible, we must 235 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:42,879 follow every lead. Veleeska was off on the instant, running 236 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:46,600 down the steps and walking swiftly up twenty third Street. 237 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:51,159 Astro lighted a cigar, turned up his collar, and waited 238 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,720 another half hour in the doorway, nobody having entered or 239 00:16:54,799 --> 00:16:57,919 left number one O nine. By that time he rang 240 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,919 the bell of number one eleven. A sweetish maid came 241 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,720 to the door. I'd like to see what rooms you have, 242 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:09,240 said Astro. The only one is on the third floor rear, 243 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:14,200 she replied, and showed him up two flights of unlighted stairs, 244 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:19,440 steep and narrow to a small square room meagerly furnished. 245 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:24,160 Walking to the window, Astro saw that level with the 246 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,559 floor was a tin covered roof over an extension in 247 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,440 the rear. It stretched along the whole width of the 248 00:17:32,519 --> 00:17:36,200 four houses in the row. On this he might easily 249 00:17:36,319 --> 00:17:40,599 stand and look into the adjoining windows. Saying that he 250 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,079 would move in later, Astro paid the girl for a 251 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:48,440 week's rent in advance, and left the house and walked home. 252 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:53,720 Veleska next morning came full of news. The German kept 253 00:17:53,799 --> 00:17:57,920 right along twenty third Street, toward Broadway, she said, and 254 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,519 it occurred to me that I might get him to 255 00:18:00,559 --> 00:18:04,680 make the first advances and get acquainted without being suspected. 256 00:18:05,319 --> 00:18:08,720 So I passed him, and very gracefully slipped on snow 257 00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:12,000 and dropped my purse. Then I began looking about on 258 00:18:12,079 --> 00:18:15,119 the sidewalk for the money that might have dropped out. 259 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,559 My German friend came along and offered to help me. 260 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,480 It took some time, and the long and short of 261 00:18:21,519 --> 00:18:24,960 it was that we had quite a conversation, and I 262 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,720 convinced him that I was respectable. He walked along with 263 00:18:28,799 --> 00:18:31,640 me and asked me where I was going. I said 264 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:35,400 that I had intended going to the hippodrome with a friend, 265 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,640 but that I had been detained and it was so 266 00:18:38,839 --> 00:18:42,359 late I thought i'd go home. He proposed having something 267 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,880 to eat, and of course I refused. I had to 268 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,799 be urged and urged. But the more I refused, the 269 00:18:49,799 --> 00:18:53,519 more anxious he was to have me come. Finally, I 270 00:18:53,559 --> 00:18:57,960 reluctantly assented to his invitation, and we went to the cafe. 271 00:18:58,039 --> 00:19:01,519 Riche well, you ought to have seen that German eat. 272 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,160 I mean you ought to have heard him eat. I 273 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,799 couldn't eat anything myself, but sipped the wine he ordered, 274 00:19:08,839 --> 00:19:14,200 and coyly led him on, chattering away about myself ingenuously. 275 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:19,440 I had an engagement with Richard Mansfield and three years 276 00:19:19,519 --> 00:19:23,839 contracted one hundred dollars a week. When he died and 277 00:19:24,039 --> 00:19:27,880 was awfully anxious to get another chance, all the money 278 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,319 I had was tied up in one of the trust companies, 279 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:35,440 and so on. He kept on eating, taking the biggest 280 00:19:35,599 --> 00:19:39,400 mouthfuls I ever saw, and leaving half of it on 281 00:19:39,519 --> 00:19:43,160 his mustache. Oh, I put in some hard work, I 282 00:19:43,279 --> 00:19:46,720 assure you. Then he began asking me questions and wanted 283 00:19:46,759 --> 00:19:49,319 to know if I would like to earn some money 284 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,759 on the side, would I I jumped at it. Five 285 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,480 thousand actor folk out of a job this season, you know, 286 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,200 and all that. He said, I reminded him of his 287 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,440 dead daughter. You know, I'm always reminding people of somebody, 288 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,920 and he thought he could trust me. I cast down 289 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:10,720 my eyes and let him go on. He said there 290 00:20:10,799 --> 00:20:14,079 was a man he knew who has stolen some confidential 291 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,920 papers and he wanted to get them away from him 292 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:21,119 without publicity. He needed a good, clever woman to help 293 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,000 him out on the job. I brightened up considerably. He 294 00:20:25,079 --> 00:20:27,319 asked me to go home with him so that he 295 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,640 could give me a photograph to identify my victim. I 296 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,960 said I would, although I confess I was getting nervous, 297 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:37,480 not being quite sure what he was up to. He 298 00:20:37,519 --> 00:20:41,880 had begun paying me compliments, and when a German begins 299 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,920 to get sentimental, well you know. I took the subway 300 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,319 with him and we went up to one hundred and 301 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:52,039 twenty sixth Street. There was a big apartment hotel there 302 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:56,680 called the Dahlia, one of those marble halled affairs that 303 00:20:56,759 --> 00:20:59,839 look as if they were built of a dozen different 304 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,599 kinds of fancy soap, with a red carpet and awfully 305 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:09,559 funny oil paintings and Negro hall boys sitting in Renaissance 306 00:21:09,759 --> 00:21:13,640 arm chairs. I refused to go upstairs. Well, after a 307 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:17,640 while he came down the elevator and handed me this photograph. 308 00:21:17,799 --> 00:21:21,920 What do you think? She handed Astro a cabinet photograph. 309 00:21:22,079 --> 00:21:25,039 He lifted his fine brows when he looked at it. 310 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:29,920 Lieutenant Cameron Veleska nodded. I'm to scrape up an acquaintance 311 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,839 with him, get his confidence, and then report to Herr 312 00:21:34,039 --> 00:21:38,640 Buymer for final instructions. I wonder what poor little miss 313 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:44,039 Mannering would say. She took off her sables, her saucy 314 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,119 fur touch, and touched up her hair. At the great 315 00:21:48,519 --> 00:21:52,200 carved mirror at one end of the studio, Astro sat 316 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,079 regarding the portrait in his hand. He looked up to ask, 317 00:21:56,519 --> 00:22:00,000 did you find out what his business was? She whirled 318 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,599 round to him. Oh, I forgot. He's the agent of 319 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:08,240 a big German firm connected with the Krupp's steel plant. 320 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:13,240 They control the rights to a new magazine Pistol. I 321 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,400 was awfully interested in machinery. You know, it bored me 322 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,839 to death, but I listened half an hour to his 323 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:25,319 description of a new ammunition hoist for battleships. Astro was 324 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:30,359 suddenly electrified with energy. Ah, he exclaimed, You didn't remember 325 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,240 that the Crupps stand in with the German government and 326 00:22:34,359 --> 00:22:38,319 have the biggest subsidies and contracts in the world. He 327 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,680 wants you to make up to a construction officer in 328 00:22:41,759 --> 00:22:45,279 the United States Navy. Does he He needs a clever woman, 329 00:22:45,759 --> 00:22:50,240 I should say he did. Was her Bimer sober perfectly 330 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,599 as far as I could see, except for his sentimentality. 331 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,000 Of course, he was a bit effusive. You know, Yes, 332 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,880 I see it wasn't his night. It was Haskell's night, 333 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,400 whoever Haskell is. But I think we'll have to hurry. 334 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,920 This looks more serious than I thought at first. I 335 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,920 shall sleep at number one eleven East twenty third Street 336 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,000 to night. And meanwhile, I have a nice job of 337 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,480 forgery for you. Velleska. I wish you'd practice copying this 338 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,480 writing till you can write a short note that will 339 00:23:23,559 --> 00:23:28,039 pass for Lieutenant Cameron's handwriting. He took a letter from 340 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:33,480 a drawer. The envelope was addressed to Misviolet Mannering. Velleska 341 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:36,839 took it and read it over carefully. It was a 342 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,680 single sheet torn from a double page, and read partly 343 00:23:41,799 --> 00:23:46,640 as follows. I believe that just as everything seems somehow 344 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,119 different at night, when we can see farther than by day, 345 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,039 For can we not see the stars when our emotions 346 00:23:54,319 --> 00:23:57,720 seem freer? So there are two worlds in which it 347 00:23:57,799 --> 00:24:02,640 is possible to exist. One is the dreary, everyday place 348 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:07,400 of business and duty and pain. The other is free 349 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,319 from care or suffering. Don't we enter that occult world 350 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:14,640 at night through our dreams, where there is no such 351 00:24:14,759 --> 00:24:19,119 thing as conscience. There are no consequences, There no doubt. 352 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:23,240 It's a dangerous place because it is abnormal, but its 353 00:24:23,319 --> 00:24:28,680 exploration is fascinating. Why ignore the fact that it exists 354 00:24:28,759 --> 00:24:33,279 as a refuge from the worries of matter of fact existence. 355 00:24:33,759 --> 00:24:37,599 Veleska read it thoughtfully. Her eyes looked through the paper 356 00:24:37,799 --> 00:24:42,400 as if into a mist beyond no wonder. Poor mismannering 357 00:24:42,519 --> 00:24:45,759 is worried, she said to herself. She looked at Astro 358 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,079 as if to ask a question. He was busy with 359 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:54,640 a planimiter calculating the area of a queer irregular polygon 360 00:24:55,039 --> 00:24:59,200 drawn on a sheet of parchment. Seeing his tense look, 361 00:24:59,599 --> 00:25:02,960 she took turned to her study of the manuscript as 362 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,000 soon as it was dark. Astro opened the window of 363 00:25:06,039 --> 00:25:09,759 his room on twenty third Street and walked along the 364 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:13,359 crackling tin roof till he came to the first window 365 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,799 of the house occupied by the assassins. Looking in, he 366 00:25:17,839 --> 00:25:22,400 saw a small, bare hall bedroom furnished with a cot, 367 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,240 a washstand, and one chair. The next two windows were lighted. 368 00:25:27,599 --> 00:25:31,119 He approached them carefully. Three men were seated at a 369 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:37,359 library table strewn with magazines. All were smoking comfortably. One 370 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:42,680 Astro recognized as the Lieutenant, another as her Bimer. The 371 00:25:42,839 --> 00:25:46,599 third was a yellow faced man with red hair, high 372 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:51,119 cheek bones, and dark eyes deeply set into his skull. 373 00:25:51,519 --> 00:25:54,000 In front of him was a plate filled with what 374 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:59,119 looked like caviare sandwiches cut small and thin. Her Bimer 375 00:25:59,279 --> 00:26:03,839 said something at which the others laughed loudly, then with 376 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:08,920 a flourish as if drinking their health. Lieutenant Cameron took 377 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,440 one of the sandwiches and ate it almost with an 378 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:16,440 air of bravado. Bimer looked at his watch, The lean 379 00:26:16,599 --> 00:26:20,359 yellow faced man walked out of the room. The Lieutenant 380 00:26:20,559 --> 00:26:24,559 took up an illustrated paper and began to read. Astro 381 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:28,799 tiptoed carefully back to his room, put on his overcoat 382 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,880 and went downstairs. Walked over to the drug store and 383 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,839 at the telephone booth rang up Velesca. Have you written 384 00:26:36,839 --> 00:26:40,240 the letter? He asked, Not yet was the answer, Well, 385 00:26:40,279 --> 00:26:43,160 you must do it immediately as well as you can. 386 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:47,599 Bring it to number one eleven and ask for mister Silverman. 387 00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:51,519 He then went back to his room. Another stealthy glance 388 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:55,079 through the windows of the club showed the two still 389 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,359 at the table. Cameron was busy with a pencil and 390 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,880 a sheet of paper exploded, leaning something to the German. 391 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:06,319 The yellow faced man watched them over his book. The 392 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:11,440 lieutenant was evidently talking with a little difficulty. Every little 393 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,160 while he stopped and began again with an effort. One 394 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:19,279 leg was twitching at the knee joint. He supported his 395 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:23,160 head heavily on his hand. Going back to his room, 396 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:27,519 Astro took a bottle of ammonia from his overcoat pocket 397 00:27:27,599 --> 00:27:30,720 and placed it on the sink. Next, he poured a 398 00:27:30,799 --> 00:27:34,000 white powder from a paper and dissolved it in a 399 00:27:34,079 --> 00:27:38,200 tumbler of water, stirring it with a spoon. This done, 400 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,079 he took the wash bowl from the stand and put 401 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,839 it on the table beside the bed. Then he sat 402 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,480 down to wait for Vealesca. In half an hour she appeared, 403 00:27:47,799 --> 00:27:52,359 breathing hard, her cheeks flushed with her haste. Here it is, 404 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,559 she said, as soon as the maid had left. It's 405 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,519 the best I could do. She handed it over. It 406 00:27:58,599 --> 00:28:02,480 read please allow the bearer to come in and see 407 00:28:02,519 --> 00:28:05,839 me on important business. At any time he may present 408 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,759 this Robert Cameron good, said Astro. Now you must wait 409 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,960 here and listen at the window till you hear my whistle. 410 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,640 Then come right along the roof to me and be 411 00:28:17,759 --> 00:28:21,599 ready for anything. He started to open the door when 412 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,880 she put a hand on his arm. Does it begin 413 00:28:25,319 --> 00:28:31,279 with C A N, she asked breathlessly. He nodded, How 414 00:28:31,319 --> 00:28:35,279 did you get it from the lieutenant's letter? Of course, Well, 415 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:38,640 it may have begun with D A N. By this 416 00:28:38,839 --> 00:28:43,759 time d A N G E R perhaps be ready. 417 00:28:44,359 --> 00:28:48,240 And he was downstairs. At the door of the Assassin's Club, 418 00:28:48,279 --> 00:28:52,480 A white haired negro answered the bell. Astro presented the letter. 419 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,799 I wished to see Lieutenant Cameron immediately, he said, I 420 00:28:56,920 --> 00:29:02,000 don't perxactly know, SA said the darky ma Oda's is 421 00:29:02,079 --> 00:29:06,160 not to leave. Nobody come in. Yah, I expect ah 422 00:29:06,599 --> 00:29:10,440 better say no sa Astra brushed past him and had 423 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,519 set his foot on the stair when a fat face 424 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,920 looked down over the balusters. The portly form of her 425 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,240 Bimer followed it. Vat's the matter, he inquired, as he 426 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,839 started down. Without further parley, Astro ran up the stair, 427 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,319 and before there was any time for resistance from the 428 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:35,599 astonished German, grasped him by the knees, and, pulling his 429 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:40,240 feet from under him, sent him madly sliding down the stairs. 430 00:29:40,599 --> 00:29:46,039 Her Bimer, swearing a polysyllabic oath, stumbled awkwardly to his 431 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,240 feet and set off upstairs again after his attacker, but 432 00:29:50,319 --> 00:29:52,799 by this time Astro was at the top of the 433 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:56,759 second flight. He dashed into the square room in the 434 00:29:56,839 --> 00:29:59,759 rear where he had seen the group of men. It 435 00:29:59,799 --> 00:30:04,279 was empty. Beside it, however, was a small hall bedroom, 436 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:08,119 and here, in his shirt sleeves, lying in a stupor 437 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:13,039 on the cot lay Lieutenant Cameron. Astro sprang to the 438 00:30:13,079 --> 00:30:17,559 door and locked, just as the excited German pumped ponderously 439 00:30:17,599 --> 00:30:21,839 on the panels. Next, he threw up the window and whistled, Then, 440 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:25,799 taking the Lieutenant in his arms, he succeeded in carrying 441 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,640 him to the window sill. Boleska was already on the 442 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,480 roof outside waiting for him. Take his feet, said Astro 443 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,200 under his breath, and so together they managed to get 444 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,839 the lieutenant out on the roof and to the window 445 00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:44,599 of the chamber in number one eleven. By this time 446 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:49,079 the man had begun to revive and to protest in 447 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,160 word and action against his removal. They paid no heed 448 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:56,599 to him, however, and bundled him into the room and 449 00:30:56,799 --> 00:31:01,240 on the bed. Then Astro shook him energetically. Wake up, man, 450 00:31:01,279 --> 00:31:05,079 he cried, wake up now, you can if you try here, 451 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,720 smell this. He reached for the ammonia and held it 452 00:31:08,799 --> 00:31:15,400 under the lethargic man's nostrils. The lieutenant turned away, his head, coughed, blinked, 453 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:19,640 and partially rose on one arm. Who are you, he said, 454 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:24,559 gazing at them in surprise. Friends of miss mannerings, said Astro. 455 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,359 The lieutenant shook his head and stared, what's the matter, 456 00:31:28,799 --> 00:31:33,920 he brought out laboriously. I got you away from Buymer 457 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:39,200 afraid of trouble. Want to help you, Astro spoke, very distinctly, 458 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:42,839 as if to a deaf man. The lieutenant felt for 459 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,119 his coat, found himself without one. Seemed puzzled and dropped 460 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:53,039 back again limply. The draw His voice ended in a mumble. Yes, 461 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:59,039 the drawer. What drawer, Astro asked, eagerly, find draw The 462 00:31:59,119 --> 00:32:02,759 lieutenant seemed to drop asleep. I wonder what he means. 463 00:32:03,119 --> 00:32:06,960 There's something on his mind, No doubt he has hidden something. 464 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:12,839 Astro looked keenly at the lesca under drawn brows. Can't 465 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,279 you revive him again, she asked, No use trying the 466 00:32:16,279 --> 00:32:19,880 ammonia yet it seems to have too great a reaction 467 00:32:20,279 --> 00:32:23,240 and sends him into a deeper sleep. We'll have to 468 00:32:23,279 --> 00:32:26,599 wait till he comes to himself for a moment. Naturally. 469 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:29,799 You know what it is, now, don't you? She nodded. 470 00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:33,599 And I found it out, curiously, only from the dictionary. 471 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:37,319 I looked up the word assassin and found that it 472 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:43,599 came from hashashin or hashish eater. Then I looked up 473 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,920 about the old man of the Mountain who used to 474 00:32:47,039 --> 00:32:52,440 drug his followers with bang until they would commit any crime. 475 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:57,079 And that led me, of course, to cannabis Indica or 476 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:01,039 Indian hemp, and I found out all about the effects 477 00:33:01,079 --> 00:33:05,759 of hashish. Yes, I thought these amateur assassins were innocent 478 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:10,519 enough only a club to experiment with hasheish, for with 479 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:16,240 a moderate dose, the sensations are wonderful and well worth trying. 480 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:19,799 But there's more in this than that. What is Bymer 481 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,799 up to? That's what I want to know. Is he 482 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:27,559 really unconscious now? Veleeska asked, watching the prostrate form of 483 00:33:27,599 --> 00:33:31,799 the lieutenant as he lay, flushed and breathing but otherwise inert. 484 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:36,200 Not really. He may be dimly aware that we are here, 485 00:33:36,839 --> 00:33:40,119 but his will is gone. He won't speak until he 486 00:33:40,279 --> 00:33:43,759 rises to the level of volition again. It's a sort 487 00:33:43,799 --> 00:33:49,039 of double consciousness, a rhythmic process of alternate sinking into 488 00:33:49,079 --> 00:33:54,319 apathy where he sees visions, and rising into full consciousness 489 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,680 when he can talk. For a moment, I wish I 490 00:33:57,759 --> 00:34:01,640 knew what dose he had the enter about three minutes. 491 00:34:02,079 --> 00:34:05,839 I tried hasheesh when I was in college, but I 492 00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,920 took such an overdose the last time that I have 493 00:34:09,079 --> 00:34:13,320 dreaded to use it again. The lieutenant now began to mutter, 494 00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:17,480 as if talking in his sleep. I'm tottering on the 495 00:34:17,519 --> 00:34:24,679 tops of tall pendulums. The world is full of spiralated mucilages. 496 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:33,440 Lovely color in a tunnel now twisting, turning, violet, green, orange, floating, 497 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:38,840 floating like a spirit, tops of tropic trees. Suddenly, he 498 00:34:39,039 --> 00:34:42,679 gasped and sat up, staring hard at them. What did 499 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:46,159 I say? What was it? Quick before I go off again, 500 00:34:47,039 --> 00:34:52,119 I was saying something. Find the drawer, Astro suggested, leaning 501 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:57,360 to him, draw draw What was it? Drawings? He exclaimed, 502 00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:02,079 Blimer wants the drawings, for God's sake, help me. I'm 503 00:35:02,119 --> 00:35:07,119 losing it again. Drawings. What is it about? Drawings? Where 504 00:35:07,119 --> 00:35:11,840 did you put them? Drawings? Yes, under the mat. His 505 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:16,320 eyes closed, Astro tried again under the mat in the 506 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:21,639 little room. The lieutenant stared stupidly. I forget, Matt. That 507 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,000 meant something. I can't get it. Wait till I come 508 00:35:25,079 --> 00:35:32,159 up again. All snaky now like live wires, pink and green. Ah. 509 00:35:32,239 --> 00:35:36,280 The rest was inaudible. The moment he had again succumbed 510 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:40,159 to the effects of the drug, Astro sprang to the window. 511 00:35:40,679 --> 00:35:44,239 He paused there to say, sharply, Buymer is trying to 512 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:48,079 get some of the lieutenant's navy drawings. That's evident, and 513 00:35:48,159 --> 00:35:51,719 has given Cameron a big dose of hashish to keep 514 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:55,000 him quiet till the papers can be found. I think 515 00:35:55,119 --> 00:35:59,199 Cameron must have suspected it and has hidden the blueprints 516 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:02,960 or whatever they are. I'm going to go through that 517 00:36:03,119 --> 00:36:07,039 bedroom and see if they're under the mat. You wait here. 518 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,559 He is likely to be unconscious for two or three 519 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:15,559 minutes more now, and I'll just have time with that. 520 00:36:15,639 --> 00:36:18,960 He had leaped out on the roof and was off. 521 00:36:19,079 --> 00:36:22,440 The Lieutenant still muttered in a whisper so low that 522 00:36:22,599 --> 00:36:26,639 Vealeska could make out nothing. She went to the window 523 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:31,280 just as astro reappeared. No mat, nothing but a carpet 524 00:36:31,639 --> 00:36:34,239 Buymer must have got away with him. You'll have to 525 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:38,360 get after him, Veleska while I pull the lieutenant through. 526 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:42,679 If I know anything about hashish, he's had a terrific 527 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:45,719 dose and is going to have the worst case of 528 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:48,639 nausea he ever had in his life. I took a 529 00:36:48,679 --> 00:36:53,000 look at those Hasheish sandwiches. They were fairly loaded with 530 00:36:53,039 --> 00:36:57,639 the stuff. His first voyage wasn't a circumstance to the sea. 531 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:01,840 Sickness he'll have in about happen. You get right out 532 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,719 to Bymer's place and see what you can do with him. 533 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:08,880 As Bleska threw on her furs, the Lieutenant was beginning 534 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,800 to rouse again as She slipped out of the door 535 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:16,039 and ran downstairs. He sat up on the bed, his 536 00:37:16,199 --> 00:37:21,039 eyes glassy, his fists clenched. The effort he was making 537 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:25,119 to gain possession of his mental faculties was evident in 538 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:29,599 his writhing mouth and wild, staring eyes. What was it, 539 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:34,159 he demanded. It's all right, said Astro. Buymer has the drawings, 540 00:37:34,519 --> 00:37:37,079 but we'll get them for you. He turned with a 541 00:37:37,119 --> 00:37:40,400 glass of water on the table. The lieutenant clutched his 542 00:37:40,599 --> 00:37:44,159 arm in a fierce grip. God's, he cried, help me. 543 00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:48,800 The papers were secret plans for fire control. Man, it's 544 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,400 ruined for me. You must drink this first of all, 545 00:37:52,559 --> 00:37:56,239 Astro replied, holding the glass to the man's lips. It's 546 00:37:56,360 --> 00:37:59,599 an emetic. We must get this hemp out of your 547 00:37:59,599 --> 00:38:02,840 stomach before you can recover. It was too late. The 548 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:07,079 lieutenant dropped back, now as rigid as a marble statue, 549 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:11,280 only his wild eyes moving. He spoke painfully through his 550 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:15,400 clenched teeth. Oh God, he murmured, take it away. I 551 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:19,119 can't drink it. I'm going through hell. His brow was 552 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:22,679 furrowed with tense lines as he fought with the deathly 553 00:38:23,199 --> 00:38:26,679 nausea that was working in him. Astro put down the 554 00:38:26,679 --> 00:38:30,440 glass and waited. It was evident that nothing could help now, 555 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,440 and the drug, which had thoroughly impregnated the man's system, 556 00:38:34,679 --> 00:38:40,000 must work off its own effects. It works so so fast. 557 00:38:40,559 --> 00:38:45,760 All black now, Oh god, I'm afraid, afraid. He began 558 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,719 to moan. You're all right, there's no danger. You're just 559 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:53,920 a little sick, that's all. I'm dying. It's no use 560 00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:59,119 tell Violet I'm dead, don't you see, man, I'm dall ready. 561 00:38:59,679 --> 00:39:05,440 The world is full of spiralated mucilages. That's the inner 562 00:39:05,519 --> 00:39:12,400 secret of death. Spiral. I'm whirling through space dead. Astro smiled. 563 00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:16,239 It was he knew a common symptom of an overdose 564 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:20,440 of cannabis indica. There was, as he said, no danger. 565 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:24,559 He waited for the crisis, attending to his patient like 566 00:39:24,599 --> 00:39:29,039 a trained nurse. For a while, the moaning continued. Then 567 00:39:29,159 --> 00:39:33,000 Cameron began to curse wildly, like a man with the 568 00:39:33,039 --> 00:39:36,800 delirium tremens. Then of a sudden, he sat up in 569 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:42,559 bed and the convulsion came. His outraged stomach revolted at 570 00:39:42,679 --> 00:39:46,920 the burden it had to bear. During this, Astro waited 571 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:50,440 on him kindly, and when the active stage of nausea 572 00:39:50,519 --> 00:39:53,920 had passed. He laid the lieutenant back on the bed 573 00:39:54,239 --> 00:39:57,920 and waited till he sank into a natural sleep. Then 574 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,800 he took a small book from his pocket and began 575 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,800 to read. For half an hour, he read the little 576 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:09,519 volume of the Morte d'arteur. For another half hour, he 577 00:40:09,679 --> 00:40:13,519 sat in a brown study, his eyes fixed on the 578 00:40:13,639 --> 00:40:18,079 pattern in the worn carpet. There was a zigzag figure 579 00:40:18,159 --> 00:40:22,880 in it, which resembled the letter M. The lieutenant moaned 580 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:26,599 in his sleep and felt under his bed mechanically with 581 00:40:26,719 --> 00:40:31,719 one hand. Astro's eyes followed him. Then, with his face 582 00:40:32,079 --> 00:40:36,880 suddenly illumined, he rose quietly, threw up the window, and 583 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:40,559 passed out on the roof. In less than five minutes, 584 00:40:40,599 --> 00:40:43,719 he returned with a smile on his lips. He took 585 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:47,159 up the book again and began reading. It was after 586 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:52,400 midnight when Vealeska returned. In great disappointment. She took off 587 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:55,679 her coat and looked sadly at the lieutenant, who was 588 00:40:55,760 --> 00:40:59,519 now sleeping peacefully. It was no use, she said, Her 589 00:40:59,599 --> 00:41:03,440 Bim wasn't in, and no one knew when to expect him. 590 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:06,280 I waited as long as I dared, for I hated 591 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:09,320 to come back unsuccessful. It was too bad. I was 592 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,559 so stupid as to send you away out there, said 593 00:41:12,599 --> 00:41:15,760 Astro quietly. I should have taken time to think it 594 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:18,880 over first. It came to me an hour after you 595 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:23,719 had left. Here are the blueprints safe and untouched? Oh, 596 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:27,199 she exclaimed joyously. Did he tell you where they were 597 00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:30,920 after I left? No? Before you left? Didn't you hear 598 00:41:31,039 --> 00:41:34,360 him under the mat? But I thought you looked and 599 00:41:34,519 --> 00:41:38,280 found none there, my dear, said Astro, with a whimsical 600 00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:42,119 expression on his face. You should learn to concentrate, to 601 00:41:42,239 --> 00:41:48,679 focus your subconscious mind upon itself, the psychic state of receptivity. Oh, bother, 602 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:53,480 Leska exclaimed, Where were they if they weren't under the mat? 603 00:41:53,760 --> 00:41:57,880 Under the mattress? He answered? The lieutenant sat up, now 604 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:01,639 fully recovered, and looked at the two. Astro handed him 605 00:42:01,679 --> 00:42:06,360 the blueprints. He grasped them exultantly. For a while. He 606 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:10,679 lay weakly looking at them, saying nothing. Astro put on 607 00:42:10,760 --> 00:42:15,239 his overcoat and helped Veleska into her wraps. Just before 608 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:18,239 he opened the door, he turned and said, I don't 609 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,599 think I need give you any advice, Lieutenant. Go to 610 00:42:21,679 --> 00:42:23,880 sleep now and you'll be all right in the morning. 611 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:26,760 If you have gone through what I did the last 612 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:30,840 time I was an assassin, there is no danger of 613 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,280 your ever trying it again. I think that Miss Mannering 614 00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:37,760 needn't know about this. Certainly I shall not tell her. 615 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,880 What does she know? Did she send you to help me, 616 00:42:41,199 --> 00:42:45,239 the lieutenant asked anxiously. She asked my advice, that's all. 617 00:42:45,920 --> 00:42:50,159 Unfortunately she saw the name assassins. But I think you 618 00:42:50,239 --> 00:42:53,239 can explain that easily enough. If you don't care to 619 00:42:53,280 --> 00:42:57,960 confess the truth, how can I explain it, Cameron said, thoughtfully? 620 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,159 Why tell her that the club meant to kill time, 621 00:43:02,639 --> 00:43:07,079 said Astro, and that at that you are a tolerably 622 00:43:07,199 --> 00:43:11,599 successful assassin. End of the Assassin's Club.