Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

852 “ That is hardly a flattering remark,” he said blandly. ‘It wasn’t intended to be,” chirped Fur- neaux. ‘“‘ Flattery is gross at all times. At seven o’clock in the morning it would be positively nauseating.” ‘““T agree with you there. In fact, I am so disinclined to it, even in the unusual event of its being offered at such an hour, that I had hoped to travel alone as far as Birmingham.” “Excellent!” and Furneaux’s wizened features creased in a delighted grin. “It is my good fortune that fate, not unassisted by contriving on my part, should have en- abled me to make your acquaintance.” “Ah! That’s better. I like candor. Permit me to follow your example. What did you mean just now by speaking of dynasties tottering to ruin? Had you any particular line of kings in mind?” “That depends on the meaning you at- tach to the adjective ‘ particular.’ Viewed from many aspects, the Greek monarchy is the least particular in existence. It hardly cares what the means adopted so long as as it clings to power, or even the semblance of it. But you, of course, are well aware that the king of the Hellenes will be re- quested to-day by his loyal subjects to vacate his throne in the shortest possible time—to stand not upon the order of his going, but git—to go while the going is good.” Sevastopolo, rather suspecting his eyes, put up a smoke screen, and turned to his newspapers. . “T haven’t seen any telegrams—” he began. “Oh, you won’t—if you mean in the press? That spicy bit of news cannot leak out till this afternoon, at the best. I don’t suppose the king himself knows it yet.” “Vou are quite well informed as to af- fairs in Athens, Mr. Furneaux?” “Ves—yes, I have my sources.” “Tt will be most helpful to me—as a Greek, and I hope, a patriot—if you tell me what, in your opinion, the probable out- come of this present upheaval will be.” “Oh! If only I could guess!” “Vour guesses thus far have been re- markably accurate.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ‘But, don’t you see, you are the man whose judgment on this point is really valuabie?”’ sé [?” “Yes. Mr. Lanson’s death makes such a difference to the world’s finances. A man who controls so many fluid millions cannot be murdered without— Pray, par- don me, Mr. Sevastopolo! Have I said anything outrageous? You know! You know!” “Possibly. But how do you know?” The protest was out before the Greek realized its vital import. His bloodless lips had confessed to this utter stranger that he, too, shared the deadly secrets of those in high places. For a few seconds he threw caution to the winds, and glared at Furneaux with eyes from which gleamed a lambent fury, because he saw or thought he saw, the threatened downfall of all his plans if the British Government were so ac- curately posted in them as this fantastic little man’s statements implied. ‘““ Tt is my business to know these things,” said his torturer, speaking now with a new gravity which Sevastopolo found more dis- concerting than his earlier flippancy. “I am only clearing the ground, as it were— opening a way for that free commingling and exchange of ideas which might throw light on the cause, or motive, of a brutal crime. is why [I don’t hesitate to say you are guilty of incredible folly in associating yourself with a paltry scoundrel of the Denasch type. Why are you not hurrying direct to Sleaford? Why are you going there by way of Birmingham? Denasch is a thorough-paced rogue whom any man’s money will purchase. If you travel with him to Sleaford to-day by road you will lose caste, Mr. Sevastopolo. Believe me, you are descending in the social scale by even accepting a seat in his hired car.” The Greek had the courage of his type. He was no warrior. Not for him the stricken field, the imminent, deadly breach. He would probably shriek in anguish at the sight of lance or bayonet approaching his precious skin. But words were weapons he understood and did not fear. He thought it high time now to attack. Oo Comicbooks That is why I am here, and that ~ (©