I was told that you could tell me where I can
find a gentleman named Argetti."
Our hero had manufactured the name, but the dark-eyed beauty with the
glittering black eyes at once answered:
"I know Signor Argetti."
The detective was matched, but he discerned that he had not only caught
a nibble, but a regular bite, and he was in danger of being bitten if he
did not play just right.
He was the cool-headed, nervy man to do it, however, and he said:
"Will you furnish me the direction?"
"I will take you to his house."
"Oh, do you know where he lives?"
"Yes."
"Is it far from here?"
"Yes."
The girl had made a slip. She had given our hero a chance to hedge. She
was bright and smart, but she would have been a mind-reader had she
successfully parried our detective clear to the end of his diplomacy. He
appeared to stop and think, and the girl asked:
"Shall I guide you?"
"I was thinking."
She exclaimed quickly:
"It is not very far. It will only take us about ten minutes.
Pages:
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96