Shadow The Baron Read Online Free Page B

said Mannering, and laughed. He finished his whisky. “I wouldn’t mind another, Toby! So he’s playing to the gallery. I had a feeling that he was doing that deliberately, from the beginning. In the popular phrase, you have to admire him, don’t you? Details?”
    “He has a nerve, certainly.”
    “We knew that. Why, in particular?”
    “He asked for a detailed note of my movements for the next three days, and told me that he’d see that the pendant was returned to me during that time. This,” added Plender, his hand quite steady with the whisky, “is the third day. He knows that we’ll be here until about ten o’clock, and that we’re going on to the Lulu afterwards. Nice timing, for you, wasn’t it?”
    “How did he send the message?”
    “Telephone, from a call box.”
    “Did he suggest that it might be a police trap?”
    Plender chuckled. “He said that if it turned out to be one, Mary wouldn’t have a jewel to call her own, and probably no fur coat, either.”
    “Did he ring up himself?”
    “I fancy so.”
    “Voice?”
    “It would pass anywhere.”
    “I’m beginning to get fond of the Shadow,” said Mannering. “Does Mary know about it?”
    “Yes.”
    “Subject for dinner table talk,” said Mannering. “Is there a back way into the fiats, Toby?”
    “The usual tradesman’s entrance. Why?”
    “I was thinking,” said Mannering dreamily, “that would be the natural time to choose, while you and Mary were away dancing here tonight. Now if we all went out by the front door, and I slipped back through the tradesman’s entrance, we might get a nice surprise.”
    “You don’t improve,” said Plender.
    The women came in. Mary Plender was nearly as tall as her husband, deep breasted, serene looking but by no means a beautiful woman. There was merriment in her eyes, reflecting real pleasure at this reunion.
    “What have you two been conspiring about?” asked Lorna.
    “You’d be surprised,” said Plender darkly.
    They left Albemarle Mansions in Plender’s car. The entrance to the big block of flats was brightly lit, the light spreading to the parked cars in the driveway and on to the tall, narrow houses on the opposite side of the street. Two or three people walked along and two cars passed, but there was no indication that anyone was watching. Plender drove to Piccadilly, and then took a narrow turning which led, eventually, to the Lulu, a Soho club basking in the approval of the police and Mayfair society.
    “Where are you going to get out?” Plender asked.
    “On second thoughts, I’ll come to the club,” said Mannering. “The Shadow might be ultra careful, and not only make sure that we leave the flat but also that we’re having a wonderful time. I’ll disappear fairly early.”
    “You could forget all about it,” suggested Lorna.
    “Some other night,” said Mannering.
    Dancing was in full swing. Unlike most night clubs the Lulu had a comfortable floor space, and there was ample room to move about. The proprietress came hurrying towards them, as they entered.
    “Mr. Plender, how lovely! And you didn’t tell me that you’d be bringing Mr. and Mrs. Mannering, that makes it even more wonderful!” Her smile, though professional, was warm and pleasing. She touched Mannering’s arm with a be-ringed hand. “You ought to come and see us more often.”
    “That’s what my wife says, Lulu.”
    “Well, now you’re here, I’ve a delightful table for you. I don’t think we’re going to be too crowded tonight.”
    Mannering said in a low voice: “Just one small thing, Lulu – I want a telephone message, in about twenty minutes time, and I want you to say, quite loudly, that it’s from Quinns, and there’s been some trouble there. I’ll have to go, but I’ll be back before the night’s out. Will you fix it?”
    Without asking for the message to be repeated, Lulu nodded. She allowed time for one waltz, and then delivered it, making sure that the people at nearby tables