Saint39 - The Saint Returns by Leslie Charteris

Author:Leslie Charteris [Charteris, Leslie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-08-29T12:44:51+00:00

2

The laboratory of Dr. Friedrich Mueller was on Wittelsbacherstrasse. It had every appearance of an exceptionally clean radio repair shop. Neatly disemboweled, pocket-sized cases of various shapes and colors spilled their glassy and silvery innards on the counter tops. Manuals the size of telephone directories lay open to esoteric diagrams, and the walls were lined with tools and coils of wire.

But Dr. Mueller, for all the atmosphere of his laboratory, was considerably more enthusiastic about his work than most repairmen of any species. A tall man with keen blue eyes and closely cropped brown hair, he greeted Fenton with a brisk handshake.

"Dr. Mueller," Fenton said, "this is Simon Templar."

The scientist's eyes enlarged with recognition as he extended his hand.

"Ach, the famous Saint. I am honored."

"Dr. Mueller works primarily with the West Berlin police," Fenton explained, "but in special cases he co-operates with us undercover people. And this is a special case."

Mueller turned serious and nodded.

"So," he said in careful, barely accented English, "you actually have seen one explode? Wunderbar. Our theories facts are becoming. And was it as we thought?"

"Exactly," said Fenton, "but more powerful."

"Yes. As it must be. We have ourselves not been idle. Except for the fact that we do not have the explosive, we have the reconstruction of the used-in-the-other-killings-devices managed."

"Show us, please," Fenton said.

Mueller picked up a small cigarette lighter from one of the tables.

"This. A little miracle. It will light cigarettes ..."

He demonstrated the flame.

"Also will it pictures make. Nine of them. But on the tenth one, the last picture . . . boom! And the man who uses it is blown to pieces."

Simon took the small metal case and turned it in his fingers as Mueller pointed out the details of its operation.

"The ideal gift for touring friends who like to show their snapshots," Simon said. "Amazingly little thing to do much damage."

"But it does do much damage. The secret is a micro-explosive. Very small amount. Very powerful. We can only approximate it."

"Which explains our vital interest in the whole thing," Fenton said. "Aside from the politics, I mean."

"Have you seen one of these?" Mueller asked, picking up a briefcase.

"I assume it does something more interesting than contain papers," Simon said.

"Naturally," Mueller assured him with a broad smile. "And this. A signet ring."

He offered it to Simon, who politely declined.

"I'll leave such things to experts."

"Very sensible," said Mueller. He slipped the ring onto one of his fingers. "Wearing this, I may the briefcase quite freely handle. The ring neutralizes the proximity fuse in the lock. But not wearing it, the heat of my hand would activate the fuse, and up would go the whole thing, taking me with it."

"But with all apologies," the Saint put in, "isn't that approximately as new in espionage tactics as the old knife in the back?"

"Ah," said Mueller agreeably, "our friends, the unknown assassins, have a modification introduced. I will demonstrate. Gerda, please."

Gerda, the Saint decided on seeing her profuse bulk lumber into the room, was not the modification introduced, unless the opposition had descended to the use of lady wrestlers.

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