From the receiver came a well-remembered chuckle.
“So you were expecting me, eh, Bentley? You never really believed that one of my genius would fall such easy prey to the great apes did you?”
“Of course not, Professor,” said Bentley soothingly. “It would be an insult to your vivid mentality.”
“Vivid mentality! Vivid mentality! Why, Bentley, there isn’t another brain in the world to compare with mine. And you of all people should know it. The whole world will know it before I’m finished, for I have made tremendous strides since you helped me to perform that crowning achievement in Africa. By the way, tell your friend Tyler, who just called the officer to the door, that it’s useless to try to trace this call!”
Bentley jumped as though he had been stung. How had Barter known what Tyler was doing? How had he guessed what Tyler had told the man in uniform? How had Barter known Bentley was visiting Tyler? How had he discovered even that Bentley was back in the United States? Why, besides, was he so friendly with Bentley now?
“You speak, Professor,” said Bentley softly, “as though you could see right into police headquarters.”
“I can, Bentley! I can!” said Barter impatiently, as though he were rebuking a schoolboy for saying the obvious.
“You’re close by, then?”
“No. I’m a long way––several miles––from you. But I can see everything you do. And you needn’t look at Tyler in such surprise!”