Instead, he stared boldly at The Shadow.
"Good evening," remarked the lawyer quietly. "I have been anticipating your arrival here." The Shadow made no response. Glade Tremont, despite his quiet assurance, knew that a false move would mean his doom. The lawyer remained in his posture of affected calm, leaning back in his swivel chair, a forced smile upon his parched lips.
He had spoken the truth. He had expected The Shadow here. But, though prepared for the meeting, though emboldened by a sense of bravado, Tremont was finding The Shadow a more menacing personage than he had supposed.
It was with an effort that the lawyer preserved his pretended ease. His words, intended to nonplus The Shadow, were spoken in a raspy tone that clearly indicated his trepidation.
"Yes," declared Tremont, "I have expected you. I have heard of you, and I decided that you might come here tonight. You have come to protect Matt Hartley. In that, I assure you, you have failed." The sound of his own voice gave Glade Tremont a feeling of reassurance. His forced smile became a genuine one. Although he feared The Shadow, he knew that the man in black would hear him out — so long as he did not make a false move.
"You have sought to pry into my affairs," announced Glade Tremont. "You have succeeded — to a degree. Beyond that, you have failed. If you wish, I shall be specific." The lawyer stared into the glowing eyes. They were focused directly toward him. Tremont knew that those burning optics were keen enough to ferret out a falsehood. But tonight, Tremont with malicious shrewdness, was relying on the truth. He met the fiery stare and continued his speech in a low tone.
"I prepared a trap for you," declared the lawyer. "How you eluded it is more than I can understand. But it is a trap that works two ways. Had you fallen into it when you came here, you would now be in my power.
"I suspected that you might pass my sentinels. I doubt that you can escape them again. You cannot leave this house without my willingness. So it will be wise for you to hear me."
Subtly, the lawyer was endeavoring to bait The Shadow. His tone was convincing. Although his mind was disturbed by vague qualms, Tremont managed to assure himself that he actually held The Shadow within his control.
Right now, the situation lay in the balance. Tremont, with his artificial smile, felt sure that it would turn to his advantage as he proceeded.