“It’s a sure investment, Cranston - no need for extra shares in the enterprise - merely a loan to be paid at interest - perhaps a special bonus for the investors - the basic arrangement should be the same -”
Repeating such running patter, Ronjan stepped into the elevator when it arrived and rode down to the ground floor, continuing his statements in a confidential tone close to Cranston’s ear. Out through the spacious lobby, clear to the street, Ronjan accompanied his parting guests, all the while emphasizing the very things that he had said before.
Standing by while Ronjan completed his repetitious discourse with Cranston, Margo stared across at Central Park, now deepening with dusk. As she asked herself the same old question of whether banshees did exist, Margo had a sudden start.
Something loomed into the glow of the early street lamps opposite. It wasn’t the exotic figure of some sylvan creature, but a shape even more unexpected.
For the moment, Margo thought she saw The Shadow!
Then the illusion ended. It was only some peculiar bird that had fluttered from the gloom, its wings giving the curious effect of a cloaked silhouette, magnified against the light.
Turning, Margo thought she saw the creature flying upward; then all sight of it was lost against the front of the tall hotel, though Margo had a vague impression that the bird had come to roost up beneath the long-eaved roof of the Chateau Parkview.
A taxicab horn interrupted Margo’s train of thought. Having finally shaken hands with Ronjan, Cranston had hailed the cab and it was waiting to take him and Margo to their interview with Craig Farnsworth.
“Yes, Margo,” said Cranston, “that’s Ronjan’s apartment up where you see the top floor lights. He’s gone back up there, so we can talk about other matters.”
Margo responded with a surprised smile as she stepped into the cab. If Lamont wanted to play at reading her thoughts, it would be just as well to let him think that he was right. No use mentioning the odd bird that had given such a brief but startling imitation of The Shadow.