"Report," came The Shadow's order.
"Communication begun," came a quiet tone — the voice of Burbank. "Instructions given.
Awaiting regular report."
"Signal if necessary," said The Shadow. "Call this number" — he read from the mouthpiece of the phone "and use the false-number system."
"In emergency only?" came Burbank's voice.
"Emergency only," was The Shadow's low response.
The telephone was replaced and set exactly as it had been before. Then, the man in black performed a surprising action. He picked up a newspaper that lay beside a table, and quickly removed half a dozen of the inner sheets. Carrying them with him, he moved behind the screen.
He was out of sight for fully two minutes; then he reappeared from the other side of the screen. He seated himself in Jeremiah Benson's chair, just back from the window. There he waited, a silent, motionless figure, gazing toward the screen and the door beyond.
A key clicked at the door. The Shadow was on his feet, moving with incredible quickness. So rapid was his motion that when Benson entered, the man in black was no longer in view. Benson was accompanied by Delmuth. The two were engaged in conversation. Benson took the chair by the window. Delmuth sat opposite him. They talked in an abstract fashion for a while.
"Have a cigar?" questioned the old man.