Palermo had withheld his curiosity regarding the man in black. The expression on his face showed that he was realizing something that he had long anticipated.
He clapped his hand and pointed to the black cloak with the form beneath it. Hassan picked up the man’s body as though its weight were trivial and set it in a chair. He turned the seat around so that the unconscious man faced Palermo.
The Arab drew down the black collar of the cloak, so that his master might see the face of The Shadow.
This act revealed the features of Harry Vincent!
A slight expression of surprise came over Palermo. He studied the man in the chair. He had seen that face the night before, in the home of Doctor Brockbank.
Harry’s eyes opened. He stared weakly toward Palermo. The sight of the man’s red robe puzzled him.
Palermo noted his perplexity, but attributed it to his sudden recovery of consciousness.
“So!” Palermo spoke with the solemnity of a mandarin. “The Shadow has come! I am surprised to find him such a youth. But I have heard that he assumes disguises.”
Harry tried to frame a sentence. His voice failed him. Palermo read the message on his lips.
“Where is Burke?” asked the man in the scarlet robe. “He is here, awaiting you. He was surprised last night, as you were surprised tonight.