A middle-aged woman attracted the rajah's attention. This was Mrs. Garwood, from Philadelphia. One glance told the renowned rajah that here was a true believer. Impressed by the crude demonstrations of Anita Marie, she would be an easy mark.
The mystic's forehead wrinkled as he noted the young man who stood beside her. This was the nephew of whom Anita Marie had spoken. His presence was not pleasing to the seer. One last glance showed Arthur Dykeman, an elderly, gray-haired man who stood moody and alone, his face worn with care and unhappiness. He had come here to seek word from his lost daughter, the only child who had been in line for his millions.
Stricken with grief, the miserable father was willing to pay thousands for one brief glimpse of his departed child. So far, he had received but little solace.
To-night, Rajah Brahman reflected, happiness would come to the tired spirit of that man. Short happiness for Arthur Dykeman; continued profit for Rajah Brahman and his chief.
The tiny opening closed. Rajah Brahman walked into a darkened hall. He found Imam Singh — otherwise Tony — seated, turbanless, at a table, with a pair of earphones adjusted to his head. A sheaf of penciled notations showed that the assistant had been keeping close tabs on the discussions that were going on in the reception room. For the earphones were connected with a dictagraph that was hidden on the wall of the other room.
Rajah Brahman smiled and stroked his false beard as he watched Imam Singh at work. He reached out, removed the earphones from the man's head, and placed them over his own ears. Seating himself at the table, he listened intently, then pointed to the door. Tony understood the signal. It was his cue to usher the guests into the seance room. The servant put on his turban and left. The babble from the earphones died away. Tony returned and stood waiting. Rajah Brahman was carefully scanning the written notations.
"Good work, Tony," he said. "Wait for your cue — after I finish with Mrs. Furzeman, the fat woman from Chicago."
"O.K.," said Tony.
"You'll have plenty of time to make up," declared Rajah Brahman. "Is the table all loaded?"
"Yes."