"The two French squadrons are here now, Bentham, off Tunis." "They plan to sail direct to Port Said, then proceed through the canal... to join our fleet for the maneuvers in the Red Sea." "When exactly will they reach the canal?" "We had a wire from the French admiral this morning." "It says, "Fleet arrives..." "Port Said 23 o'clock, Delacour Admiral commanding."" "There's even less time than I thought." "Isn't it possible to delay them somehow?" "What's the matter with you secret service people?" "Why shouldn't the French fleet proceed?" "Last week, one of our men in Egypt reported he was on the verge of finding out something... which might mean trouble in connection with these joint maneuvers." "That's nonsense." "What trouble could there be, man?" "Our relations with France are as cordial as they ever were, more so in fact." "What I'm afraid of, Lord Streetly... is there's some scheme on foot to strain those relations." "What?" "That would be disastrous, Bentham." " Disastrous!" " Exactly, sir." "With this present tensión in Europe... can't you do something to detain that French fleet until we get more news?" "I'll tell you what." "I'll speak to the prime minister." "Perhaps we can persuade the French Admiralty... to hold the fleet offTunis for the balance of this week." "We can't do more than that." "We'll accordingly remain here until orders received." "Send this off to Paris and take this message for my wife... on the steamer Himalaya reaching Port Said tonight." " A radio message for you, Madame Delacour." " Merci." "Mama, is it from Father?" "Is it from Father, Mama?" "Yes." "Yes, dear." "He sends you his love." "Uh, no bad news, I hope, madame." " Oh, no, Monsieur Norvel." "Merely disappointing." " Oh, Mama." " Aren't you gonna see Father after all?" " Of course we are, darling." " The naval maneuvers have not been called off?" " No, just a change of orders." "Oh." "It must be very interesting to receive... important information like that before anyone else." "Admirals' wives are always the last to hear of anything of real importance." "I admire your discretion, madame." "I say, when do we land?" "I just talked to the folks on the front looking at the town." "Oh, what a sinister, brooding place." "Did you get the sinister, brooding smell of it?" "Oh, I say this is so exciting." "I've just thought of a marvelous heading for my third chapter." "Listen to this." ""Port Said- the glamorous gateway to the mystic east."" "Aren't you infringing a little bit on Mr. Halliburton?" "I never heard of him." "You should find material here for your book, Monsieur Venables." "Am I in your book, Rollo?" "I want to be in your book." "Of course you're in the book." "You're all in it." "Listen to this." "Just a few notes." ""The adventure begins." "Moonlight madness... shipmates and deck companions and the Oriental Sherlock. "" " What's a Sherlock?" " He means Monsieur Moto, darling." "Where is Mr. Moto?" "I'd like to say good-bye to him." "There is no need yet for good-byes." "Business detains me in Port Said for several days before I continue my journey." "Where are you staying, Mr. Moto?" "At the home of friends." "Do you by any chance know a wayside inn?" "You know, a place with local color, of whirling dervishes and so forth." "Where tourists find their throats cut?" "Yes, that's exactly what I mean..." "I think." "First-class passengers will assemble in the lounge for passport inspection." "Come along, Marie." "We must find Nana and show our passports." " Bye, Rollo." " Good-bye." "See you later." "Oh, now, look here." "No, really, somebody must have stolen my passport." "Didn't I see you press your passport in your notebook?" "Oh, yes, there it is." "That's very clever." "Thank you so much." " Well, good-bye, old boy." "See you at the hotel." " Good-bye." "All right." "Mr. Norvel, this man says he has business with you." " The travel agent, eh?" " Hawkins is my name." " We made all your arrangements." " Did you get my reservation at the hotel?" "Yes, sir." "And I hope as how everything is satisfactory." "Well, it seems to be so far." "Excuse me, please." "I, too, must go through the formality of passport examination." "Have you got a match, Hawkins?" " I don't think I have, sir." " Why don't you look in your left-hand pocket." "Oh, yes, here's a packet, sir." " ThatJapanese is the man." "Have you got your instructions?" " Yes." "I've got a cab waiting." "All right." "Help me through customs and we'll pick him up there." "Very good, sir." "Observe my permit on the credentials, please." "We'll wait for him outside." "Hey!" "What on earth are you carrying all that for?" "My dear chap, only tourists allow anyone to carry their kits." "No!" "Go away!" "Get away from me!" " I'm so very sorry." " I regret, it was entirely my fault." "Here he comes." "Now!" " I'm terribly sorry." "Are you all right, Mr. Moto?" " Yes." "My own fault." "No harm done." "Won't you let me give you a lift?" "I'll be glad to drive you any place you want to go." "You are most kind, Mr. Norvel, but I must not trouble you." "Oh, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense!" "No trouble at all." "I'm going to the Khedive Hotel." "You might just as well drive with us." "Come on, Mr. Moto." "Jump in, Mr. Moto." " This is not the Khedive Hotel." " No, but it's where you get out." "Come on." "You better do what he says, Mr. Moto." " Please, I do not understand." " Come on." "Get moving." " What do you want with me?" " Never you mind." "None of your monkey tricks." "Inside." "Well, that's the end of Mr. Moto." "What are you calling your book, Monsieur Venables?" "Roughing It With a Rolling Stone." " Or A Peep Into the Interior." " Good." " Hi, Norvel!" " Ah, good evening." "I see you're all settled and comfortable." "Yes." "Marie was tired out." "Her nurses put her to bed." "Won't you sit down?" " Thank you." " I was just saying, we should see the town." "You know, the real Port Said, not this stuff the tourists see." "That's an excellent idea." "But you must be very careful." "He's a venturesome soul." "Oh, no, no." "You're pulling my leg." "Ah, you know I wouldn't do that." " But seriously, why don't you join us." " I have a business appointment." "And anyway, I'm not a desperate fellow like you." "I'm nervous." " Mr. Eric Norvel?" " Yes?" "I have a message for you." "It's very urgent." "By hand." "Oh." "Thank you." "Uh, excuse, please." "There's no answer." " That's excellent." "My appointment has been canceled." " Oh, good." " Now I can come with you, Marco Polo." " Marco" "Shall we show this "farita" the real Port Said, or shall I take you to the local music hall?" "Alfred, don't lie to me." "I saw you dabbling in the gutter." "What were you doing?" "Looking for a novelty for me lady friend." "Don't you think it's time you married the girl?" "Blimey, no." "It gives me the creeps to see her once a week." "Alfred, you shouldn't belittle matrimony." "Married men live longer than single ones." "It only seems longer." " I think that you'd better go into your song." " All right." "I'll sing a song if you drink a glass of water and smoke a cigarette with your left hand." "Very well." "What are you going to sing?" ""Knocked 'Em In the Old Kent Road."" "Oh, no, you're not." "You're going to sing something classical- opera." " What?" " Carry on." "Music, professor." "You carry on." "Light your cigarette." "What's the matter?" "Can't you find a match?" "Look in me left-hand pocket, you fool." "Bet you don't know how to make a Maltese cross?" "How would you make a Maltese cross, young man?" " By pulling his tail." " Music, professor." "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the way you've received our offering." " Shut up, Fabian." " We do our best to entertain you." "Hurry up, ya big dummy." "I got friends coming back here." "This is intermissión." "Get off, you big idiot." " Will you excuse me for a smoke?" " Certainly." "Markaday, he's marvelous!" "He, uh, juggles things." "I gotta do it all myself!" "Not getting this messed up." "Always the same story night after night after night... and then to catch you in the alley." "Your performance suffers." "Oh, shame." "Well, the show must go on!" "I'm sorry for using so many tricks to get you up here, but we can't be too careful." "Norvel arrived tonight on the Himalaya... and by a strange coincidence, Mr. Moto of the International Police was also aboard." "Norvel warned me by cablegram, and I arranged for Mr. Moto to be taken care of." "I only mention this to show you there's always a possibility of our being watched." "And never forget, there must be nothing to show what government is employing us." "The slightest mistake means death." "Now, Norvel, did you learn the date?" "Not yet." "But that Delacour woman had a radiogram from her husband tonight." "Looks as if the fleet's arrival has been postponed." "That's either very good or very bad." "Gives us more time, but it might mean suspición." "Nevertheless, we'll go through with it." "Nothing must stop us." "It's good Mr. Moto's out of the way." "He was dangerous." " Yes." "I'm just about to cancel him." " What have you got there?" "A little collection of my own that's taken me a long time to compile." "This is the reverse of what police call a rogues' gallery." " A detectives'gallery." " Detectives, secret service men, police of all nationalities." " Can I have a look?" " There he is." "Ah." "Well, so much for Mr. Moto." " That's really a magnificent idea." "May I?" " Surely." " How much remains to be done?" " A day's work." "You and I will complete the project." "It is near completion then?" "That is good." "I had no idea you would be so far advanced by this time." "Have you taken care of your end, Danforth?" "I have fixed the passports for entry into any Aegean or Adriatic port." "But it's been a drawback not knowing our exact plans." "You'll know in plenty of time." "All of you go back and watch the rest of the show." "Norvel, we must know what's in that radiogram." " I'll get it for you tonight." " Good." "Report in later at Connie's Place." "Quiet." "What was that?" " I didn't hear anything." " Neither did I." " I'm afraid you're overly suspicious." " Perhaps." "I don't trust anyone, not even Alfred." "I'll walk back with you as far as the pass door." "Wait a minute." " Aren't you late, Monsieur Markaday?" "You better hurry." " Oh, oui." "Wait a minute." "Look." "Search all the dressing rooms right away." "He's backstage somewhere." "Hakin, watch the stage door." "We'll search all the dressing rooms." "Mine first." "There's no one here." "I'll take this floor." "You go up to the next level." "All right." "I shouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Burke." "It isn't worthy of your excellent position with the British secret service." " Who are you?" " I'm your friend." " You are in a more dangerous position than I am." " But who are you?" "Don't give yourself away by removing your photograph." "Continue to search for me." "I'm Moto." "Meet me at 42 Certa tonight." "Directly opposite Connie's Place." "Watch out." " Any trace of him?" " No." "Let's go and find Fabian." "There's no sign of him in any of the dressing rooms." " Never mind." "You'd better get back to Madame Delacour." " All right." "Are you crazy?" "What is the meaning of this tirade?" " What's the trouble here?" " My dog, she's a very bad girl." "She does not respect performance." "Then comes right in here." "I come following her." " And this Mr. Fabian, he assassinates me!" " Shh." "I'm terribly sorry." "I can explain everything." "Just a minute." "Somebody robbed my dressing room and I saw Markaday sneaking around here and I jumped on him." " He must have gone through this window." " I will have a search made." "And, you, please, keep your mutt in-between performances!" "Shh!" "That's one good thing anyway." "Whoever he was, he couldn't have heard much listening." "He listened, and that's too much." " That's all, Danforth." "I'll phone you when I need you." " Yes, sir." "Say, Alfred, don't you think this gentleman... bears a strange resemblance to Mr. Danforth?" "Now do you know me, Chanchino?" " Where's Miss Connie?" " I don't know, Mr. Fabian." " Go find her for me." " Go find her yourself." " What's the matter, got a complaint about something?" " You got any iodine?" "Oh, been speaking out of turn again?" "Okay, I'll get some iodine and bring it up to your room." "Hey, Bill." "Oh." "Hello, darling." " Let's have a look." " Oh, it's nothing." "I just wanted to tell you I'm expecting a visitor tonight- a man called Norvel." " What did you do to that hand?" " A dog at the theater nipped me." "I don't want you to go foaming at the mouth." "Give us that mitt." "Let the bloke alone." "Take more than a dog bite to hurt him." "Be as funny as you like, but in this filthy town, it might be serious." "A wolf hound once bit Alfred and all he got was splinters." "I'm getting fed up on your jokes." " Don't listen to her, Alfred." " It was funny at first, but now it's getting past a laugh." "You actually treat that dummy as though it were a human being." "Oh, getting insulting', eh?" "I'm sick of Alfred." "To tell you the truth..." "I'm sick of the whole dirty business you're in, whatever it is." "Why can't we be together more?" "Why all this hide-and-seek?" " Why do I have to run a dive and pretend I hardly know you?" " Wait a minute." "I've always done what you told me, but now I've gotta know." "Why do you pretend to be a third-rate music-hall turn?" "What's your real game?" "Why don't you let me in on it?" "You've said enough." "Now be quiet!" "Sorry." "I didn't mean to go flying off the handle like that." "I guess it's 'cause I love you so much." "Hmm." "So you wanna know all about my business, huh?" " Mm-hmm." " All right, take a seat in the office." "If you're so curious, I'm gonna tell you everything." "Wait a minute." "Okay, hold that hand still." "And now talk." " Anyone here?" " Yes, Mr. Burke." "I'm sorry to welcome you so inhospitably... but darkness is necessary if we are to observe the movements of the enemy." "Please sit down." "You really are Moto, then?" "That is my one permanent characteristic." "But I thought Moto was dead." "Fabian doesn't usually make mistakes." "He made a grave mistake tonight when he murdered a countryman of mine." " And he will regret it." " Was this man deliberately posing as you?" "He was my colleague keeping Mr. Norvel under observation." "Incidentally, he diverted suspición from myself." "You see, at present, I'm Kuroki, dealer in Oriental art." " And I'm in Port Said now for quite some time." " How did you know me?" "You were, I believe, in Nepal about two years ago... posing there as a British priest." "But I thought only our secret service knew about that." "You may remember that extremely dirty mule driver... who accompanied you to the border." " Was that" " Oh, yes." "Moto, I'm beginning to believe all the stories I've heard about you." "Please, do not." "I do not." "But should we not return to our present assignment?" "I'm interested in the extent of your information." "Isn't nearly enough." "Fabian doesn't confide in his men." "He merely uses them." "But you sent a report to London only last week." "It was more warning than report." "All I was able to tell them was that there's a plot to cause trouble... between England and France which has some connection with the visit of the French fleet." "That undoubtedly explains their postponed arrival." "But they can't hold them long unless we discover Fabian's exact plans." "Observe." "Mr. Norvel is arriving." "Come back later." "Why, hello, Mr. Norvel." "You remember me, don't you?" "Captain Hawkins of the Vulcan." " Oh, yes." "How are you, Captain?" " Fine." "Thanks." " Where's Fabian?" " Upstairs." "Room number 10." "Tell him I'm down here." " Glad to have seen you, Captain." " All right." " When you get down, see if Norvel has come." " All right, sweetheart." "Oh, here he is now." "Connie, this is Mr. Norvel." "He just arrived from Europe." " This is Miss Porter, the proprietress here." " Pleased to meet you." " I'm honored." " See you later, maybe, Mr. Fabian..." " and take care of that hand." " Come in." "Very attractive, the proprietress." "Don't do any talking in front of her, but if you have to, we're in a smuggling racket." " I had to tell her that because she was getting too curious." " An intimate friend, eh?" "I've known her six years." "Helped her dodge the English police and got her out of the country." "She's all right, but I'm not taking any chances." "Did you get that radiogram?" "I copied it and put it back in her bag so that Madame Delacour shouldn't become suspicious." "It doesn't help us at all." "Here's all it says. "Changed orders." "Will not see you until three days later than expected." "My love to you and Marie."" " Well, who's Marie?" " Oh, a child, about five years old." "Can't you get the woman to talk?" " She's the very essence of discretion." " It's vital we find out the date." "But can't we just make our preparations and then wait until the French ships subsided?" "Use your head." "We've gotta get everything ready for a definite time and then lie low." " We're being watched and don't know who's watching us." " At least we got rid of Mr. Moto." "But who was the man in the theater?" "Here." "Have a look at this." "You ever seen this face before?" "The beard's my own idea." "Somebody who was in my dressing room tonight started to tear this out and then stopped." "Who is it?" " Danforth." " Of course." "But he couldn't be a British agent." "He fixed our passports to get out of here." "Those passports were forged in Cairo by a man called Danforth who I've never seen." "This man's Burke!" "Somehow he intercepted the real Danforth." "What are we going to do?" "Do you recall Mr. Burke suggesting he'd like to know our exact plans?" " Yes." " I'm gonna show him what it's all about." " Ah." " I think he'll be interested and very useful." "In the meantime, I'm gonna work on a new plan to get that date." "See that you do." "And phone Mr. Burke Danforth at the Marina Hotel tonight." "Be very pleasant." "Tell him I want him here just before dawn, say 4:30." "Whichever way I turn, I come up against a stone wall." "I've never known so little at this stage." "I, too, must confess to a feeling of futility." "Mr. Fabian's methods display a certain genius." "We don't even know the name of the ship they got those clearance papers for." "And that ship, perhaps, is the key." "You better go now, Mr. Burke." " We'll meet again tomorrow afternoon." " Where?" " I'll phone you." "What is your address?" " A small hotel called the Marina." "You must not be seen here." "You'll find another door in the back room." " Good evening, please." " Oh, uh, are you open?" "Closing now for hours, but always open for number-one customer." "Oh, dear." "That sign there says you speak English." "Speaking English very fluent." "Am selling A-1 articles." "Oh, me savvy." "Uh, me look-see in window." "Me "wantee" buy number-one "pacey."" " Entering, please." " Thank you very much." " Entering, please, my humble shop." " It's awfully nice." "Oh." "Oh!" "Ooh, what wonderful antiques!" "Oh, yes." "Oh, yes." "Supreme collection." "Buddhas, all dynasties, scrolls, all assortments... weapons, all versions." " Suiting you?" " No, not tonight." "Thanks." "Me see ring in window." "How "muchee"?" " This one?" " No, no, not that one." "The scarab ring." "Oh, so?" "Gentleman having first-class knowledge." "This ring being very ancient." "Observe." " Being said to come from tomb of Cleopatra." " No." " Yes, sir." " Oh, I say." "Plenty too much money, maybe?" "Oh, no, no." "Being new customer, I selling cheap." "Sixty piastres, maybe?" " I say, that's jolly decent of you, but I'm really" " No, no." "Making small reduction." "Forty piastres suiting you?" "But promising always handle with great care." "Oh, yes." "Well, I thank you." "I'm very much obliged to you." "I'll have to give you a five-pound note." "Oh, yes, sir." "Bill very large." "Hoping to make change." "Changing, please, but being correct amount." " What, all these piastres for me?" " Yes, sir." "All for five pounds?" "Oh, thank you very much." "It's a lot, isn't it?" "Here he comes." "I shall certainly be back tomorrow." "Thank you very much." "Well, nighty-nighty, Mr., uh, Kuroki." "Oh, yes." "Hey, buddy." " Huh?" " Your shoe's untied." "Oh, is it, really?" "Thanks so much, old boy." "Help!" "This is obviously a case of mistaken identity." "Help!" "Fight!" "Fight!" "There's a fight!" "See here, now!" "Come on!" "Kill himI" "Come on and kill him!" "Oh, wonderful!" "Feeling okay?" "Yes, I think so." "Thank you." "Oh, dear." "Thank you very much." "They no "touchy" money." "Oh, better hiding it, please." "And speak English." "I understanding." "Thank you very much, Mr. Kuroki." "I am deeply grateful." "It was wonderfull" "Being very simple." "Judo often miscalled by foreigners jujitsu." "Oh, Faddick." "You riding home in automobile." "Certainly." "No, no, no, please." "In here." "Oh, I'm so sorry." "Thank you." " You staying at Khedive Hotel?" " Yes, I am." " To Khedive Hotel, please." " Now, Mr. Kuroki, I'll see you tomorrow." "Yes, sir, but humbly suggesting change of costume then." "I see what you mean." "Wear something that I would look I wasn't worth robbing." " Yes, sir." "Yes, sir." " That's a jolly good scheme." "Good night." "Thanks, Bill." " You boys missed something just now." " Yeah, what?" " A nice roughhouse outside." " Nothing new in this aristocratic neighborhood." "Oh, this was." "Little bit of a Japanese playing Ping-Pong with a couple of bruisers." " A Japanese?" " Yes, Kuroki, the shopkeeper from over the way." "Why, there he is sitting right behind you." " Good evening, please." " Nice work, Mr. Kuroki." "You boys better keep civil or Mr. Kuroki might get rough with you." " I knowing who you are." " Yeah?" " Oh, yes." " Very interesting." "You funny fellow I see with dummy talking in stomach." "Very clever." " So you've been to the show, have you?" " Yes." "I liking everything." "But you best." "Very funny." " Were you at the show tonight?" " Yes." "Seeing show every Friday." "Being great admirer of artists." " Having drink with me, please?" " No, thanks." " I think this dressing ought to be changed." " Okay, I'll do it." "You hurting hand?" "Being very sorry." " A dog at the theater bit me." " Yes." "Seeing him in show." " Very clever dog." " Mm-hmm." "See you later." "Good night, Mr. Kuroki." "Good night, sir." "Good night, Miss Porter." "Having a drink with me, please?" "No, I don't drink with no strangers, see?" "What's more, I don't with no foreigners neither, see?" "Yes, sir." "I thinking gentleman not liking me." "Don't pay any attention to him, Mr. Kuroki." "He always gets like that when he's had a couple of beers." "Oh, yeah?" "Who is he, please?" "Sailorman?" "Yes, he's the captain of the blooming Vulcan." " Thanking you very much." " And thank you" "What's all this with little Kuroki?" "Nothing, maybe, but I've got a hunch he might be more than he seems." " You mean a revenue man?" " Something of the sort." "Now, look." "I'm gonna be away tomorrow and I want you to do something for me." " Does that mean I'm really in with you?" " I told you, didn't I?" " Perhaps I didn't think you meant it." " Certainly I meant it." "Listen." "Tomorrow, all the time that I'm gone, I want you to watch Kuroki." " Kuroki?" " Mm-hmm." " Where are we going?" " Out to the salvage boat, the Vulcan." "The Vulcan, eh?" "That must be the ship the port clearances were for." "Yes, I think you'll find it very interesting." " Is this the car?" " Yes." "Go away." "Go away." "Yes." "Norvel arranged everything." "Just gotta get the picnic basket now." "I'm dying to see that ancient tomb he was talking about, aren't you?" " What's a tomb, Rollo?" " Well, it's, uh- it's-Well, I can't" "Monsieur Norvel told me nothing about a tomb." "He just invited us to a desert breakfast." "I say, I have let the cat out of the bag, haven't I?" "What cat, Rollo?" "What bag was it in?" "Just a little tiny- Oh, don't." "Good morning." "I'm sorry I'm late." " This is ripping, isn't it?" " What's ripping, Rollo?" "Shall we start?" "You know where to go, driver." " Take this and show Mr. Kuroki in." " Yes, sir." " This way, Mr. Kuroki." " How do you do, Mr. Moto?" "It is good of you to receive me so promptly." "Not at all." "Take a chair." "Well, how is that mare's nest... they sent you to ferret out?" "The nest is here beyond doubt, but I'm afraid we'll find it to be that of a tiger." "Oh." "Then you know more." "But the last time you were doubtful." "Oh, yes, General, but now I have more than a suspición." "Well, what do you want us to do?" "Make some arrests, a couple of platoons?" "Anything you like." "Later, perhaps." "At present, I merely wish information... concerning a vessel named the Vulcan." "The Vulcan?" "Oh!" "Oh, she's just a salvage ship working on a wreck... a couple of miles offshore." "Oh, so?" "A legitimate enterprise?" "Oh, definitely." "Some silly cargo boat went and got herself rammed... and sunk a few weeks ago, and the owners commissioned the Vulcan to salvage her." "May I be permitted to investigate this ship, General?" "Certainly." "But if you're barking up that tree, Mr. Moto... you certainly will find the mare's nest." "I'll arrange for a cutter to take you out tomorrow." "Thank you, General." "Would you please tell me the location of this wreck?" "Well, certainly, certainly." "Here she is up here." "There she is, that little red fella." "Do you see?" "Lying in 15 fathoms of water." " And that is where the Vulcan is anchored today?" " Yes." "That a way!" "Neat, isn't it?" "We do enough salvage work... to satisfy the port authorities or any investigators." "Then we get on with our job, like the three divers below now." "What amazing luck to find a wreck just where you wanted it." "Not luck." "The ship belonged to our employer." "We arranged to sink it here at the mouth of the canal." "You still haven't told me what the divers are actually doing." "Don't tell me you can't figure that out, Mr. Danforth?" " Planting explosives?" " At the entrance of the canal." "In a few more hours, we'll have the whole area mined... with depth charges controlled from shore." "What an idea." "Destroy the French fleet as it starts through." "The leading ships, at any rate." "They'll block the entrance." "You're so interested in the work, you oughta see for yourself, Mr. Danforth." "Come over here." "Ever been down in a diving bell?" "You'll find it quite an experience." "It's a bit cramped for two." "Yes, I should imagine it is." "Well, I'm gonna stand aside and let you go alone." " Help him in." " Just a minute." "I'd, uh" " I'd like to understand a little more, Fabian." "Isn't it clear to you yet?" "Anyway, there's a phone in there." "We'll be in touch." "All right." "Come on." "Hurry with them wing bolts." "All right, lower her away!" "When it resonates on the bottom, connect me." "Hello." "Hello, Danforth?" "Are you on the bottom yet?" "All right, hold on a minute." "Hello, Danforth." "How's the view?" "Not bad at all, Fabian." "Congratulations." "Very nice work indeed." "But you'll never make France believe England did it." "Oh, I think I can handle that all right." "Suppose there's evidence... to show that the whole thing was managed by a British secret service agent?" "How would that do?" "And suppose we called the agent S-14?" "You'd better hurry if you want to say anything." "It's a pity we forgot to put oxygen tanks in the bell." "All right, Fabian, you've got me." "But you'll never- Succeed." "A thousand-to-one I do." "Cut that cable." "So long, Mr. Burke!" "Turn him loose." "Being very certain please that Mr. Danforth not there?" "Please tell him when seeing him that Mr. Kuroki calling." " How do you spell the name, please?" " "K" like in kimono." "Ah." "Ah, sure." "Kuroki." "I have a message for you." "Would you like me to read it out loud... for your own information?" "Yeah." "Yeah." "Here is it." ""Boss has sent for me." "Period." "May learn enough to make full report tonight."" "End of message, mein Herr." "Thanking you very much." "And please being certain... to tell Mr. Danforth when returning that..." "Mr. Kuroki expecting him." "Very important, please." "Hello, dear." "I was getting worried about you." "I thought I told you not to fool with Alf." "Now, leave him alone!" " I didn't hurt your pet." " Norvel called or been here?" " Hasn't called, hasn't been." " Wonder what's keeping him." "What about Kuroki?" "This morning, he went to the port commandant's office." "Came out in about 15 minutes." "Then he gave me the slip." "But he's back at his shop now." " Went to the commandant, did he?" " I didn't think it was so good myself." "What's it mean, that he is a revenue man?" "Don't you worry your head, honey." "If you're coming to the show, you'd better get changed." " On your way down, send Hawkins up, will you?" " Right you are." "Fabian, your laundry's back." " What, already?" " Yeah, they refused it." "You're dippy." " Fabian'll see you right away in his room." " All right." "Hey, wake up!" "Hey!" "Come in." " Oh." " Miss Connie says as how you wanted to see me." " That's right." "I've got a job for you." " Anything you say, governor." "I want you to make one of those packages of yours and have it ready for tonight." " Blimey." "Who are we gonna do in this time?" " Mr. Kuroki." "Meanwhile in the Mediterranean, French squadrons... proceed full speed ahead to the gigantic naval maneuvers... to be held with Great Britain in the Red Sea." "With all Europe engaged in a costly armament race, the tensión grows daily." "Only a spark is needed to touch off the tinderbox of the world." "But as long as England and France remain close friends... war clouds in Europe are unlikely." "Hello, Fabian." " Sorry I couldn't get back any sooner." " Did you land a date?" "Yes." "The "pic" with the child worked." "When we went on that picnic to the desert this afternoon..." "I managed to get the child away from her mother... and she told me she was going to see her father tomorrow morning." "Good." "That won't give anybody time to stop us." "But you and I'll have to work most of the night." " Starting when?" " As soon as I've taken Connie home." "She's out front." " Meanwhile, here's some news for you." " Yeah?" "The man who was listening next-door was Kuroki..." " a Japanese who keeps a junk shop opposite Connie's place." " Japanese, eh?" "What's more, Kuroki is really Mr. Moto." "Mis" " But that isn't possible." " Everything fits too well." " Have you got rid of him?" "Hakin's on the job now." "But I want you to check on it." "Could you tell me where Mr. Fabian's dressing room is?" " It's the third door down on your left." " Thanks." "What did I tell you?" "He is human after all." "Don't you expect any trouble about getting away?" "Our mines will blow the French flagship to bits." "During the commotion, nobody will notice the Vulcan slip away." "Our papers are all in order-sailing permit, everything." "Even visas for the passengers." " Well, that's fine." "See you later." " Right." "Good evening." "I thought I'd come back and see you." " Didn't you enjoy the show, Miss Porter?" " Oh, well" "You'd better take care of that right away, Norvel." "Come in, Connie." "Come in." " Who told you to come backstage?" " And who told you to lie to me?" " What's the matter with you?" " You didn't want me to know what you're really up to." " Wait a minute." " It's no use trying to deny it." "I heard you just now." "Smuggling." "That's a fine word to use to blow hundreds of men to bits and start another war." " That's enough!" " And don't think you can get away with it!" "You're in this as deep as any of us, and you're gonna come along with me... and not say a word to anybody!" "Alf, what do you think of her?" "Tells a man... she's been in love with him for six years, and then wants to see him hanged." "And why?" "He's working against a country that wanted to send her to jail." "And if it hadn't been for me, she'd be rotting right now in Dartmoor Prison." "That's gratitude for you, isn't it?" "Oh, what's the matter, darling?" "Listen, you've nothing to thank England for." "You can't even go back there ever." "Come on, now." "Be sane." "Stick with me, hmm?" "Oh." "Good evening, please." " Oh, I'm awfully sorry." " Begging pardon, please." "Why, if it isn't Mr. Kuroki!" "Excusing, please, but being in great haste." "How do you like this kit?" "Those roughs wouldn't try and pick my pockets now, eh?" "You're an Englishman." "You would do your country a service, wouldn't you?" "I say" " I say, you're talking differently." "You are Mr. Kuroki, aren't you?" "There's no Kuroki." "I'm Moto, agent of the International Police." "Oh, splen-What?" "It isn't simple, I know, but this may convince you." "But I know Mr. Moto." "He was on the boat with me." "He was a fellow agent of mine passing as myself for reasons of duty." " ByJove!" " You will assist me, Mr. Venables?" " Oh, I say, what an adventure!" " Then go to the port commandant at once... and tell him Moto needs immediate assistance in there." " You understand?" " Yes, sir!" "Now, you wait for me here." " Hey, what" " Oh." " Oh." "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" " No, no, no." "It's Venables!" " The very man I wanted to see." " What on earth are you doing here in these clothes?" "Look, it's frightfully important." "It's a matter of life and death!" " Secret service!" "King and country!" " But what is all this?" "Mr. Moto- the real one- he's on a big job in that warehouse over there." "I must go to the port commandant immediately and get help." " Let me go in your car." " You really seem to be in the midst of things." " Come on." "Hurry." " Wait a minute." "I have a better idea." " Yes?" " I'll send my driver with a message to the port commandant." "You and I will go back to the warehouse." "Don't you realize Mr. Moto might be in danger?" "Of course!" "Thanks, dear boy." "Come along!" "We must hurry!" "All I can say is I hope as though you really did get him." "He was in the backroom at the time of the explosión." "What we should've done was to took him aboard the Vulcan... and dropped him over the side the same as we'd done with the other one." "A body!" "Hawkins, where are you?" "Here, Mr. Norvel." "Anything wrong?" " Blimey!" "Who's this?" " Have you seen Mr. Moto?" "Have you seen" "Why, I don't understand." "Well, don't- don't point it at me" " Oh!" " Keep quiet." "Have you heard anything?" " This fool says Moto's in here." " What?" " Moto?" " You've bungled your job." "Go and search the place." "Why, you dirty rotten ba" " He's out." " Yeah, so is the other one." "All right, now, tie 'em both up in sacks and drop 'em over." "Yes, that's what we should've done in the first place." "Blimey, that pup there gave me a nasty scratch." "All right, now, hurry up." "I'm going to report to Fabian." "All right, come on." " Get the sacks, Hakin." " Here they are." " Got plenty of weights in 'em?" " Yeah." " They'll go straight to the bottom." " Good." "Oh, he's coming to." "Good." "Let's see if you're slippery enough to get out of this." "Ooh, your cheek is bleeding." "I'm sorry, Captain Hawkins." "Yeah, you'll be sorry for yourself in half a minute." "Come on." "In you go." "That scratch wasn't, by any chance, caused by the ring on Mr. Rollo's hand?" "Well, what if it was?" "Oh, it would be amusing." "What is all this?" "I'll knock that smile off your dial in a minute." "Come on." "What's making you laugh?" "The justice of the poets, Captain." " To wrap the thought in other words, your face" " My face-What about my face?" "Oh, poor Captain Hawkins." "I do cherish a fellow feeling for you." " After all, we are both rapidly nearing death." " What?" " He's just gibbering to gain time." " What is it?" " Oh" " Come on!" "Out with it!" "Out with it!" "It is quite simple, Captain Hawkins." "You see, I sold that ring to Mr. Rollo." "The ring is very ancient, and if you were to examine it carefully... you would find a spring which releases a small needle... between the eyes of the scarab." "I'm very sorry for you, poor Captain Hawkins... but that point was impregnated with, uh, "tuac."" "What's that?" "Poison?" "One of the deadliest known." "I don't believe ya." "Undo that sack." "Let's have a look at that ring." "Blimey." "There ain't nothin' in it at all." "Go on, go on." "It's all right to talk in front of her." " She's gonna be with me all the time." " The explosión didn't kill Moto." " What?" " He was in the warehouse." "But we got them both." " I told Hawkins to" " Right." "But we'll make sure." "There's been too many mistakes." "Come on, Connie." " Me?" " Yes, honey." "You're gonna be with us on everything." "Come on." "Try and fool me, would ya?" "What have you been so long about?" "This Oriental told me some yarn about a ring with a spike in it." " There wasn't no spike at all." " Get rid of these now while I watch you." "Hurry up!" "Now we can get on with our work." " Connie?" " She's gone!" "Connie!" "Hello?" "Hello, give me the port commandant, quickly." " Quick" " So you tried to double-cross me after all." "I tried to stop you, and I will stop you!" "I don't think so." "What-Well, how- how did we get here?" "Talk softly." "We are supposed to be dead." " Well, dead" " Dead?" " Extremely dead." "They tied us in sacks and dropped us off this wharf." "Well, this isn't what- How did we get here?" "I was fortunate enough to obtain a piece of steel... which enabled me to cut myself loose and then to save you." " A little chore, of course." " Oh, I say, thanks awfully." "Now, Mr. Venables, listen carefully to what I say." "There." "Everything's ready now." "Look here, Fabian." "Why must I do this?" "You know I've had no experience with this sort of thing." "Because I'm not trusting anyone but myself to give the signal... when the flagship passes the buoy, so that leaves you." "Come on." "There's nothing to it." "Give me a hand with this gear." "Take it outside." "Don't worry, Mr. Moto." "I'll get through." "Here they come." "Down you go." "You'll find a plunger box out here in some wreckage." "Look for the anchor." "You can't miss it." "And remember... don't make the contact until you get the signal from me- three jerks on the line." " Got it?" " All right." "Turn left 180 degrees!" "Raise your fleet." "Fabian!" "She's got a pistol!" "What is all this?" "Oh, there you are, Mr. Moto." " Who is this woman?" " A very gallant lady who saved my life." "Will you please see that she's looked after, General?" " Certainly." "Sergeant, take this lady inside." " This way, please." "I suppose those explosions were part of your mare's nest." " It was the other nest, General." " What?" "The tiger's." "Fortunately, I was able to avert disaster." "Well, it's vitally important that we should know what country is behind this." " Vitally important." " Oh, yes, rather it is." "Absolutely it is." "What the" "What is all this tomfoolery?" " What the deuce" " Wait a minute." "This may be the answer to our question." "Yes, indeed." "See for yourself, General." "What country is it?" "Tell me!" "It'll make a wonderful ending to my last chapter." "Don't talk, Mr. Moto, or you might lose your job." " Who said that?" " Who said that?"