Part 45 (1/2)
”Please! You must go now. I will show you a way. So long as Cardi is at liberty you must not return; the risks are too great for all of us.
As Oliveta learns the truth I shall advise you. Poor girl, she needs me tonight. Come!”
She led him through the house, down a stairway into the courtyard, and directed him into a narrow pa.s.sageway which led out to the street behind. ”Even this is not safe, for they may be waiting.” She laid her hand upon his arm and said, earnestly, ”You will be careful?”
”I will.”
He fought down the wild impulse to take her in his arms. As he skulked through the gloom, searching the darkest shadows like a criminal, his fear was gone, and in his heart was something singing joyously.
XIX
FELICITE
”You're just the man I'm looking for,” Bernie Dreux told Norvin, whom he chanced to meet on the following morning. ”I've made a discovery.”
”Indeed! What is it?”
”Hist! The walls have ears.” Bernie cast a glance over his shoulder at the busy, sunlit street and the hurrying crowds. ”Come!” With a melodramatic air he led Blake into a coffee-house near by. ”You can't guess it!” he exclaimed, when they were seated.
”And what's more, I won't try. You're getting too mysterious, Bernie.”
”I've found him.”
”Whom?”
”The bell-cow; the boss dago; the chief head-hunter; Belisario Cardi!”
Blake started and the smile died from his lips. Dreux ran on with some heat:
”Oh, don't look so skeptical. Any man with intelligence and courage can become as good a detective as I am. I've found your Capo-Mafia, that's all.”
”Who is he?”
”You won't believe me; but he's well thought of. You know him; O'Neil knows him. He's generally trusted.”
Norvin began to suspect that by some freak of fortune his little friend had indeed stumbled upon the truth. Dreux was leaning back in his chair and beaming triumphantly.
”Come, come! What's his name?”
”Joe Poggi.”
”Poggi? He's the owner of that fruit-stand you've been watching.”
”Exactly! Chief Donnelly suspected him.”
”Nonsense!” Norvin's face was twitching once more. ”Poggi is on the force; he's a detective, like you.”
”Come off!” Bernie was shocked and incredulous.