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. But you say you saw this man only for a fraction of a second, Nutkincountered. That s a very short time in which to consider him suspicious, don t youthink? Yes and no.Yes, I do think, and no, it isn t a short time, the Saintreplied, the weariness in his voice conveying the fact that he considered thequestion irrelevant. Could it have been his clothes that made you think there was somethingwrong? Nutkin asked, and the Saint showed his surprise only by the raising ofa solitary eyebrow. The person I caught a glimpse of looked like a monk, he said evenly. Andif that sounds crazy you ll just have to believe that I d only had two pints.The superintendent sat back in his chair and recommenced scratching his chin.Simon continued:  He appeared to be wearing a habit and cowl.For a while Nutkin chewed over the information and then slowly shook hishead. A monk, you say? Or a Father Christmas perhaps?Simon smiled tolerantly at the detective. I don t know how to tell you this, Mr.Nuthatch, but Santa Claus doesn tactually exist.Now I realise this may come as a shock but on Christmas Eve. Nutkin ignored for the moment the misrendering of his name.He waved animpatient hand, but his voice never varied its monotone. Very amusing.MissWilliams reports that, as she and her carol singers were entering the courtwhere the body was found, a man dressed as Father Christmas pushed past themand ran off.The Saint said seriously:  That would tie in.But why should someone dressthemselves like that to commit murder? It seems a strange sort of disguise.Nutkin shrugged.Page 42ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Perhaps, but effective.No one saw his face. Who was the dead man, anyway? Sir Basil Lazentree, the Master of St.Enoch s College.He only took over atthe start of the autumn term. I ve heard of him.Doesn t he appear on one of those radio quizzes?  That sright, Nutkin said, and steered the interview back to the murder. There snothing else you can tell me? Absolutely nothing, I m afraid, said the Saint firmly. I haven t eatensince lunch, so if you re finished with me I d like to go.  Yes, you can go.We ll contact you if we need you again.The superintendent stood up and the Saint followed suit. We have youraddress inLondon.You ll be told when the inquest is to be opened. I don t think I ll be leavingCambridgejust yet, Superintendent, the Saintremarked with a smile.Nutkin frowned. I can t tell you to leave the town, and I can t stop you staying, he saidheavily. But this is now a police matter, Mr.Templar.We don t need any helpfrom you.I know your reputation, and I m warning you not to meddle. Meddle, Superintendent? said the Saint in a tone of pained surprise. Whyshould I be interested in a homicidal Santa Claus who strangles people withsilver twine?Nutkin s gaze followed the Saint down the corridor.He felt uneasy andirritable.He had often read of how Simon Templar had made the bigwigs atScotland Yard look like so many bungling amateurs, and his official frown hadmasked a self-satisfied smile.It would, he had always maintained, neverhappen to him.The Saint s parting comments had bruised that confidence andleft him strangely deflated.Suddenly it did not look like being such a happyChristmas after all.For his part, Simon Templar hardly spared thesuperintendent a thought as he ate his dinner and then returned to his hotel.Nor did he wonder at the whim of the Fates who had delivered him into thehands of such an intriguing mystery; it was enough that they had.Instead, heconcerned himself with the problem of where to begin looking for the murderousMr.Claus.Which was why, after breakfast the following morning, he entered the premisesof Messrs.Drake & Humbolt.He had been directed to the small bow-windowedshop inMarket Streetby the hotel manager after enquiring where he might hire acostume for a fancy-dress party.Their main business came from renting outformal morning and evening wear, but he had been told that a variety ofcostumes were also available.A small delicate-featured man came forward to greet him as he entered.Simonexplained the purpose of his visit and the man looked doubtful. You re a bitlate, sir, I m afraid.Most of our customers reserve their costumes some timein advance.But we should be able to find something to suit you.What about aRoman senator or a pirate? What about Father Christmas? Simon suggested, but the assistant shook hishead.Page 43ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html I m sorry, they ve all gone, sir.We rent them to the department stores atthe end of November, and then there are church bazaars and charity functionsand so on.Regulars, you see, same people every year. You know most of your customers, then? As I said, sir, regulars. Has anyone hired a Santa Claus outfit recently whom you did not know?The assistant looked keenly at the Saint. Why should you be interested in that, sir? Just curious, Simon replied casually. The police were here this morning, sir, asking the same question.I gavethem the list of customers but, as I told the officer, they were all known tous.Now, sir, about your costume.The Saint shook his head. I ve had another idea.Perhaps I ll cut the cost and go as Adam.Fig leavesare quite in vogue this year.Back on the pavement he strolled idly towards St.Andrew s Street.He was notparticularly disappointed.It had been the longest of long shots and he hadnot really expected to be told,  We had a homicidal maniac in here yesterdayhiring one. But it had been worth trying.His conversation had at least given him an idea of how to spend the rest ofhis morning: in the unexciting but necessary business of buying Christmaspresents.Wakeforth s was the newest and largest and unquestionably the ugliestdepartment store in the town.Its Edwardian builders had contrived to make itlook more like a four-storey mausoleum than an emporium by giving it a porticoof classical dimensions and covering the façade with carvings depictingcommerce throughout the Empire.But the goods displayed in the huge windows at street level were attractiveenough, and inside there was at least room to move between the multitude ofcounters stacked with brightly packaged gifts.The Saint browsed through thedepartments on the ground and first floors until he reached the second [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]