CHAPTER TWELVEQuelques Fleurs
With the departure from the room of the Nagles and Leeder, Elena and Garth, a silence fell. Gavan broke it: “We’ll have to make up a sum of money—the heirs will,” he said in a tone of calm resignation.
Nordhall was grinning from ear to ear. He looked at Gamadge. His expression seemed to say that these people were so used to getting away with anything that even the presence of a policeman didn’t embarrass them. But Gamadge was quite sure that Nordhall’s methods—celebrated among his friends—of disarming the opponents by fraternization, had hypnotized even Gavan Clayborn. That gentleman, glancing at Nordhall, remarked: “You see what I mean.”
“Fair enough,” smiled Nordhall. “And right out in the open. No extortion, or anything like that.”
Mr. Allsop, not hypno
