Send for the Saint by Leslie Charteris, Peter Bloxsom Read Free Book Online

imitation of himself. The Saint had now met both the authentic and the spurious Patroclos, and had been hired by both of them to discover and expose the fraud. True, he had not yet collected any down payment on his fees, but that was a minor detail. If he accomplished his job, the real Patroclos could certainly be persuaded to assume the other obligation as one of the incidental expenses of the operation. In fact, if a few more ersatz Patroclos’s would turn up, the mission of sorting them out might almost develop into an interesting career.
    The only snag was that as of this starting point, the Saint still had to find out who was his real employer and who was the impostor.
    However, since there was nothing he could think of for the moment that would hasten a solution of that riddle, he was cheerfully prepared to let it wait and enjoy the liberal dispensations of caviar sandwiches and champagne, whoever was footing the bill for them.
    Much later, as the last of the guests were gulping their last stirrup cups, Patroclos Two joined him again and called the footman over.
    “Fetch Bainter.”
    “I … I think he’s gone to bed, sir.”
    “Then get him up.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The duplicate mogul turned to Ariadne Two.
    “Templar is moving in. Have a room prepared at once.”
    The girl looked bemused. She glanced from her boss to the Saint and back to her boss again.
    “He’s moving in tonight?”
    “Tonight,” asserted Patroclos Two. “Tomorrow you will familiarise him with my itinerary for the next two weeks.”
    “But Mr Patroclos — ” She broke off, eyeing the Saint with evident mistrust.
    “I trust him,” said Patroclos Two, as if he had read her thoughts. “As of now, Templar is in full charge of my personal security.”
    The girl stared at the Saint suspiciously while Patroclos Two moved away to pour himself a cognac; then she quickly left the room.
    “Starting next week, Templar, I have a series of vitally important meetings. This impostor will probably try to worm his way into some of them. I want you to — “
    “I know, make sure he doesn’t horn in and gum up the works.”
    “Exactly. So that is your immediate assignment. To protect my interests during these meetings. And until the commencement of the meetings, you must accompany me wherever possible, and you must otherwise remain permanently in this house.”
    “I must what?” demanded the Saint.
    Patroclos Two took a liberal mouthful of cognac.
    “That is the condition of your employment. I am sure you will see the necessity.”
    Simon nodded.
    “Bottling me up … just in case I should decide to get in contact with your other half.”
    “Nothing personal, you understand.” Patroclos Two spread his hands apologetically. “But one cannot be too careful while this double is at large. And once you become separated from me, he could take my place — even convince you that he isme!”
    “And we don’t want that, do we ?” said Simon with his most Saintly mocking smile. “Has it occurred to you, I wonder, what fun and games we could have if I bumped into the other Patroclos and he offered me twenty thousand pounds to remove the impostor — you — from the scene ?”
    Patroclos Two made an impatient gesture.
    “Ha ha, very amusing, yes. But to me, Templar, this is a serious, a grave matter. My very existence, my identity, is at stake.”
    “And he — the impostor — is trying to take it over,” supplied the Saint. “Right?”
    “Just so.”
    “That’s exactly what he’d say about you, if I met him”
    There was an apologetic throat-clearing sound beside them, and a small, neat, balding man in a black coat and pin-striped trousers came deferentially forward. Patroclos Two beckoned impatiently, hurrying him closer.
    “Bainter, this is Mr Templar. Take a car, go to his home. Pack enough clothes to last two weeks. Bring them back here.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Simon added promptly.
    “I prefer you to remain here,” said