Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/29

“Well?” said Tarneverro.

“You are the famous Tarneverro,” began Harry Wing in a respectful singsong. “Among Hollywood people you have vast reputation as one who lifts dark veils and peers into uncertain future. Black as lacquer that future may be to ordinary eyes, but to yours, they say, it is clear as glass. Permit me to add this reputation pursues you even to Hawaii, dogging like shadow at your heels. The rumor of your mystic skill floods the street.”

“Yes?” put in Tarneverro shortly. “What of it?”

“I am, as I say, business man of small importance to everybody but myself. Now I begin to speak to you frankly that opportunity arouses itself in my path. I can amalgamate my business up together with that of my cousin from a north province. Future looks bright, but qualms assail me. Will the merge have success? Is my cousin honorable as cousin of mine should naturally be? Can I trust him? In fewer words, I desire dark veil lifted, and you are man to do the business. I stand ready to make generous payment for this lifting.”

Tarneverro’s eyes narrowed, and for a long time he stood staring at this unexpected customer for his wares. The Chinese waited motionless as a Buddha, with his hands in his trousers pockets, his coat thrown back. The fortune-teller’s glance rested for a moment at a point just below the fountain-pen pocket on his visitor’s waistcoat.

“Impossible,” he said, with sudden decision. “I am here on a vacation, not to practise my profession.”

“But rumor remarks,” objected the other, “that you have already done work with crystal———"