Leslie Charteris - The Saint in New York

I couldn't, even if I wanted to, pretend that this novel came of my typewriter yesterday. I am notoriously not a writer of historical stories, except those which have acquired that aura simply by being around so long; and the date of this one is implicit from the first pages of the first chapter.

It was conceived, and worked out, during the latter days of Prohibition in America, that Noble Experiment which ended in 1933 — which the most simple arithmetic shows to have been a fair while ago. And no revision, even if I wanted to attempt one, could possibly transfer it to a later day.

So I can only hope that all those readers who were not even born when it happened will accept the background, which is actually about as authentic as any fictional background can be. I can vouch for this, because I was there, antique as I am. I don't say that the plot had any factual foundation, as many of my plots have. But the kind of activities, the places, and the people who frequented them, are not nearly as far-fetched as they may seem today. In fact, more than one of them really lived then, and might be recognized by a few old-timers through his thin disguise.

The letter was delivered to the Correspondence Bureau in Centre Street. It passed, as a matter of routine, through the Criminal Identification Bureau, the Criminal Alien Investigation Bureau, and the Main Office Division. And in the end it was laid on the desk of Police Commissioner Arthur J. Quistrom himself — it was a remarkable document by any standards, and even the studiously commonplace prose of its author could not make it uninteresting.

METROPOLITAN POLICE, SPECIAL BRANCH,

SCOTLAND HOUSE, LONDON, S.W.I.

Police Commissioner, New York City.

Dear Sir:

We have to inform you that there are reasons to believe that SIMON TEMPLAR, known as "The Saint," is at present in the United States.

No fingerprints are available; but a photograph, description, and record are enclosed.

As you will see from the record, we have no grounds on which to institute extradition proceedings; but it would be advisable for you, in your own interests, to observe Templar's activities carefully if you are successful in locating him.

Faithfully yours,

C. E. Teal, Chief Inspector.

The first enclosure came under the same letterhead: SIMON TEMPLAR ("The Saint").

DESCRIPTION: Age 31. Height 6 ft. 2 ins. Weight 175 lbs. Eyes blue. Hair black, brushed straight back. Complexion tanned. Bullet scar through upper left shoulder; 8-in. scar right forearm.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS: Always immaculately dressed. Luxurious tastes. Lives in most expensive hotels and is connoisseur of food and wine. Carries firearms and is expert knife thrower. Licensed air pilot. Speaks several languages fluently. Known as "The Saint" from habit of leaving drawing of skeleton figure with halo on scenes of crimes (specimen reproduced below).

RECORD:

First came to our attention five years ago as unofficial agent concerned, with recovery of quantity of bullion stolen from Confederate Bank of Chicago and transported to this country. Was successful and claimed reward, leaving arrest of thieves to our own agent, Inspector Carn.

For some time afterwards, with assistance of four accomplices, became self-appointed agent for terrorizing criminals against whom we had been unable to secure evidence justifying arrest. Real identity at this time remained a mystery. Activities chiefly directed against vice. Was instrumental in obtaining arrest and conviction of leaders of powerful drug ring. Believed to have instigated murder of Henri Chastel, white slave trafficker, in Athens, at same period. Admitted killing of Golter, anarchist, in frustrating attempted assassination of Crown Prince Rudolf during state visit to London, following year.

Kidnapped Professor K. S. Vargan while War Office was considering purchase of Vargan's "electron cloud." Vargan was later killed by Norman Kent, member of Templar's gang, Kent himself being killed by Dr. Rayt Marius, foreign secret service agent also trying to secure Vargan's invention. Motive, established by Templar's subsequent letter published in the press, was alleged to be prevention of use in threatened war of what Templar thought to be inhuman method of slaughter. Both Templar and Marius escaped and left England.

Three months later Templar reappeared in England in connection with second plot organized by Marius to promote war, which was unknown to ourselves. Marius finally escaped again and is now believed to be dead; but intrigue was exposed and Templar received free pardon for frustrating attempt to wreck Royal train.

Subsequently continued campaign of fighting crime by criminal methods. Obtained evidence in several cases and secured arrests; also believed, without proof, to have caused deaths of Francis Lemuel, vice trader, Jack Farnberg, gunman, Ladek Kuzela, and others. Suspicion also exists in murder of Stephen Weald, alias Waldstein, and disappearance of Lord Essenden, during period when Templar was working to clear reputation of the late Assistant Commissioner Sir Francis Trelawney, under direct authority of present Chief Commissioner Sir Hamilton Dorn.

Activities continued, until he left England again six months ago.

Most of the exploits mentioned above, as well as many others of which for obvious reasons we have no definite knowledge, have also been financially profitable; and Templar's fortune, acquired by these means, has been credibly estimated at £500,000.

Is also well known to police of France and Germany.

The photograph followed; and at the end of the sheaf were clipped on the brief reports of the departments through which the information had already been passed:

BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION: N o record. Copies of photograph and description forwarded to Albany and Washington.

BUREAU OF CRIMINAL ALIEN INVESTIGATION: Inquiries proceeding.

MAIN OFFICE DIVISION: Inquiries proceeding.

The commissioner put up a hand and scratched his grey head. He read the letter through a second time, with his bushy eyebrows drawn down in a frown that wrinkled the bridge of his nose. His faded grey-blue eyes had flabby pouches under them, like blisters that have been drained without breaking the skin; and his face was lined with the same weariness. A grim, embittered soul weariness that was his reward for forty years of the futile battle with lawlessness — a lawlessness that walked arm in arm with those who were supposed to uphold the law.

"You think this may have something to do with the letter that was sent to Irboll?" he said, when he had finished the second reading.

Inspector John Fernack pushed back his battered hat and nodded — a curt, phlegmatic jerk of his head. He stabbed at another paper on the commissioner's desk with a square stubby forefinger.

"I'm guessing that way. See the monicker Scotland Yard says this guy goes under? The Saint, it says. Well, look at this drawing. I'm not much on art, and it looks to me like this guy Templar ain't so hot, either; but the idea's there. See that figger. The sort of thing kids draw when they first get hold of a pencil — just a circle for a head, and a straight line for the body and four more for the arms and legs, but you can see it's meant to be sumpn human. An' another circle floating on top of the head. When I was a kid I got took to a cathedral, once," said Fernack, as if he were confessing some dark blot on bis professional career, an' there were a lot of paintings of people with circles round their heads. They were saints, or sumpn; and those circles was supposed to be haloes." The commissioner did not smile.