THE MALTESE FALCON (Spade & Archer) Episode (2)

 A voice said, “Thank you,” so softly that only the purest articulation made the words intelligible, and a young woman came through the doorway. She advanced slowly, with tentative steps, looking at Spade with cobalt-blue eyes that were both shy and probing. She was tall and pliantly slender, without angularity any were. Her body was erect and high-breasted, her legs long, her hands and feet narrow. She wore two shades of blue that had been selected because of her eyes. The hair curling from under her blue hat was darkly red, her full lips more brightly red. White teeth glistened in the crescent her timid smile made.

Spade rose bowing and indicating with a thick-fingered hand the oaken armchair beside his desl. He was quite six feet tall. The steep rounded slope of his shoulders made his body seem almost conical-no broader then it was thick-and kept his freshly pressed grey coat from fitting very well.

Miss wonderly murmured, ”Thank you,” softly and set down on the edge of the chair’s wooden seat.