Read "The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The telephone-bell was ringing when Spade returned to his office after sending Brigid O'Shaughnessy off to Effie Perine's house. He went to the telephone. "Hello Yes, this is Spade. Yes, I got it. I've been waiting to hear from you. Who?. Mr. Gutman? Oh, yes, sure!. Now-the sooner the better. Twelve C. Right. Say fifteen minutes. Right. "Spade sat on the corner of his desk beside the telephone and rolled a cigarette. His mouth was a hard complacent v. His eyes, watching his fingers make the cigarette, smoldered over lower lids drawn up straight.
The door opened and Iva Archer came in.