That was the first and only time I have ever heard men introduced while boxed.
'In a moment,' Wolfe said. 'You have given them a full explanation?'
'Yes, sir. They are not to speak, not a word, unless you ask them to-or Archie. They don't know who has bugged the house and is watching it, or why, but they have bought Hewitt's promise that they are in no danger and won't be. He gave them five hundred dollars apiece and you are to give them another five hundred. He also gave them the statements signed by you. I think they'll do.' He lowered his voice a little. 'Kirby is better than Jarvis, but they'll do.'
'They know they are to stay in their room and keep away from windows?'
'Yes. Except when they are-uh-rehearsing.'
'They have the proper clothes for Thursday evening?'
'In that box.' Saul pointed. 'Our things are in it too, including guns. Of course they'll wear your hat and coat, and Archie's.'
Wolfe made a face. 'Very well. Fred and Orrie first.'
'They're marked.' He took the screwdriver from Wolfe, went to the box with a circle chalked on it, told me, 'Orrie's has a triangle,' and started on a screw. I found the triangle and started on it. He had Fred out before I got Orrie because one of the screws had a bad head. They too had been told not to speak unless spoken to, and from the expressions on their faces when they got upright I thought it was just as well. I raised my brows at Saul and tapped my chest, and he pointed to the box at the far end, and I went and started on it.
I realize that professional actors have had a lot of practice saying only what they are supposed to say and keeping their traps closed if that's what the script calls for, but even so I had to hand it to Ashley Jarvis and Dale Kirby. They had had a rough two hours or more-especially Jarvis, who carried fully as many pounds as Wolfe, and it wasn't quite as well distributed. We had to ease the box over on its side before he could come loose, and he stayed on the floor a good five minutes, refusing offers of help, working his arms and legs, but when he finally made it and was erect he turned to Wolfe and bowed, a damn good bow. Kirby hadn't bowed to me, but he hadn't said a word. While we waited for Jarvis to get up he stood to one side doing calisthenics, keeping time with the music on the radio.
I was agreeing with Saul, they'll do. Kirby was half an inch shorter than me, but his build was just right. Jarvis was exactly Wolfe's height. His shoulders weren't quite as broad and his middle was a little farther around, but with an overcoat on he would do fine. The faces were only so-so, but it would be dark and no G-man was going to get a close-up.
Wolfe returned the bow with a nod, said, 'Come, gentlemen,' and entered the office. Instead of going to his desk, he moved a yellow chair to the center of the rug, which was thick enough to prevent noise, and went for another one. I got a couple, and Saul and Fred and Orrie each got one, and we all sat, in two circles, with Wolfe and Jarvis and Kirby on the inside. But Wolfe said, 'The money, Archie,' and I got up and went to the safe for it-two wads with twenty-five twenties in each which were there waiting.
Wolfe's eyes went from Jarvis to Kirby and back. 'Lunch is ready,' he said, 'but first a few points. That money is yours. Archie?'
I handed it to them, a wad to each. Jarvis merely glanced at it and stuck it in his side pocket. Kirby got a wallet from his breast pocket, put the bills in nice and neat, and replaced the wallet.
'Mr Hewitt explained,' Wolfe said, 'that you would each receive one thousand dollars, and now you have. But having seen you emerge from those boxes, I feel that you have already earned the thousand. Amply. Therefore, if you perform the rest of it satisfactorily, I shall feel that you have earned another thousand, and you will receive it. Friday or Saturday.'
Jarvis opened his mouth, remembered just in time, and shut it. He pointed to Kirby, tapped his own chest, and looked a question.
Wolfe nodded. 'Two thousand. One to each of you. A little closer, Mr Kirby. I must keep my voice down. You gentlemen will be here twenty-eight hours. During that period there must be no single sound which, if overheard, would disclose your presence in this house. Your room is two flights up. You will use the stairs, not the elevator. If you need something there will be a man in the hall outside. If you must communicate you will whisper. There are several dozen books in your room. If none of them is to your taste you may select one from these shelves. No radio or television; the house must not be a hubbub. You will need to observe closely the posture and manner of walking of Mr Goodwin and me, and there will be opportunities. Not our voices; that won't be necessary.' He pursed his lips. 'I think that covers it. If you have questions, ask them now, in an undertone near my ear. Have you?'
They shook their heads.
'Then we'll have lunch. The radio will be silent. We do not discuss business at the table. No one will speak but Mr Goodwin and me.'
He rose.
12
I wouldn't want to go through that twenty-eight hours again.
Going through a forest where you know there are snipers and one might be up any tree takes only guts and sharp eyes. But if you don't know there are snipers but only that there could be, that's different. Why all the guts and the keen and careful eyes? We didn't know the house was bugged, only that it might be. If Jarvis or Kirby caught a finger in the bathroom door and yelled ouch or goddammit, it might wreck the act, but only might, and that was the hell of it. Every time I made a trip upstairs to check that Saul or Fred or Orrie was there in the hall, and that they hadn't got fed up and started talking, I felt foolish. Grown men don't look under the bed every night to see if there's a burglar, though there might be one.
