First, the plants. He telephoned Mr Hewitt last night, and to-morrow Mr Hewitt will arrange for the plants to be moved to his place, and also for Theodore to go there to work. Second-
“Am I to list the plants? Do the records go too?
“I don't know. I can say only what I was told to say. That's all about the plants. Perhaps Mr Hewitt can tell you. Second, that is Fritz. He will work here, and I will pay him well. I will see him to-day and arrange the details. Of course he is unhappy?
“He thinks Mr Wolfe will starve to death.
“But naturally. If not that, something else. I have always thought it a folly for him to be a detective. Third-I am third. I have a power of attorney. Do you want to see it?
“No, thanks, I'll take your word for it.
“It is in there locked up. Nero said it is legal, and he knows. I can sign cheques for you. I can sign anything. I can do anything he could do.
“Within certain limits. You can't- I waved a hand. “Forget it. Fourth?
“Fourth is the house. I am to offer the house and its contents for sale. On that
I have confidential instructions.
I goggled at him. “Sell the house and contents?
“Yes. I have private instructions regarding price and terms.
“I don't believe it.
His shoulders went up and down. “I told Nero you would think I was lying.
“I don't think you're lying. I just don't believe it. Also the bed and other articles in my room are my property. Must I move them out to-day or can I wait until to-morrow?
Marko made a noise that I think was meant for sympathy. “My poor young friend, he said apologetically, 'there is no hurry at all. Selling a house is not like selling a lamb chop. You will, I suppose, continue to live there for the present.
“Did he say I should?
“No. But why shouldn't you? That is my own thought, and it brings us to the fifth and last thing: the instructions Nero gave me for you.
“Oh, he did. That was thoughtful. Such as?
“You are to act in the light of experience as guided by intelligence.
He stopped. I nodded. “That's a cinch, I always do. And specifically?
“That's all. Those are your instructions. Marko upturned his palms. “That's all about everything.
“You call that instructions, do you?
“I don't. He did. He leaned to me. “I told him, Archie, that his conduct was inexcusable. He was standing ready to leave, after telling me those five things and no more. Having no reply, he turned and went. Beyond that I know nothing, but nothing.
“Where he went? Where he is? No word for me at all?
“Nothing. Only what I have told you.
“Hell, he's gone batty, like lots of geniuses, I declared, and got up to go.
Chapter Seven
I drove around for two solid hours, mostly in the park. Now and then, for a change of scene, I left the park for a patrol of the avenues.
I hadn't been able to start thinking in the house, and it might work better on the move. Moreover, I didn't want any more just then of Fritz or Theodore, or in fact of anybody but me. So, in the light of experience and guided by intelligence, I drove around. Somewhere along the way I saw clearly what my trouble was: I was completely out of errands for the first time in years. How could I decide what to do when I had nothing to do? I now believe that the reason I never drove farther north than One Hundred and Tenth Street, nor farther south than Fourteenth Street during those two hours, was that I thought
Wolfe was probably somewhere within those limits and I didn't want to leave them.
When I did leave them it wasn't voluntary. Rolling down Second Avenue in the
Seventies, I had stopped for a red light abreast of a police car on my left.
Just as the light was changing, the cop on my side stuck his head out and called, “Pull over to the curb.
Flattered at the attention as any motorist would be, not, I obeyed. The police car came alongside, and the cop got out and invented another new phrase. “Let me see your licence.
I got it out and handed it to him, and he took a look.
