the point where you can help. I have talked with him three times.
“Exactly who and what are you?
“I come from Los Angeles. When I left here, on April ninth, I went to southern
Texas, on the Gulf, and spent there the most painful month of my life-except one, long ago. At its end I was not recognisable. He shuddered. “I then went to
Los Angeles, because a man of importance there considers himself more deeply in my debt even than he is. He is important but not reputable. The terms are not interchangeable.
“I never said they were.
Through him I met people and I engaged in certain activities. In appearance I was monstrous, but in the circles I frequented my stubble was accepted as a masquerade, which indeed it was, and I displayed myself publicly as little as possible. With my two invaluable assets, my brains and my important debtor, and with a temporary abandonment of scruple, I made a substantial impression in the shortest possible time, especially with a device which I conceived for getting considerable sums of money from ten different people simultaneously, with a minimum of risk. Luck had a hand in it too, but without luck no man can keep himself alive, let alone prevail over an Arnold Zeck.
“So then Los Angeles was too hot for you.
“It was not. But I was ready to return east, both physically and psychologically, and knowing that inquiries sent to Los Angeles would get a satisfactory response. I arrived on July twelfth. You remember that I once spoke of Arnold Zeck, calling him X, to the Sperling family?
“I do.
“And I described briefly the echelons of crime. First, the criminal himself-or gang. In the problem of disposal of the loot, or of protection against discovery and prosecution, he can seldom avoid dealing with others. He will need a fence, a lawyer, witnesses for an alibi, a channel to police or political influence-no matter what, he nearly always needs someone or something. He goes to one he knows, or knows about, one named A. A, finding a little difficulty, consults B.
B may be able to handle it; if not, he takes it on to C. C is usually able to oblige, but when he isn't he communicates with D. Here we are getting close. D has access to Arnold Zeck, not only for the purpose described, but also in connection with one or more of the enterprises which Zeck controls.
Wolfe tapped his chest with a forefinger, a gesture I had never before seen him use, acquired evidently along with his pleats and whiskers. “I am a D, Archie.
“Congratulations.
“Thank you. Having earned them, I accept them. Look at me.
“Yeah, I am. Wait till Fritz sees you.
“If he ever does, Wolfe said grimly. “We have a chance, and that's all. If all we needed were evidence of Zeck's complicity in felonies, there would be no problem; I know where it is and I could get it. But his defences are everywhere, making him next to invulnerable. It would be fatuous to suppose that he could ever be convicted, and even if he were, he would still be living, so that wouldn't help any. Now that I am committed against him, and he knows it, there are only two possible outcomes-
“How does he know it?
“He knows me. Knowing me, he knows that I intend to get the murderer of Mrs
Rackham. He intends to prevent me. Neither-
“Wait a minute. Admitting he knows that about Nero Wolfe, what about you as
Roeder? You say you're a D. Then you're on Zeck's payroll.
“Not on his payroll. I have been placed in charge of the operation here of the device which I conceived and used in Los Angeles. My handling of it has so impressed him that I am being trusted with other responsibilities.
“And Max Christy and that driver downstairs-they're Zeck men?
“Yes-at a distance.
“Then how come salting Barry Rackham? Wasn't it Zeck money that Rackham was getting?
Wolfe sighed. “Archie, if we had more time I would let you go on and on. I could shut my eyes and pretend I'm back home. He shook his head vigorously. “But we must get down to business. I said that driver is a Zeck man at a distance, but that is mere surmise. Being new and by no means firmly established in confidence, I am certainly being watched, and that driver might even report to
Zeck himself. That was why I prolonged our talk in the car before suggesting that we come here. We shouldn't be more than an hour, so you'd better let me-
He stopped as I grasped the knob and pulled the door open. I had tiptoed across to it as he talked. Seeing an empty hall in both directions, I closed the door and went back to my chair.
“I was only asking, I protested, “why the play on Rackham?
“How long, Wolfe asked, “have you and I spent, there in the office, discussing some simple affair such as the forging of a cheque?
“Oh, anywhere from four minutes to four hours.
“Then what should we take for this? By the way, you will resume drawing your pay cheque this week. How much have you taken from the safe deposit box in New
Jersey?
