The others drifted to the hall, and I went out and stood around while they got their hats and coats on. Bowen and Burton went off together, as they had come. I held the door for Pratt and Farrell to get Mike Ayers through; they were the last out.
After I had shut the door and bolted it I went to the kitchen for a pitcher of milk.
Fritz was sitting there reading that newspaper printed in French, with his butler shoes still on, in spite of how he loved to put on his slippers after dinner on account of things left on his toes and feet by the war to remember it by. We said what we always said under those circumstances. He said, 'I could bring your milk, Archie, if you would just tell me,' and I said, 'If I can drink it I can carry it.'
In the office, Wolfe sat back with his eyes closed. I took the milk to my desk and poured a glass and sat down and sipped at it. The room was full of smoke and the smell of different drinks, and chairs were scattered around and cigar and cigarette ashes were all over the rugs. It annoyed me, and I got up and opened a window. Wolfe said, 'Close it,' and I got up and closed it again. I poured another glass of milk.
I said, 'This bird Chapin is a lunatic, and it's long past midnight. I'm damn good and sleepy.'
Wolfe kept his eyes shut, and also ignored me in other ways. I said, 'Do you realize we could earn all that jack and save a lot of trouble just by having a simple little accident happen to Paul Chapin? Depression prices on accidents like that run from fifty bucks up. It's smart to be thrifty.'
Wolfe murmured, 'Thank you, Archie.
When I exhaust my own expedients I shall know where to turn. – A page in your notebook.'
I opened a drawer and took out a book and pencil.
'Phone Mr. Cabot's office at nine o'clock and make sure that the memorandums will be here by eleven, ready for Mr. Farrell. Ask where the reports from the Bascom Agency are and arrange to get them. The men will be here I at eight?', 'Yes, sir.'. I 'Send one of them to get the reports.
Put three of them on Paul Chapin, first | thing. We want a complete record of his movements, and phone anything of significance.' n 'Durkin and Keems and Gore?'
'That is your affair. But Saul Panzer is I to get his nose onto Andrew Hibbard's last discoverable footstep. Tell him to phone me at eleven-thirty.' _ 'Yes, sir.' | 'Put Gather onto Chapin's past, outside the circle of our clients, especially the past two years. As complete as possible. He might succeed in striking an harmonious chord with Dora Chapin.'
'Maybe I could do that myself. She's g probably a lulu.' 'k r 'I suspect that of being a vulgarization of the word allure. If she is alluring, resist the temptation for the moment. Your special province will be the deaths of Harrison and Dreyer. First read the Bascom reports, then proceed. Wherever original investigation is indicated and seems still feasible after the lapse of time, undertake it. Use men as necessary, but avoid extravagance. Do not call upon any of our clients until Mr. Farrell has seen them. – That's all. It's late.'
Wolfe opened his eyes, blinked, and closed them again. But I noticed that the tip of his finger was doing a little circle on the arm of the chair. I grinned:
'Maybe we've got this and that for tomorrow and next day, but maybe right now you're troubled by the same thing I am. Why is this Mr. Chapin giving hip room to a Civil War gat with the hammer nose filed off so that it's about as murderous as a beanshooter?'
'I'm not troubled, Archie.' But his finger didn't stop. 'I'm wondering whether another bottle of beer before going to bed would be judicious.'
'You've had six since dinner.'
'Seven. One upstairs.'
'Then for God's sake call it a day.
Speaking of Chapin's cannon, do you remember the lady dope-fiend who carried a box of pellets made out of flour in her sock, the usual cache, and when they took that and thought she was frisked, she still had the real thing in the hem of her skirt?
Of course I don't mean that Chapin had another gun necessarily, I just mean, psychologically…'
'Good heavens.' Wolfe pushed back his chair, not of course with violence, but with determination. 'Archie. Understand this. As a man of action you are tolerable, you are even competent. But I will not for one moment put up with you as a psychologist. I am going to bed.'
A
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8
.-r I had heard Wolfe, at various times, make quite a few cracks about murder. He had said once that no man could commit so complicated a deed as a premeditated murder and leave no opening. He had also said that the only way to commit a murder and remain safe from detection, despite any ingenuity in pursuit and trusting to no luck, was to do it impromptu; await your opportunity, keep your wits about you, and strike when the instant offered; and he added that the luxury of the impromptu murder could be afforded only by those who happened to be in no great hurry about it.
By Tuesday evening I was convinced of one thing about the death of Wm. R.
Harrison, Federal judge from Indianapolis: that if it had been murder at all it had been impromptu. I
