He stopped to look at Fritz, who had appeared on the threshold. Wolfe glanced at the clock; it was seven-twenty-five. He said, 'I'm sorry, Fritz. Three of us will dine, at eight o'clock. Will that be possible?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Good. – As I was saying, Mr.
Hibbard, I would like to help make the readjustment as pleasant as possible for you, and at the same time serve my own convenience. The things I have just told you are the truth, but to help me in realizing the last one I shall need your co-operation. I mentioned twenty-four hours. I would like to have you remain here as my guest for that period. Will 1 you?'
Hibbard shook his head, with emphasis. ‹(I don't believe you. You may have the typewriter, but you don't know Paul Chapin as I do. I don't believe you'll get* him to confess, ever in God's world.'
'I assure you, I will. But that can be; left to the event. Will you stay here until I tomorrow evening, and communicate with no one? My dear sir. I will bargain with a you. You were about to make a request of me. I counter with one of my own. I Though I am sure twenty-four hours will ^ do, let us allow for contingencies; make it | forty-eight. If you will agree to stay under j this roof incommunicado until Monday evening, I engage that at that time, if I have not done as I said and closed the Chapin account forever, you will be free to resume your whimsical adventure without fear of any betrayal from us. Do I need to add a recommendation of our discretion and intelligence?'
As Wolfe finished speaking Hibbard unaccountably burst into laughter. For a runt he had a good laugh, deeper than his voice, which was baritone but a little thin.
When he had laughed it out he said, ‹I was thinking that you probably have an adequate bathtub.'
'We have.'
'But tell me this. I am still learning. If I refused, if I got up now to walk out, what would you do?'
'Well… you see, Mr. Hibbard, it is important to my plans that your discovery should remain unknown until the proper moment; Certain shocks must be administered to Mr. Chapin, and they must be well timed. There are various I ways of keeping a desired guest. The most amiable is to persuade him to accept an invitation; another would be to lock him up.'
Hibbard nodded. 'You see? What did I tell you? You see how people go ahead and do things they feel like doing?
Miraculous!'
'It is indeed. – And now the bathtub, if we are to dine at eight. Archie if you would show Mr. Hibbardthe south room, the one above mine. • •,,., I got up. 'It'll be clammy as the devil, it hasn't been used… he can have mine…'
'No Fritz has aired it and the heat is on; it has been properly Prepared, even to Brassocattlaelias Truffautianas m the bowl '
'Oh.' I grinned. 'You had it prepared.'
'Certainly. – Mr. Hibbard. Come down when you are ready. I warn you I am prepared to demonstrate that the eighth and ninth chapters of The Chasm of the Mind are mystic nonsense. If you wish to repel my attack, bring your wits to the table.'
I started out with Hibbard, but Wolfe's voice came again and we turned. 'You understand the arrangement, sir; you are to communicate with no one whatever.
Away from your masquerade, the desire to reassure your niece will be next to irresistible.'
'I'll resist it.'
Since it was two flights up, I took him to Wolfe's elevator. The door of the south room stood open, and the room was nice and warm. I looked around: the bed had been made, comb and brush and nail file were on the dresser, orchids were in the bowl on the table; fresh towels were in the bathroom. Not bad for a strictly male household. I went out, but at the door was stopped by Hibbard:
'Say. Do you happen to have a dark brown necktie?'
I grinned and went to my room and picked out a genteel solid-color, and took it up to him.
Down in the office Wolfe sat with his eyes shut. I went to my desk. I was sore as hell. I was still hearing the tone of Wolfe's voice when he said, 'Sixty-five hours,' and though I knew the reproach had been for himself and not for me, I didn't need a whack on the shins to inform me that I had made a bad fumble. I sat and considered the general and particular shortcomings of my conduct. Finally I said aloud, as if to myself, not looking at him:
'The one thing I won't ever do again is believe a cripple. It was all because I believed that damn warning. If it hadn't been imbedded in my nut that Andrew Hibbard was dead, I would have been receptive to a decent suspicion no matter where it showed up. I suppose that goes for Inspector Cramer too, and I suppose that means that I'm of the same general order as he is. In that case -'
'Archie.' I glanced at Wolfe enough to see that he had opened his eyes. He went on, 'If that is meant as a defense offered to me, none is needed. If you are merely rubbing your vanity to relieve a soreness, please defer it. There is still eighteen minutes before dinner, and we might as well make use of them. I am suffering from my habitual impatience when nothing remains but the finishing touches. Take your notebook.'
I got it out, and a pencil.
'Make three copies of this, the original on the good bond. Date it tomorrow, November eleventh – ha, Armistice Day! iMost appropriate. It will have a heading L- caps as follows: CONFESSION OF Since it was two flights up, I took him to Wolfe's elevator. The door of the south room stood open, and the room was nice and warm. I looked around: the bed had been made, comb and brush and nail file were on the dresser, orchids were
