wanted to miss it. He returned my look and gave me the wink, and I grinned at him. Then he drank some beer.
The commotion went on a while longer.
Mike Ayers came over to Wolfed desk and said something which I couldn't hear on account of the noise, and Wolfe nodded and replied something. Mike Ayers went back and began shooing' them into chairs, and Cabot and Farrell helped him.
They subsided. Pratt took Hibbard by the arm and steered him to one of the big armchairs, and then sat down next to him and took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes. a Wolfe started the ball rolling. He sat pretty straight, his forearms on the arms of his chair, his chin down, his eyes open on them.
'Gentlemen. Thank you for coming here this evening. Even if we should later come to disagreement, I am sure we are in accord as to the felicitous nature of our preamble. We are all glad that Mr.
Hibbard is with us. Mr. Goodwin and I I are gratified that we were able to play the Stanley to his Livingstone. As to the particular dark continent that Mr. Hibbard chose to explore, and the method of our finding him, those details must wait for another occasion, since we have more pressing business. I believe it is enough at present to say that Mr. Hibbard's disappearance was a venture on his own account, a sally in search of education.
That is correct, Mr. Hibbard?'
They all looked at Hibbard. He nodded. 'That's correct.'
Wolfe took some papers from his drawer, spread them out, and picked one up. ‹I have here, gentlemen, a copy of the memorandum of our agreement. One of my undertakings herein was to remove from you all apprehension and expectation of injury from the person or persons responsible for the disappearance of Andrew Hibbard. I take it that that has been accomplished? You have no fear of Mr. Hibbard himself? – Good. Then that much is done.' He paused to look them over, face by face, and went on. 'For the rest, it will be necessary to read you a document.' He put the memorandum down and picked up another paper, sheets clipped to a brown paper jacket. 'This, gentlemen, is dated November twelfth, which is today. It is signed with the name of Paul Chapin. At the top it is headed,
CONFESSION OF PAUL CHAPIN
REGARDING THE
DEATHS OF WILLIAM R. HARRISON
AND
EUGENE DREYER AND THE WRITING
AND
DISPATCHING OF CERTAIN
INFORMATIVE AND
THREATENING VERSES.
It reads as follows-'
Cabot the lawyer butted in. He would.
He interrupted: 'Mr. Wolfe. Of course this is interesting, but in view of what has happened do you think it's necessary?'
'Quite.' Wolfe didn't look up. 'If you will permit me: va ^ 7, Paul Chapin, of 203 Perry Street, New York City, hereby confess that I 'was in no way concerned in the death of g Judge William R. Harrison. To the best of my knowledge and belief his death was accidental. f‹] I further confess that I was in no way concerned in the death of Eugene Dreyer.
To the best of my knowledge and belief he committed suicide.
I further confess -ff
There was an explosive snort from Mike
Ayers, and mutterings from some of the others. Julius Adier's mild sarcastic voice took the air: 'This is drivel. Chapin has maintained throughout -'
Wolfe stopped him, and all of them.
'Gentlemen! Please. I ask your indulgence.
If you will withhold comments until the end.',-11'1 ''V… •1 – -^ – Drummond squeaked, ((Let him finish,'' and I made a mental note to give him an extra drink. Wolfe continued: {t! further confess that the verses received by certain persons on three separate occasions were composed, typed and mailed by me. They were
