pity my client's alibi depends on him; I would prefer to establish her innocence without that. Do you suppose the attack on Ludlow was the eagle clawing the lion?'
'I don't suppose. It was a human being murdering a man.'
'Yes, it was that, all right.' Wolfe glanced up at the clock. 'It's well past midnight, and I want to have a little talk with Miss Tormic. Is there anything else you want to ask her?'
'She's an alien. I ought to have her under bond.'
'She won't skip, at least not to-night, and we can arrange for the bond to-morrow if you insist on it.'
Cramer grunted. 'She's important. She had the murder weapon in her possession. I'd like to have her come to my office to-morrow morning at nine o'clock and see Lieutenant Rowcliff.'
Wolfe frowned. 'Mr Rowcliff is the officer who came here once with a warrant and searched my house.'
'Yeah. You don't forget that, do you?'
'No, Neither do you- Come in… Yes, Fritz?' On account of the barricade of chairs, Fritz had to talk over the top of Neya Tormic's head. He was stiffly formal, as was his invariable custom when there were ladies present, not from any sense of propriety but from fear. Whenever any female, no matter what her age or appearance, got inside the house, he was apprehensive and ill at ease until she got out again.
'A gentleman to see you, sir. Mr Stahl. He was here this afternoon.'
Wolfe said to show him in.
Chapter Eight
The G-man was wearing the same suit and the same manners, and the only visible change was that he had had his shoes shined. Cramer took one look at him, let out a grunt, and propped himself against the edge of my desk.
The G-man apologized in his educated voice. 'I didn't know you were engaged, Mr Wolfe… I don't want to interrupt-'
'I'll be engaged for some time. Do you need to see me alone?'
That seemed to stump him. He frowned and took a quick survey of the crowd. 'Perhaps not,' he decided. 'It's only… about that statute requiring the registration of agents of foreign principals.'
'What about it?'
'Well-it is necessary to make sure that you understand the requirements.'
'I think I do understand them.'
'Perhaps. Section 5 of the Act says, 'Any person who wilfully fails to file any statement required to be filed under this Act, or, in complying with the provisions of this Act, makes a false statement of a material fact, or wilfully omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein, shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.''
'Yes, I understand that.'
'Perhaps. Another section of the Act defines an agent of a foreign principal to mean any individual, partnership, association or corporation who acts or engages as agent or representative for a foreign principal, and a foreign principal is defined to mean the government of a foreign country, a person domiciled abroad, or any foreign business, partnership, association, corporation, or political organization.'
'Say it again.'
He repeated it.
Wolfe shook his head. 'I don't know. I don't think I need to register under the Act. I am agent for a young woman named Neya Tormic. She is foreign. But she is not a business, partnership, association, corporation, or political organization, nor is she at present domiciled abroad.'
'Where is she?'
'Right there.'
The G-man looked at Neya; in fact, he studied her. Then he switched to Wolfe and studied him. Finally he slowly shook his head. 'I don't know either,' he declared. 'It's a situation I haven't met. I'll have to get an opinion from the Attorney-General. I'll let you know.'
He bowed with perfect aplomb, turned, and departed.
I tittered.
Cramer threw up both hands, pawed the air, and headed for the door. Half-way across he turned to announce, 'I heard every word of that and I don't believe it. If I had on a phonograph record and played it all day I still wouldn't believe it. And in spite of that, I believe in law enforcement. Come on, Stebbins. Bring that glove and that thing. Miss, there'll be a man at your apartment at 8.30 in the morning to bring you to my office. You'll be there?'
She said she would, and he went out with the sergeant at his heels.
Wolfe poured beer and drank. I covered a yawn.
