'Ha, over your dead body. The curlicues of some old bandit's trade mark engraved on your heart, and what do you get out of it? When do you expect to finish this political errand you're working on?'
She looked at him, at Carla, back at him, and said nothing. 'Come, come,' he insisted impatiently. 'I merely ask when. Is the end in sight?'
'I think so,' she admitted. 'I think it will be… tomorrow.'
'It's past midnight. Do you mean this day?'
'Yes. But I must have that paper. You have no right to keep it. When that imbecile, that Driscoll, made the trouble about his diamonds being stolen, I thought the police might come and search everything, even my room where I live. I thought of you, the American who had adopted me when I was a baby. I had brought the record of adoption with me when I left Zagreb; Mrs Campbell had given it to me before she died. So Carla and I decided the paper would be safer with you than anywhere else, and we decided how to do it so she could easily get it again. Then you refused to help me and she had to return and let you know who I am.' She stopped and smiled at him, but she was so anxious that the effort was a little cock-eyed. 'I must have that paper now! I must!'
'We'll see. You admit you stole it. So you expect to accomplish your mission this day.'
'Yes.'
'You realize, of course, that the police won't let you leave New York until they're satisfied their murder case is solved.'
'But I… you said yourself my alibi-'
'That doesn't solve the case. Don't you do anything silly. If you do complete your errand, don't try sneaking aboard a ship disguised as a Nereid. Who is Madame Zorka?'
They both stared at him in surprise.
'Well?' Wolfe demanded. 'You know her, don't you?'
Carla laughed. It sounded quite natural, as though something really had struck her as funny. Neya said:
'Why… she's nobody. She's a dressmaker.'
'So I understand. Where did she get that name-the name of the daughter of King Nikita of Montenegro.'
'But Queen Zorka has been dead-'
'I know that. Where did this dressmaker get the name?'
Carla laughed again. 'She must have found it in a book.'
'Who is she?'
Neya shrugged and upturned her palms. 'We know nothing about her.'
Wolfe eyed them a moment and then sighed. 'All right. It's late and you ought to be in bed, since you have to get up early to visit Mr Rowcliff. That smile ought to help with him. When you are through there, come here, and I'll see you at eleven o'clock and give you that paper.'
'I want it now!'
'You can't have it now. It isn't here. I will-'
Neya jumped up. 'What did you-where is it?'
'Stop screaming at me. It's safe. I'll give it to you at eleven o'clock. Sit down-no, don't bother to sit down; you're going. Remember, now, don't do anything silly. As for you, Miss Lovchen, I would advise you to do nothing whatever except eat and sleep. I say that on account of your performance yesterday when you hid that paper in my book-asking Mr Goodwin if I had read it and did I study and was he reading it. Unbelievable!'
Carla flushed. 'I thought… I was casual-'
'Good heavens! Casual? I still suspect you meant us to find it, though I can't imagine what for. Well, good-night. By the way, Miss Tormic, about your being my client. I'll return that adoption paper to you in the morning along with the other; it seems likely that it belongs to you; but I am cautious and sceptical and I don't like misunderstandings. You are my client only so long as it remains established that you are the girl whose ribs I saw in 1921. I am your protector, but if it turns out that you have duped me on that, I shall be your enemy. I don't like to be fooled.'
'I doubt if I could fool you if I wanted to.' She met his eye and suddenly smiled at him. 'You can feel my ribs if you want to, but as for looking at them-'
'Oh, no. No, thank you. Good-night. Good-night, Miss Lovchen.'
I went with them and extended the courtesies of the hall, and when they were out I shot the night bolt on the door. Then I went back to the office and stood and looked down at Wolfe's colossal countenance, immobile with closed eyes, and treated myself to an unrestricted stretch and yawn.
'Hvala Bogu,' I declared. 'I like Montenegrin girls, but it's time to go to bed. They're all right. I offered to take them home and they refused to let me. In spite of which, I have to run up to 48th Street before I turn in, to get the damn roadster I left there. This is a very peculiar case. I've got a feeling in my bones that there is going to be a strange romantic twist to it by the time we get through. I have an inner conviction that when the full moon comes I'll be standing right here in this office asking you formally for the hand of your daughter in marriage. You've got something there, gospodar. Only you'll have to help me break her of lying.'
'Shut up.'
'Shall I go up for the roadster?'
