himself somehow and starts them looking for him!'
'I know. He goes by whim.' Wolfe was sympathetic. 'Is that what you came to see me for? To reproach me for Mr Goodwin's behaviour?'
Barrett looked at him suspiciously, but Wolfe's expression was bland. 'No,' he said, 'I just mentioned it. He was damn bull-headed. There was no reason in the world why Miss Reade should have been kept there. As far as I myself was concerned, I was perfectly willing to stand the inconvenience. But I came to see you regarding another… well, another angle. This fellow that you sent up there-you sent him to represent Miss Tormic, didn't you?'
'What fellow?'
'Your assistant, damn it!' His head went sidewise in my direction. 'Goodwin.'
'Yes. I'm not really obtuse, Mr Barrett, only I like the custom of designating people by their names; it's so handy. Yes, Mr Goodwin was there in the interest of Miss Tormic.'
'That's what he said.'
'She agreed, didn't she?'
'Sure. That was all right. But that was about that business of Driscoll's diamonds-the damn fool. What I want to know is, are you still representing her? I mean, in connexion with the murder.'
'Do you ask that question as a curious friend?'
'Why, I-a friend, yes. It's not just curiosity.'
'Well, I am representing Miss Tormic. What moved you besides curiosity?'
'Oh, just…' He hesitated. He put his hand up to smooth his straggled hair, shifted in his chair, and cleared his throat. 'Frankly, just that I'm a little interested in Miss Tormic, and I should hate it… you know? Such a frightful stink! I only met her a couple of months ago, and I got her and Miss Lovchen their jobs at Miltan's-and I feel some responsibility about that too. She's a stranger in New York, and I wanted to be sure she has proper and competent advice. Of course, if you're representing her…'
'I am.'
'That ought to settle it.'
'Thank you.'
'Provided you…' He smoothed his hair, and cleared his throat again. It was plain that he was having trouble getting the cork out. 'Provided you appreciate that it's important that she shouldn't be tangled up in the thing at all. For instance, take that rumour that she was seen putting something in that fellow-in Goodwin's overcoat pocket. If that got to the police it would start a hell of a row. Although I don't believe she did any such thing. I doubt if anybody did.' He turned to me. 'You ought to know. Did you find anything in your overcoat pocket?'
'Sure.' I grinned at him. 'Driscoll's diamonds.'
'No, damn it-'
Permit me,' Wolfe said brusquely. 'If we are in possession of any secrets which we think should remain secret in the interest of Miss Tormic, we certainly aren't going to disclose them. Neither to the police nor to anyone else. Including you, sir. If you came here for information of that kind, you may expect a famine.'
'I am a friend of Miss Tormic.'
'Then you should be glad that she has discreet advisers.'
'That's all right. Certainly. But sometimes you fellows like to stand in with the police. You know? And it would be bad if they got hold of that talk about her putting something in Goodwin's pocket. They'd go after her plenty and they'd turn her inside out. It was bad enough that she had been in there fencing with Ludlow, and this would make it ten times worse. I wanted to be sure you appreciate-'
'We do, Mr Barrett. We haven't much native subtlety, but a long experience has taught us things-for instance, never to toss ammunition to the enemy except under compulsion or in exchange for something better.' Wolfe's tone was a soothing purr, which made me wonder when and why he was getting ready to pounce. He went on with it: 'By the way, I don't suppose you happened to meet Miss Tormic on your way down here just now?'
'No, I didn't. Why? Where was she?'
'She was here for a little talk. She and her friend, Miss Lovchen. They left shortly before you arrived, and I wondered if by any chance you had seen them.'
'No.'
'Have you had an opportunity to talk this thing over with her in much detail?'
'Not much of one. You might say none, really. They questioned the men first up there, and they let me go around eight o'clock. She was still there. I don't know how long they kept her.'
'Indeed. Since you are a sufficiently good friend of hers to bother to come down here, it might be thought that you wouldn't have gone off and left her there.'
'I couldn't get at her. The place was full of cops and there was one for everybody. Anyway, that's my business. Meaning it's none of yours. You know?'
'Yes, excuse me. You're quite right.' Then Wolfe pounced. As usual, there was no change whatever in his tone as his forefinger traced a tiny circle on the polished mahogany of his chair arm. 'But I think you'll have to concede that this is my business: Where have you hidden Madame Zorka?'
