I suggest, Wolfe put in, that you confine this to the essentials.
I am. I want you to know just how it was. I dont like to feel that I owe anyone anything, especially a woman, and I phoned her twice to get her to meet me and have a talk, but she wouldnt. So I dropped it. I also stopped buying flowers at Cordonis, but some months later, one rainy day in April, I went there because it was convenient, and she wasnt there. I didnt ask about her. I include these details because you ought to know what the chances are that the police are going to dig this up.
First the essentials, Wolfe muttered.
All right, but you ought to know how I found out that she was at Grantham House. Grantham House is an institution started by
I know what it is.
Then I dont have to explain it. A few days after I had noticed that she wasnt at Cordonis a friend of mine told mehis name is Austin Byne, and he is Mrs Robilottis nephewhe told me that he had been at Grantham House the day before on an errand for Mrs Robilotti and had seen a girl there that he recognized. He said I might recognize her toothe girl with the little oval face and green eyes who used to work at Cordonis. I told him I doubted it, that I didnt remember her. But I
Was Mr Bynes tone or manner suggestive?
No. I didnt thinkIm sure it wasnt. But I wondered. Naturally. It had been eight months since the trip to Canada , and I did not believe that she had been promiscuous. I decided that I must see her and talk with her. I prefer to think that my chief reason was my feeling of obligation, but I dont deny that I also wanted to know if she had found out who I was, and if so whether she had told anyone or was going to. In arranging to see her I took every possible precaution. Shall I tell you exactly how I managed it?
Later, perhaps.
All right, I saw her. She said that she had agreed to meet me only because she wanted to tell me that she never wanted to see me or hear from me again. She said she didnt hate meI dont think she was capable of hatebut that I meant only one thing to her, a mistake that she would never forgive herself for, and that she only wanted to blot me out. Those were her words: blot you out. She said her baby would be given for adoption and would never know who its parents were. I had money with me, a lot of it, but she wouldnt take a cent. I didnt raise the question whether there could be any doubt that I was the father. You wouldnt either, if it had been you, with her, the way she was.
He stopped and set his jaw. After a moment he released it. That was when I decided to quit playing around. I made an anonymous contribution to Grantham House. I never saw her again until last night. I didnt kill her. I am convinced she killed herself, and I hope to God my being there, seeing me again, wasnt what made her do it.
He stopped again. Then he went on, I didnt kill her, but you can see where Ill be if the police go on investigating and dig this up somehowthough I dont know how. They would have me. I was standing at the bar when Cecil Grantham came and got the champagne and took it to her. Even if I wasnt convicted of murder, even if I was never put on trial, this would all come out and that would be nearly as bad. And evidently, if it werent for Goodwin, for what he has told them, they would almost certainly call it suicide and close it. Can you wonder that I want to know what he told them? At any price?
No, Wolfe conceded. Accepting your account as candid, no. But you have shifted your ground. You wanted to hire me to tell you what Mr Goodwin has told the police, though you didnt put it that way, and I declined. What do you want to hire me to do now?
To manage this for me. You said you manage things. To manage that this is not dug up, that my connection with Faith Usher does not become known, that I am not suspected of killing her.
Youre already suspected. You were there.
Thats nonsense. Youre quibbling. I wouldnt be suspected if it werent for Goodwin. Nobody would be.
I permitted myself an inside grin. Quibble was one of Wolfes pet words. Dozens of people, sitting in the red leather chair, had been told by him that they were quibbling, and now he was getting it back, and he didnt like it.
He said testily, But you are suspected, and youd be a ninny to hire me to prevent something that has already happened. You have admitted youre desperate, and desperate men cant think straight, so I should make allowances, and I do. That the police will not discover your connection with Faith Usher is a forlorn hope. Surely she knew your real name. Werent you known at Cordonis? Didnt you have a charge account?
No. I have charge accounts, of course, but not at any florists. I always paid cash for flowersin those days. Now it doesnt matter, but then it was moreuhit was wiser. I dont think she ever knew my name, and even if she did Im almost certain she never told anyone about meabout the trip to Canada .
Wolfe was sceptical. Even so, he grumbled. You appeared with her in public places. On the street. You took her to dinner. If the police persist its highly probable that theyll turn it up; at that sort of thing theyre extremely proficient. The only way to ward that off with any assurance would be to arrange that they do not persist, and that rests with Mr Goodwin. His head turned. Archie. Has anything that Mr Laidlaw has said persuaded you that you might have been mistaken?
No, I said. Now that we can name the figure I admit its a temptation, but Im committed. No.
Committed to what ? Laidlaw demanded.
To my statement that Faith Usher didnt kill herself.
Why? For Gods sake, why ?
Wolfe took over. No, sir. That is still reserved, even if I accept your retainer. If I do, Ill proceed on the hypothesis that your account of your relations with Faith Usher is bona fide, but only as a hypothesis. Over the years I have found many hypotheses untenable. It is quite possible that you did kill Faith Usher and your coming to me is a step in some devious and crafty stratagem. Then
I didnt.
Very well. Thats an item of the hypothesis. Then the situation is this: since Mr Goodwin is unyielding, and since if the police persist they will surely bare your secret and then harass you, I can do your job only (a) by proving that Faith Usher committed suicide and Mr Goodwin is wrong, or (b) by identifying and exposing the murderer. That would be a laborious and expensive undertaking, and Ill ask you to sign a memorandum stating that, no matter who the murderer is, if I expose him youll pay my bill.
Laidlaw didnt hesitate. Ill sign it.
With, as I said, no guarantee.
As I said, I dont expect any.
Then thats understood. Wolfe reached to pick up the cheque. Archie. You may deposit this as a retainer and advance for expenses.
I got up and took it and dropped it in a drawer of my desk.
I want to ask a question, Laidlaw said. He was looking at me. Evidently you didnt tell the police what happened when I asked Faith Usher to dance with me, and she refused. If you had told them they would certainly have asked me about it. Why didnt you?
I sat down. Thats about the only thing I left out. For a reason. From the beginning they were on my neck about my thinking it was murder, and if I had told them about her refusing to dance with you they would have thought I was also trying to pick the murderer, and they already had certain feelings about me on account of former collisions. And if you denied it when they asked you about it, they might think I was playing hopscotch. I could always remember it and report it later, if developments called for it.
Wolfe was frowning. You didnt report this to me.
No, sir. Why should I? You werent interested.
I am now. But now, conveniently, her refusal is already explained. He turned to the client. Did you know Miss Usher would be there before you went?