Scovil’s murder, but also of some preposterous plot against Lord Clivers, since his name was on that paper.
“Fifth. When they question you, there will be three courses open to you. You may tell the truth, in which case your wild and extravagant tale will reinforce their suspicions and will be enough to convict you of almost anything, even murder. Or you may try to tone your tale down, tell only a little and improvise to fill in the gaps, whereupon they will catch you in lies and go after you harder than ever. Or you may assert your constitutional rights and refuse to talk at all; if you do that they will incarcerate you as material witnesses and hold you without bail. As you see, it is a dilemma with three horns and none of them attractive. As Miss Fox put it, you’re in a fix. And any of the three courses will render you
hors de combat
for any further molestation of the Marquis of Clivers.”
Hilda Lindquist’s chin was way up in the air. Mike Walsh was leaning forward with his eyes on Wolfe narrower than ever. Clara Fox had stopped squeezing her hand and had her lips pressed tight. She opened them to say:
“All right. We’re game. Which do we do?”
“None.” Wolfe sighed. “None of those. Confound it, I was born romantic and I shall never recover from it. But, as I have said, I expect to be paid. I hope I have made it clear that it will not do for the police to find you until we are ready for them to. Have I demonstrated that?”
The two women asked simultaneously, “Well?”
“Well … Archie, bring Saul.”
I jumped from habit and not from enthusiasm. I was half sore. I didn’t like it. I found Saul in the kitchen drinking port wine and telling Fred and Fritz stories, and led him to the office. He stood in front of Wolfe’s desk.
“Yes, sir.”
Wolfe spoke, not to him. “Miss Lindquist, this is Mr. Saul Panzer. I would trust him further than might be thought credible. He is himself a bachelor, but has acquaintances who are married and possibly even friends, with the usual living quarters—an apartment or a house. Have you anything to say to him?”
But the Lindquist mind was slow. She didn’t get it. Clara Fox asked Wolfe:
“May I?”
“Please do.”
She turned to Saul. “Miss Lindquist would like to be in seclusion for a while—a few days—she doesn’t know how long. She thought you might know of a place … one of your friends …”
Saul nodded. “Certainly, Miss Lindquist.” He turned to Wolfe:
“Is there a warrant out?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Shall I give the address to Archie?”
“By no means. If I need to communicate with Miss Lindquist I can do so through General Delivery. She can notify me on the telephone what branch.”
“Shall we go out the back way onto Thirty-fourth Street?”
“I was about to suggest it. When you are free again, return here. Tonight.” Wolfe moved his eyes. “Is there anything of value in your luggage at the hotel, Miss Lindquist?”
She was standing up. She shook her head. “Not much. No.”
“Have you any money?”
“I have thirty-eight dollars and my ticket home.”
“Good. Opulence. Goodnight, Miss Lindquist. Sleep well.”
Clara Fox was up too. She went to the other woman andput her hands on her shoulders and kissed her on the mouth. “Goodnight, Hilda. It’s rotten, but … keep your chin up.”
Hilda Lindquist said in a loud voice, “Goodnight, everybody,” and turned and followed Saul Panzer out of the room. In a few seconds I could hear their footsteps on the stairs leading down to the basement, where a door opened onto the court in the rear. We were all looking at Wolfe, who was opening a bottle of beer. I was thinking, the old lummox certainly fancies he’s putting on a hot number, I suppose he’ll send Miss Fox to board with his mother in Buda Pesth. It looked to me like he was stepping off over his head.
He looked at Mike Walsh. “Now, sir, your turn. I note your symptoms of disapproval, but we are
“Fifth. When they question you, there will be three courses open to you. You may tell the truth, in which case your wild and extravagant tale will reinforce their suspicions and will be enough to convict you of almost anything, even murder. Or you may try to tone your tale down, tell only a little and improvise to fill in the gaps, whereupon they will catch you in lies and go after you harder than ever. Or you may assert your constitutional rights and refuse to talk at all; if you do that they will incarcerate you as material witnesses and hold you without bail. As you see, it is a dilemma with three horns and none of them attractive. As Miss Fox put it, you’re in a fix. And any of the three courses will render you
hors de combat
for any further molestation of the Marquis of Clivers.”
Hilda Lindquist’s chin was way up in the air. Mike Walsh was leaning forward with his eyes on Wolfe narrower than ever. Clara Fox had stopped squeezing her hand and had her lips pressed tight. She opened them to say:
“All right. We’re game. Which do we do?”
“None.” Wolfe sighed. “None of those. Confound it, I was born romantic and I shall never recover from it. But, as I have said, I expect to be paid. I hope I have made it clear that it will not do for the police to find you until we are ready for them to. Have I demonstrated that?”
The two women asked simultaneously, “Well?”
“Well … Archie, bring Saul.”
I jumped from habit and not from enthusiasm. I was half sore. I didn’t like it. I found Saul in the kitchen drinking port wine and telling Fred and Fritz stories, and led him to the office. He stood in front of Wolfe’s desk.
“Yes, sir.”
Wolfe spoke, not to him. “Miss Lindquist, this is Mr. Saul Panzer. I would trust him further than might be thought credible. He is himself a bachelor, but has acquaintances who are married and possibly even friends, with the usual living quarters—an apartment or a house. Have you anything to say to him?”
But the Lindquist mind was slow. She didn’t get it. Clara Fox asked Wolfe:
“May I?”
“Please do.”
She turned to Saul. “Miss Lindquist would like to be in seclusion for a while—a few days—she doesn’t know how long. She thought you might know of a place … one of your friends …”
Saul nodded. “Certainly, Miss Lindquist.” He turned to Wolfe:
“Is there a warrant out?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Shall I give the address to Archie?”
“By no means. If I need to communicate with Miss Lindquist I can do so through General Delivery. She can notify me on the telephone what branch.”
“Shall we go out the back way onto Thirty-fourth Street?”
“I was about to suggest it. When you are free again, return here. Tonight.” Wolfe moved his eyes. “Is there anything of value in your luggage at the hotel, Miss Lindquist?”
She was standing up. She shook her head. “Not much. No.”
“Have you any money?”
“I have thirty-eight dollars and my ticket home.”
“Good. Opulence. Goodnight, Miss Lindquist. Sleep well.”
Clara Fox was up too. She went to the other woman andput her hands on her shoulders and kissed her on the mouth. “Goodnight, Hilda. It’s rotten, but … keep your chin up.”
Hilda Lindquist said in a loud voice, “Goodnight, everybody,” and turned and followed Saul Panzer out of the room. In a few seconds I could hear their footsteps on the stairs leading down to the basement, where a door opened onto the court in the rear. We were all looking at Wolfe, who was opening a bottle of beer. I was thinking, the old lummox certainly fancies he’s putting on a hot number, I suppose he’ll send Miss Fox to board with his mother in Buda Pesth. It looked to me like he was stepping off over his head.
He looked at Mike Walsh. “Now, sir, your turn. I note your symptoms of disapproval, but we are
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