sir'Malfi'Perhaps, Albert Malfi?'
The wiry one's black eyes darted at him. 'That's right. I don't know how you knew the Albert.'
Wolfe nodded. 'Formerly Alberto. I met Mr. Berin on the train coming down here, and he told me about you. He says you are an excellent entree man, and it is always a pleasure to meet an artist and a sound workman.'
Liggett put in, 'Oh, you were with Berin on the train?'
'I was.' Wolfe grimaced. 'We shared that ordeal. Mr. Williamson says you wish to ask me something.'
'Yes. Of course you know why we came. This-Laszio. It's terrible. You were right there, weren't you'You found the body.'
'I did. You wasted no time, Mr. Liggett.'
'I know damn well I didn't. I usually turn in late and get up late, but this morning Malfi had me on the telephone before eight o'clock. Reporters had been after me earlier, but of course didn't get through. The city editions had the story. I knew Williamson was a friend of yours, and sent to him for that note, and hired a plane from Newark. Malfi insisted on coming along, and I'm afraid one of your jobs will be to watch him as soon as they find out who did it.' Liggett showed a thin smile. 'He's a Corsican, and while Laszio wasn't any relation of his, he's got pretty devoted to him. Haven't you, Malfi?'
The padded one nodded emphatically. 'I have. Phillip Laszio was a mean man and a great man. He was not mean to me.' He spread both palms at Wolfe. 'But of course Mr. Liggett is only joking. The world thinks all Corsicans stab people. That is a wrong idea and a bad one.'
'But you wanted to ask me something, Mr. Liggett?' Wolfe sounded impatient. 'You said one of my jobs. I have no jobs.'
'I'm hoping you will have. First, to find out who killed Laszio. Judging from the account in the papers, it looks as if it will be too tough for a West Virginia sheriff. It seems likely that whoever did it was able to use finesse for other purposes than tasting the seasonings in Sauce Printemps. I can't say I was devoted to Laszio in the sense that Malfi here was, but after all he was the chef of my hotel, and I understand he had no family except his wife, and I thought-it's an obligation. It was a damned cowardly murder, a stab in the back. He ought to be caught, and I suspect it will take you to do it. That's what I came for. Knowing your-er, peculiarities, I took the precaution of getting that note from Williamson.'
'It's too bad.' Wolfe sighed. 'I mean too bad you came. You could have telephoned from New York.'
'I asked Williamson what he thought about that, and he said if I really wanted your services I'd better come and get them.'
'Indeed. I don't know why Mr. Williamson should assume difficulties. My services are on the market. Of course, in this particular instance they are unfortunately not available; that's why I say it's too bad you came.'
'Why not available?'
'Because of the conditions.'
'Conditions?' The irritation in Liggett's eyes became more intense. 'I've made no conditions.'
'Not you. Space. Geography. Should I undertake to discover Mr. Laszio's murderer, I would see it through. That might take a day, a week, with bad luck a fortnight. I intend to board a train for New York tomorrow night.' Wolfe winced.
'Williamson warned me.' Liggett compressed his lips. 'But good Lord, man! It's your business! It's your-'
'I beg you, sir. Don't. I won't listen. If I offend by being curt, very well. Anyone has the privilege of offending who is willing to bear the odium. I will consider no engagement that might detain me in this parasitic outpost beyond to-morrow night. You said 'jobs.' Is there anything else you wish to discuss?'
'There was.' Liggett looked as if he would prefer to continue the discussion with shrapnel or a machine gun. He sat and stared at Wolfe a while, then finally shrugged it off. He said, 'The fact is, the main job is something quite different. The main thing I came down here for. Laszio is dead, and the way he died was terrible, and as a man I have,
The wiry one's black eyes darted at him. 'That's right. I don't know how you knew the Albert.'
Wolfe nodded. 'Formerly Alberto. I met Mr. Berin on the train coming down here, and he told me about you. He says you are an excellent entree man, and it is always a pleasure to meet an artist and a sound workman.'
Liggett put in, 'Oh, you were with Berin on the train?'
'I was.' Wolfe grimaced. 'We shared that ordeal. Mr. Williamson says you wish to ask me something.'
'Yes. Of course you know why we came. This-Laszio. It's terrible. You were right there, weren't you'You found the body.'
'I did. You wasted no time, Mr. Liggett.'
'I know damn well I didn't. I usually turn in late and get up late, but this morning Malfi had me on the telephone before eight o'clock. Reporters had been after me earlier, but of course didn't get through. The city editions had the story. I knew Williamson was a friend of yours, and sent to him for that note, and hired a plane from Newark. Malfi insisted on coming along, and I'm afraid one of your jobs will be to watch him as soon as they find out who did it.' Liggett showed a thin smile. 'He's a Corsican, and while Laszio wasn't any relation of his, he's got pretty devoted to him. Haven't you, Malfi?'
The padded one nodded emphatically. 'I have. Phillip Laszio was a mean man and a great man. He was not mean to me.' He spread both palms at Wolfe. 'But of course Mr. Liggett is only joking. The world thinks all Corsicans stab people. That is a wrong idea and a bad one.'
'But you wanted to ask me something, Mr. Liggett?' Wolfe sounded impatient. 'You said one of my jobs. I have no jobs.'
'I'm hoping you will have. First, to find out who killed Laszio. Judging from the account in the papers, it looks as if it will be too tough for a West Virginia sheriff. It seems likely that whoever did it was able to use finesse for other purposes than tasting the seasonings in Sauce Printemps. I can't say I was devoted to Laszio in the sense that Malfi here was, but after all he was the chef of my hotel, and I understand he had no family except his wife, and I thought-it's an obligation. It was a damned cowardly murder, a stab in the back. He ought to be caught, and I suspect it will take you to do it. That's what I came for. Knowing your-er, peculiarities, I took the precaution of getting that note from Williamson.'
'It's too bad.' Wolfe sighed. 'I mean too bad you came. You could have telephoned from New York.'
'I asked Williamson what he thought about that, and he said if I really wanted your services I'd better come and get them.'
'Indeed. I don't know why Mr. Williamson should assume difficulties. My services are on the market. Of course, in this particular instance they are unfortunately not available; that's why I say it's too bad you came.'
'Why not available?'
'Because of the conditions.'
'Conditions?' The irritation in Liggett's eyes became more intense. 'I've made no conditions.'
'Not you. Space. Geography. Should I undertake to discover Mr. Laszio's murderer, I would see it through. That might take a day, a week, with bad luck a fortnight. I intend to board a train for New York tomorrow night.' Wolfe winced.
'Williamson warned me.' Liggett compressed his lips. 'But good Lord, man! It's your business! It's your-'
'I beg you, sir. Don't. I won't listen. If I offend by being curt, very well. Anyone has the privilege of offending who is willing to bear the odium. I will consider no engagement that might detain me in this parasitic outpost beyond to-morrow night. You said 'jobs.' Is there anything else you wish to discuss?'
'There was.' Liggett looked as if he would prefer to continue the discussion with shrapnel or a machine gun. He sat and stared at Wolfe a while, then finally shrugged it off. He said, 'The fact is, the main job is something quite different. The main thing I came down here for. Laszio is dead, and the way he died was terrible, and as a man I have,
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