“That’s me.” It came out hoarse, and Egan cleared his throat.
“I’m a police inspector. This is Nero Wolfe. I’ll soon have a report on you. Have you got a police record?”
Egan hesitated, then blurted, “The report will tell you, won’t it?”
“Yes, but I’m asking you.”
“Better go by the report. Maybe I’ve forgot.”
Cramer passed it. “That man next to you, Archie Goodwin, has told me what happened yesterday, from the time you called on a man at a hotel on First Avenue — you thought his name was Leopold Heim — until you were brought here. I’ll go over that with you later, but first I want to tell you where you stand. You may be thinking that you have an attorney present to protect your interests, but you haven’t. Mr. Horan says he has told you that he can’t represent you and doesn’t intend to. Did he tell you that?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t mumble. Speak up. Did he tell you that?”
“Yes!”
“When?”