“I’m sorry,” I said courteously. “If I tried to fake it at a minute’s notice I might botch it up and you’d catch me in a lie.”
“You won’t tell us how it happened?”
“No I won’t. I can’t.”
Archer stood up and spoke to Sperling. “Is there another room I can take him to? I have to be in court at two o’clock and I’d like to finish this if possible.”
“You can stay here,” Sperling said, leaving his chair, eager to co-operate. He looked at Wolfe. “I see you’ve finished your beer. If you’ll come—”
Wolfe put his hands on the chair arms, got himself erect, took three steps, and was facing Archer. “As you say, I own the car. If Mr. Goodwin is taken away without first notifying me, and without a warrant, this affair will be even more regrettable than it is now. I don’t blame you for wanting to talk with him; you don’t know him as well as I do; but I owe it to you to say that you will be wasting valuable time.”
He marched to the door, with Sperling at his heels, and was gone.
Dykes asked, “Will you want me?”
“I might,” Archer said. “Sit down.”
Dykes moved to the chair Wolfe had vacated, sat, took out a notebook and pencil, inspected the pencil point, and settled back. Meanwhile Noonan walked across and deposited himself in the chair Sperling had used. He hadn’t been invited and he hadn’t asked if he was wanted. Naturally I was pleased, since if he had acted otherwise I would have had to take the trouble to change my opinion of him.