“What for? Why should you?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Wolfe was bland. “Surely I’m entitled to as many as Mr. Archer. Does he object to answering a dozen questions? Do you, Mr. Kane?”
“Certainly not.”
“Good. I’ll make it brief, but I do wish you’d sit down.”
Kane sat, but on the edge of the chair. Sperling did not concede that much. He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking down at Wolfe with no admiration.
“First,” Wolfe asked, “how did you determine that Mr. Rony was dead?”
“My God, you should have seen him!”
“But I didn’t; and you couldn’t have seen him any too well, since it was nearly dark. Did you put your hand inside and feel his heart?”
Kane shook his head. I wasn’t surprised he didn’t nod, since I had learned for myself that Rony’s upper torso had been in no condition for that test, with his clothes all mixed up with his ribs. That was how I had described it to Wolfe.
“I didn’t have to,” Kane said. “He was all smashed.”