Ordinarily when I start giving Wolfe a full report of an event, no matter how extended and involved, I just glide in and keep going with no effort at all, thanks to my long and hard training. That time, having just got a severe jolt, I wasn’t so hot at the beginning, since I was supposed to include every word and movement, but by the time I had got to where I opened the window it was coming smooth and easy, As usual, Wolfe soaked it all in without making any interruptions.
It took all of an hour and a half, and then came questions, but not many. I rate a report by the number of questions he has when I’m through, and by that test this was up toward the top. Wolfe leaned back and closed his eyes.
Parker spoke. “It could have been any of them, but it must have been Koven. Or why his string of lies, knowing that you and Goodwin would both contradict him?” The lawyer haw-hawed. “That is, if they’re lies — considering your settled policy of telling your counselor only what you think he should know.”
“Pfui.” Wolfe’s eyes came open. “This is extraordinarily intricate, Archie. Have you examined it any?”
“I’ve started. When I pick at it, it gets worse instead of better.”
“Yes. I’m afraid you’ll have to type it out. By eleven tomorrow morning?”
“I guess so, but I need a bath first. Anyway, what for? What can we do with it without a license? I suppose it’s suspended?”
He ignored it. “What the devil is that smell?” he demanded.
“Disinfectant. It’s for the bloodhounds in case you escape.” I arose. “I’ll go scrub.”
“No.” He glanced at the wall clock, which said 3:45 — fifteen minutes to go until he was due to join Theodore and the orchids up on the roof. “An errand first. I believe it’s the Gazette that carries the Dazzle Dan comic strip?”