Hombert was practically yelling. “… and you’re responsible for it!
If you had turned those three people over to us last night this wouldn’t have happened!
Cramer tells me they were here in this office!
Walsh was here!
This afternoon we had him at headquarters and your man wouldn’t point him out!
You are directly and legally responsible for his death!”
The Police Commissioner brought his fist down on the arm of his chair and glared.
Cramer was looking at him and shaking his head faintly.
“This sudden onslaught is overwhelming,” Wolfe murmured. “If I am legally responsible for Mr. Walsh’s death, arrest me.
But please don’t shout at me—”
“All right!
You’ve asked for it!” Hombert turned to the inspector. “Put him under arrest!”
Cramer said quietly,
“Yes, sir.
What charge?”
“Any charge!
Material witness!
We’ll see whether he’ll talk or not!”
Cramer stood up.
Wolfe said,
“Perhaps I should warn you, Mr. Hombert.
If I am arrested, I shall do no talking whatever.
And if I do no talking, you have no possible chance of solving the problem you are confronted with.” He wiggled a finger. “I don’t shout, but I never say anything I don’t mean.
Proceed, Mr. Cramer.”
Cramer stood still.
Hombert looked at him, then looked grimly at Wolfe.
“You’ll talk or you’ll rot’”
“Then I shall certainly rot.” Wolre’s finger moved again. “Let me make a suggestion, Mr. Hombert.
Why don’t you go home and go to sleep and leave this affair to be handled by Mr. Cramer, an experienced policeman, and Mr. Skinner, an experienced lawyer?
You probably have abilities of some sort, but they are obviously inappropriate to the present emergency.
To talk of arresting me is childish.
I have broken no law and I am a sufficiently respectable citizen not to be taken into custody merely for questioning.
Confound it, sir, you can’t go around losing your temper like this, it’s outrageous!
You are entangled in a serious difficulty, I am the only man alive who can possibly extricate you from it, and you come here and begin yelling inane threats at me!
Is that sort of conduct likely to appeal either to my reason or my sympathy?”
Hombert glared at him, opened his mouth, closed it again, and looked at Cramer.
District Attorney Skinner snickered.
Cramer said to Hombert,
“Didn’t I tell you he was a nut?
Let me handle him.”
Wolfe nodded solemnly.
“That’s an idea, Mr. Cramer.
You handle me.”
Hombert, saying nothing, sat back and folded his arms and goggled.
Cramer looked at Wolfe.
“So you know about Walsh.”
Wolfe nodded.
“From the Gazette.
That was unfortunate, the reporter happening on the scene.”
“You’re telling me,” Cramer observed grimly. “Of course the marquis isn’t arrested.