You may talk with him if you wish, but it will be a waste of time.
My word for it.”
Cramer looked at him, and then at me.
He picked up his drink.
“To hell with it.”
Wolfe said,
“Send Johnny home.”
Cramer said,
“And tell Stebbins to go out front and tell Rowcliff to cancel that alarm and call those men in.”
I went to perform those errands, and after letting the trio out I left the door open a crack and told Purley to shut it when he came back in.
The enemy was inside anyhow, so there was no point in maintaining the barricade.
Back in the office, Skinner and Hombert were bombarding Wolfe.
It had got now to where it was funny.
Clivers was the bird they had been busy protecting, and the one they were trying to get out of hanging a murder onto, and here they were begging Wolfe to spill what Clivers had disclosed to him over eight bottles of beer!
I sat down and grinned at Cramer, and darned if he didn’t have decency enough to wink back at me.
I thought that called for another highball, and went and got it for him.
Skinner, with an open palm outstretched, was actually wheedling.
“But, my God, can’t we work together on it?
I’ll admit we went at it wrong, but how did we know Clivers was here this afternoon?
He won’t tell us a damn thing, and as far as I personally am concerned I’d like to kick his rump clear across the Atlantic Ocean.
And I’ll admit we can’t coerce you into telling us this vital information you say you got from Clivers, but we can ask for it, and we do. You know who I am.
I’m not a bad friend to have in this county, especially for a man in your business.
What’s Clivers to you, anyhow, why the devil should you cover him up?”
“This is bewildering,” Wolfe murmured. “Last night Mr. Cramer told me I should help him to protect a distinguished foreign guest, and now you demand the opposite!”
“All right, have your fun,” Skinner croaked. “But tell us this, at least.
Did Clivers say anything to indicate that he had it ready for Mike Walsh?”
Wolfe’s eyelids flickered, and after a moment he turned to me.
“Your notebook, Archie.
You will find a place where I asked Lord Clivers,
‘Don’t you believe him?’
I was referring to Mr. Walsh.
Please read Lord Clivers’ reply.”
I had the notebook and was thumbing it. I looked too far front, and flipped back.
Finally I had it, and read it out,
“Clivers: «I don’t believe anybody.
I know damn well I’m a liar.
I’m a diplomat.
Look here.
You can forget about Walsh. I’ll deal with him myself.
I have to keep this thing clear, at least as long as I’m in this country.
I’ll deal with Walsh.
Scovil is dead. God rest his soul.
Let the police do what they can with that.
As for the Lindquists…”
Wolfe stopped me with a ringer.
“That will do, Archie.
Put the notebook away.”
“He will not put it away!” Hombert was beating up the arm of his chair again. “With that in it?
We want—”
He stopped to glare at Skinner, who had tapped a toe on his shin.