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ected that； all it means is that Gwynne Ferris is a beautiful and intelligent young woman who got so curious about it that she couldn't resist the temptation。 And now you say you're not curious at all。 It certainly is funny。〃
I am no Nero Wolfe at reading faces； but I know what I see； and it was a bet that during my brief speech she had decided three times to call me a liar； and had thrice changed her mind and made a grab for some better idea。 When I stopped purposely without asking a question； and sat and waited for her to bat it back； what she said was：
〃It certainly is。〃
I nodded。 〃So since you're not curious I suppose you had some special reason for wanting to know how far I had got。 The reason I'm speaking to you about it like this； alone with you； is because I think it's much better this way than it would be if I made a report of it and you got a bunch of nitwits barking at you…you know what the police are like。。。〃
I let it fade out because she had made up her mind。 With a charming impulsive movement she was out of her chair and standing in front of me； leaning over； getting my hands in hers。 In the close little room with the door shut she smelled like a new name for a perfume； but there was no time to invent one then and there。
〃You don't believe that；〃 she said； not much more than a whisper； into my face。 〃Do you honestly think I'm that sort of girl； honestly？ Do my hands feel like the kind of hands that would do mean things like that？ Are you going to believe everything mean you hear about me？ Just because someone says they saw me ing in your room or going out again…can you honestly look at me and tell me you believe it？ Can you？〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃Impossible。〃
I was going on； but couldn't for the moment； because she thought I had earned a citation and was proceeding to bestow it when the door of the room swung open； and with my right eye； the only one that could see anything past her ear； I observed Kerr Naylor walking in。
At the sound my seducer jerked away and whirled to face the door。
〃It's past quitting time； Miss Ferris；〃 Naylor said。
I batted for her。 〃I sent for Miss Ferris；〃 I told the glint in his eyes； 〃and we're having a talk which has at least an hour to go and maybe more。 She was taking a mote out of my eye。 Can I help you with something？〃
Naylor smiled； stepped to the chair that was still warm from Gwynne； and sat down。 〃Perhaps I can help you instead；〃 he piped。 〃I'll be glad to take part in the talk if you'll limit it to an hour。〃
I shook my head at him emphatically。 〃Much obliged； but it's strictly private。… No； Miss Ferris； don't leave。 You stay here。… So if all you came for was to say good night； good night。〃
〃This is my department； Mr。 Truett。〃
〃Not the part of it I'm in at any given moment。 Yours is the stock department。 Mine is the murder department。 Good night…unless you came for something else。〃
He was speechless with fury。 Not that it showed on his little wax face； but he was speechless； and nothing short of fury could have done that to him。 He stood up； stared at Gwynne； who did not stare back； and finally transferred it to me。
〃Very well。 The question of your status here can be settled on Monday…if you are here Monday。 I came to tell you something； and while Miss Ferris is not ideal for the purpose； it is just as well to have a witness。 I am told you have reported that I told you I know the name of the person who murdered Waldo Moore。 Is that true？〃
〃Yep； that's true。〃
〃Then you reported a lie。 I have not made that statement to you； nor any statement that could possibly be so construed。 I have no idea why you reported such a lie； and I don't intend to waste time trying to find out。〃 He walked to the door； turned； and smiled at us。 〃You can now resume the conversation I interrupted。 Good night。〃
He was gone； closing the door behind him。 I sat still to listen； and in the silence of the depopulated arena heard his footsteps receding； fading into the silence。
Gwynne approached and began； 〃You see？ No matter who said they saw me sneaking into your room； you wouldn't believe it； and no matter who said you had told a lie； I wouldn't believe…〃
〃Shut up； pet。 Shut up and sit down while I sharpen a wit。〃
She did so。 I gazed at the neighborhood of her chin； found that distracting； and switched to something neuter。 On a quick and concentrated survey； this latest impetuosity of Kerr Naylor looked like the beginning of his big retreat。 Once started backward he would probably keep going； and by the middle of next week would be taking the position that Moore hadn't been killed at all； maybe not even hurt。
I spoke to Gwynne。 〃What makes it chilly in here is the cold feet of Mr。 Kerr Naylor。 They are practically frozen。 To go back to you； or should I say us； when Naylor came I was about to tell you that you were wasting a lot of ammunition； and damn good ammunition； because nobody told me they saw you ing in here or going out。 It's fingerprints。 You left about five dozen scattered all over； on the folders and the reports。 I'm going to keep them to remember you by。 Now what？ Were you walking in your sleep？ Try that。〃
She was wrinkling her forehead in profound concentration； as if I had been giving instructions for an intricate typing job and she was deeply anxious to get it straight。 My free…for…nothing suggestion about walking in her sleep didn't appeal to her； or more probably she didn't even hear it。 At length she spoke。
〃Fingerprints？〃
Her tone implied that it must be a Russian word and unfortunately she didn't know that language。
〃That's right。 Little lines on the tips of your fingers that make pretty patterns when you touch something。 F…I…N…G…〃
〃Don't be offensive；〃 she said in a hurt tone。 〃Anyway； you said it would be impossible for you to believe I could do such a thing！〃
〃No you don't；〃 I said firmly。 〃In the first place； I didn't say that。 In the second place； one of my favorite rules is never to let a woman start an argument about what she said or what I said。 You've had time now to think up something。 What will it be？〃
She was still hurt。 〃I don't have to think up something；〃 she declared indignantly。 〃All I have to do is tell you the truth even if I think you don't deserve it。 Yesterday you said you wanted to see me； and I couldn't e because I had a pile of work for Mr。 Henderson； because his secretary is home sick； and I had to stay overtime； and when I got through I came here because I thought you might still be waiting for me； and you were gone； and I thought perhaps you had left some work for me in your cabinet； so I looked in it to see； and of course I had to look in the folders because that was where you would leave it。 And now you accuse me of something underhanded just because I tried to do my duty even if it was nearly seven o'clock！〃
My head was moving slowly up and down； with my eyes maintaining focus on hers。 〃Not bad；〃 I conceded。 〃It would really be good； although loony； if you hadn't denied it at first and e clear here to my chair with your perfume and other attributes。 Why did you deny it； precious？〃
〃Well…I guess I just can't he