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our professional connection with the death of Moore was ended； and the death of Naylor certainly went with it； therefore I saw no reason why Wolfe shouldn't do a little work for a change and spend his two hours between plant time and lunch time on one of his thorough exploring jobs with Rosa as the jungle。 I sold the idea； stated somewhat differently； to her as she ate breakfast。
It started off nicely； shortly after eleven； with Wolfe behind his desk in the office and Rosa in the red leather chair。 She was wearing a very informal cherry…colored rayon something。
〃That's a frightful bination；〃 Wolfe growled。 〃That garment and that chair。〃
〃Oh； I'm sorry！〃 She moved to a yellow one； the one Saul Panzer liked。
That put them on a basis of mutual understanding； and the prospect for an interesting conversation looked bright； but it didn't get very far。 Wolfe had covered nothing but some preliminary details； such as precisely the kind of work an assistant chief filer does； when the doorbell rang。 Formerly on occasions calling for discretion； as for instance a fugitive from justice sitting in the office； I had had to finger the curtain back enough to make a slit to see through； but recently we had had a one…way glass panel installed。 I still had to persuade myself each time； looking through； that I could see him but he couldn't see me。 Having done so； I returned to the office and told Wolfe：
〃It's Mr。 Cross。 Do you want to see him？〃
〃No。 Tell him I'm busy。〃
〃He might have an orchid for you。〃 I was displeased and allowed my voice to show it。
〃Confound it。〃 Wolfe pressed his lips。 〃Very well。 If you don't mind。 Miss Bendini？ Please go up to your…to that room？ This shouldn't take long。〃
She was up and out like a flash。 Going to the hall； I waited until she had mounted the two flights and the door to the south room had been opened and closed。 Meanwhile the bell had rung again。
I went and pulled the front door open and protested； 〃My God； you might give a man time to untwist his ankles。〃
Inspector Cramer； with Sergeant Purley Stebbins at his heels； wasn't even polite enough to give me a nod； after all the help I had been to him Friday night。 They marched down the hall and into the office； with me in their rear。
〃Good morning；〃 Wolfe said curtly。
〃Godalmighty；〃 Cramer yawped； 〃so you're at it again！〃
〃Am I？ At what？〃
〃This；〃 Cramer yawped； 〃can take one minute or it can take hours！ It's up to you which！ What did Kerr Naylor e here for Friday night； what time did he leave； and where did he go？〃
〃That won't take even a minute； Mr。 Cramer。 Mr。 Naylor wasn't here Friday night。 I don't like your manner。 I seldom do。 Good day； sir。〃
〃Are you saying…〃 For a moment Cramer was speechless。 〃Naylor didn't e to see you at twenty minutes to nine Friday night； the night he was killed？〃
〃No； sir。 That's twice； and that's enough。 You may…〃
〃By God； you're crazy！〃 Cramer whirled。 〃He's off his nut； Stebbins！〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Bring that man in here。〃
Purley strode out。 Cramer strode to the red leather chair and sat down。 I kept my eye on Wolfe； not to miss a signal to take steps to keep Purley and that man； whoever he was； on the outside； but got none。 Wolfe had evidently decided that the most exasperating thing he could do was look bored； and was doing so。 The only sound was Cramer breathing； enough for all three of us； until footsteps came from the hall。 A man entered with Purley behind him。 The man was middle…aged and starting to go bald and had shoulders as broad as a barn。 He was absolutely out of humor。 Purley moved a chair up for him and he plumped himself down。
〃This；〃 Cramer said distinctly and impressively； 〃is Carl Darst。 Friday evening he was hacking with Sealect cab number nine…forty…three； license number WX one…nine…seven…four…four…zero。 Darst； who did you pick up on Fifty…third Street between First and Second Avenue？〃
〃The guy you showed me a picture of。〃 Darst's voice was husky and not affable。 〃He yelled at me。 I wish to God he hadn't。 My one Sunday…〃
〃And the man whose body you saw at the morgue？〃
〃Yeah； I guess so。 It was hard…sure； it was him。〃
〃That was Kerr Naylor。 So was the photograph I showed you。 Where did you take him to？〃
〃He told me Nine…fourteen West Thirty…fifth Street and that's where I took him。〃
〃That's this address where we are now？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What happened when you got here？〃
〃When he paid me he said he wasn't sure there would be anybody home； so would I wait till he found out； and I waited until he went up the steps and rang the bell； and the door opened and he started talking to someone； and then I shoved off。 I didn't wait until he went inside because he didn't ask me to。〃
〃But the door opened for him and he spoke with someone？〃
〃Yeah； I can say that much。〃
〃All right； go out to the car and stay there。 I may want you in here again。 Do you want to ask him any questions； Wolfe？〃
Wolfe； still bored； shook his head indifferently。 Darst got up and left； but Sergeant Stebbins stayed put。 Cramer waited until the sound of the front door closing behind Darst came to us and then spoke with the calm assurance of a man who has cards to spare。
〃So I say you're crazy。 This is pletely Cockeyed and if you can brush this one off I want to hear it。 Try telling me that the fact that Naylor came and rang your bell and the door was opened doesn't prove that he came on in； and then I ask you please to tell me； in that case； how did you happen to know that he got in a cab on Fifty…third Street at half…past eight？ Wait a minute； I'm not through。 That sounds like good reasoning； don't it？ But if it is； why in the name of God did you phone my office to tell about his taking a taxi； and even give us the number of the cab？ Knowing it would be pie to find it。 I say you're crazy。 Usually when you're staging a runaround at least I have a general idea which direction you're going； but this time you'll have to spell it out。 I would love to hear you。〃
〃Pfui；〃 Wolfe muttered。
〃Okay； phooey。 Go on from there。〃
〃Archie；〃 Wolfe asked me casually； 〃you went to a movie Friday evening？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃What time did you leave here？〃
〃Right around eight…thirty。〃
〃Then you couldn't have opened the door for Mr。 Naylor。〃 Wolfe pushed a button on his desk； and in a moment the door to the hall opened and Fritz appeared。
Wolfe addressed him； 〃Fritz； do you remember that Friday evening after dinner Archie went out？ To the movies？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And that somewhat later； around a quarter to eleven I think； Mr。 Cramer called？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃That should identify the evening sufficiently。 Did the doorbell ring soon after Archie left？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You answered it？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who was it？〃
〃He didn't tell me his name。 It was a man。〃
〃What did he want？〃
〃He asked for Mr。 Goodwin。〃
〃Go on； finish it。〃
〃I told him Mr。 Goodwin was out。 He asked if Mr。 Wolfe was in and I told him yes。 After thinking to himself a brief period he asked when Mr。 Goodwin would be back and I said probably some time after eleven。