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〃I appreciate it；〃 I said warmly。 Wilkes； having unlocked the door； was standing there； and； using my judgment； I kept it discreet。 〃When I get out and look around a little I'll know better how things stand。〃 I had got to my feet。 〃How do I get in touch with you？〃
〃Phone is best。 Churchill five； three two three two。 I'm not there much； but a message will reach me promptly。 Better write it down。〃
〃I'll remember it。〃 I took his offered hand and we shook。 〃It's been a pleasure。 Where can I mail a check for the breakfast？〃
〃Forget it。 It was a privilege。 Be seeing you； I hope。〃 He strode out like an executive going to greet a wele caller； Wilkes holding the door for him。
I sat down on the cot； thinking it was a hell of a note for a Max Christy to get sprung before an Archie Goodwin。 What was keeping Parker？ In jail a man gets impatient。
9
IT WAS seven o'clock that evening； just getting dark； when I left the car at the curb on West 35th Street in front of Wolfe's house and climbed the seven steps to the stoop。 Parker； armed with papers which stated； among other things； that my continued availability to the People of the State of New York was worth ten thousand dollars； had arrived at the jail shortly after two； and in another ten minutes I had been unleashed on society again； but District Attorney Archer had requested another session with me in the presence of my attorney； and Parker and I had obliged。 It had dragged on and on； and was really a bore； because there was nothing for me to try to be witty about。 Unlike some other occasions when I had been in conference with the law； there was nothing to stimulate me because all I had to do was tell the truth； and all of it…except the sausage part and the phone call from Arnold Zeck。
When they had finally called it a day and Parker and I were standing on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse； he asked me； 〃Am I to know where Wolfe is？〃
〃I doubt it。 He told me not to look for him。〃
〃I see。〃
His tone of voice irritated me。 〃Every word you heard me say in there；〃 I asserted； 〃was the truth。 I haven't the thinnest idea where he is or what he's doing。〃
He shrugged。 〃I'm not plaining。 I only hope he hasn't tumbled in where it's too deep this time…and you too。〃
〃Go to hell；〃 I advised him； and marched off。 I couldn't really blame the Westchester bunch； but Parker should have known me well enough to tell which side of my mouth I was talking out of。 It's damn discouraging； when you do tell the truth； not to have it recognized。
Also discouraging was the wele I got on entering Wolfe's house that evening。 It was in the form of a note stuck in the corner of my desk blotter； unfolded。
Dear Archie…
I am sorry you are in jail and hope it will not last long。 Mr。 Vukcic has been to see me and I am leaving now to go to work for him 1500… There has been no word from Mr。 Wolte。 God grant he is safe and well and I think you should find him no matter what he wrote。 I threw out the jar of sardines and stopped the milk。 My very best regards and wishes； Fritz 1：35 PM
I was pleased to observe that he stuck to routine to the end； putting the time down。 Also it was nice of him to end his note to me the same as Wolfe had ended his。 Nevertheless； it was a discouraging wele home after a night in the hoosegow。 And there had been a period of more than five hours when any phone calls that might have e would not have been answered； something that had never happened before in all the years I had worked and lived there。 Unless Theodore 。 。 。
I beat it to the stairs and up the three flights； and entered the plant rooMs。One step inside the first room； the warm one； I stopped and surveyed。 It was more of a shock； somehow； than it had been a year ago when it had been used as a target for tommy guns from across the street。 Then they had at least left a mess； now there was nothing but the benches and stands。 It really got me for a minute。 I moved on through： medium room； cool room； potting room； spray chamber； Theodore's room…all empty。 Hewitt must have sent an army to dean all that out in one day； I thought； heading back downstairs。
In the kitchen was another longer note from Fritz； reporting phone calls that had e before he left and various minor matters。 I opened the refrigerator and poked around； and settled for a jar of home…made pate； a hunk of Italian bread； Vermont cheese； and milk。 As I sat working at it with an evening paper propped up before me； I kept listening for something…nothing in particular； just something。 That had never been a noisy house； hut I had never known it anything like that quiet。 Almost no cars went by； and the few that did must have been coasting in neutral。
My meal finished and things put away； I wandered into the dining room； office； front room； down to the basement to Fritz's room； up one flight to Wolfe's room； up another to my room。 As I undressed for my post…jail bath； I thought that the hell of it wasn't how I felt； but that I didn't know how to feel。 If I had actually seen the last of Nero Wolfe； it was a damn sad day for me； there were no two ways about that； and if I got a lump in my throat and somebody walked in I would just as soon show him the lump as not。
But what if it was Wolfe himself who walked in？ That was the trouble。
Damned if I was going to work up a fancy lump and then have him suddenly appear and start crabbing about something。
After I had bathed and shaved and got into clean pajamas； and answered a couple of phone calls from journalists； and moseyed down to the office and fooled around a while； someone did walk in。 When I heard the front door open I made for the hall as if I had been expecting another package of sausage； and there was Fritz。 He turned from closing the door； saw me； and beamed。
〃Ah！ Archie！ You escaped？〃
〃I'm out on bail。〃 He seemed to want to shake hands； and I was willing。
〃Thanks for your note。 How's the new job？〃
〃Terrible。 I'm played up。 Mr。 Wolfe？〃
〃I know nothing about Mr。 Wolfe。 I ate half a jar of pate。〃
He stopped beaming。 〃Mr。 Vukcic is going to sell this house。〃
〃He's going to offer it for sale； which is not the same thing。〃
〃Perhaps not。〃 He sighed。 〃I'm tired。 Mr。 Vukcic said there is no reason why I should not sleep here but I should ask you。 It would be good for me…I am so used to that room 。 。 。〃
〃Certainly。 I'm used to mine too。 I'm going to sleep here until further notice。〃
〃Good。〃 He started for the kitchen； stopped； and turned。 〃Are you going to look for him？〃
〃No！〃 Hearing myself shout； it seemed a relief and I did it again。 〃I am not！〃 I went to the stairs and started up。 〃Good night。〃
〃Good night； Archie。〃
I was on the first landing when his voice came。 〃I'll get your breakfast！ I don't have to leave until ten！〃
〃Swell！〃 I called back。 〃We'll never miss him！〃
The next day； Tuesday； I had no time to raise a lump。 There were dozens of phone calls； from newspapers； former clients； friends； and miscellaneous。
One was from Calvin Leeds； asking me to go up there to see him； and I told him I had had enough of Westchester for a while。 When he