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That was a little thick； I thought； from a guy who had just spent five months the way he had。 And if she read newspapers she knew all about it…or anyhow some。
〃I'm sorry；〃 she said； 〃because we must see you。 Mr。 Archer is here； the District Attorney； and I'm calling at his suggestion。 We have a problemtwo problems； really。〃
〃By 'we' do you mean you and Mr。 Archer？〃
〃No； I mean all of us…all of us who inherited property from Mrs。 Rackham； and all of us who were here the night she was killed。 Our problem is about evidence that her husband killed her。 Mr。 Archer says he has none； none that is conclusive…and perhaps you know what people are saying； and the newspapers。 That's what we want to consult you about…the evidence。〃
〃Well。〃 A pause。 〃I'm trying to get a little rest after a long period or overexertion。 But…very well。 Who is there？〃
〃We all are。 We met to discuss this。 You'll e？ Wonderful！ If you…〃
〃I didn't say I'll e。 All five of you are there？〃
〃Yes…and Mr。 Archer…〃
〃Be at my office； all of you； at nine o'clock this evening。 Including Mr。 Archer。〃
〃But I don't know if he will…〃
〃I think he will。 Tell him I'll be ready then to produce the evidence。〃
〃Oh； you will？ Then you can tell me now…〃
〃Not on the phone； Mrs。 Frey。 I'll be expecting you at nine。〃
When we had hung up I lifted the brows at him。 〃So that's what you meant about earning that fee？ Maybe？〃
He grunted； irritated that he had to interrupt his convalescence for a job of work； sat a moment； reached for a bottle of the beer Fritz had brought； grunted again； this time with satisfaction； and poured a glass with plenty of foam。
I got up to go Eo the kitchen； to tell Fritz we were having pany and that refreshments might be required。
21
I WAS mildly interested when the six guests arrived…a little early； five to nine…in such minor issues as the present state of relations between Annabel Frey and the banker； Dana Hammond； and between Una Darrow and the statesman； Oliver Pierce； and whether Calvin Leeds would see fit to apologize for his unjust suspicions about Wolfe and me。
To take the last first； Leeds was all out of apologies。 The spring was in his step all right； but not in his manners。 First to enter the office； he plumped himself down in the red leather chair； but I figured that Archer rated it ex officio and asked him to move； which he did without grace。 As for the others； there was too much atmosphere to get any clear idea。 They were all on speaking terms； but the problem that brought them there was in the front of their minds； so much so that no one was interested in the array of liquids and accessories that Fritz and I had arranged on the table over by the big globe。 Annabel was in the most fortable of the yellow chairs； to Archer's left； then； working toward me at my desk； Leeds and Lina Darrow； and Hammond and Pierce closest to me。
Wolfe's eyes swept the arc。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃is a little awkward for me。 I have met none of you before except Mr。 Leeds。 I must be sure I have you straight。〃 His eyes went along the line again。 〃I think I have。 Now if you'll tell me what you want…you； Mrs。 Frey； it was you who phoned me。〃
Annabel looked at the DA。 〃Shouldn't you； Mr。 Archer？〃
He shook his head。 〃No； you tell him。〃
She concentrated； at Wolfe。 〃Well； as I said； there are two problems。 One is that it seems to be supposed that Barry Rackham killed his wife； but it hasn't been proven； and now that he is dead how can it be proven so that everyone will know it and the rest of us will be entirely free of any suspicion？ Mr。 Archer says there is no official suspicion of us； but that isn't enough。〃
〃It is gratifying； though；〃 Wolfe murmured。
〃Yes； but it isn't gratifying to have some of the people who say they are your friends looking at you as they do。〃 Annabel was earnest about it。 〃Then the second problem is this。 The law will not allow a man who mits a murder to profit by it。 If Barry Rackham killed his wife he can't inherit property from her； no matter what her will said。 But it has to be legally proven that he killed her； and unless that is done her will stands； and what she left to him will go to his heirs。〃
She made a gesture。 〃It isn't that we want it…the rest of us。 It can go to the state or to charity…we don't care。 But we think it's wrong and a shame for it to go to his people； whoever will inherit from him。 It's not only immoral； it's illegal。 It can't be stopped by convicting him of murder； because he's dead and can't be tried。 My lawyer and Mr。 Archer both say we can bring action and get it before a court； but then we'll have to have evidence that he killed her； and Mr。 Archer says he hasn't been able to get it from you； and he hasn't got it。 But surely you can get it； or anyhow you can try。
You see； that would solve both problems； to have a court rule that his heirs can't inherit because he murdered her。〃
〃You have stated it admirably；〃 Archer declared。
〃We don't want any of it；〃 Lina blurted。
〃My interest；〃 Pierce put in； 〃is only to have the truth fully and universally known and acknowledged。〃
〃That；〃 Wolfe said； 〃will take more than me。 I am by no means up to that。 And not only my capacities； but the circumstances themselves； restrict me to a much more modest ambition。 I can get you one of the things you want； removal of all suspicion from the innocent； but the other； having Mrs。 Rackham's bequest to her husband set aside； is beyond me。〃
They all frowned at him； in their various fashions。 Hammond； the banker； protested； 〃That doesn't seem to make sense。 What acplishes one acplishes the other。 If you prove that Rackham killed his wife…〃
〃But I can't prove that。〃 Wolfe shook his head。 〃I'm sorry； but it can't be done。 It is true that Rackham deserved to die； and as a murderer。 He killed a woman here in New York three years ago； a woman named Delia Montrose…one of Mr。 Cramer's unsolved cases； Rackham ran his car over her。 That was how Zeck originally got a noose on Rackham； by threatening to expose him for the murder he did mit。 As you know； Mr。 Archer； I penetrated some distance…not very far； but far enough…into Zeck's confidence； and I learned a good deal about his methods。 I doubt if he ever had conclusive evidence that Rackham bad killed Delia Montrose； but Rackham； conscious of his guilt； hadn't the spine to demand a showdown。 Murderers seldom have。 Then Rackharo got a spine； suddenly and fortuitously； by being a millionaire； he thought then he could fight it； he defied Zeck； and Zeck； taking his time； retorted by threatening to expose Rackham for the murder of his wife。 The threat was dangerous and effective even without authentic evidence to support it； there could of course be no authentic evidence that Rackham killed his wife； because he didn't。〃
They all froze； still wearing the frowns。 Knowing Wolfe as I did； I had suspected that was ing； so I was taking them all in to get the impact； but there wasn't much to choose。 After the first shock they all began to make noises； then words came； and then； as the full beauty of it hit them； the words petered out。
〃All but Archer's。 Y