Final Deduction

Her mouth opened in astonishment. It snapped shut. "I will not," she said. "What can she tell you? She doesn't know I've come to you, and I don't want her to. Not even her. I trust her absolutely, but I'm not going to take any chances."

"Then there's your check." Wolfe pointed to it, there on his desk. "Take it and go." He made a face. "I must have some evidence of your bona fides, however slight. I do know you are Mrs Jimmy Vail, since Mr Goodwin identifies you, but that's all I know. Did that thing come in the mail and did you get a phone call from Mr Knapp? I have only your unsupported word. I will not be made a party to some shifty hocus-pocus. Archie. Give Mrs Vail her check."

I got up, but she spoke. "It's no hocus-pocus. My God, hocus-pocus? My husband-they'll kill him! My not wanting anyone to know I've come to you, not even my secretary-isn't that right? If you expect her to tell you what he said on the phone, she won't. I'll tell her not to."

"I won't ask her." Wolfe was curt. "I'll merely ask her how he said it. If you have been candid, and I have no reason to think you haven't, you have no valid objection to my speaking with her. As for her knowing that you have come to me, Mr Knapp will soon know that himself-or I hope he will."

She gawked. "He will know? How?"

"I'll tell him." He turned. "Archie. Can we get an advertisement in the evening papers?"

"Probably, the late editions," I told him. "The Post and World-Telegram, we can try. The Gazette, yes, with Lon Cohen's help." I was back in my chair with notebook and pen. "Classified?"

"No. It must be conspicuous. Two columns wide, or three. Headed in thirty-six-point, boldface, extended, `To Mr Knapp.' Then in twelve-point: `The woman whose property is in your possession has engaged my services (period). She is now in my office (period). She has not told me what you said to her on the phone Monday afternoon (comma), and she will not tell me (period). I know nothing of the instructions you gave her (comma), and I do not expect or care to know (period). She has hired me for a specific job (comma), to make sure that her property is returned to her in good condition (comma), and that is the purpose of this notice (paragraph).

" `For she has hired me for another job should it become necessary (period). If her property is not returned to her (comma), or if it is damaged beyond repair (comma), I have engaged to devote my time (comma), energy (comma), and talent (comma), for as long as may be required (comma), to ensure just and fitting requital (semicolon); and she has determined to support me to the full extent of her resources (period). If you do not know enough of me to be aware of the significance of this engagement to your future (comma), I advise you to inform yourself regarding my competence and my tenacity (period).' Beneath, in fourteen-point boldface, `Nero Wolfe.' To be billed to me. Can you do it by phone?"

"To Lon Cohen at the Gazette, yes. The others, maybe." I swiveled and reached for the phone, but he stopped me.

"Just a moment." He turned to Mrs Vail. "You heard that. As you said, your husband may already be dead. If so, I am irrevocably committed by the publication of that notice. Are you? No matter what it costs in time and money?"

"Certainly. If they kill him-certainly. But I don't- Is that all you're going to do, just that?"

"I may not do it, madam, and if I don't I shall do nothing. There's nothing else I could do. I'll proceed if, and after, you give me another check for fifty thousand dollars and phone your secretary to come here at once." He slapped the chair arm. "Do you realize that I will be staking my repute, whatever credit I have established in all my years? That's what you must pay for; and the commitment. If your husband is already dead, or if Mr Knapp, not seeing my notice or ignoring it, kills him after he gets the money, I shall have no alternative; and what if you default? I might have to spend much more than sixty thousand dollars. Of course if your husband returns safely there will be no commitment and I'll return some of it to you. How much will be in my discretion. Less if I learn that my notice was a factor; more if it wasn't. I value my reputation, which I am risking in your interest, but I am not rapacious." He looked up at the wall clock. "If what Mr Knapp told you to do is to be done tonight, the notice must appear today to have any effect. It's nearly one o'clock."