In the Best Families

“I didn't say it was. I know he has standards-even scruples. Now I can't believe that he found anything interesting in the poisoning of a dog-certainly not interesting enough for him to send you up here over a week-end. And I doubt very much if Calvin Leeds, from what I know of him, is in a position to offer Wolfe a fee that would attract him. His cousin, Mrs Rackham, might have, but she did not have the reputation of throwing money around carelessly-rather the contrary.

We're going to ask Wolfe about this, naturally, but I thought I might save time by putting it up to you. I appeal to you to co-operate with us in solving this dastardly and cowardly murder. As you know, I have a right to insist on it; knowing you and Wolfe as I do, I prefer to appeal to you as to a responsible citizen and a man who carries a licence to work in this state as a private detective. I simply do not believe that you were sent up here merely to investigate the poisoning of a dog. They were all glaring at me. “I wasn't, I said mildly. “Ha, you weren't!

“Hell no. As you say, Mr Wolfe wouldn't be interested. “So you lied, you punk,

Noonan gloated. “Wrong, as usual. I grinned at him. “You didn't ask me what I was sent here for or even hint that you would like to know. You asked if I was investigating the dog poisoning, and I told you I spent an hour at it, which I did. You asked if I had made any progress, and I told you nothing remarkable.

Then you wanted to know what I had seen and heard here, and I told you, in full.

It was one of the bummest and dumbest jobs of questioning I have ever run across, but you may learn in time. The first-

Noonan blurted, “Why, you goddam- Til handle it, Archer snapped at him. Back to me: “You might have supplied it, Goodwin.

“Not to him, I said firmly. “I tried supplying him once and he was displeased.

Anyway, I doubt if he would have understood it.

“See if I can understand it.

“Yes, sir. Mrs Rackham phoned Thursday afternoon and made an appointment to see