In the Best Families

It was seven o'clock that evening, just getting dark, when I left the car at the curb on West Thirty-fifth 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 complaining. 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 recognised.

Also discouraging was the welcome 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 Wolfe. 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

1.35p.m.