The Second Confesion

Can you have them here by ten o'clock?” “But my God, this is incredible! I need a minute to think-” “You've had a week to think but preferred to let me do it for you. I have, and acted. Can you have them here by ten o'clock?” “I don't know, damn it! You fire this at me point-blank!” “Would you rather have had me hold it a day or two? I'll expect you at ten, or as close to that as you can make it. If you don't bring them along you won't get in; after all, in this jurisdiction you're merely visitors. If ends have to be left dangling I'll let the New York Police have him.” Wolfe and I hung up. He pushed his chair back and arose.

“You can't dawdle over your dinner, Archie. If we're to keep our promise to Mr Cohen, and we must, you'll have to go to see him.”

CHAPTER Twenty-Two

As I understand it, the Commies think that they get too little and capitalists get too much of the good things in life. They sure played hell with that theory that Tuesday evening. A table in the office was loaded with liquids, cheese, nuts, home-made pate, and crackers, and not a drop or a crumb was taken by any of the thirteen people there, including Wolfe and me. On a table in the front room there was a similar assortment in smaller quantities, and Harvey and Stevens, just two of them, practically cleaned it up. If I had noticed it before the Commies left I would have called it to their attention. I admit they had more time, having arrived first, at ten sharp, and also they had nothing to do most of the evening but sit and wait.