The Second Confesion

“I suppose you know,” I told Archer, “that I was sent up here by Mr Wolfe, who employs me, and that Mr Sperling and I arranged what my name and occupation would be to his family and guests. Rony was present while I was reporting at the barracks, and I didn't think I ought to confuse him by changing names on him when he was still dim.” “Dim?” “As you said, he had just been blackjacked. His head was not clear.” Archer nodded. “Even so, a false name and address to the police should be avoided whenever possible, You were held up by a man and a woman.” That's right.” “You reported the number of the licence on their car, but it's no good.” “That doesn't surprise me.” “No. Nor me. Did you recognize either the man or the woman?” I shook my head. “Aren't you wasting your time, Mr Archer?” I pointed at the papers on the table. “You must have it all there.” “I have, certainly. But now that the man who was with you has been killed, that might sharpen your memory. You're in the detective business, and you've been around a lot and seen lots of people. Haven't you remembered that you had seen that man or woman before?” “No, sir. After all, this is-okay. No, sir.” “Why did you and Rony refuse to let the police take your wallets to get fingerprints?” “Because it was late and we wanted to get home, and anyway it looked to me as if they were just living up to routine and didn't really mean it.” Archer glanced at a paper. They took around three hundred dollars from Rony, and over two hundred from you. Is that right?” “For Rony, so he said. For me, right.” “He was wearing valuable jewellery-stickpin, cuff-links, and a ring. It wasn't taken. There was luggage in the car, including two valuable cameras. It wasn't touched. Didn't that strike you as peculiar?” I turned a hand over. “Now listen, Mr Archer. You know damn well they have their prejudices. Some of them take everything that's loose, even your belt or suspenders. These babies happened to prefer cash, and they got over five Cs. The only thing that struck me worth mentioning was something on the side of the head.” “It left no mark on you.” “Nor on Rony either. I guess they had had practice.” “Did you go to a doctor?” “No, sir. I didn't know that Westchester required a doctor's certificate in a hold-up case. It must be a very progressive county. I'll remember it next time.”