working with the FBI. That was a lie. He was either a member of the Communist party or a fellow traveler, were not sure which. We dont know who he told, besides his aunt, that he was with the FBI, but were working on it and so are the police.
He may have been killed by a Communist who heard it somehow and believed it.
There were other motives, personal ones, but the Communist angle comes first until and unless its ruled out. So you can see why were in on it. The public interest is involved, not only of this city and state but the whole country. You see that'
I saw it, Wolfe muttered, when I sent Mr. Goodwin to see you day before yesterday.
Well skip that. Wengert didnt want to offend. The point is, what about you'
I concede that all youre after is to catch the murderer and collect a fee. But we know you sent Goodwin to Miss Devlin yesterday to offer to pay her to say she saw Miss Goheen in the act. We also know that you likely to pull such a stunt just for the hell of it. You knew exactly what you were doing and why you were doing say you have regard for the public interest. All right, inspector here represents it, and so do I, and we want you up for us. We confidently expect you to. What and are you after, and where does that stunt get you'
Wolfe was regarding him sympathetically through half eyes. Youre not a nincompoop, Mr. Wengert I’m moved.
Nor you, Mr. Cramer.
Thats something, Cramer growled.
It is indeed, considering the average. But your coming to put this to me,
either peremptorily or politely, was I considered. Shall I explain'
If its not too much bother.
Ill be as brief as possible. Let us make a complex supposion - that I got Mr.
and Mrs. Rackells permission for an extraordinary disbursement for a stated purpose; that I sent Mr. Goodwin to see Miss Devlin; that he told her I had concluded that Miss Goheen had murdered Arthur Rackell and she had seen the act;
that I suggested that she should inform the police of that fact; and that, as compensation for her embarrassment and distress, I engaged to pay her a large sum of money which would be provided by Mr. and Mrs. Rackell.
Wolfe upturned a palm. Supposing I did that, it was not an attempt to suborn perjury, since it cannot be shown that I intended her to swear falsely, but certainly I was exposing myself to a claim for damages from Miss Goheen. That was a calculated risk I had to take, and whether the calculation was sound depended on the event. There was also a risk of being charged with obstruction of justice, and that too depended on the event. Should it prove to serve justice instead of obstructing it, and should Miss Goheen suffer no unmerited damage, I would be fully justified. I hope to be. I expect to be.
Then you can -
If you please. But suppose, having done all that, I now admit it to you and tell you my calculations and intentions. Then youll either have to try to head me off or be in it with me. It would be jackassery for you to head me off - take my word for it; it would be unthinkable. But it would also be unthinkable for you to be in it, either actively or passively. Whatever the outcome may be, you cannot afford to be associated with an offer to pay a large sum of money to a person involved in a murder case for disclosing a fact, even an authentic one.
Your positions forbid it. Im a private citizen and can stand it; you cant.
What the devil did you come here for'If Im headed for defeat, opprobrium, and punishment, then I am. Why dash up here only to get yourselves confronted with unthinkable alternatives'
Wolfe fluttered a hand. Luckily, this is just talk. I was merely discussing a complex supposition. To return to reality, I will be glad to give you gentlemen any information that you may properly require - and Mr. Goodwin too, of course.
So'
They looked at each other. Cramer let out a snort. Wengert pulled at his ear and gazed at me, and I returned the gaze, open-faced and perfectly innocent. He found that not helpful and
He may have been killed by a Communist who heard it somehow and believed it.
There were other motives, personal ones, but the Communist angle comes first until and unless its ruled out. So you can see why were in on it. The public interest is involved, not only of this city and state but the whole country. You see that'
I saw it, Wolfe muttered, when I sent Mr. Goodwin to see you day before yesterday.
Well skip that. Wengert didnt want to offend. The point is, what about you'
I concede that all youre after is to catch the murderer and collect a fee. But we know you sent Goodwin to Miss Devlin yesterday to offer to pay her to say she saw Miss Goheen in the act. We also know that you likely to pull such a stunt just for the hell of it. You knew exactly what you were doing and why you were doing say you have regard for the public interest. All right, inspector here represents it, and so do I, and we want you up for us. We confidently expect you to. What and are you after, and where does that stunt get you'
Wolfe was regarding him sympathetically through half eyes. Youre not a nincompoop, Mr. Wengert I’m moved.
Nor you, Mr. Cramer.
Thats something, Cramer growled.
It is indeed, considering the average. But your coming to put this to me,
either peremptorily or politely, was I considered. Shall I explain'
If its not too much bother.
Ill be as brief as possible. Let us make a complex supposion - that I got Mr.
and Mrs. Rackells permission for an extraordinary disbursement for a stated purpose; that I sent Mr. Goodwin to see Miss Devlin; that he told her I had concluded that Miss Goheen had murdered Arthur Rackell and she had seen the act;
that I suggested that she should inform the police of that fact; and that, as compensation for her embarrassment and distress, I engaged to pay her a large sum of money which would be provided by Mr. and Mrs. Rackell.
Wolfe upturned a palm. Supposing I did that, it was not an attempt to suborn perjury, since it cannot be shown that I intended her to swear falsely, but certainly I was exposing myself to a claim for damages from Miss Goheen. That was a calculated risk I had to take, and whether the calculation was sound depended on the event. There was also a risk of being charged with obstruction of justice, and that too depended on the event. Should it prove to serve justice instead of obstructing it, and should Miss Goheen suffer no unmerited damage, I would be fully justified. I hope to be. I expect to be.
Then you can -
If you please. But suppose, having done all that, I now admit it to you and tell you my calculations and intentions. Then youll either have to try to head me off or be in it with me. It would be jackassery for you to head me off - take my word for it; it would be unthinkable. But it would also be unthinkable for you to be in it, either actively or passively. Whatever the outcome may be, you cannot afford to be associated with an offer to pay a large sum of money to a person involved in a murder case for disclosing a fact, even an authentic one.
Your positions forbid it. Im a private citizen and can stand it; you cant.
What the devil did you come here for'If Im headed for defeat, opprobrium, and punishment, then I am. Why dash up here only to get yourselves confronted with unthinkable alternatives'
Wolfe fluttered a hand. Luckily, this is just talk. I was merely discussing a complex supposition. To return to reality, I will be glad to give you gentlemen any information that you may properly require - and Mr. Goodwin too, of course.
So'
They looked at each other. Cramer let out a snort. Wengert pulled at his ear and gazed at me, and I returned the gaze, open-faced and perfectly innocent. He found that not helpful and
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