ized it。 It was sort of tired and hopeless。
〃You don't sound like you；〃 I told her。
〃I suppose not；〃 she conceded。 〃It seems like a million years since you came that day and we watched you being a detective。 You never found out who poisoned the dog； did you？〃
〃No； but don't hold it against me。 I wasn't expected to。 You may have heard that that was just a blind。〃
〃Yes； of course。 I don't suppose Nero Wolfe is back？〃
〃Nope。〃
〃You're running his office for him？〃
〃Well； I wouldn't call it running。 I'm here。〃
〃I want to see you。〃
〃Excuse me for staring； but do you mean on business？〃
*Yes。〃 A pause； then her voice got more energetic。 〃I want you to e up here and talk with us。 I don't want to go on like this； and I'm not going to。 When people look at me I can see it： in their eyes…was it me that killed my mother…in…law？…or in some of them I can see it； and that makes me think it's there with all of them。 It's been nearly a month now； and all the police are doing…but you read the papers。 She left me this place and a lot of money； and I wish I could hire Nero Wolfe。 You must know where he is。〃
〃Sorry。 I don't。〃
〃Then I want to hire you。 You're a good detective； aren't you？〃
〃Opinions vary。 I rate myself close to the top； but you have to discount that for my bias。〃
〃Could you e up here today？ This evening？〃
〃I couldn't make it today。〃 My brain was having some exercise for the first time in weeks。 〃Look； Mrs。 Frey； I wouldn't be in a hurry about this。 There's…〃
〃A hurry？〃 She sounded bitter。 〃It's been nearly a month！〃
〃I know； and that's why another few days won't matter。 There's nothing fresh about it； to get stale。 Why don't you do this； let me do a little looking around； just on my own； and then you'll hear from me。 After that you can decide whether you want to hire me or not。〃
〃I've already decided。〃
〃I haven't。 I don't want your dough if there's no chance of earning it。〃
Since her mind had been made up before she called me； she didn't like it my way but finally settled for it。
I discovered when I hung up that my mind was made up too。 It had made itself up while I was talking to her。 I couldn't go on like this forever； nothing but a damn caretaker with no telling from day to day how long it might last。 Nor could I； while drawing pay as Wolfe's assistant； take a boat for Europe or run for Mayor of New York or buy an island and build up a harem； or any of the other things on my deferred list； and certainly； while taking his pay； I couldn't personally butt into a case that he had run away from。
But there was nothing to prevent me from taking advantage of the gratitude that was still felt； even after paying the fee； by certain former clients of ours； and I took up the phone again and got the president of one of the big realty outfits； and was glad to leam that I hadn't overestimated his gratitude。 When I had explained my problem he said he would do all he could to help； starting right then。
So I spent the afternoon looking at offices in the midtown section。 All I wanted was one little room with a light that worked； but the man that the realty president sent to go around with me was more particular than I was； and he turned his nose up at two or three that I would have bought。 We finally got to one on Madison Avenue； tenth floor； in the forties； which he admitted might do。 It wouldn't be vacated until the next day； but that didn't matter much because I still had to buy furniture。 I was allowed to sign for it on a month…to…month basis。
The next couple of days I had to keep myself under control。 I had never been aware of any secret longing to have my own agency； but I had to choke off an impulse to drop in at Macgruder's Thursday morning and blow a couple of thousand of my own jack on office equipment。 Instead； I went to Second Avenue and found bargains。 Having decided not to take anything from 35th Street； I made up a shopping list of about forty items； from ash trays to a Moorhead's Directory； and shot the works。
Late Saturday afternoon； with a package under my arm； I emerged from the elevator； went down the hall to the door of 1019； and backed off to give it a look。
ARCHIE GOODWIN
Private Detective
Not bad at all； I thought； unlocking the door and entering。 I had considered having the painter put beneath it 〃By Appointment Only；〃 to keep the crowd down； but decided to save the extra three bucks。 I put my package on the desk； unwrapped it； and inspected my new letterheads and envelopes。 The type of my name was a little too bold； maybe； but otherwise it was pretty neat。 I uncovered the typewriter； a rebuilt Underwood that had set me back 62。75； inserted one of the letterheads； and wrote：
Dear Mrs。 Frey：
If you still feel as you did when you phoned me on Wednesday； I would be glad to call on you to discuss the situation； with the understanding that I shall he representing no one but myself。
My new business address and phone number are above。 Ring me or write if you wish me to e。
Sincerely； AG：hs
I read it over and signed it。 It looked businesslike； I thought； with the regulation initialing at the bottom； the 〃hs〃 being for 〃himself。〃 When I left； after putting the stationery in a drawer and getting things in order for the rush of business on Monday morning； I dropped the envelope in the mail chute。 I was doing it that way； instead of phoning her； for three rea sons： if she had changed her mind she could just ignore it； I had a date； purely personal； for the weekend； and I had drawn myself a salary check； the last one； for that week。 On my way home I made a detour to 54th Street； to tell Marko Vukcic what I had done； because I thought he should be the first to know。
He made it not only plain but emphatic that he disapproved。 I told him； 〃Experience tells me that pants wear out quicker sitting down than moving around。 Intelligence tells me that it's better to wait till you die to start to rot。 I would appreciate it if you will convey that to him next time you write him or phone him。〃
〃You know perfectly good； Archie； that…〃
〃Not perfectly good。 Perfectly well。〃
〃You know that I have said nothing； but nothing； that might make you think I can write him or phone him。〃
〃You didn't need to。 I know it's not your fault； but where does it leave me？ Let me know any time you get a buyer for the house； and I'll move out。〃
I left him still wanting to argue。
I was not kidding myself that I had really cut loose； since I hadn't moved my bed out； but the way I figured it a caretaker who is drawing no pay has a right to a room； and besides； Fritz was still sleeping there and we were splitting on the groceries for breakfast； and I didn't want to insult either him or my stomach by breaking that up。
I shall now have to specify when I say office…or； better； I'll say office when I mean Wolfe's office； and when I mean my Madison Avenue suite I'll say 1019。 Monday morning； arriving at 1019 a little after ten； I rang the phoneanswering service and was told that there had been no calls； and then dug into the morning mail； which consisted of a folder from a window…cleaning outfit。 After giving it full consideration； I typed notes on my new stationery to some personal friends； and an official letter to the City of New York giving notice of my change of address as a licensed detective。 I was sitting trying to think who else I might write to when the phone rang…my first ining call。
I picked it up and told the transmitter plainly； 〃Archie Goodwin's office。〃
〃May I speak to Mr。 Goodwin； please？〃
〃I'll see if he's in。 Who is calling； please？〃
〃Mrs。 Frey。〃
〃Yes； he's in。 This is me。 You got my note？〃
'It came this morning。 I don't know what you mean about represenimg no one but yourself。〃
〃I guess I didn't make it very clear。 I only meant I wouldn't be acting as Nero Wolfe's assistant。 I'm just myself now。〃
〃Oh。 Well…naturally； if you don't even know where he is。 Can you e this evening？〃
〃To Birchvale？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What time？〃
〃Say eight…thirty。〃
〃I'll be there。〃
You can't beat that； I thought to myself