Indeed. We judge you fully capable of performing that action.

     'Ah.'Downey's  hand hesitated over the  whisky  decanter, and  then  he thought better of it. At that point, the speaking tube whistled.

     'Yes, Mr  Winvoe? Really? Indeed? I myself  have frequently found loose change under  sofa  cushions, it's amazing how it mou ... No,  no,  I wasn't being ... Yes, I did have some reason to ... No, no blame attaches to you in any ... No, I could hardly  see  how it ... Yes, go and have a rest, what  a good idea. Thank you.'

     He hung up the tube again. The cowl hadn't moved.

     'We will need  to know where, when and, of course, who,' he said, after a moment.

     The cowl nodded. The location is not on any map. We would like the task to be completed within the week. This is essential. As for the who...

     A drawing appeared on Downey's desk and  in his head arrived the words: Let us call him the Fat Man.

     'Is this a joke?' said Downey.

     We do not joke.

     No, you don't, do you, Downey thought. He drummed his fingers.

     'There are many who would say this... person does not exist,' he said.

     He must exist. How else could you so readily recognize his picture? And many are in correspondence with him.

     'Well, yes, of course, in a sense he exists:

     In  a  sense  everything  exists. It  is cessation  of  existence  that concerns us here.

     'Finding him would be a little difficult.'

     You will find  persons  on any street who can tell you his  approximate address.

     'Yes,  of course,' said  Downey, wondering why anyone would  call  them 'persons'. It was an  odd usage. 'But, as you say,  I  doubt that they could give a map reference.  And even  then,  how could the  . . . the Fat  Man be inhumed? A glass of poisoned sherry, perhaps?'