“Precisely. Wolfe sighed. “That's the point. Two years ago, in the Orchard case, I took to myself the responsibility of ignoring this man's threat. Last year, in the Kane case, I did the same. This time I don't want to and I won't.

Basic policy is my affair, I know that, but I am not going to tell you that in order to earn your pay you must go up there today and look at Mr Rackham. If you prefer, you may phone and postpone it, and we'll consider the matter at greater length.

I had my brows raised at him. “I'll be damned. Put it on me, huh?

“Yes. My nerve is gone. If public servants and other respected citizens take orders from this man, why shouldn't I?

“You damn' faker, I said indulgently. “You know perfectly well that I would rather eat soap than have you think I would knuckle under to that son of a bitch, and I know that you would rather put horse-radish on oysters than have me think you would. I might if you didn't know about it, and you might if I didn't know about it, but as it is we're stuck.

Wolfe sighed again, deeper. “I take it that you're going? “I am. But under one condition, that the trepidant vigilance begins as of now. That you call Fritz in, and Theodore down from the plant rooms, and tell them what we're up against, and the chain bolts are to be kept constantly on both doors, and you keep away from windows, and nothing and no one is to be allowed to enter when I'm not here. “Good heavens, he objected sourly, “that's no way to live.

“You can't tell till you try it. In ten years you may like it fine. I buzzed the plant rooms on the house phone to get Theodore.