And that time I couldn't eat early because Fritz was braising a wild turkey and had to convey it to the dining room on a platter for Wolfe to see whole before wielding the knife. Sometimes when I have a date for a game or a show I get things from the refrigerator around sixthirty and take my time, but I wanted some of that hot turkey, not to mention Fritz's celery sauce and corn fritters. I was six minutes behind schedule when, as I pushed my chair back and got erect, the phone rang. After asking Fritz to get it 7 on the kitchen extension and proceeding to the hall, I ha<i got my topcoat from the rack and ^as putting it on when Fritz called to me ''Archie! Sergeant Stebbins wants you!" I rnuttered something appropriate for muttering but not for printing, made it to the office and across to my desk, lifted the receiver, and told it, "Shoot. You may have eight seconds," It took more like eight times eighty, not because Purley Stebbins insisted on it, but I did after he had given me the main fact. When I had hung up I stood a while, frowning at White's desk. Many times through the years I have had the job of reporting something to Wolfe that I knew he wouldn't enjoy hearing, but this was different. This was tough. I even found myself wishing I had got away two minutes sooner, and then, realizing that that would have been tougher _ for him, at least -- I went to the hall, crossed it to the dining room, entered and spoke. "That was Purley Stebbins. Half an hour ago a Hian came out of a house on East Fifty-fourth Street and was shot and killed by a man waiting there in a parked car. Papers found ---" Wolfe cut me off. "Must I remind you that business shall not intrude on meals?" 8 "You don't need to. This isn't business. Papers found on the body indicate that it was Marko Vukcic. Purley says there's no doubt about it, two of the dicks knew him by sight, but he wants me to come down and give positive identification.