That must have got on his nerves. S<^ ^ merely explained it to him. I told him ^ ^ ^^gg about Marko Vukcic. That he ^as one of the only ten men I knew of t^at Nero Wolfe called by their first names, ^hat for years he had dined once a mo^ at Wolfe's table, and Wolfe and I had q^ed once a month at his restaurant. That ^e and Wolfe had been 12 boys together in Mo^n^0' whlch was now a part of Yugosla^a- E>onovan seemed to be listening, but ^e wasn5t impressed. When I thought I ha^ made the sltuatlon perfectly plain and stepped for breath, he turned to his phone, ^lled Homicide, told them Wolfe was comilW and asked for instructions.

He hung up. "They'" ca11 back'" he informed me. No bones got brol^n. His instructions came a minute before the door opened to admit Wolfe. I went and opened the gate in the railing, and Wo^ stepped through. "This way," I said ar^ steered him to the corridor and along to the room. The doctor had g^t the ^ that had entered between the fiftn and slxth nbs3 and was going for the on^ lower down- I saw that from three paces o^ where J stoPPed Wolfe went on until tt^ P^ of hlm that is farthest front, his midd^ was touching the edge of the table. Tt^ doctor recognized him and spoke. "I understand he ^as a friend of ^ovirss Mr. Wolfe." "He was," Wolfe s^ a little louder than necessary. He moved sidewise, reached a hand, put fingertips under Marko's chin, and pushed the jaw HP s0 that the mouth 13 closed; but when he took his hand away the lips parted again. He turned his head to frown at the doctor. "That'll be arranged," the doctor assured him. Wolfe nodded. He put fingers and a thumb into his vest pocket, withdrew them, and showed the doctor two small coins. "These are old dinars. I would like to fulfill a pledge made many years ago." The scientist said sure, go ahead, and Wolfe reached to Marko's face again, this time to place the coins on the eyes. The head was twisted a little, and he had to level it so the coins would stay put.