I tell you nothing because it is better for you to know nothing. You are to forget that you know his name. If ever, in the course of my business, I find that I am committed against him and must destroy him, I shall leave this house, find a place where I can work-and sleep and eat if there is time for it-and stay there until I have finished.” I have seen Wolfe tangle with some tough bozos in the years I've been with him, but none of them has ever had him talking like that.

Now he was sitting glaring at me as if I had put vinegar on his caviar.

“What do you know about Bischoff's Pet Shop?” he demanded.

“Nothing to speak of. I only know that last November, when Bischoff came to ask you to take on a job, you told him you were too busy and you weren't, and when he left and I started beefing you told me that you were no more eager to be committed for Arnold Zeck than against him. You didn't explain how you knew that that pet shop is a branch of Zeck's far-flung shenanigans, and I didn't ask.” “I told you once to forget that you know his name.” Then you shouldn't have reminded me of it. Okay, I'll forget again. So I'll go down and phone Sperling that you're too busy and call it off. He hasn't-” “No. Go and see him. You're late.” I was surprised. “But what the hell? What's wrong with my deducting? If Rony went three times in a month to that pet shop, and probably more, and stayed over an hour, and doesn't keep pets, and I deduce that he is presumably an employee or something of the man whose name I forget, what-” “Your reasoning is quite sound. But this is different. I was aware of Mr Bischoff's blemish, no matter how, when he came to me and refused him. I fiave engaged myself to Mr Sperling, and how can I scuttle?” He looked up at the clock. “You'd better go' He sighed. “If it could be managed to keep one's self-esteem without paying for it…” He went and got the can of Elgetrol and started shaking it, and I headed out.