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question of what or how much you want to hear. Thats the one question nobody asks you. Until and unless the Rackell case is solved, with the answers all in, youll be hearing about it the rest of your life. Face it, Miss Devlin.
    She didnt say anything. She clasped her hands.
    The other thing about murder investigations. Someone gets murdered, and the cops go to work on it. Everybody that might possibly have a piece of useful information gets questioned. Say they question fifty different people. How many of the fifty answer every question truthfully'Maybe ten, maybe only four or five. Ask any experienced homicide man. They know it and they expect it, and thats why, when they think its worth it, they go over the same questions with the same person again and again, after the truth. They often get it that way and they nearly always do with people who have cooked up a story, something they did or saw, with details. Of course youre not one of those. You havent cooked up a detailed story. You have only answered a simple question No instead of Yes.
    They cant catch you -
    What question'What do you mean'
    Im coming to it. I want -
    Do you mean I lied'About what'
    I shook my head, not to call her a liar. Wait till I get to it. You would of course show shocked surprise if I made the flat statement that Fifi Goheen murdered Arthur Rackell by changing his capsules at the restaurant that evening and that you saw her do it. Naturally you would, since the police have asked you if you saw anyone perform that action or any part of it, and you have answered no. Wouldnt you'
    She was frowning, concentrated. Her hands were still clasped.
    But you - you havent made any such statement.
    Right. Id rather put it another way. Nero Wolfe has his own way of investigating and his own way of reaching conclusions.
    He has concluded that if he sends me to see you, to ask you to tell the police that you saw Fifi Goheen substituting the capsules, it will serve the interest of truth and justice. So he sent me, and Im asking you. It will be embarrassing for you, but not so bad. As I explained, it wont be the first time theyve had somebody suddenly remembering something. You can say you and Miss Goheen have been friends and you hated to come out with it, but now you see you have to. You can even say I came here and persuaded you to speak, if you want to, but you certainly shouldnt mention the ten thousand dollars. That -
    What ten thousand dollars'
    Im telling you. Mr. Wolfe has also concluded that it would not be reasonable to expect you to undergo such embarrassment without some consideration. He has made a suggestion to Mr. and Mrs. Rackell, and they have agreed to provide a certain sum of money. Ten thousand of it will come to you, in appreciation of your cooperation in the cause of justice. It will be given you in cash, in currency, within forty-eight hours after you have done your part - and well have to discuss that, exactly what youll tell the police. Speak for Nero Wolfe,
    I guarantee the payment within forty-eight hours, or, if you want to, come down to his office with me now and hell guarantee it himself. Dont ask me that it was that made him conclude that Fifi Goheen did and that you saw her, because I dont know. Anyhow, if its right, and he usually is, shell only be getting what she deserves. You know thats true.
    I stopped. She sat motionless, staring at me. There wasnt light, and I couldnt tell anything from her eyes, but looked absolutely blank. As the seconds grew to a minute on I began to think I had literally stupefied her, and I gave her a nudge.
    Have I made it plain'
    Yes, she mumbled, youve made it plain.
    Suddenly a shudder ran over her whole body, her head dropped forward, and her hands lifted to cover her face, her elbows on her knees. The shudder quit, and she froze like that. She held it so long that I decided another nudge was required, but before I got it out she straightened up and demanded,
    What made you think I would do such a