Before Midnight

"Then that's understood. First I would like to suggest that you engage me as your counsel and hand me one dollar as a retaining fee."

I opened my eyes at him. The guy must be cuckoo. For fee shipments that office was strictly a one-way street.

"Not an appealing suggestion," Wolfe said drily. "You have a brief for it?":

"Certainly. As you know, a conversation between a lawyer and his client is a privileged communication and its disclosure may not be compelled. I wish to establish that confidential relationship with you, lawyer and client, and then tell you of certain circumstances which have led these gentlemen to seek your help. Obviously that will be no protection against voluntary disclosure by you, since you may end the relationship at any moment, but you will be able to refuse a disclosure at the demand of any!authority without incurring any penalty. They and I will be at your mercy, but your record and reputation give us complete confidence in your integrity and discretion. I suggest that you retain me for a specific function: to advise you on the desirability of taking a case about to be offered to you by the firm of Lippert, Buff and Assa."

"What is that firm?"

"You must have heard of it. The advertising agency."

Wolfe's lips were going left to right and back again. It was his kind of smile. "Very ingenious. I congratulate you. But as you say, you will be at my mercy. I may end the relationship at any moment, with no commitment whatever."

"Just a minute," O'Garro put in, his clever bright brown eyes darting from Wolfe to Hansen. "Must it be like that?"

"It's the only way, Pat," the lawyer told him. "If you hire him, you either trust him or you don't."

"I don't like it… but if it's the only way…"

"It is. Oliver?"

Buff said yes.

"Vern?"

Assa nodded.

"Then you retain me, Mr. Wolfe? As specified?

"Yes. – -Archie, give Mr. Hansen a dollar."

I got one from my wallet, suppressing a pointed comment which the transaction certainly deserved, crossed to the attorney-at-law, and handed it over.

"I give you this," I told him formally, "as the agent for Mr. Nero Wolfe."

Chapter 3

"It's a long story," Hansen told Wolfe, "but well have to make it as short as possible. These gentlemen have appointments at the District Attorney's office. I speak as your counsel of matters pertinent to the case to be offered you about which you seek my advice. Have you heard of the murder of Louis Dahlmann?"

"No."

"It was on the radio."