The Second Confesion

Deduct expenses and the damage-” “Where did the three hundred and twelve come from?” “From Rony's wallet. Saul's holding it. I told you.” “You know, of course, who sent that package.” “Not exactly. D, C, B, or A, but which? It wouldn't come straight from X, would it?” “Straight? No.” Wolfe shook his head. “I like money, but I don't like that. I only wish you could answer a question.” “I've answered millions. Try me.” “I've already tried you on this one. Who drugged that drink on Saturday evening-the one intended for Mr Rony which you drank?” “Yeah. That's the question. I myself asked it all day yesterday, off and on, and again this morning, and I don't know.” Wolfe sighed. That, of course, is what constrains us. That's what forces us to assume that it was not an accident, but murder. But for that I might be able to persuade myself to call it closed, in spite of my deception of Mr Archer.” He sighed again. “As it is, we must either validate the assumption or refute it, and heaven knows how I'm going to manage it. The telephone upstairs has been restored. I wanted to test it, and thought I might as well do so with a call to Mr Lowenfeld of the police laboratory. He was obliging but didn't help much. He said that if a car is going slightly downhill at twenty-five miles an hour, and its left front hits a man who is standing erect, and its wheels pass over him, it is probable that the impact will leave dents or other visible marks on the front of the car, but not certain. I told him that the problem was to determine whether the man was upright or recumbent when the car hit him, and he said the absence of marks on the front of the car would be suggestive but not conclusive.