The Second Confesion

“Take out the last sentence,” Sperling demanded. “It isn't necessary.” He didn't look happy either.

Wolfe shook his head. “Naturally you don't like to face it, but you'll have to.

On the witness-stand you can't possibly evade it, so why evade it now?” “Good God.” Sperling was grim. “The witness-stand. Damn it, if this isn't just an act, who is Reynolds?” “I'll tell you when Mr Kane has signed that, not before-and you have witnessed it.” “I won't witness it.” “Yes, sir, you will. This thing started with your desire to expose a Communist.

Now's your chance. You won't take it?” Sperling glowered at Wolfe, then at me, then at Kane. I thought to myself how different this was from smiling like an angel. Mrs Sperling murmured something, but no one paid any attention.

“Sign it, Web,” Sperling growled.

Kane's hand came out for it, not wanting to. With it I gave him a magazine to firm it, and my pen. He signed, big and sprawly, and I passed it along to the Chairman of the Board. His signature, as witness, was something to see. It could have been James U. Sperling, or it could have been Lawson N. Spiffshill. I accepted it without prejudice and handed it to Wolfe, who gave it a glance and put it under a paperweight.

He sighed. “Bring them in, Archie.” I crossed to the door to the front room and called out, “Come in, gentlemen!” I would have given a nickel to know how much time and effort they had wasted trying to hear something through the soundproofed door. It couldn't be done.

They entered in character. Harvey, self-conscious and aggressive in the presence of so much capitalism, strode across nearly to Wolfe's desk, turned, and gave each of them in turn a hard straight eye. Stevens was interested in only one of them, the man he knew as William Reynolds; as far as he was concerned the others were dummies, including even the District Attorney. His eyes too were hard and straight, but they had only one target. They both ignored the chairs I had reserved for them.

“I think,” Wolfe said, “we needn't bother with introductions. One of you knows these gentlemen well; the others won't care to, nor will they care to know you.