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did so, and slid across under the wheel to make room for him. He needs room. He joined me and pulled the door shut.
    'If we're going to sit here,' I suggested, 'we might as well be rolling. Don't bother to cross town, just drop me at Thirty-fifth.'
    He objected. 'I don't like to drive and talk. Or listen. What were you doing there today?'
    'I've told you. Having fun. Three kinds of champagne. Miss Dickey invited me.'
    'I'm giving you another chance. You were the only outsider there. Why'You're nothing special to Miss Dickey. She was going to marry Bottweill. Why?'
    'Ask her.'
    'We have asked her. She says there was no particular reason, she knew Bottweill liked you, and they've regarded you as one of them since you found some tapestries for them. She stuttered around about it. What I say, any time I find you anywhere near a murder, I want to know. I'm giving you another chance.'
    So she hadn't mentioned the marriage license. Good for her. I would rather have eaten all the snow that had fallen since noon than explain that damn license to Sergeant Stebbins or Inspector Cramer. That was why I had gone through the wastebasket. 'Thanks for the chance,' I told him, 'but I can't use it. I've told you everything I saw and heard there today.' That put me in a class with Mrs. Jerome, since I had left out my little talk with Margot. 'I've told you all I know about those people. Lay off and go find your murderer.'
    'I know you, Goodwin.'
    'Yeah, you've even called me Archie. I treasure that memory.'
    'I know you.' His head was turned on his bull neck, and our eyes were meeting. 'Do you expect me to believe that guy got out of that room and away without you knowing it?'
    'Nuts. I was kneeling on the floor, watching a man die, and they were around us. Anyway, you're just talking to hear yourself. You don't think I was accessory to the murder or to the murderer's escape.'
    'I didn't say I did. Even if he was wearing gloves-and what for if not to leave no prints?-I don't say he was the murderer. But if you knew who he was and didn't want him involved in it, and let him get away, and if you let us wear out our ankles looking for him, what about that?'
    'That would be bad. If I asked my advice I would be against it.'
    'Goddam it,' he barked, 'do you know who he is?'
    'No.'
    'Did you or Wolfe have anything to do with getting him there?'
    'No.'
    'All right, pile out. They'll be wanting you downtown.'
    'I hope not tonight. I'm tired.' I opened the door. 'You have my address.' I stepped out into the snow, and he started the engine and rolled off.
    It should have been a good hour for an empty taxi, but in a Christmas-season snowstorm it took me ten minutes to find one. When it pulled up in front of the old brownstone on West Thirty-fifth Street it was eight minutes to eight.
    As usual in my absence, the chain-bolt was on, and I had to ring for Fritz to let me in. I asked him if Wolfe was back, and he said yes, he was at dinner. As I put my hat on the shelf and my coat on a hanger I asked if there was any left for me, and he said plenty, and moved aside for me to precede him down the hall to the door of the dining room. Fritz has fine manners.
    Wolfe, in his oversized chair at the end of the table, told me good evening, not snapping or barking. I returned it, got seated at my place, picked up my napkin, and apologized for being late. Fritz came, from the kitchen, with a warm plate, a platter of braised boned ducklings, and a dish of potatoes baked with mushrooms and cheese. I took enough. Wolfe asked if it was still snowing and I said yes. After a good mouthful had been disposed of, I spoke.
    'As you know, I approve of your rule not to discuss business during a meal, but I've got something on my chest and it's not business. It's personal.'
    He grunted. 'The death of Mr. Bottweill was reported on the radio at seven o'clock. You were there.'
    'Yeah. I was there. I was kneeling by him while he died.' I replenished my mouth. Damn the radio. I hadn't