“Bertha Cool—the Cool Detective Agency.”

“Oh yes. You’re working for the Cool Detective Agency.”

I nodded.

“How long have you been with them?”

“Not very long.”

“Find it congenial employment?” he asked.

“So far.”

“Yes, yes. I dare say it’s a nice opening for a young man, plenty of opportunities to use intelligence, ingenuity, and quick wit. I would say there was quite an opportunity to work up. I think you’ve displayed very commendable judgment, very commendable judgment, indeed, in getting into work of that kind. You look alert and intelligent.”

“Thank you,” I said.

His head bobbed up and down, the fat on his neck wash-boarding into wrinkles, and the coarse hair on the back of his neck bristled and wriggled like the hairs on a flexible brush.

“Now when did you see Morgan Birks last?” he bubbled.

“I make my reports to Mrs. Cool,” I said.

“Yes, yes, of course. How careless of me.”

A door opened, and a big woman came in. She wasn’t fat, just big; broad-shouldered, big-hipped, and tall. She was dressed in a gown which showed the gleaming skin across her broad shoulders, the sweep of her heavy neck, the well-muscled arms.

“Well, well, well,” the fat man said. “Here’s the little woman! So glad you could drop in on us, Madge. I was just asking Mr. Lam about Morgan Birks. Pet, this is Donald Lam. He’s a detective, working with the—what was that name, Fred?”

“The Cool Detective Agency.”

“Oh yes. Working with the Cool Detective Agency,” the fat man said. “And what’s the name of the woman that runs it, Fred?”

“Bertha Cool.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. Bertha Cool. Sit down, m’love, and see what you make of it. Mr. Lam, this is my wife.”

I knew I was in a jam. Sometimes a man doesn’t lose anything by being polite, no matter how the cards are stacked. I got to my feet, and bowed from the waist. “I am very pleased to meet you,” I said, and tried to make my voice sound as though I meant it.

She didn’t say a word.

“Sit down, Lam. Sit down,” the fat man said. “You’ve doubtless had a hard day. You detectives have quite a bit of running around to do. Now, let’s see, Lam. Where were we—oh yes, you’d been given papers to serve on Morgan Birks, hadn’t you?”

“I think you’d better get in touch with Mrs. Cool if you want to find out about these things.”

“Cool—Cool? Oh yes, the woman who runs the detective agency. Well, that’s a splendid idea, Lam, but you see, we’re a bit pressed for time, and we don’t know just where the lady is. But you’re here, and doubtless you have the information.”

I didn’t say anything.