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. I saw to it that we did
not discuss Bill; some subjects curdle the gastric juices.
About thirty minutes later I said, "Another waffle, dear?"
"No, thank you, Richard, I've had enough. They're not as good as yours."
"That's 'cause I'm a natural-born genius. Let's finish up, then go back and
take care of Bill. Shall we skin him alive, or merely impale him on a stake?"
"I've been planning to question him on the rack. Richard, life lost some of
its beauty when truth drugs replaced thumb screws and hot irons."
"My beloved, you are a bloodthirsty little wretch. More coffee?"
"You just say that to flatter me. No more, thank you."
We returned to the Raffles, went to Bill's room, were unable to raise him,
went back to the desk. The misanthrope who had checked me in was again on duty.
I asked, "Have you seen anything of William Johnson, room KK?"
"Yes. About thirty minutes ago he collected his key deposit and left."
"But / bought that key!" Gwen said, rather shrilly.
The desk manager was unruffled. "Gospazha, I know you did. But we return
the deposit for the return of the key. It doesn't matter who rented the room."
He reached for his rack, took down key card KK. "The deposit just barely pays
for changing the magnetic code if someone fails to return his key- it doesn't
pay for the nuisance. If you dropped your card in the corridor and somebody
picked it up and turned it in, we would pay the deposit
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