at might have been a comfortable
chair if I hadn't had to sit in it. A young fellow was sitting
opposite me with a stenographer's notebook, and I knew that any story
of mine had better not be repeated two different ways. Hoover came in
with a nondescript man with a hat pulled down over his eyes, who
inspected me from all angles and then shook his head, a little
resentfully, I thought. The hat-over-the-eyes left and I shifted
nervously under those grim eyes staring at me.

"All right," said Hoover; "now we'll hear that explanation. Talk!"

So I talked.

* * * * *

When I finished my throat was dry and he was nodding as though he
believed every word. He didn't. I asked for a cigarette and for news
of my wife, and they gave me a cigarette. They told me my wife was all
right, or would be, if I behaved.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'll behave." They just laughed when I said
that.

"Quite likely," said Hoover. "Now, let's hear that once more. Begin
at the beginning."

They gave me a room all to myself, finally. For three days, maybe
more, I had that room all for myself and the various people that
walked in at all hours of the day and night to ask me some of the
silliest questions you ever heard just as though they expected
sensible answers. After that first night I didn't see J. Edgar Hoover
at all, which is just as well, because I don't think he liked me one
little bit. They brought me a suit with the lining in the sleeve
ripped and a shirt with the cuffs turned. When I got those I began to
worry all over again about Helen, because I knew she had no part in
picking out the clothes they brought me. I didn't feel too chipper
when they came after me in force again.

* * * * *

The same room, this time more crowded. Older men this time, and a few
of the usual high school boys. Again we went through the same routine,
and once again my voice cracked dusty dry. They were all desperately
sorry for such an incurable psychopathic liar. I hadn't felt so
helpless, so caught-in-a-quicksand since my days in the army.

"I'm telling you the truth, the truth. Don't you see that I've got to
tell you the truth to get out of here? Don't you believe me?"

Never such disbelief outside of a courtmartial. In desperation my eyes
jerked around looking for escape. They slid over, and back to, the
ventilation fan purring on the wall. I sucked in a loud gasp. The
blades of the fan