:06:00
Thank you.
:06:01
Besides, you see,
:06:03
people who write
usually don't know the facts,
:06:07
and people
who know the facts usually can't write.
:06:10
Authenticity
has very little to do with it.
:06:12
If people who read our
magazines knew the facts of life, mr. Marlowe,
:06:17
they wouldn't be reading
our magazines.
:06:20
Oh, mr. Marlowe.
:06:21
Yeah?
:06:23
Thank you.
Have you been marooned on a desert island,
:06:27
or do you just
find it difficult to concentrate?
:06:31
A little of both.
:06:32
Really?
In that case, i must be losing my touch.
:06:35
You see, editorial work
is so unglamorous. Sometimes-
:06:38
do you
run this business all by yourself?
:06:40
No. Mr. Derrace kingsby
is president of the company.
:06:44
I am his
principal assistant.
:06:47
Tell me, mr. Marlowe,
:06:48
are there really
detectives like the one in your story,
:06:52
who never lie, cheat,
or double-cross a client,
:06:56
who are loyal, honest,
never betray a confidence?
:06:59
Yeah, there are
a couple of dopes like that.
:07:02
How good. Then your story
is autobiographical.
:07:04
You were writing
about yourself.
:07:06
You don't
really want to buy my story,
:07:09
do you,
miss fromsett?
:07:10
I was about
to offer you $200 for it.
:07:12
Oh, no,
you weren't.
:07:13
Why don't you
quit being cute, miss fromsett?
:07:15
The real reason
you had me up here
:07:17
is because
you're looking for a smooth operator
:07:19
who keeps
his mouth shut,
:07:21
and when you read
the story,
:07:23
you said, "yeah,
that's my boy.
:07:24
He's dumb,
he's brave, and he's cheap." am i right?
:07:28
Well, i... i was
about to offer you a commission
:07:31
on a rather delicate
and confidential matter.
:07:32
Then why didn't you
pick up the telephone and call me
:07:35
instead of all
this mickey mouse about a story?
:07:38
What i want you
to do is this-
:07:40
i want you to find
mr. Kingsby's wife
:07:43
without his knowing
you're looking for her.
:07:45
She's run off
with another man.
:07:47
She's a vicious woman,
a liar, a cheat, and a thief.
:07:51
She may even
end up in the hands of the police.
:07:55
He's had 10 years-
:07:56
pardon me
if i'm nosey, miss fromsett.
:07:58
What makes this any
of your business?