Nobby's death leads to one of the great scenes of the climax, though, when Wolfe gives like a three-page speech hammering home just why Leeds is guilty, and how his guilt is worse than just murder. It's kind of amazing. Wolfe doesn't often get emotionally involved in the crime or the comeuppance, but here he really does seem affected:
"I'm accusing you of that [i.e. murdering Mrs. Rackham], yes, sir, but also I'm accusing you of something much worse than that." Wolfe spat it at him. "I'm accusing you of deliberately and ruthlessly, to protect yourself from the consequences of your murder of your cousin for the money you would inherit from her, thrusting that knife into the belly of a dog that loved you and trusted you!"
He ranks the murder of Nobby above the murder of Mrs. Rackham, and he seems to feel very deeply about it. And it's because of the love and trust the dog felt, and the cold and calculated betrayal of that love and trust.
The speech goes on for like two and a half pages in my copy of the book, and just spirals upward in intensity and passion. And by the end, Leeds is completely wrecked, and makes no more effort to deny it or defend himself.
It reminds me a bit of the speech we don't get to hear most of in Booby Trap, when Wolfe talks the killer into blowing himself up with a grenade, except here we get to see the whole thing.
And on the one hand, yes, Wolfe knows that this really is a vulnerable spot for Leeds, so he jabs at it and keeps jabbing. But on the other hand, I still can't help but feel that Wolfe is also truly affected to some degree. I'd argue that there's something about deep love and loyalty, and the specter of the betrayal thereof, that is close to his heart.
And then I'd think about Archie. And all the promises that he'd be coming along to the eventual anti-Zeck hideout, and the note NW left him, and Marko unable to tell him anything and calling him "My poor young friend", and how no one believes him when he says he has no idea where Wolfe went.
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Nobby's death leads to one of the great scenes of the climax, though, when Wolfe gives like a three-page speech hammering home just why Leeds is guilty, and how his guilt is worse than just murder. It's kind of amazing. Wolfe doesn't often get emotionally involved in the crime or the comeuppance, but here he really does seem affected:
He ranks the murder of Nobby above the murder of Mrs. Rackham, and he seems to feel very deeply about it. And it's because of the love and trust the dog felt, and the cold and calculated betrayal of that love and trust.
The speech goes on for like two and a half pages in my copy of the book, and just spirals upward in intensity and passion. And by the end, Leeds is completely wrecked, and makes no more effort to deny it or defend himself.
It reminds me a bit of the speech we don't get to hear most of in Booby Trap, when Wolfe talks the killer into blowing himself up with a grenade, except here we get to see the whole thing.
And on the one hand, yes, Wolfe knows that this really is a vulnerable spot for Leeds, so he jabs at it and keeps jabbing. But on the other hand, I still can't help but feel that Wolfe is also truly affected to some degree. I'd argue that there's something about deep love and loyalty, and the specter of the betrayal thereof, that is close to his heart.
And then I'd think about Archie. And all the promises that he'd be coming along to the eventual anti-Zeck hideout, and the note NW left him, and Marko unable to tell him anything and calling him "My poor young friend", and how no one believes him when he says he has no idea where Wolfe went.
That's the sort of stuff I'd think about.