That makes me think about how Wolfe specifically arranged for new employers for both Theodore and Fritz--as his dependents, they were left well provided for, paid more and taken good care of.
But Archie gets no new employer, not even a suggestion. I'm sure Wolfe knows that Archie would accept no new employer--but also, Archie is so much more than his dependent/employee, that there is no possible replacement. But it also means that Archie alone is truly abandoned.
He acts like it, too--the first days after Wolfe leaves, Archie seems practically dazed:
* The first time he goes into the office, he finds himself sitting in Wolfe's chair without realizing he's done it.
* After seeing Marko, he drives around for two hours for no reason, and "I now believe that the reason I never drove farther north than One Hundred and Tenth Street, nor farther south than Fourteenth Street during those two hours, was that I thought Wolfe was probably somewhere within those limits and I didn't want to leave them."
* His first night alone in the house (after he comes home from jail), he sees the empty orchid rooms, and then walks through every room in the house. He gets into his pajamas and sits in the office, pajamaed. Then "When I heard the front door open I made for the hall as if I had been expecting another package of sausage" and it turns out only to be Fritz. I am struck by the image of Archie, in his pjs, helplessly rushing to the front door hoping that it's Wolfe.
Maybe he was wearing the nice dressing gown Wolfe gave him.
no subject
But Archie gets no new employer, not even a suggestion. I'm sure Wolfe knows that Archie would accept no new employer--but also, Archie is so much more than his dependent/employee, that there is no possible replacement. But it also means that Archie alone is truly abandoned.
He acts like it, too--the first days after Wolfe leaves, Archie seems practically dazed:
* The first time he goes into the office, he finds himself sitting in Wolfe's chair without realizing he's done it.
* After seeing Marko, he drives around for two hours for no reason, and "I now believe that the reason I never drove farther north than One Hundred and Tenth Street, nor farther south than Fourteenth Street during those two hours, was that I thought Wolfe was probably somewhere within those limits and I didn't want to leave them."
* His first night alone in the house (after he comes home from jail), he sees the empty orchid rooms, and then walks through every room in the house. He gets into his pajamas and sits in the office, pajamaed. Then "When I heard the front door open I made for the hall as if I had been expecting another package of sausage" and it turns out only to be Fritz. I am struck by the image of Archie, in his pjs, helplessly rushing to the front door hoping that it's Wolfe.
Maybe he was wearing the nice dressing gown Wolfe gave him.
:(