VII + 

Rico bought all the papers he could find and went up to his room to read them. He sat at his table, his hat tilted over his eyes, with a pair of scissors in his hand, cutting from the papers all the articles dealing with the holdup and the killing of Police Captain Courtney. He arranged the clippings in a neat pile, then read them over and over. + 

One said: + 

… the thug who shot Police Captain Courtney was a small, pale foreigner, probably an Italian. He was dressed in a natty overcoat and a light felt hat. + 

Another: + 

… Courtney’s murderer was described by one eyewitness as a small, unhealthy-looking foreigner. + 

Rico tore up this clipping. + 

“Where do they get that unhealthy stuff!” he said. “I never been sick a day in my life.” + 