Read Online Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe 02 by The League of Frightened Men - Free Book Online Page B

eyes shut tight. Julius Adler said:
    “This last provision is out of the question. This joint responsibility for the total amount. We wouldn’t consider it.”
    Wolfe’s cheeks unfolded a little. “I agree with you, Mr. Adler. I shall not insist upon it. As a matter of fact, I inserted it purposely, so there would be something for you to take out.”
    Adler grunted. Drummond the florist, who had gone to join them, as had Pratt and Arthur Kommers, giggled again. Cabot looked at Wolfe with a frown and said, “You aren’t at all nimble, are you?”
    “Moderately. I’m really not much good at negotiation, I am too blunt. It is a shortcoming of temperament not to be overcome. For instance, my proposal to you. I can only present it and say, take it or leave it. I compensate for the handicap by making the proposal so attractive that it cannot very well be refused.”
    I was surprised, all of a sudden, to see the shadow of a smile on Cabot’s face, and for a second I damn near liked him. He said, “Of course. I sympathize with your disability.”
    “Thank you.” Wolfe moved his eyes to take in the others. “Well, gentlemen? I will mention two little points. First, I did not include in the memorandum a stipulation that you should co-operate with me, but I shall of course expect it. I can do little without your help. I would like to feel free to have Mr. Goodwin and another of my men call upon you at any reasonable time, and I would like to talk with a few of you myself. I may?”
    Three or four heads nodded. George Pratt, with the group at the desk, said, “Good here.” Cabot smiled openly and murmured, “Don’t forget your disability.”
    “Good. The second point, about the money. In my opinion, the sums I have listed are adequate but not extortionate. If I fail to satisfy you I get nothing, so it comes to this: would Mr. Gaines be willing at this moment to pay me eight thousand dollars, and Dr. Burton seven thousand, and Mr. Michael Ayers one hundred and eighty, in return for a guarantee of freedom from the fear which has fastened itself upon them? I take it that you agree that it is proper to have the amounts graded in accordance with ability to pay.”
    Again heads nodded. He was easing them into it; he was sewing them up. I grinned to myself, “Boss, you’re cute, that’s all, you’re just cute.” Lee Mitchell from Boston spoke again:
    “Of course I can’t speak definitely for Mr. Collard and Mr. Gaines. I think I may say—you can probably count them in. I’ll go back to Boston tonight and they’ll wire you tomorrow.”
    Cabot said, “You can cross Elkus out. He wouldn’t pay you a cent.”
    “No?”
    “No. He’s as sentimental as Andy Hibbard was. He’d sooner see us all killed than help catch Paul Chapin.”
    “Indeed. It is disastrous to permit the vagaries of the heart to infect the mind. We shall see—Gentlemen. I would like to satisfy myself now on one point. Frankly, I do not wish it to be possible for any of you to say, at any time in the future, that I have acted with a ruthlessness or vindictiveness which you did not contemplate or desire. My understanding is that you are all convinced that Paul Chapin is a murderer, that he has threatened you with murder, and that he should be caught, discovered, convicted and executed. I am going to ask Mr. Goodwin to call off your names. If my understanding is correct, you will please respond with
yes.
”
    He nodded at me. I took up the list on which I had checked those present. Before I could call one, Lee Mitchell said, “On that I can answer for Mr. Collard and Mr. Gaines. Unqualifiedly. Their response if
yes.
”
    There was a stir, but no one spoke. I said, “Ferdinand Bowen.”
    The broker said, husky but firm, “Yes.”
    “Dr. Loring A. Burton.”
    For a moment there was no reply, then Burton murmured in a tone so low it was barely heard, “No.” Everyone looked at him. He looked around, swallowed, and said suddenly and explosively,