Read Online Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe 19 by Murder by the Book - Free Book Online Page B

your turn,” I stated.
    “Was it you that brought the boxes?”
    It was the switchboard misanthrope. “Right,” I admitted. “Did they all get delivered?”
    “Yes, all but one. One was home sick. Brother, did you stir up some hell around there! Is it true that you’re the Archie Goodwin that works for Nero Wolfe?”
    “I am. This is his number.”
    “Well, well! The note said to call it and ask why. Why?”
    “I’m lonely and I’m giving a party. Tomorrow at six. Here at Nero Wolfe’s place. The address is in the book. You will be in no danger if enough of you come. Plenty of orchids, plenty of drinks, a chance to know me better, and a dinner fit for Miss America. May I ask your name?”
    “Sure, Blanche Duke. You say tomorrow at six?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Would you care to make a note of something?”
    “I love to make notes.”
    “Put down Blanche Duke. Isn’t that a hell of a name? Two jiggers of dry gin, one of dry vermouth, two dashes of grenadine, and two dashes of Pernod. Got it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I may come tomorrow, but if I don’t, try that yourself. I never know what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
    I told her she’d better come, swiveled, and spoke to Wolfe. “That’s better than Mrs. Adams, at least. Not so bad for the first hour after the office closed. About taking them to Rusterman’s, they’d probably like going to the best restaurant in New York, but—”
    “You won’t take them to Rusterman’s.”
    “No? You said?”
    “I’ve reconsidered. You will give them dinner here. I’ll arrange the menu with Fritz—perhaps Mondor patties, and duckling with cherries and grapes. For women, the Pasti Grey Riesling will be good enough; I’m glad to have a use for it.”
    “But you don’t care for it.”
    “I won’t be here. I shall leave at five minutes to six, dine with Marko, and spend the evening with him.”
    I have often stated, in these reports of Wolfe’s activities, that he never leaves the house on business, but I suppose now I’ll have to qualify it. Strictly speaking, I could say that his intention was not to leave the house
on
business, merely on account of business, but that would be quibbling.
    I protested. “You ought to be here to look them over. They’ll be expecting to see you. Mrs. Adams is forty-eight, about right for you, and she can’t have a happy home life or she wouldn’t be working. Besides, how do you—”
    The phone rang. I got it and said who I was. A high soprano made me hold the receiver away from my ear.
    “Mr. Goodwin, I simply had to call you! Of course it isn’t proper, since I’ve never met you, but if I don’t tell you my name and never see you I don’t think it will be such a terrible misstep, do you? Those are the loveliest orchids I have ever seen! I’m going to a little party this evening, just a few of us at a friend’s apartment, and I’m going to wear them, and can you imagine what they’ll say? And can you imagine what I’ll say when they ask me who gave them to me? I simply can’t imagine! Of course I can say they’re from an unknown admirer, but really I’m not the kind of girl who would dream of having unknown admirers, and I haven’t the faintest idea what I’ll say when they ask me, but I simply can’t resist wearing them because …”
    When I hung up, five minutes later, Wolfe muttered at me, “You didn’t invite her.”
    “No,” I assented. “She’s a virgin. And as far as I’m concerned she always will be.”

Chapter 8

    T hat was the first time in history that a bunch of outsiders had been let into the plant rooms with Wolfe not there. The awful responsibility damn near got Theodore down. Not only did he regard it as up to him to see that none of them toppled a bench over or snitched a blossom from one of the rare hybrids, but also I had arranged a fancy assortment of liquids on a table in the potting room, which was being freely patronized by some of the guests, and he was afraid one of