Read Online Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe 24 by Three Men Out - Free Book Online

a service for you as a benefaction. My spring of philanthropy is not so torrential. The sum I named would surely not be exorbitant. I’ll be considerate on details; I don’t even insist on an IOU; it will be sufficient if Mr. Huck will state, all of us hearing him, that he guarantees payment of the full amount to me within one month. With one provision, which I insist on, that no word of this arrangement ever reaches Mr. Lewent. On that I must have explicit and firm assurance. I require the guarantee from Mr. Huck because I know he is good for it and I know nothing of the financial status of any of the rest of you, and of course it is to his interest as well as yours that Mr. Lewent should be persuaded that his suspicions are unfounded.”
    He took them in. “Well?”
    “It’s blackmail,” Miss Riff said firmly.
    Paul Thayer muttered, “Lewent picked a lulu when he picked you.”
    Miss Marcy and Mrs. O’Shea were silent. They were looking at Huck, obviously wanting a lead. Huck, his head cocked to one side, was frowning at Wolfe, studying him, as if in doubt whether he had heard correctly.
    He spoke. “What makes you think,” he asked, “that you can manage my brother-in-law?”
    “Mainly, sir, my self-conceit. I undertake it, and I too am financially responsible. You guarantee to pay, and I guarantee to deliver. You guarantee to pay me one hundred thousand dollars within one month, and I guarantee that Mr. Lewent will not again accuse any person here present of serious misconduct prior to this moment; and if he does so I forfeit the entire amount paid me.”
    “Is there a time limit to your guarantee?”
    “No.”
    “Then I accept it. I guarantee to pay you one hundred thousand dollars within one month, as consideration for the guarantee you have given, as stated by you. Is that satisfactory?”
    “Perfectly. Now the provision. It is understood by all of you that no word of this arrangement is ever to get to Mr. Lewent. You agree that you will give him no hint of iteither directly or indirectly. To indicate your agreement please raise your hands.”
    Mrs. O’Shea’s hand went up first, then Miss Marcy’s, then Miss Riff’s. Wolfe asked, “Mr. Huck?”
    “I thought it unnecessary. Certainly I agree.”
    “Mr. Thayer?”
    With all eyes on him, Paul Thayer looked highly uncomfortable. He glanced at his uncle. “Oh, nuts,” he said, and raised both hands as high as they would go.
    “Then that’s settled.” Wolfe made a face. “Now I must go to work, and I must have your help. First I’ll speak with Mr. Lewent privately, but it may be that after a preliminary I’ll want to bring him in here for a brief colloquy. So you will please remain here a while—not long, I think.” He got to his feet. “Archie, you said Mr. Lewent is in his room on this floor?”
    I was a little tardy answering and moving because I was trying to see all their faces at once as they heard that we were going for Lewent. But Wolfe repeated my name, and I was up and with him, detouring around him to get to the door and open it. I led the way to Lewent’s room, opened that door too, and, entering, flipped the wall switch for light and then stepped over Lewent’s legs to get out of the way for Wolfe to come in. He did so and shut the door and stood looking down at his client.
    “Lift him so I can see the back of his head.”
    That was no great strain, considering the size of the corpse and the fact that it was fairly stiff by then. When Wolfe finished his inspection and straightened up, I lowered it to the rug again, to its former position.
    “As you know,” Wolfe said, “it is regarded as undesirable to leave a corpse unguarded, especially when violence is indicated. I’ll stay here. You will go and tell them what we have found, instructing them to remain together in Mr. Huck’s room, and then call the police.”
    “Yes, sir. Call from Huck’s rooms or go down to the study?”
    “Either. As you choose.”
    “When the