men, either a C or a D, and is therefore a dangerous professional criminal.' The quickest reaction was from Madeline. Before Wolfe had finished she said, 'My God!' and got up, crossed impolitely in front of people to Gwenn, and put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. Then Mrs Sperling was up too, but she just stood a second and sat down again. Jimmy, who had been frowning at Wolfe, shifted the frown to his father.
The Chairman of the Board sat a moment gazing at Wolfe, then gazed a longer moment at his younger daughter, and then arose and went to her and said, 'He says he can prove it, Gwenn.' I am not lightning, but I had caught on quite a while back that Wolfe’s real target was Gwenn, so it was her I was interested in. When Wolfe had started in, the line of her pretty lips and the stubbornness in her eyes had made it plain that she simply didn’t intend to believe a word he said, but as he went on telling about a mysterious X who couldn’t possibly be her Louis she had relaxed a little, and was even beginning to think that maybe it was an interesting story when suddenly Rony’s name popped in, and then the shot straight at her. When she felt Madeline’s hand on her shoulder she put her own hand up to place it on top of her sister’s, and said in a low voice, 'It’s all right, Mad.' Then she spoke louder to Wolfe.
'It’s a lot of bunk!' When Sperling stood in front of her, Wolfe and I couldn’t see her. Wolfe stated to Sperling’s back, 'I’ve barely started, you know. I’ve merely given you the background. Now I must explain the situation.' Gwenn was on her feet at once, saying firmly, 'You won’t need me for that. I know what the situation is well enough.' They all started talking. Madeline had hold of Gwenn’s arm. Sperling was out of her depth but was flapping. Jimmy was being completely ignored but kept trying.
Wolfe allowed them a couple of minutes and then cut in sharply.
'Confound it, are you a bunch of ninnies?' Sperling wheeled on him. 'You shouldn’t have done it like this! You should have told me! You should-' 'Nonsense! Utter nonsense. For months you have been telling your daughter that Mr Rony is a Communist, and she has quite properly challenged you to prove it.
If you had tried to tell her this she would have countered with the same challenge, and where would you have been'I am better armed. Will you please get out of the way so I can see her?-Thank you.-Miss Sperling, you were not afraid to challenge your father to show you proof. But now you want to walk out. So you’re afraid to challenge me'I don’t blame you.' 'I’m not afraid of anything!' 'Then sit down and listen. All of you. Please?' They got back to their chairs. Gwenn wasn’t so sure now that all she needed was a simple and steadfast refusal to believe a word. Her lower lip was being held tight by her teeth, and her eyes were no longer straight and stubborn at Wolfe.
She even let me have a questioning, unsure glance, as if I might contribute something that would possibly help.
Wolfe focused on her. 'I didn’t skimp on the background, Miss Sperling, because without it you can’t decide intelligently, and, though your father is my client, the decision rests with you. The question that must be answered is this: am I to proceed to assemble proof or not'If I-' 'You said you had proof!' 'No, I didn’t. I said I could prove it, and I can-and if I must I will. I would vastly prefer not to. One way out would be for me simply to quit-to return the retainer your father has paid me, shoulder the expense of my outlay on this job and restoration of my damaged property, and let X know that I have scuttled.
That would unquestionably be the sensible and practical thing to do, and I do not brag that I’m not up to it. It is a weakness I share with too many of my fellow men, that my self-conceit will not listen to reason. Having undertaken to do a job offered to me by your father in good faith, and with no excuse for withdrawal that my
The Chairman of the Board sat a moment gazing at Wolfe, then gazed a longer moment at his younger daughter, and then arose and went to her and said, 'He says he can prove it, Gwenn.' I am not lightning, but I had caught on quite a while back that Wolfe’s real target was Gwenn, so it was her I was interested in. When Wolfe had started in, the line of her pretty lips and the stubbornness in her eyes had made it plain that she simply didn’t intend to believe a word he said, but as he went on telling about a mysterious X who couldn’t possibly be her Louis she had relaxed a little, and was even beginning to think that maybe it was an interesting story when suddenly Rony’s name popped in, and then the shot straight at her. When she felt Madeline’s hand on her shoulder she put her own hand up to place it on top of her sister’s, and said in a low voice, 'It’s all right, Mad.' Then she spoke louder to Wolfe.
'It’s a lot of bunk!' When Sperling stood in front of her, Wolfe and I couldn’t see her. Wolfe stated to Sperling’s back, 'I’ve barely started, you know. I’ve merely given you the background. Now I must explain the situation.' Gwenn was on her feet at once, saying firmly, 'You won’t need me for that. I know what the situation is well enough.' They all started talking. Madeline had hold of Gwenn’s arm. Sperling was out of her depth but was flapping. Jimmy was being completely ignored but kept trying.
Wolfe allowed them a couple of minutes and then cut in sharply.
'Confound it, are you a bunch of ninnies?' Sperling wheeled on him. 'You shouldn’t have done it like this! You should have told me! You should-' 'Nonsense! Utter nonsense. For months you have been telling your daughter that Mr Rony is a Communist, and she has quite properly challenged you to prove it.
If you had tried to tell her this she would have countered with the same challenge, and where would you have been'I am better armed. Will you please get out of the way so I can see her?-Thank you.-Miss Sperling, you were not afraid to challenge your father to show you proof. But now you want to walk out. So you’re afraid to challenge me'I don’t blame you.' 'I’m not afraid of anything!' 'Then sit down and listen. All of you. Please?' They got back to their chairs. Gwenn wasn’t so sure now that all she needed was a simple and steadfast refusal to believe a word. Her lower lip was being held tight by her teeth, and her eyes were no longer straight and stubborn at Wolfe.
She even let me have a questioning, unsure glance, as if I might contribute something that would possibly help.
Wolfe focused on her. 'I didn’t skimp on the background, Miss Sperling, because without it you can’t decide intelligently, and, though your father is my client, the decision rests with you. The question that must be answered is this: am I to proceed to assemble proof or not'If I-' 'You said you had proof!' 'No, I didn’t. I said I could prove it, and I can-and if I must I will. I would vastly prefer not to. One way out would be for me simply to quit-to return the retainer your father has paid me, shoulder the expense of my outlay on this job and restoration of my damaged property, and let X know that I have scuttled.
That would unquestionably be the sensible and practical thing to do, and I do not brag that I’m not up to it. It is a weakness I share with too many of my fellow men, that my self-conceit will not listen to reason. Having undertaken to do a job offered to me by your father in good faith, and with no excuse for withdrawal that my
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