yours.
They looked at each other. They looked at me and back at each other.
Well see Mr. Wolfe, the woman said.
Heath looked right and then left, as if hoping there might be someone else around to see, and then nodded at her.
Thats sensible, I told them. You lead the way, Saul. Eighty-sixth-Street entrance.
She left the collie in Herbs taxi, parked at the curb in front of Wolfes place. There has never been a dog in I that house, and I saw no point in breaking the precedent for one who was on such strained terms with me. Herb, on advice, closed the glass panels.
I went ahead up the stoop to open the door and let them in, put them in the front room with Saul, and went through to the office.
Okay, I told Wolfe, its your turn. Theyre here.
Behind his desk, he closed the book he had been reading and put it down. He asked, Mrs. Rackell'
Yes. They were there on a bench, with dog, and Saul was behind a bush and could hear, but I dont know what. I gave them their choice of the law or you, and they preferred you. She probably thinks she can buy out. You want Saul first'
No. Bring them in.
But Saul can tell you -
I dont need it. Or if I do - well see.
You want him in too'
Yes.
I went and opened the connecting door and invited them, and they entered. As Mrs. Rackell crossed to the red leather chair and sat her lips were so tight there were none. Heaths face had no expression at all, but it must be hard to display feeling with that kind of round pudgy frontispiece even if you try. Saul took a chair against the far wall, but Wolfe told him to move up, and he transferred to one at the end of my desk.
Mrs. Rackell grabbed the ball. She said it was absolutely contemptible, spying on her and threatening her with the police. It was infamous and treacherous. She wouldnt tolerate it.
Wolfe let her get it out and then said dryly, You astonish me, madam. He shook his head. You chatter about proprieties when you are under the menace of a mortal peril. Dont you realize what Ive done'Dont you know where we stand'
Youre chattering yourself, Heath said harshly. We were brought here under a threat. By what right'
Ill tell you. Wolfe leaned back. This is no pleasure for me, so Ill hurry it - my part of it. But you need to know exactly what the situation is, for you have a vital decision to make. First let me introduce Mr. Saul Panzer. His eyes moved. Saul, you followed Mr. Heath to a clandestine meeting with Mrs.
Rackell'
Yes, sir.
Then Ill risk an assumption. I assume that his purpose was to protest against her supplying funds to inculpate Miss Goheen, and to demand that the attempt be abandoned. You heard much of what they said'
Yes, sir.
Did it impeach my assumption'
No, sir.
Did it support it'
Yes, sir. Plenty.
Wolfe went to Heath. Mr. Panzers quality is known, though not to you until now. I think a jury will believe him, and Im sure the police and the FBI will.
My advice, sir, is to cut the loss.
Loss'Heath was trying to sneer but with that face he couldnt make it. I havent lost anything.
Youre about to. You cant help it. Wolfe wiggled a finger at him. Must I spell it out for you'Wednesday evening, day before yesterday, when you and six others were here, I was nonplused. I had my choice of giving up or of attempting simultaneously a dozen elaborate lines of inquiry, any one of which would have strained my resources. Neither was tolerable.
Since I was helpless with what had already happened, I had to try to make something happen under my eye, and I devised a stratagem - a clumsy one, but the best I could do. I made a proposal to Mr. and Mrs. Rackell. I phrased it with care, but in effect I asked for money to bribe a witness and solve the case by chicanery.
Wolfes eyes darted to Mrs. Rackell. And you idiotically exposed yourself.
I did'She was contemptuous. How'
You grabbed at it. Your husband, in his innocence, was dubious, but not you.
You thought that, having decided the job was beyond me, I was trying to earn a
They looked at each other. They looked at me and back at each other.
Well see Mr. Wolfe, the woman said.
Heath looked right and then left, as if hoping there might be someone else around to see, and then nodded at her.
Thats sensible, I told them. You lead the way, Saul. Eighty-sixth-Street entrance.
She left the collie in Herbs taxi, parked at the curb in front of Wolfes place. There has never been a dog in I that house, and I saw no point in breaking the precedent for one who was on such strained terms with me. Herb, on advice, closed the glass panels.
I went ahead up the stoop to open the door and let them in, put them in the front room with Saul, and went through to the office.
Okay, I told Wolfe, its your turn. Theyre here.
Behind his desk, he closed the book he had been reading and put it down. He asked, Mrs. Rackell'
Yes. They were there on a bench, with dog, and Saul was behind a bush and could hear, but I dont know what. I gave them their choice of the law or you, and they preferred you. She probably thinks she can buy out. You want Saul first'
No. Bring them in.
But Saul can tell you -
I dont need it. Or if I do - well see.
You want him in too'
Yes.
I went and opened the connecting door and invited them, and they entered. As Mrs. Rackell crossed to the red leather chair and sat her lips were so tight there were none. Heaths face had no expression at all, but it must be hard to display feeling with that kind of round pudgy frontispiece even if you try. Saul took a chair against the far wall, but Wolfe told him to move up, and he transferred to one at the end of my desk.
Mrs. Rackell grabbed the ball. She said it was absolutely contemptible, spying on her and threatening her with the police. It was infamous and treacherous. She wouldnt tolerate it.
Wolfe let her get it out and then said dryly, You astonish me, madam. He shook his head. You chatter about proprieties when you are under the menace of a mortal peril. Dont you realize what Ive done'Dont you know where we stand'
Youre chattering yourself, Heath said harshly. We were brought here under a threat. By what right'
Ill tell you. Wolfe leaned back. This is no pleasure for me, so Ill hurry it - my part of it. But you need to know exactly what the situation is, for you have a vital decision to make. First let me introduce Mr. Saul Panzer. His eyes moved. Saul, you followed Mr. Heath to a clandestine meeting with Mrs.
Rackell'
Yes, sir.
Then Ill risk an assumption. I assume that his purpose was to protest against her supplying funds to inculpate Miss Goheen, and to demand that the attempt be abandoned. You heard much of what they said'
Yes, sir.
Did it impeach my assumption'
No, sir.
Did it support it'
Yes, sir. Plenty.
Wolfe went to Heath. Mr. Panzers quality is known, though not to you until now. I think a jury will believe him, and Im sure the police and the FBI will.
My advice, sir, is to cut the loss.
Loss'Heath was trying to sneer but with that face he couldnt make it. I havent lost anything.
Youre about to. You cant help it. Wolfe wiggled a finger at him. Must I spell it out for you'Wednesday evening, day before yesterday, when you and six others were here, I was nonplused. I had my choice of giving up or of attempting simultaneously a dozen elaborate lines of inquiry, any one of which would have strained my resources. Neither was tolerable.
Since I was helpless with what had already happened, I had to try to make something happen under my eye, and I devised a stratagem - a clumsy one, but the best I could do. I made a proposal to Mr. and Mrs. Rackell. I phrased it with care, but in effect I asked for money to bribe a witness and solve the case by chicanery.
Wolfes eyes darted to Mrs. Rackell. And you idiotically exposed yourself.
I did'She was contemptuous. How'
You grabbed at it. Your husband, in his innocence, was dubious, but not you.
You thought that, having decided the job was beyond me, I was trying to earn a
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