It is an idea, I conceded, but it has a flaw. If I remembered something now that I didnt put in my statement, no contribution from your aunt would replace my hide that the cops and the D.A. would peel off. Tell your aunt that I appreciate the compliment and her generous offer, but I cant
I didnt say she made an offer. You keep harping on your damn statement. Whats in it?
That was what was biting him, naturally, as it had bit Celia Grantham and Edwin Laidlaw, and probably all of them. For ten minutes he did the harping on it. He didnt go so far as to make a cash offer, either on his own or on behalf of his aunt, but he appealed to everything from my herd instinct to my better nature. I would have let him go on as long as his breath lasted, on the chance that he might drop a word with a spark of light in it, if I hadnt known that company was expected at the office at six oclock and I wanted to be there when they arrived. When I left he was so frustrated he didnt even go to the hall with me.
I had shaved it pretty close, and that was the worst time of day for uptown traffic, so I didnt quite make it. It was six-five when I climbed out of the taxi and headed for the stoop. If you think I was straining my nerves more than necessary, you dont know Wolfe as I do. I have seen him get up and march out and take to his elevator merely because a woman has burst into tears or started screaming at him, and the expected company, he had told me, was three females, Helen Yarmis, Ethel Varr, and Rose Tuttle, and there was no telling what shape they might be in after the sessions they had been having with various officers of the law.
Therefore I was relieved when I entered the office and found that everything was peaceful, with Wolfe at his desk, the girls in a row facing him, and Orrie in my chair. As I greeted the guests Orrie moved to the couch, and when I was where I belonged Wolfe addressed me.
We have only exchanged civilities, Archie. Have you anything that should be reported?
Nothing that wont wait, no, sir. He is still afraid of a woman.
He went to the company. As I was saying, ladies, I thank you for coming. You were under no obligation. Mr Gather, asking you to come, explained that Mr Goodwins opinion, expressed in your hearing Tuesday evening, that
Faith Usher was murdered, has produced some complications that are of concern to me, and that I wished to consult with you. Mr Goodwin still believes
I told him, Rose Tuttle blurted, that Faith might take the poison right there, and he said he would see that nothing happened, but it did. Her blue eyes and round face werent as cheerful as they had been at the party, in fact they werent cheerful at all, but her curves were all in place and her pony tail made its jaunty arc.
Wolfe nodded. He has told me of that. But he thinks that what happened was not what you feared. He still believes that someone else poisoned Miss Ushers champagne. Do you disagree with him, Miss Tuttle?
I dont know. I thought she might do it, but I didnt see her. Ive answered so many questions about it that now I dont know what I think.
Miss Varr?
You may remember my remark that I would have picked Ethel Varr if I had been shopping. Since she was facing Wolfe and I had her in profile, and she was in daylight from the windows, her face wasnt ringing any of the changes in its repertory, but that was a good angle for it, and the way she carried her head would never change. Her lips parted and closed again before she answered.
I dont think, she said in a voice that wanted to tremble but she wouldnt let it, that Faith killed herself.
You dont, Miss Varr? Why?
Because I was looking at her. When she took the champagne and drank it. I was standing talking with Mr Goodwin, only just then we werent saying anything because Rose had told me that she had told him about Faith having the poison, and he was watching Faith so I was watching her too, and Im sure she didnt put anything in the champagne because I would have seen her. The police have been trying to get me to say that Mr Goodwin told me to say that, but I keep telling them that he couldnt because he hasnt said anything to me at all. He hasnt had a chance to. Her head turned, changing her face, of course, as I had it straight on. Have you, Mr Goodwin?
I wanted to go and give her a hug and a kiss, and then go and shoot Cramer and a few assistant district attorneys. Cramer hadnt seen fit to mention that my statement had had corroboration; in fact, he had said that if it wasnt for me suicide would be a reasonable assumption. The damn liar. After I shot him I would sue him for damages.
Of course not, I told her. If I may make a personal remark, you told me at the dinner table that you were only nineteen years old and hadnt learned how to take things, but you have certainly learned how to observe things, and how to take your ground and stand on it. I turned to Wolfe. It wouldnt hurt any to tell her its satisfactory.
It is, he acknowledged. Indeed, Miss Varr, quite satisfactory. That, if she had only known it, was a triumph. He gave me a satisfactory only when I hatched a masterpiece. His eyes moved. Miss Yarmis?