He had recovered some. He had played a lot of poker. He put a hand on my arm. Look, Archie, theres nothing to it. It looks funny, sure it does, us here together, but we didnt arrange it. I met Mrs Usher about a year ago, I went to see her when her daughter went to Grantham House, and when I came in here this evening and saw her, after whats happened, naturally I spoke to her and we
Save it, Dinky. Saul, phone Cramer.
Saul started to slide out. Byne reached and grabbed his sleeve. Now wait a minute. Damn it, cant you listen? Im
No, I said. No listening. You can have one minute to decide. I looked at my watch. In one minute either you and Mrs Usher come along to Nero Wolfe or we phone Cramer. One minute. I looked at my watch. Go.
Not the cops, Mrs Usher said. My God, not the cops.
Byne began, If youd only listen
No. Forty seconds.
If youre playing stud, and theres only one card to come, and the man across has two jacks showing and all you have is a mess, it doesnt matter what his hole card is, or yours either. Byne didnt use up the forty seconds. Only ten of them had gone when he stretched his neck to look for a waiter and ask for his check.
Chapter 13
I prefer, Wolfe said, to speak with you separately, but first I must make sure that there is no misunderstanding. I intend to badger you, but you dont have to submit to it. Before I start, or at any moment, you may get up and leave. If you do, you will be through with me; thenceforth you will deal with the police.
I make that clear because I dont want you bouncing up and down. If you want to go now, go.
He took a deep breath. He had just come in from the dining-room, having had his coffee there while I reported on the summit conference at Toms Joint.
We were forced to come here by a threat, Byne said.
Certainly you were. And I am detaining you by the same threat. When you prefer that to this, leave. Now, madam, I wish to speak privately with Mr Byne. Saul, take Mrs Usher to the front room.
Dont go, Byne told her. Stay here.
Wolfe turned to me. You were right, Archie. He is incorrigible. It isnt worth it. Get Mr Cramer.
No, Elaine Usher said. She left the chair. Ill go.
Saul was up. This way, he said, and went and opened the door to the front room and held it for her. When she had passed through he followed and closed the door.
Wolfe levelled his eyes at Byne. Now, sir. Dont bother to raise your voice; that wall and door are sound-proofed. Mr Goodwin has told me how you explained being in that restaurant with Mrs Usher. Do you expect me to accept it?
No, Dinky said.
Of course. He had had time to realize that it wouldnt do. If he had gone to see her because her daughter was at Grantham House, how had he learned that she was Faiths mother? Not from the records and not from Mrs Irwin. From one of the other girls? It was too tricky.
What do you substitute for it? Wolfe asked.
I told Goodwin that because the real explanation would have been embarrassing for Mrs Usher. Now I cant help it. I met her some time ago, three years ago, and for about a year I was intimate with her. Shell probably deny it. Im pretty sure she will Naturally she would.
No doubt. And your meeting her this evening was accidental?
No, Dinky said. He had also had time to realize that that was too fishy. He went on, She phoned me this morning and said she was at the Christie Hotel , registered as Edith Upson. She had known that I was Mrs Robilottis nephew, and she said she wanted to see me and ask me about her daughter who had died. I told her I hadnt been there Tuesday evening, and she said she knew that, but she wanted to see me. I agreed to see her because I didnt want to offend her. I didnt want it to get out that I had been intimate with Faith Ushers mother. We arranged to meet at that restaurant.
Had you known previously that she was Faith Ushers mother?
I had known that she had a daughter, but not that her name was Faith. She had spoken of her daughter when wewhen I had known her.
What did she ask you about her daughter this evening?
She just wanted to know if I knew anything that hadnt been in the papers. Anything about the people there or exactly what had happened. I could tell her about the people, but I didnt know any more about what had happened than she did.
Do you wish to elaborate on any of this? Or add anything?
Theres nothing to add.
Then Ill see Mrs Usher. After I speak with her Ill ask you in again, with her present. Archie, take Mr Byne and bring Mrs Usher.
He came like a lamb. He had thrown away his discard and made his draw and his bets, and was ready for the show-down. I opened the door for him, held it for Mrs Usher to enter, closed it, and returned to my desk. She went to the red leather chair, so Wolfe had to swivel to face her. Another item of Sauls report on her had been that she liked men, and there were indications that men probably liked herthe way she handled her hips when she walked, the tilt of her head, the hint of a suggestion in her eyes, even now, when she was under pressure and when the man she was looking at was not a likely candidate for a frolic. And she was forty. At twenty she must have been a treat.