“Pfui. I have reported it to the police. In writing, signed.”
“Then why not to me?”
“Because I’m not a simpleton. I have reason to think that the conversation was one of the links in a chain that led to Mrs. Fromm’s death, and if that is so, the person most eager to know what she said to me is probably her murderer.”
“I’m not her murderer.”
“That remains to be seen.”
For a moment I thought Maddox was going to choke. His throat swelled visibly. But a veteran lawyer has had lots of practice controlling his reactions, and he managed it. “That’s worse than stupidity, it’s drivel.”
“I disagree. Have the police talked with you?”
“Certainly.”
“How many of them?”
“Two-no, three.”
“Would you mind telling me who they were?”
“A Captain Bundy, and a sergeant, and Deputy Commissioner Youmans. Also Assistant District Attorney Mandelbaum.”
“Did any of them tell you what Mrs. Fromm consulted me about yesterday?”
“No. We didn’t get onto that.”
“I suggest that you see someone at the District Attorney’s office-preferably someone you know well- and ask him to tell you. If he does so, or if any other official does, without important reservations, I’ll disgorge- your word-the money Mrs. Fromm paid me.”
Maddox was looking as if someone were trying to persuade him that his nose was on upside down.
“I assure you,” Wolfe went on, “that I am not ass enough to withhold evidence in a capital crime, especially not one as sensational as this. Indeed, I am meticulous about it. Unless the police have information about you that is unknown to me I doubt if they have hitherto regarded you as a likely suspect, but you may now find them a nuisance, after I have reported that you were so zealous to learn what Mrs. Fromm said to me that you went to all this trouble. That, of course, is my duty. This time it will also be my pleasure.”
“You are-” He was about to choke again. “You are threatening to report this interview.”
“Not a threat. Merely informing you that I will do so as soon as you leave.”
“I’m leaving now.” He was up. “I’ll replevy that ten thousand dollars.”
He wheeled and marched out. I followed to go and open the door for him, but he beat me to it, though he had to dive into the front room for his hat. When I returned to the office Horan was on his feet looking down at Wolfe, but no words were passing. Wolfe told me, “Get Mr. Cramer’s office, Archie.”
“Wait a minute.” Horan’s thin tenor was urgent. “You’re making a mistake, Wolfe. If you really intend to investigate the murder. Investigate how? You had two of the persons closest to Mrs. Fromm and her affairs here in your office, and you have chased one of them out. Is that sensible?”
“Bosh.” Wolfe was disgusted. “You won’t even tell me whether Mrs. Fromm told you she came to me.”
“The context of your question was offensive.”
“Then I’ll try being affable. Will you give me the substance of what was said at the gathering at your home last evening?”
Horan’s long eyelashes fluttered. “I doubt if I should. Of course I have told the police all about it, and they have urged me to be discreet.”
“Naturally. But will you?”
“No.”
“Will you describe, fully and frankly, the nature and course of your relations with Mrs. Fromm?”
“Certainly not.”
“If I send Mr. Goodwin to the office of the Association for the Aid of Displaced Persons, for which you are counsel, will you instruct the staff to answer his questions fully and freely?”
“No.”
“So much for affability.” Wolfe turned. “Get Mr. Cramer’s office, Archie.”
I swiveled and dialed WA 9-8241, and got a prompt response, but then it got complicated. None of our dear friends or enemies was available, and I finally had to settle for a Sergeant Griffin, and so informed Wolfe, who took his instrument and spoke.
“Mr. Griffin? Nero Wolfe speaking. This is for the information of Mr. Cramer, so please see that he gets it. Mr. James Albert Maddox and Mr. Dennis Horan, both attorneys-at-law, called on me this evening. You have the names correctly? Yes, I suppose they are familiar. They asked me to tell them about my conversation with Mrs. Damon Fromm when she came to my office yesterday. I refused, and they insisted. I won’t go so far as to say that Mr. Maddox tried to bribe me, but I got the impression that if I told him about the conversation he wouldn’t press me to return the money Mrs. Fromm paid me; otherwise, he would. Mr. Horan concurred, at least
