“I'm bored as the devil, but all I need is six dances with you and-
“Not to-night, my colleen bawn. Damn it, I'm working. Will you help?
“When?
“Now.
“Is it any fun?
“So-so. Nothing to brag of.
“Are you coming here for me?
“No. I'm going-you must get this straight. Now listen.
“That's exactly what I had in mind. I was just telling myself, Lily, my precious, if he starts talking you must listen, because he is very shy and sensitive and therefore-did you say something?
“I said shut up. I'm at my office. A man is here with me. We'll leave as soon as
I hang up. I'll go alone to your place and wait for you outside your door. The man-
“You won't have to wait. I can make it-
“Shut up, please. Your first hour has started, so this is on my time. The man with me has a car with a driver parked down in front. He will be driven to the
Flamingo Club and stop at the curb, and you will be waiting there in front, and when he opens the door you will climb in, not waiting for him to get out like a gentleman, because he won't. You will not speak to the driver, who, when you're inside, will proceed to your address, where you and the man will find me waiting at your door.
“Unless I get in the wrong car, and-
“I'm telling you. It's a dark grey forty-eight Chewy two-door sedan, New York licence OA six, seven, one, one, three. Got that?
“Yes.
Til make it a dollar ten an hour. The man will call you Lily, and you will call him Pete. Joining him in the car and riding up to your place, you need not go to extremes, but it is important for the driver to get the idea that you are mighty glad to see Pete and that you are looking forward with pleasure to the next several hours with him. But-
“Is it a reunion after a long absence?
“I'll make it a dollar twenty an hour. I was about to say, you can leave it vague whether you last saw Pete a week ago or two months ago. You're just glad to be with him because you're so fond of him, but don't get thinking you're
Paulette Goddard and ham it. Do it right. Pretend it's me. Which brings me to the crux. It's going to be an ordeal for you. Wait till you see Pete.
“What's the matter with him?
“Everything. He's old enough to be your father and then some. He has whiskers, turning grey. His face is pleated. You will have to fight down the feeling that you're having a nightmare, and-
“Archie! It's Nero Wolfe!
Goddam a woman anyhow. There was absolutely no sense or reason for it. My brain buzzed.
“Sure, I said admiringly. “You do it with mirrors. If it was him, the way I feel about him, the first thing I would do would be to get him a date with you, huh? Okay, then don't call him Pete, call him Nero.
“Then who is it?
“It's a man named Peter Roeder, and I've got to have a long talk with him that won't get in the papers.
“We could take him to Norway.
“Maybe. We have to discuss Norway. Give me a ring later in the week and tell me how you feel about this proposition.
Til be out on the sidewalk in ten minutes, less than that, waiting for my Pete.
“No public announcement.
“Certainly not.
Tm very pleased with your work so far. We'll have to get you a social security number. I'll be waiting anxiously at your door.
I hung up and told Wolfe, “All set.
Out of his chair, he grunted. “You overdid it a little, perhaps? Nightmare, for instance?
“Yes, sir, I agreed. “I get too enthusiastic.
I glared at him, and he glared back.
