much-'
'Stay to dinner here?'
'Certainly.'
'No.' It was his flattest no.
I flared. 'That,' I said, as flat as him, 'is childish. You have a low opinion of women and'-now let me finish-anyhow, you don't want them around. But because this case has completely dried up on you, you have dumped this in my lap, and I need all the play I can get, and besides, are you going to send a crowd of your fellow beings, regardless of sex, away from your house hungry at the dinner hour?'
His lips were tight. He parted them to speak. 'Very well. You can take them to dinner at Rusterman's. I'll phone Marko and he'll give you a private room. When you know how many-'
The phone rang, and I swiveled and got it and told the transmitter, 'Archie Goodwin speaking.'
A feminine voice said, 'Say something else.'
'It's your turn,' I stated.
'Was it you that brought the boxes?'
It was the switchboard misanthrope. 'Right,' I admitted. 'Did they all get delivered?'
'Yes, all but one. One was home sick. Brother, did you stir
up some hell around there! Is it true that you're the Archie Goodwin that works for Nero Wolfe?'
'I am. This is his number.'
'Well, well! The note said to call it and ask why. Why?'
'I'm lonely and I'm giving a party. Tomorrow at six. Here at Nero Wolfe's place. The address is in the book. You will be in no danger if enough of you come. Plenty of orchids, plenty of drinks, a chance to know me better, and a dinner fit for Miss America. May I ask your name?'
'Sure, Blanche Duke. You say tomorrow at six?'
'That's right.'
'Would you care to make a note of something?'
'I love to make notes.'
'Put down Blanche Duke. Isn't that a hell of a name? Two jiggers of dry gin, one of dry vermouth, two dashes of grenadine, and two dashes of Pernod. Got it?'
'Yeah.'
'I may come tomorrow, but if I don't, try that yourself. I never know what I'm going to do tomorrow.'
I told her she'd better come, swiveled, and spoke to Wolfe.
'That's better than Mrs. Adams, at least. Not so bad for the
first hour after the office closed. About taking them to Rusterman's, they'd probably like going to the best restaurant in
, New York, but-'
'You won't take them to Rusterman's.'
'No? You said?'
'I've reconsidered. You will give them dinner here. I'll arrange the menu with Fritz-perhaps Mondor patties, and duckling with cherries and grapes. For women, the Pasti Grey Riesling will be good enough; I'm glad to have a use for it.'
'But you don't care for it.'
'I won't be here. I shall leave at five minutes to six, dine with Marko, and spend the evening with him.'
I have often stated, in these reports of Wolfe's activities, that he never leaves the house on business, but I suppose now I'll have to qualify it. Strictly speaking, I could say that his intention was not to leave the house on business, merely on account of business, but that would be quibbling.
I protested. 'You ought to be here to look them over. They'll be expecting to see you. Mrs. Adams is forty-eight, about right for you, and she can't have a happy home life or she wouldn't be working. Besides, how do you-'
The phone rang. I got it and said who I was. A high soprano made me hold the receiver away from my ear.
'Mr. Goodwin, I simply had to call you! Of course it isn't proper, since I've never met you, but if I don't tell you my name and never see you I don't think it will be such a terrible misstep, do you? Those are the loveliest orchids I have ever seen! I'm going to a little party this evening, just a few of us at a friend's apartment, and I'm going to wear them, and can you imagine what they'll say? And can you imagine what I'll say when they ask me who gave them to me? I simply can't imagine! Of course I can say they're from an unknown admirer, but really I'm not the kind of girl who would dream of having unknown admirers, and I haven't the faintest idea what I'll say when they ask me, but I simply can't resist wearing them because…'
When I hung up, five minutes later, Wolfe muttered at me, 'You didn't invite her.'
