share of the Softdown profits. Legally you may get something, I don't know, but you certainly haven't earned anything, and nobody related to you or connected with you has earned anything. Isn't that correct?'
Hagh's expression was tolerant. 'It is perfectly correct, sir. I can feel no regret or embarrassment at being put in the class with the charming Mrs. Jaffee.' He smiled irresistibly at Sarah, who was next to him.
Pitkin untwisted to his normal position, focusing on Wolfe from under his brows. He sniffed. 'You see what I mean when I say that life is nothing but bookkeeping?'
Wolfe nodded. 'It's not too recondite for me. How about Miss Eads? Wasn't her position essentially the same as Mrs. Jaffee's? Wasn't she also a parasite? Or had the interest she had recently shown in the business made her an earner?'
'No. That was no service to the corporation. It was an interference.'
'Then she had earned nothing?'
'That's right.'
'And deserved nothing?'
'That's right.'
'But in a week she would have taken title to ninety per cent of the company's stock, leaving you earners with nothing but your salaries. Wasn't that deplorable?'
'Yes. We all thought so.'
'You, perhaps, with uncommon warmth because you are fiercely anti-feminist and hate to see a woman own or run anything?'
Pitkin sniffed. 'That is not true.'
'So Miss Duday told Mr. Goodwin.'
'Miss Duday is spiteful and untrustworthy. About women, I merely feel that they too should be subject to the rules of bookkeeping and be permitted to take only what they earn, and on account of their defects of ability and character they are incapable of earning much more than a bare subsistence. The exceptions are very rare.'
Wolfe pushed his tray back, placed his palms on the chair arms, and moved his head slowly from left to right, from Helmar to Duday, and back again, taking them in.
'I think I've had enough of you,' he said, not offensively. 'I'm not at all sure the evening has been well spent-whether, as Mr. Pitkin would put it, it shows a profit or loss, for you or for me.' He levered himself out of his chair and upright. 'Mr. Parker, will you come with me? I'd like to consult you briefly before deciding where I'm at.'
Taking the wall detour as before, he headed for the door, where Parker joined him, and they left together. I got up and canvassed for refills and got some takers, most of them leaving their seats. Viola Duday herded Sarah Jaffee to a far corner for a tete-a-tete. Andy Fomos crossed to them and joined in, uninvited; but in spite of their defects of ability and character they showed no signs of being in distress, so I didn't intrude. When everyone had been attended to at the bar, I propped myself on the edge of Wolfe's desk and closed my eyes and listened to the little hum they were making. I agreed with Wolfe-I had had enough for now, chiefly because I had caught no glimmer. Had he? I squeezed my eyes tight, concentrating, and the hum of the crowd kept me from hearing the door opening, but the hum stopped suddenly, and I raised my lids. They had returned. Parker crossed to Sarah. Wolfe came to his chair behind his desk but did not sit. He faced them.
'Miss Duday and gentlemen. I am not prepared to say yes or no. It's past midnight, and I must digest what I have heard and seen. I make only this commitment: Mr. Parker will take no step on behalf of Mrs. Jaffee until he has heard from me sometime tomorrow, and he will notify you in advance through Mr. Helmar.'
Of course it wasn't that easy. Helmar objected, and Brucker, but the loudest and stubbornest protests came from Irby, Eric Hagh's lawyer, and Andy Fomos. Irby wanted the authenticity of his client's document explicitly acknowledged by everyone. Fomos wanted to know when he would be made a director and how much he would be paid. While that minor tumult was proceeding, Bernard Quest went quietly to Sarah Jaffee and spoke to her persistently, but I saw her shake her head several times, so apparently he wasn't doing so well.
First to give up and go was Fomos. He suddenly threw up his arms and dashed for the hall, and I had to step on it to get there in time to see him disappearing onto the stoop. Next was Viola Duday, with no escort, and then Jay Brucker and Oliver Pitkin together. Bernard Quest left alone, and Perry Helmar. The only one who thought it appropriate to offer me a hand to shake when I let him out was Eric Hagh, who left with his lawyer, Irby. Last to go were Sarah Jaffee and Nathaniel Parker. I felt magnanimous as I closed the door after them and put the bolt on. What the hell, let him take her home. I was still way ahead, with my coat-and-hat-disposal service.
As I started for the office, here came Wolfe, headed for his elevator.
'Which one?' I asked.
He halted, glaring. 'Which one what?'
'Excuse me. I meant it only as a pleasantry. If you're as stumped as you look, God help your client.'
He eyed me. 'Archie. Do you know who killed Miss Eads and Mrs. Fomos?'
'No, sir.'
'Do you think you know?'
'No, sir.'
'I do-or I did-but there's a contradiction. What about Mrs. Jaffee? Is she a snake or a cheat?'
