surprise. It was the first time Wolfe's house had ever been taken for a church, but there wasn't any other explanation, for either that specimen on the stoop was scheduled for best man at a wedding or Emily Post had been fooling me for years.
The two dicks were down on the sidewalk, looking up at the best man as if it was too much of a problem for them. They had nothing on me. I opened the door and let it come three inches, leaving the chain on, and said in a well-bred tone, 'Good morning.'
He peered through at me. 'I say, that crack is scarcely adequate. Really.' He had a well-trained voice but a little squawky.
'I'm sorry. This is a bad neighborhood and we have to be careful. What can I do for you?'
He went on peering. 'Is this the house of Mr. Nero Wolfe?'
'It is.'
He hesitated, and turned to look down at the snoops on the sidewalk, who were staring up at him in the worst possible taste. Then he came closer and pushed his face up against the crack and said in a tone nearly down to a whisper, 'From Lord Clivers. I wish to see Mr. Wolfe.'
I took a second for consideration and then slid the bolt off and opened up. He walked in and I shut the door and shot the bolt again. When I turned he was standing there with his stick hung over his elbow, pulling his gloves off. He was six feet, spare but not skinny, about my age, fair-skinned with chilly blue eyes, and there was no question about his being dressed for it. I waved him ahead and followed him into the office, and be took his time getting his paraphernalia deposited on Wolfe's desk before he lowered himself into a chair. Meantime I let him know that Mr. Wolfe was engaged and would be until eleven o'clock, and that I was the confidential assistant and was at his service. He got seated and looked at me as if he would have to get around to admitting my right to exist before we could hope to make any headway.
But he spoke. 'Mr. Goodwin? I see. Perhaps I got a bit ahead at the door. That is… I really should see Mr. Wolfe without delay.'
I grinned at him. 'You mean because you mentioned the Marquis of Clivers? That's okay. I wrote that letter. I know all about it. You can't see Mr. Wolfe before eleven. I can let him know you're here.'
'If you will be so good. Do that. My name is Horrocks- Francis Horrocks.'
I looked at him. So this was the geezer that bought roses with three-foot stems. I turned on the swivel and plugged in the plant room and pressed the button. In a minute Wolfe was on and I told him, 'A man here to see you, Mr. Francis Horrocks. From the Marquis of Clivers… Yeah, in the office… Haven't asked him… I told him, sure… Okay.'
I jerked the plugs and swiveled again. 'Mr. Wolfe says he can see you at eleven o'clock, unless you'd care to try me. He suggests the latter.'
'I should have liked to see Mr. Wolfe.' The blue eyes were going over me. 'Though I merely bring a message. First, though, I should- er- perhaps explain… I am here in a dual capacity. It's a bit confusing, but really quite all right. I am here, as it were, personally… and also semi-officially. Possibly I should first deliver my message from Lord Clivers.'
'Okay. Shoot.'
'I beg your pardon? Oh, quite. Lord Clivers would like to know if Mr. Wolfe could call at his hotel. An hour can be arranged-'
'I can save you breath on that. Mr. Wolfe never calls on anybody.'
'No?' His brows went up. 'He is not-that is, bedridden?'
'Nope, only house-ridden. He doesn't like it outdoors. He never has called on anybody and never will.'
'You don't say.' His forehead showed wrinkles. 'Well. Lord Clivers wishes very much to see him. You say you wrote that letter?'
I nodded. 'Yeah, I know all about it. I suppose Mr. Wolfe would be glad to talk with the marquis on the telephone-'
'He prefers not to discuss it on the telephone.'
'Okay. I was going to add, or the marquis can come here. Of course the legal part of it is being handled by our attorney.'
The young diplomat sat straight with his arms folded and looked at me. 'You have engaged a solicitor?'
'Certainly. If it comes to a lawsuit, which we hope it won't, we don't want to waste any time. We understand the marquis will be in New York another week, so we'd have to be ready to serve him at once.'
He nodded. 'Just so. That's a bit candid.' He bit his lip and cocked his head a little. 'We appear to have reached a dead end. Your position seems quite clear. I shall report it, that's all I can do.' He hitched his feet back and cleared his throat. 'Now, if you don't mind, I assume my private capacity. I remarked that I am here personally. My name is Francis Horrocks.'
'Yeah. Your personal name.'
'Just so. And I would like to speak with Miss Fox. Miss Clara Fox.'
I felt myself straightening out my face and hoped he didn't see me. I said, 'I can't say I blame you. I've met Miss Fox. Go to it.'
He frowned. 'If you would be so good as to tell her I am here. It's quite all right. I know she's having a spot of seclusion, but it's quite all right. Really. You see, when she telephoned me this morning I insisted on knowing the address of her retreat. In fact, I pressed her on it. I confess she laid it on me not to come here to see her, but I made no commitment. Also, I didn't come to see her; I came semi-socially. What? Being here, I ask to see her, which is quite all right. What?'
