'No doubt,' Wolfe conceded. 'We'll allow your exception to that part. Do you verify Mr. Demarest's account of what happened last evening?'
'No. There wasn't the slightest necessity of 'calming me down,' as he put it. I merely wanted -'
'Confound it, were you four people together, with Mrs. Demarest, from seven-thirty till after midnight?'
'Yes, we were.'
Wolfe grunted. In a moment he grunted again and turned to me.
'Archie. Miss Nieder's glass is empty. So is Mr. Demarest's. See to it, please.'
He leaned back, shut his eyes, and began making little circles on the arm of his chair with the tip of his forefinger. He was flummoxed good, his nose pushed right in level with his face.
I performed as host. Since Demarest's requirement was another Tom Collins it took a little time, but Polly Zarella took none at all since she had shown herself capable of pouring the Tokay herself. Apparently the statement about Cynthia's superiority, out loud for people to hear, had made Roper thirsty, for this time he accepted my offer and chose B B. In between, glances at Wolfe showed that he was working, and working hard, for his lips were pushing out and then pulling in, out and in, out and in…
I finished the replenishing and resumed my seat.
Wolfe half opened his eyes.
'So,' he said conversationally, as if he were merely stating a new paragraph with the continuity intact, 'naturally the police are specially interested in Miss Nieder, since she alone, of those who have keys, is vulnerable. By the way, Mr. Daumery, how did it happen that Miss Nieder wasn't invited to that conference? Isn't she a half-owner?'
'I represented her interests,' Demarest stated.
'But before long she'll probably be representing herself. Shouldn't she be consulted on important matters?'
Bernard spoke. 'Damn it, isn't it obvious? If she had been there we couldn't have handled Roper at all. He can't bear the sight of her.'
'I deny -' Roper began, but Wolfe cut him off.
'Even so, isn't it true that Miss Nieder has been deliberately and consistently ignored in the management of the business?'
'Yes,' Polly said, nodding emphatically.
The three men said no simultaneously, and all were going on to elaborate, but again Wolfe took it away.
'This will finish sooner if you let me dominate it. I am not implying that Miss Nieder is unappreciated. You all admit her designing talent, all but Mr. Roper, and just this afternoon one of you was quick and eager to resent an aspersion on her. I mean, Mr. Daumery, your assaulting Mr. Roper only because he hinted that Miss Nieder might have killed a man. Your business needs him, and surely you were risking losing him. You leaped hot-headed to Miss Nieder's defense. It isn't easy to reconcile that with your reluctance to come here this evening at her request.'
'I wasn't reluctant. I had to think it over, that's all.'
'You often have to think things over, don't you?'
Bernard resented it. 'What's it to you if I do?'
'It's a great deal to me,' Wolfe declared. 'I have engaged to prevent Miss Nieder's arrest for murder, and I suspect that your habit of thinking things over is going to show me how to do it, and I intend to learn if I'm right.'
His gaze shifted. 'Mr. Demarest. How long have you known Mr. Daumery?'
'Six years. Ever since he graduated from college and started to work in his uncle's business.'
'You've known him intimately?'
'Yes and no. I was an intimate friend of Paul Nieder, the partner of Bernard's uncle.'
'Please give me a considered answer to this: has he always had to think things over? Have you noticed any change in him in that respect, at any time?'
Demarest smiled. 'I don't have to consider it. He was always a very decisive young man, even aggressive, until he became the active head of the business after his uncle's death some six weeks ago. But that was only natural, wasn't it? A man of his age suddenly taking on so great a responsibility?'
'Perhaps. Miss Zarella, do you agree with what Mr. Demarest has said?'
'Oh, yes!' Polly was emphatic as usual. 'Bernard has been so different!'
'And do you, Miss Nieder?'
Cynthia was frowning. 'Well, I suppose people might have got that impression -'
'Nonsense,' Wolfe bit her off. 'You're hedging. Mr. Daumery was ardent in resenting a suspicion that you had committed a murder, but you don't have to reciprocate for him. His alibi is impregnable. Was there a change in Mr. Daumery, as stated, about six weeks ago?'
'Yes, there was, but Mr. Demarest has explained why.'
