'Sure. Down beyond the judging lot. He might be at the lot. They're judging Ayrshires and Belted Swiss this morning, but they begin on Guernseys at 1 o'clock.'
I thanked him and proceeded. After I had passed three sheds there was a large vacant space, roped off into divisions, and that was where the crowd was, several hundred of them, up against the ropes. Inside were groups of cattle, black with belts of white around their middles, held by men and boys with tie-ropes. Other men walked or stood around, frowning at the cattle, accompanied by still others armed with foun- tain pens and sheets of cardboard. One guy was kneeling down, inspecting an udder as if he expected to find the Clue of the Month on it. I couldn't see Bennett anywhere.
I found him in the second shed ahead, which was devoted to Guernseys. It was full of activity and worriment- brushing coats, washing hoofs and faces, combing tails, discussing and arguing. Bennett was rushing back and forth. He didn't rec- ognize me, and I nearly had to wrestle him to stop him. I re- minded him of our acquaintance and said that Nero Wolfe wanted to see him at the main exhibits building, or some more convenient spot, as soon as possible. Urgent.
'Out of the question,' he declared, looking fierce. 'I haven't even got time to eat. They're judging us at 1 o'clock.'
'Mr. Wolfe's solving a murder for Mr. Frederick Osgood. He needs important information from you.'
'I haven't got any.'
'He wants to ask you.'
'I can't see him now. I just can't do it. After 1 o'clock… when they start judging… you say he's at the main exhibits building? I'll see him or let him know…'
'He'll lunch at the Methodist tent. Make it soon. Huh?'
He said just as soon as possible.
It was noon by the time I got to our space in the main ex- hibits building. It was judgment day for more than Guernseys, as 4 o'clock that afternoon was zero hour for the orchids. Wolfe was there spraying and manicuring. The sprayer was a pippin, made specially to his order, holding two gallons, with a compression chamber and a little electric motor, weigh- ing only 11 pounds empty. His rival and enemy. Shanks, was with him admiring the sprayer when I joined them. I told him the car was okay and named the extent of the damage, and described the plight of Mr. Bennett.
He grimaced. 'Then I must wait here.'
'Standing is good for you.'
'And the delay. It is Wednesday noon. We have nothing left but shreds. I telephoned Mr. Waddell. The club carried to Mr. Pratt's place has not been found, and the police took no photographs of the bull. Pfui. Inspector Cramer's inde- fatigable routine has its advantages. Miss Osgood reports that none of the servants saw Bronson return. Our next move depends on Mr. Bennett.'
'He says he has no information.'
'But he has. He is ignorant of its application. Perhaps if you went back and explained? …'
'Not without using force. He says he hasn't got time to eat.'
That of course silenced him. He grunted and returned to Shanks.
I propped myself against the edge of the dahlia table across the aisle and yawned. Dissatisfaction filled my breast. I had failed to bring what I had been sent for, which was infrequent and irritating. I had been relieved of $66.20 of Wolfe's money. We were going to dine and sleep that night in a house where family and relatives were preparing for a funeral. Wolfe had just stated that in the murder case we were supposed to be solving we had nothing left but shreds. Alto- gether, the outlook was not rosy. Wolfe and Shanks went on chewing the rag, paying no attention to the visitors passing up and down the aisle, and I stood propped, with no enthusi- asm for any effort to combat the gloom. I must have shut my eyes for the first I knew there was a tug at my sleeve and a voice:
'Wake up, Escamillo, 'and show me the flowers.'
I let the lids up. 'How do you do. Miss Rowan. Go away. I'm in seclusion.'
'Kiss me.'
I bent and deposited a peck on her brow. 'There. Thank you for calling. Nice to see you.'
'You're a lout.'
'I have at no time asked you to submit bids.'
The comer of her mouth went up. 'This is a public ex- position. I paid my way in. You're an exhibitor. Go ahead and exhibit. Show me.'
'Not exhibitionist. Exhibitor. Anyway, I'm only an em- ployee.' I took her elbow and eased her across the aisle. 'Mr. Wolfe, you know Miss Rowan, She wants to be shown the orchids.'
He bowed. 'That is one compliment I always surrender to.'
She looked him in the eye. 'I want you to like me, Mr. Wolfe. Or not dislike me. Mr. Goodwin and I are probably going to be friends. Will you give me an orchid?'
'I rarely dislike women, and never like them. Miss Rowan. I have only albinos here. I'll give you orchids at 5 o'clock, after the judging, if you'll tell me where to send them.'
'I'll come and get them.'
The upshot of that was that she went to lunch with us.
The Methodist tent was fuller than the day before, prob- ably because we got there earlier.
