Being here, I ask to see her, which is quite all right.
What?”
My face was under control after the first shock. I said,
“Sure it’s quite all right.
I mean, to ask.
Seeing her is something else.
You must have got the address wrong or maybe you were phoning in your sleep.”
“Oh, no.
Really.” He folded his arms again. “See here, Mr. Goodwin, let’s cut across.
It’s a fact, I actually must see Miss Fox.
As a friend, you understand.
For purely personal reasons.
I’m quite determined about this.”
“Okay.
Find her.
She left no address here.”
He shook his head patiently.
“It won’t do, I assure you it won’t.
She telephoned me.
Is she in distress?
I don’t know.
I shall have to see her. If you will tell her—”
I stood up.
“Sorry, Mr. Horrocks.
Do you really have to go?
I hope you find Miss Fox.
Tell the Marquis of Clivers—”
He sat tight, shook his head again, and frowned.
“Damn it all.
I dislike this, really.
I’ve never set eyes on you before. What?
I’ve never seen this Mr. Wolfe.
Could Miss Fox have been under duress when she was telephoning?
You see the possibility, of course. Setting my mind at rest and all that.
If you put me out, it will really be necessary for me to tell those policemen outside that Miss Fox telephoned me from this address at nine o’clock this morning.
Also I should have to take the precaution of finding a telephone at once to repeat the information to your police headquarters.
What?”
I stared down at him, and I admit he was too much for me.
Whether he was deep and desperate or dumb and determined I didn’t know.
I said,
“Wait here.
Mr. Wolfe will have to know about you.
Kindly stay in this room.”
I left him there and went to the kitchen and told Fritz to stand in the hall, and if an Englishman emerged from the office, yodel.
Then I bounced up two Sights to the south room, called not too loud, and, when I heard the key rum, opened the door and entered.
Clara Fox stood and brushed her hair back and looked at me half alarmed and half hopeful.
I said,
“What time this morning did you phone that guy Francis Horrocks?”
She stared.
It got her.