“Take it easy.
I’m just the messenger boy.”
“Yeah?
Here’s the message.”
He unfolded a paper he had in his hand.
Having seen a search warrant before, I didn’t need a magnifying glass– I looked through the crack at it.
Rowcliff said,
“What are you waiting for?
Do you want me to count ten?”
Chapter 11
I said,
“Hold your horses, lieutenant.
If what you want is in here it can’t get out, since I suppose you’ve got the rear and the roof covered.
This isn’t my house, it belongs to Nero Wolfe and he’s upstairs.
Wait a minute, I’ll be right back.”
I went up three steps at a time, paying no attention to Rowcliff yelling outside.
I went in the south room; they were standing there.
I said to Clara Fox,
“They’re here.
Make it snappy.
Take Horrocks with you, and if he’s in on this I’ll kill him.”
Horrocks started,
“Really—”
“Shut up!
Go with Miss Fox.
For God’s sake—”
She might have made an adventuress at that; she was okay when it came to action.
She darted to the table and grabbed her handbag and handkerchief, dashed back and got Horrocks by the hand, and pulled him through the door with her.
I took a quick look around to make sure there were no lipsticks or powder puffs left behind, shoved the table toward the window where it looked more natural, and beat it. In the hall I stopped one second to shake myself.
Noises of Rowcliff bellowing on the stoop floated up.
Horrocks and Clara Fox had disappeared.
I went down to the front door and slid the bolt and flung it open.
“Welcome,” I grinned. “Mr. Wolfe says he wants the warrant for a souvenir.”
They trooped in behind Rowcliff.
He grunted.
“Where’s Wolfe?”
“Up with the plants.
Until eleven o’clock.
He told me to tell you this, that of course you have the legal right to search the endre premises, but that the city will pay for every nickel’s worth of damage that’s done if he has to go to City Hall himself to collect it.”
“No! Don’t scare me to death.
Come on, boys.
Where does that go to?”
“Front room.” I pointed. “Office.
Kitchen.
Basement stairs.
The rear door is down there, onto the court.”
He turned, and then whirled to me again.
“Look here, Goodwin.
You’ve had your bluff called.
Why not save time?