What did I say then?
Read it.”
I got the book and flipped back the pages and found it and read it out:
…In your conceit, you are assuming, for your youth and inexperience, a terrific responsibility.
Molly Lauck died nine days ago, probably through bungling of someone's effort to kill another person.
During all that time you have possessed knowledge which, handled with competence and dispatch, might do something much more important than wreak vengeance; it might save a life, and it is even possible that the life would be one worth saving.
What do you- “That will do.” Wolfe turned to her. “That, mademoiselle, was a courteous and reasonable appeal.
I do not often appeal to anyone like that; I am too conceited.
I did appeal to you, without success. If it is painful to you to be reminded that your best friend died yesterday, in agony, on the spot now occupied by your chair, do you think it was agreeable to me to sit here and watch him do it?”
He shifted abruptly to Llewellyn.
“And you, sir, who engaged me to solve a problem and then proceeded to hamper me as soon as I made the first step-now you are quick on the trigger to resent it if I do not show tenderness and consideration for your cousin's remorse and grief.
I know none because I have none.
If I offer anything for sale in this office that is worth buying, it certainly is not a warm heart and maudlin sympathy for the distress of spoiled obtuse children.”
He turned to Helen.
“Yesterday, in your pride, you asked for nothing and offered nothing.
What information you gave was forced from you by a threat.
What did you come for today?
What do you want?”
Llewellyn had arisen and moved to her chair.
He was holding himself in.
“Come on, Helen,” he entreated her. “Come on, get out of here…”
She reached up and touched his sleeve, and shook her head without looking at him.
“Sit down, Lew,” she told him. “Please. I deserve it.” There was a spot of color on the cheek I could see.
“No. Come on.” She shook her head again.
Tm going to stay.”
“I'm not.”
He shot out his chin in Wolfe's direction.
“Look here, I apologized to you.
All right, I owed you that.
But now I want to say.,. that thing I signed here Tuesday…I'm giving you notice I'm done with that.
I'm not paying you ten thousand dollars, because I haven't got it and you haven't earned it.
I can pay a reasonable amount whenever you send a bill.
The deal's off.”
Wolfe nodded and murmured,
“I expected that, of course.
The suspicions you hired me to substantiate have evaporated. The threat of molestation of your cousin, caused by her admission that she had seen the box of candy, no longer exists.
Half of your purpose is accomplished, since your cousin will not work any more-at least, not at Mr. McNair's.
As for the other half, to continue the investigation of the murder of Molly Lauck would mean of necessity an inquiry into Mr. McNair's death also, and that might easily result in something highly distasteful to a Frost.
That's the logic of it, for you, perfectly correct; and if I expected to collect even a fair fraction of my fee I shall probably have to sue you for it.” He sighed, and leaned back.
“And you stampeded me to 52nd Street with that confounded letter.
Good day, sir.
I don't blame you; but I shall certainly send you a bill for ten thousand dollars.
I know what you are thinking: that you won't be sued because I won't go to a courtroom to testify.
You are correct; but I shall certainly send you a bill.”
“Go ahead.
Come on, Helen.”
She didn't budge.
She said quietly,
“Sit down, Lew.”
“What for?