Over My Dead Body

I worked my fingers limber enough so I could resume at the typewriter, but that report was hoeing a hard row. In addition to my deep-seated reluctance to spoiling white paper just to furnish a cop with reading matter, there were constant interruptions. A phone call from Miltan the йpйe champion. All he wanted was information and I had none to give him. One from a guy in town from St Louis who wanted to discuss orchids with Wolfe, and an appointment was made for the next day. One from Orrie Cather for Wolfe, and, a little later, one from Saul Panzer, both of which I was invited to keep out of.

Towards eleven o'clock there was a phone call from the Emperor of Japan. At least it might as well have been. First a woman asked for Mr Wolfe, and I asked who was it and she said Mr Barrett and I said put him on and she said hold the wire. I waited a while. Then a man said he wanted Mr Wolfe, and I said is this Mr Barrett, and he said authoritatively, no, it isn't, put Mr Wolfe on, please, and I asked who it was that wanted to talk to Mr Wolfe, and he said Mr Barrett, and I said put him on and he said hold the wire. That kind of a shenanigan. There was more to it than that, but after a terrific and exhausting struggle I finally heard something definite, in a leisurely cultivated male voice: "This is Barrett, Mr Wolfe?"

"Donald Barrett?"

"No, no, John P. Barrett."

"Oh, Donald's father. Of Barrett & De Russy?"

"That's right, Mr Wolfe, could you-"

"Hold it. This is Archie Goodwin, Mr Wolfe's confidential assistant."

"I thought I had Wolfe."

"Nope. I wore 'em out. Mr Wolfe will be engaged until eleven o'clock. I'll take any message."

"Well." Hesitation. "That will do, I suppose. I would like to have Mr Wolfe call at my office as soon after eleven as possible."

"No, sir. I'm sorry. He never makes calls."

"But this is important. In fact, urgent. It will be well worth his while-"

"No, sir. There's no use prolonging it. Mr Wolfe transacts business only at his office. He wouldn't go across the street to receive the keys to the Bank of England."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Yes, sir. I've always said so. But there's no use discussing it except as an interesting case of cussedness."

For ten seconds I heard nothing. Then, "Where is your office?"

"506 West 35th Street."

"Mr Wolfe is there throughout the day?"

"And night. Office and home."

"Well… I'll see. Thank you."