Some Buried Caesar

"Now Miss Osgood," he said in a new tone." "I have more questions to ask of you, but this next is probably the most material of all. When did your brother tell you how and why he expected to win his bet with Mr. Pratt?"

She stared a second and said, "He didn't tell me at all. What makes you think he did?" It sounded straight to me.

"I thought it likely. Your father says that you and your brother were very close to each other."

"We were."

"But he told you nothing of that wager?"

"He didn't have to tell me he made it, I heard him. He didn't tell me how or why he expected to win it."

"What was discussed as you rode home from Pratt's yes- terday?"

"I don't know. Nothing in particular."

"Remarkable. The bizarre wager which had just been made wasn't mentioned?"

"No. Mr. Bronson was… well, it only takes a couple of minutes to drive here from Pratt's-"

"Mr. Bronson was what?"

"Nothing. He was there, that's all."

"Is he an old friend of your brother's?"

"He's not-no. Not an old friend."

"But a friend, I presume, since you and your brother brought him here?"

"Yes." She clipped it. She was terrible.

"Is he a friend of yours too?"

"No." She raised her voice a little. "Why should you ask me about Mr. Bronson?"

"My dear child." Wolfe compressed his lips. 'For heaven's sake don't start that. I am a hired instrument of vengeance… hired by your father. Nowadays an Erinys wears a coat and trousers and drinks beer and works for pay, but the function is unaltered and should still be performed, if at all, mercilessly. I am going to find out who killed your brother. A part of the operation is to prick all available facts. I in- tend to look into Mr. Bronson as well as everyone else un- lucky enough to be within range. For example, take Miss Pratt. Did you approve of your brother's engagement to marry Miss Caroline Pratt?"

She stared in consternation, opened her mouth, and closed it.