The League of Frightened Men

I sent the third verses. The result was nothing short of magnificent, indeed it proved to be too magnificent. I had never heard of Nero Wolfe. I went to his office that evening for the pleasure ^of seeing my friends, and to look at Wolfe. I saw that he was acute and intuitive, and that my diversion was probably at an end. An attempt was made by my wife to impress Wolfe, but it failed.

There are other points that might be touched upon, but I believe none of them require explanation. I would like to mention, though, that my testimony on the witness-stand regarding my reason for writing my novel Devil Take the Hindmost, was in my opinion a superlative bit of finesse, and Nero Wolfe agrees with me.

I will add that I am not responsible for the literary quality of this document.

It was written by Nero Wolfe.

Paul Chapin.ff

Wolfe finished, dropped the confession to the table, and leaned back. "Now, gentlemen. If you wish to comment."

There were mumblings. Ferdinand

Bowen, the stockbroker, spoke up: "It seems to me Adier has commented for all of us. Drivel."

Wolfe nodded. ‹I can understand that viewpoint. In fact, I suppose that under the circumstances it is inevitable. But let me expound my own viewpoint. My position is that I have met my obligations under the memorandum and that the payments are due."

"My dear sir!" It was Nicholas Cabot. "Preposterous." ‹I think not. What I undertook to do was to remove your fear of Paul Chapin.

That's what it amounts to, with the facts we now have. Well: as for Andrew Hibbard, here he is. As for the deaths of Harrison and Dreyer, it should have been obvious to all of you, from the beginning, that Chapin had nothing to do with them.

You had known him all his mature life. I had merely read his books; but I was aware last Monday evening, when you gentlemen were here, that Chapin could not possibly commit a premeditated murder, and not even an impromptu one unless suddenly demented. And you, Mr.

Hibbard, a psychologist! Have you read

Chapin's books? Why are they so concerned with murder and the delight of it? Why does every page have its hymn to violence and the brute beauty of vehement action? Or, to change heroes, why did I Nietzsche say Thou goest to woman, forget not thy whip? Because he had not the temerity to touch a woman with the tip of a goose-feather. The truth is that Paul Chapin did murder Harrison and Dreyer and all of you. He has murdered you, and will doubtless do so again, in his books.

Let him, gentlemen, and go on breathing.