The League of Frightened Men

"Nothing of any importance. Only that I'm out of it. In your total of fifty-odd • thousand, you've got me down for ten | dollars. Your sources of information are up-to-date. Have you any idea what architects have been up against the past four years? Even good ones. I did the new city hall at Baltimore in 1928. Now I 1 couldn't get – you're not thinking of • doing any building, Mr. Wolfe? A telephone stand or a dog kennel or • anything? I'd be glad to submit designs – Oh, the devil. Anyway, I forgot I'm just here ex-officio, I'm not paying my way. – Come on, Lorrie, come and finish your drink. You ought to be home in bed, you're sagging worse than I am." He took Burton's arm.

Moving off, they halted for Wolfe:

"Mr. Farrell. I am under the same necessity of earning your ten dollars as Mr.

Collard's nine thousand. If you have comments -"

"Hell no. I haven't even got a comment.

Nor am I even contributing ten bucks to the pot of retribution, I'm taking it out in Scotch."George Pratt said to Cabot, "Come on, Nick, have a little refreshment," and they followed the other two. Alex Drummond was left alone at the corner of Wolfe's desk; he jerked to join the procession, then jerked back. He looked at Wolfe with his bright little eyes, stepped closer to him, and made his voice low:

"Uh – Mr. Wolfe. I imagine your sources of information are pretty good."

Wolfe said without looking at him,

"They are superlative."

"I imagine so. Gus Farrell hasn't really been up against it for more than a couple of months, but I notice you are aware of it.

Uh – I wonder if you would be willing to enlighten me regarding another item on your list. Just curiosity."

"I haven't engaged to satisfy your curiosity."

"No. But I was wondering. Why have you got Gaines down for eight thousand and Burton for seven thousand and so on, and Ferd Bowen for only twelve hundred?

He's something in Wall Street – I mean really something. Isn't he? The firm of Galbraith and Bowen…" Drummond made his voice a little lower. "Frankly, it's more than curiosity… he handles a few little investments for me…"

Wolfe looked at him and looked away again. I thought for a minute he wasn't going to reply at all, but he did, with his eyes shut. "Don't bother to disparage your investments. It can have no effect on the amount of your payment to me, for that has already been calculated and recorded.