The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

I got home a little after seven and, entering the office, found that I owed Wolfe an apology. He was reading His Own Image. He finished a paragraph and, since it was close to dinnertime, inserted his bookmark and put the book down. He never dog-ears a book that gets a place on the shelves. Many a time I have seen him use the bookmark part way and then begin dog-earing.

His look asked, the question and I answered it. He wants a verbatim report only when nothing less will do, so I merely gave him the facts, of course including Anne Tenzer's reaction to the overalls. When I finished he said, Satisfactory. Then he decided that was an understatement and added, Very satisfactory.

Yes, sir, I agreed. I could use a raise.

No doubt. Of course you have considered the possibility that she had seen the advertisement, knew you were shamming, and was gulling you.

I nodded. Any odds you want she hadn't seen the ad. She did no fishing, and she isn't dumb.

Where's Mahopac?

Sixty miles north. Putnam County. I can grab a bite in the kitchen and be there by nine o'clock.

No. The morning will do. You're impetuous. He looked at the wall clock. Fritz would come any minute to announce dinner. Can you get Saul now?

Why? I demanded. I didn't say I would quit if I didn't get a raise. I merely said I could use one.

He grunted. And I said no doubt. You will go to Mahopac in the morning. Meanwhile Saul will learn what Miss Tenzer, the niece, was doing in January. Could she have given birth to that baby? You think not, but it's just as well to make sure, and Saul can do it without. He turned his head. Fritz was in the doorway.

Since Saul has been mentioned I might as well introduce him. Of the three free-lance ops we call on when we need help, Saul Panzer is the pick. If you included everybody in the metropolitan area, he would still be the pick, which is why, though his price is ten dollars an hour, he is offered five times as many jobs as he takes. If and when you need a detective and only the second best will do, get him if you can. For the best, Nero Wolfe, it's more like ten dollars a minute.