The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

Willis Krug shook his head. Julian Haft declined with thanks. Leo Bingham said brandy. Manuel Upton said a glass of water, no ice. I said scotch and water. Wolfe had pushed a button and Fritz was there and was given the order, including beer for Wolfe.

Bingham gave Wolfe the big smile. I was glad to come. Glad of the chance to meet you. His baritone went fine with the smile. I've often thought of your enormous possibilities for television, and now that I've seen you and heard your voice my God, it would be stupendous! I'll come and tell you about it.

Manuel Upton shook his head, slow to the left and slow to the right. Mr. Wolfe may not understand you, Leo. Enormous.' Stupendous.' His croak went fine with all of him. He may think that's a personal reference.

Don't you two get started now, Willis Krug said. You ought to hire the Garden and slug it out.

We're incompatible, Bingham said. All magazine men hate television because it's taking all their gravy. In another ten years there won't be any magazines but one. TV Guide. Actually I love you, Manny. Thank God you'll have Social Security.

Julian Haft spoke to Wolfe. This is the way it goes, Mr. Wolfe. Mass culture. His thin tenor went all right with his legs but not with his barrel. I understand you're a great reader. Thank heaven books don't depend on advertising. Have you ever written one? You should. It might not be enormous or stupendous, but it certainly would be readable, and I would like very much to publish it. If Mr. Bingham can solicit, so can I.

Wolfe grunted. Unthinkable, Mr. Haft. Maintaining integrity as a private detective is difficult; to preserve it for the hundred thousand words of a book would be impossible for me, as it has been for so many others. Nothing corrupts a man so deeply as writing a book; the myriad temptations are overpowering. I wouldn't presume Fritz had entered with a tray. First the beer to Wolfe, then the brandy to Bingham, the water to Upton, and the scotch and water to me. Upton got a pillbox from a pocket, fished one out and popped it into his mouth, and drank water. Bingham took a sip of brandy, looked surprised, took another sip, rolled it around in his mouth, looked astonished, swallowed, said, May I? and got up and went to Wolfe's desk for a look at the label on the bottle. Never heard of it, he told Wolfe, and I thought I knew cognac. Incredible, serving it offhand to a stranger. Where in God's name did you get it?