The Rubber Band

I got headquarters, and Cramer's extension and his clerk. Then the inspector. Wolfe got on. "Good morning, Mr. Cramer… Yes, indeed, I received your messages, but I have been occupied to good purpose… So I understand, but could I help that? Can you be at my office at half past eleven? I shall be ready for you at that time… The fact is, I do not intend merely to give you information, I hope to deliver a finished case… I can't help that either; do you think I have the Moerae running errands for me?… Certainly, if they wish to come, bring them, though I think it would be well if Mr. Hombert went back to diapers… Yes, eleven-thirty…"

Cramer was off. I said, "Shall I try for the Cabinet?"

"No, thanks." Wolfe was purring. "When Lord Clivers arrives, bring him up here at once."

XVII

I LET Saul Panzer in when he came. There was no longer any reason why I shouldn't relinquish the job of answering the door, which normally belonged to Fritz, but it seemed tactful to give him time to cool off a little; and besides, if I left him to his own devices in the kitchen a while longer without interruption, there was a chance that he would bounce a stewpan on Johnny's bean, which would have done them both good.

So I let Saul in and parked him in the front room, and also, a little later, I opened up for the Marquis of Clivers. Whereupon I experienced a delightful surprise, for he had his nephew along. Apparently there was no wedding on today; Horrocks looked sturdy and wholesome in a sack suit that hung like a dream, and I got so interested looking at it that I almost forgot it was him inside of it. I suggested him toward the office and said to Clivers, "Mr. Wolfe would like to see you upstairs. Three flights. Climb, or elevator?"

He was looking concentrated and sour. He said climb, and I took him up to the plant rooms and showed him Wolfe and left him there.

When I got back down Horrocks was still standing in the hall.

"If you want to wait," I said, "there's a place in the office to hold the back of your lap. You know, chair."

"The back of my lap?" He stared, and by gum, he worked at it till he got it. "Oh, quite. Thanks awfully. But I… I say, you know, Miss Fox got quite a wetting. Didn't she?"

"Yeah, she was good and damp."

"And I suppose she is still here, what?"