Black Orchids

"That's not true! You know mighty well-"

"Please!" Wolfe was peremptory. His glance shot from right to left and back again. "So all but one of you knew of Dr. Brady's procuring that box of material from the stable, and all withheld the information from me. You're hopeless. Let's try another one, more specific. The day Miss Huddleston came here, she told me that Miss Nichols had a grievance against her, and she suspected her of sending those anonymous letters. I ask all of you- including you, Miss Nichols-what was that grievance?"

No one said a word.

"I ask you individually. Miss Nichols?"

Janet shook her head. Her voice was barely audible. "Nothing. It was nothing."

"Mr. Huddleston?"

Daniel said promptly, "I have no idea."

"Miss Timms?"

"I don't know," Maryella said, and by the way Wolfe's eyes stayed with her an instant, I saw that he knew she was lying.

"Dr. Brady?"

"If I knew I'd tell you," Brady said, "but I don't."

"Mr. Huddleston?"

Larry was waiting for him with a fixed smile that twisted a corner of his mouth. "I told you before," he said harshly, "that I don't know a damn thing. That goes right down the line."

"Indeed. May I have your watch a moment, please?"

Larry goggled at him.

"That hexagonal thing on your wrist," Wolfe said. "May I see it a moment?"

Larry's face displayed changes, as Brady's had shortly before. First it was puzzled, then defiant, then he seemed to be pleased about something. He snarled:

"What do you want with my watch?"

"I want to look at it. It's a small favor. You haven't been very helpful so far."

Larry, his lips twisted with the smile again, unbuckled the strap and arose to pass the watch across the desk to Wolfe, whose fingers closed over it as he said to me:

"The Huddleston folder, Archie."

I went and unlocked the cabinet and got out the folder and brought it, Wolfe took it and flipped it open and said:

"Stay there, Archie. As a bulwark and a witness. Two witnesses would be better. Dr. Brady, if you will please stand beside Mr. Goodwin and keep your eyes on me? Thank you."