Champagne for One

They must have been fast eaters, for Saul hadn’t been gone more than ten minutes when he came out, lifted a hand, saw me move, and went back in. I crossed over, entered, took five seconds to adjust to the noise and the smoke screen from the mob, made it to the rear, and there they were. The first Byne knew, someone was crowding him on the narrow seat, and his head jerked around. He started to say something, saw who it was, and goggled at me.

"Hi, Dinky," I said. "Excuse me for butting in, but I want to introduce a friend. Mr Panzer. Saul, Mrs Usher. Mr Byne. Sit down. Would you mind giving him room, Mrs Usher?"

Byne had started to rise, by reflex, but it can’t be done in a tight little booth without toppling the table. He sank back. His mouth opened, and closed. Liquid spilled on the table top from a glass Elaine Usher was holding, and Saul, squeezed in beside her, reached and took it.

"Let me out," Byne said. "Let us out or I’ll go out over you. Her name is Upson. Edith Upson."

I shook my head. "If you start a row you’ll only make it worse. Mr Panzer knows Mrs Usher, though she doesn’t know him. Let’s be calm and consider the situation. There must be-"

"What do you want?"

"I’m trying to tell you. There must be some good reason why you two arranged to meet in this out-of-the-way dump, and Mr Panzer and I are curious to know what it is, and others will be too-the press, the public, the police, the District Attorney, and Nero Wolfe. I wouldn’t expect you to explain it here in this din and smog. Either Mr Panzer can phone inspector Cramer while I sit and chat with you, and he can send a car for you, or we’ll take you to talk it over with Mr Wolfe, whichever you prefer."

He had recovered some. He had played a lot of poker. He put a hand on my arm. "Look, Archie, there’s nothing to it. It looks funny, sure it does, us here together, but we didn’t arrange it. I met Mrs Usher about a year ago, I went to see her when her daughter went to Grantham House, and when I came in here this evening and saw her, after what’s happened, naturally I spoke to her and we-"

"Save it, Dinky. Saul, phone Cramer."

Saul started to slide out. Byne reached and grabbed his sleeve. "Now wait a minute. Damn it, can’t you listen? I’m-"

"No," I said. "No listening. You can have one minute to decide." I looked at my watch. "In one minute either you and Mrs Usher come along to Nero Wolfe or we phone Cramer. One minute." I looked at my watch. "Go."

"Not the cops," Mrs Usher said. "My God, not the cops."