Champagne for One

I had hold of Byne’s arm, a good hold, and he didn’t even know it. When he realized it he tried to jerk loose but couldn’t, and for a second I thought he was going to swing with the other fist, and so did he.

"Take it easy," I advised him. "You’re going to need all the breath you’ve got."

"How did you get it?" Mrs Usher demanded. "Where is it?" She was still clutching her jaw with both hands.

Wolfe was eyeing her, but not warily. Complacently, I would say. You might think that for a long time he had had a suppressed desire to kick a woman on the chin.

"It’s in my pocket," he said. He tapped his chest. "I got it just now from the man who took it from your hotel room. You’ll probably get it back in due course; that will depend; it may-"

"That’s burglary," Byne said. "That’s a felony."

Wolfe nodded. "By definition, yes. I doubt if Mrs Usher will care to make the charge if the document is eventually returned to her. It may be an exhibit in evidence in a murder trial. If so-"

"There has been no murder."

"You are in error, Mr Byne. Will you please sit down? This will take a while. Thank you. I’ll cover that point decisively with a categorical statement: Faith Usher was murdered."

"No!" Mrs Usher said. Her hands left her jaw but remained poised, the fingers curved. "Faith killed herself!"

"I’m not going to debate the point," Wolfe told her. "I say merely that I will stake my professional reputation on the statement that she was murdered-indeed, I have done so. That’s why I am applying my resources and risking my credit. That’s why I must explore the possibilities suggested by this letter." He tapped his chest and focused on Byne. "For instance, I shall insist on seeing the agreement between you and Mr Grantham. Does it provide that if Faith Usher should die your remittances to her mother are to be materially decreased, or even cease altogether?"

Byne wet his lips. "Since you’ve read the letter to Mrs Usher you know what the agreement provides. It’s a confidential agreement and you’re not going to see it."

"Oh, but I am." Wolfe was assured. "When you came here my threat was only to tell the police of your rendezvous. Now my threat is more imperative and may even be mortal. Observe Mrs Usher. Note her expression as she regards you. Have you seen the agreement, madam?"

"Yes," she said, "I have."

"Does it contain such a provision as I suggested?"