The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

Richard Wragg was forty-four years old. He lived in an apartment in Brooklyn with a wife and two children and had been with the FBI fifteen years. Detectives know things. He was about my height, with a long face and a pointed chin, and would be bald on top in four years, or maybe three. He didn't offer to shake, but he turned his back as I peeled his coat off, so he trusted me to a certain extent. When I ushered him to the office and to the red leather chair he stood and looked the room over, and I thought he was too interested in the picture of the waterfall, but perhaps not. He was still standing when the sound of the elevator came and Wolfe entered and stopped short of his desk to say, "Mr Wragg? I'm Nero Wolfe. Be seated." As he went to his chair Wragg sat down, found he was only on the edge, and slid back.

Their eyes met. From my angle I couldn't see Wolfe's, but Wragg's were straight and steady.

"I know about you," Wragg said, "but I've never met you."

Wolfe nodded. "Some paths don't cross."

"But now ours have. I assume that this is being recorded."

"No. There is equipment, but it isn't turned on. We might as well ignore such matters. I have assumed for a week that everything said in this house was overheard. You may have a device on your person. I might have my recorder going-though, as I say, I haven't. Let's ignore it."

"We haven't bugged this house."

Wolfe's shoulders went up an eighth of an inch and down. "Ignore it. You wanted to see me?"

Wragg's fingers were curled over the ends of the chair arms. At ease. "As you expected. We don't need to waste time shadow-boxing. I want the credentials you took from two of my men last night by force."

Wolfe turned a hand over. Also at ease. "But you are shadow-boxing. Retract that 'by force.' The force was initiated by them. They entered my house by force. I merely met force with force."

"I want those credentials."

"Do you retract your 'by force'?"

"No. I acknowledge that your retort was valid. Give me the credentials and we'll talk on even terms."

"Pfui. Are you a dunce, or do you take me for one? I have no intention of talking on even terms. You came to see me because I constrained you to, but if you came to talk nonsense you may as well leave. Shall I describe the situation as I see it?"

"Yes."

Wolfe turned his head. "Archie. Mrs Bruner's letter engaging me."