The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

I got my hat and coat and went. There was still a NYPD car out in front, waiting for the two dicks still in the apartment, and the driver might know me, but so what? I hadn't recognized him from the window, and I don't know if he knew me or not. As I walked past the car, no hurry, he gave me a hard eye, but that could have been because I had come out of that house.

I walked home. It was a little after half past five, dark, when I mounted the stoop and let myself in. I went to the kitchen, got a glass of milk, and asked Fritz, "Has he told you that we're off the hook?"

"No." He was inspecting carrots.

"Well, we are. Say anything you want to on the phone. Resume with your girl friends. If a stranger speaks to you, do as you please. Do you want some good advice?"

"Yes."

"Hit him for a raise. I am. By the way, I haven't asked you about the dinner last night. Did you feed them good?"

He leveled his eyes at me. "Archie, that is never to be mentioned. That terrible day. Epouvantable. My mind was here with you. I don't know what I did, I don't know what was served. I will forget it if possible."

"Hewitt said on the phone that they stood and applauded you."

"But certainly. They were polite. I know I put no truffles in the Perigourdine."

"Good God. I'm glad I wasn't there. Okay, we'll forget it. May I have a carrot? It's wonderful with milk."

He said certainly, and I helped myself.

I was at my desk, making out checks to pay bills, when Wolfe came down from the plant rooms. Though he hadn't said so I knew he was as much on edge as I had been, and as he went to his desk I turned my head and said, "Relax. They got the gun."

"How do you know?"

I told him, beginning with the conversation with Cramer and ending with the conversation with Fritz. He asked if I had got a receipt for the photograph.

"No," I said, "he wasn't in a mood for signing receipts. I had told him that Althaus hadn't been killed by a G-man, and that hurt."

"No doubt. Will Mr Wragg be at his office?"

"He could be."

"Get him."

I turned and got the phone, but as I started to dial the doorbell rang. I cradled it and went to the hall for a look, turned, and said, "You can ask him for the receipt."

He took a breath. "Is he alone?"