The Doorbell Rang (The Rex Stout Library)

"Yes. Except when they are-uh-rehearsing."

"They have the proper clothes for Thursday evening?"

"In that box." Saul pointed. "Our things are in it too, including guns. Of course they'll wear your hat and coat, and Archie's."

Wolfe made a face. "Very well. Fred and Orrie first."

"They're marked." He took the screwdriver from Wolfe, went to the box with a circle chalked on it, told me, "Orrie's has a triangle," and started on a screw. I found the triangle and started on it. He had Fred out before I got Orrie because one of the screws had a bad head. They too had been told not to speak unless spoken to, and from the expressions on their faces when they got upright I thought it was just as well. I raised my brows at Saul and tapped my chest, and he pointed to the box at the far end, and I went and started on it.

I realize that professional actors have had a lot of practice saying only what they are supposed to say and keeping their traps closed if that's what the script calls for, but even so I had to hand it to Ashley Jarvis and Dale Kirby. They had had a rough two hours or more-especially Jarvis, who carried fully as many pounds as Wolfe, and it wasn't quite as well distributed. We had to ease the box over on its side before he could come loose, and he stayed on the floor a good five minutes, refusing offers of help, working his arms and legs, but when he finally made it and was erect he turned to Wolfe and bowed, a damn good bow. Kirby hadn't bowed to me, but he hadn't said a word. While we waited for Jarvis to get up he stood to one side doing calisthenics, keeping time with the music on the radio.

I was agreeing with Saul, they'll do. Kirby was half an inch shorter than me, but his build was just right. Jarvis was exactly Wolfe's height. His shoulders weren't quite as broad and his middle was a little farther around, but with an overcoat on he would do fine. The faces were only so-so, but it would be dark and no G-man was going to get a close-up.

Wolfe returned the bow with a nod, said, "Come, gentlemen," and entered the office. Instead of going to his desk, he moved a yellow chair to the center of the rug, which was thick enough to prevent noise, and went for another one. I got a couple, and Saul and Fred and Orrie each got one, and we all sat, in two circles, with Wolfe and Jarvis and Kirby on the inside. But Wolfe said, "The money, Archie," and I got up and went to the safe for it-two wads with twenty-five twenties in each which were there waiting.