The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

Upton turned back to confront Wolfe. He was such a shrimp that with Wolfe sitting and him standing their eyes were almost at a level. He looked even smaller than I remembered. You fat mountebank, he croaked. He wheeled and started for the door, found me in the way, blocking him, and stopped.

Sorry, I said. Road closed.

He had too much sense to argue with the help when it was obvious that the help would need only one hand. He turned his back on me. This is absurd, he croaked. This is New York, not Montenegro.

So, I thought, he's anti-Montenegro. I didn't say it, merely thought it, so it's not on my record.

Wolfe motioned to a chair. You might as well sit, Mr. Upton. We're going to talk at length. If you mean it's absurd to hold you against your will, not at all. There are three of us to refute any accusation you might make. The handicap of your size precludes violence; Mr. Goodwin could dangle you like a marionette. Sit down.

Upton's jaw was set. I'll talk with Mrs. Valdon.

Perhaps, later. After you have told me all you know about Carol Mardus.

Carol Mardus?

Yes.

I see. I mean I don't see. Why do you. He bit it off. Then: You're here in Lucy Valdon's house. So you're still stringing her along. Have you sold her the idea that Carol Mardus sent her the anonymous letters? Now that she's dead?

There were no anonymous letters.

Upton gawked at him. There was a chair nearer to him than the couch, but he went to the couch and sat. You can't get away with that, he said. Three other men were there when you told us about the anonymous letters.

Wolfe nodded. I've spoken with them again, Saturday afternoon, day before yesterday, and told them the anonymous letters were mere invention, invented by me to account for my request for lists of names. The lists didn't help any, but I have completed the job Mrs. Valdon hired me for. She no longer needs me; I am in her house only by her sufferance. I am now after a murderer. During my conversation with those three men Saturday afternoon the opinion was advanced that you killed Carol Mardus. That's what I want to discuss with you, the likelihood that you're a murderer.

Blah. Upton cocked his head. You know, I hand it to you. You've built a reputation on pure gall. Also you're a liar. No one advanced the opinion that I killed Carol Mardus. Did he say why I killed her? What are you really after? Why did you have Lucy Valdon get me down here?

To get some information I badly need. When did you learn that Carol Mardus came to see me on Friday?