The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

Hell, I'm hooked, Leo Bingham said. He was standing, twirling the cognac in the snifter. I've been bribed. He turned to Wolfe. How about a deal? If you get her from my list I get a bottle of this.

No, sir. Not by engagement. As a gesture of appreciation perhaps.

Julian Haft had removed his balloon-tired cheaters and was fingering the bows. The letters, he said. Were they mailed in New York? The city?

Yes, sir.

Then you have the envelopes?

Yes, sir.

May we see them just the envelopes? You say the writing is disguised, but it might one of us might get a hint from it.

Wolfs nodded. Therefore it would be ill-advised to show them to you. One of you might indeed get a hint of the identity of the writer but not divulge it, and that might complicate the problem for me.

I have a question, Manuel Upton croaked. I've heard that there's a baby in Mrs. Valdon's house, and a nurse for it. I know nothing about it, but the person who told me isn't a windbag. Is there any connection between the baby and the letters?

Wolfe was frowning at him. A baby? Mrs. Valdon's baby?

I didn't say her baby. I said there's a baby in her house.

Indeed. I'll ask her, Mr. Upton. If it is somehow connected with the letters she must be aware of it. By the way, I have advised her to mention the letters to no one. No exceptions. As you gentlemen know, she didn't mention them to you. The matter is in my hands.

All right, handle it. Upton got to his feet. His weight was just about half of Wolfe's, but from the effort it took to get it up from a chair it might have been the other way around. From the way you're handling us, or trying to, you'll hash it up. I don't owe Lucy Valdon anything. If she wants a favor from me she can ask me.

He headed for the door, jostling Leo Bingham's elbow as he passed, and Bingham's other hand darted out and gave him a shove. Because a guest is a guest, and also because I doubted if he had the vim and vigor to shut the door, I got up and went, passed him in the hall, and saw him out. When I returned to the office Julian Haft was speaking.

… but before I do so I want to speak with Mrs. Valdon. I don't agree with Mr. Upton, I don't say you're handling it badly, but what you ask is rather uh unusual. He put the cheaters back on and turned. Of course I agree with you, Willie, about people who send anonymous letters. I suppose you think I'm being overcautious.

That's your privilege, Krug said.