The Mother Hunt (Rex Stout Library)

Presumably by inference. Presumably she knew that her baby had been in the care of Ellen Tenzer. Presumably she read newspapers, and knew what had happened to Ellen Tenzer, and knew that Mr. Goodwin had gone to ask her about buttons on a baby's overalls, and knew that the police inquiry was centered on the baby she had recently boarded. As you see, I am being candid. I could simply say that Carol Mardus admitted this or that, and Mr. Goodwin would confirm it. I prefer to be open because I need your help.

Are you open? Bingham demanded.

Yes.

All this is straight the baby, Lucy Valdon, Carol here yesterday, Ellen Tenzer?

It is.

Have you told the police?

No. I'm. Why not?

I'm about to go into that. Wolfe's eyes went right and left. I have a proposal for you gentlemen. I'm assuming that you want the murderer of Carol Mardus brought to account, as I do. If I tell the police what I know I'll tell them all I know. I'll tell them of the lists of names you supplied me with of course including the detail that Mr. Upton refused to supply one and that the name of Carol Mardus appeared on none of them. I'll tell them of the pictures that were sent to you for identification, and that each of you reported that he recognized none of them, though the one of Carol Mardus was an excellent likeness. That will make it unpleasant for you, possibly even painful. The police are not witlings; they will know that each of you may have had a private reason for your reserve not relevant to their investigation; but they will also know that if one of you was involved with Carol Mardus regarding the baby, and if you killed Ellen Tenzer, you would certainly have omitted her name from your list and you would not have identified the picture. So they will be importunate with all of you.

You seem to be saying, Krug said dryly, that you are keeping all this from the police out of consideration for us.

Wolfe shook his head. Not likely. I owe you no consideration at all, and you owe me none. But perhaps we can be mutually helpful. I would prefer not to help the police get the murderer because I want to get him myself, and I intend to. He has dared me with flagrant impudence. My client, Mrs. Valdon, gave me information in confidence, and I'll reveal it only under compulsion.

Haft had removed the cheaters and was fingering the bows. You said you had a proposal.