Free Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe 19 by Murder by the Book Page A

got other scattered hints of personalities and quirks and frictions, but not enough to pay for the drinks.
    At 7:25 I herded them into the potting room to tell them that wine had been chilled for dinner, but that if any of them preferred to continue as started they were welcome. Blanche Duke raised her shaker on high and said she was a one-drink woman. There was a chorus of approval, and they all loaded themselves with bottlesand accessories. I led the way. Going through the intermediate room, Helen Troy caught her heel between the slats of the walk, teetered, waved a bottle, and down came two pots of Oncidium varicosum. There were gasps and shrieks.
    I said grandly, “Good for her. She showed great presence of mind, she held onto the bottle. Follow me, walking on orchids.”
    When I had got them downstairs and into the dining room, which looked festive enough for anybody, with the gleaming white cloth and silver and glass and more orchids, and told them to leave the head of the table for me but otherwise sit as they chose, I excused myself, went to the kitchen, and asked Fritz, “Are they here?”
    He nodded. “Up in the south room. Quite agreeable and comfortable.”
    “Good. They know they may have to wait a long while?”
    “Yes, it’s understood. How are you succeeding?”
    “Not bad. Two of them don’t drink, but on the whole we are on our way to gaiety. All set?”
    “Certainly.”
    “Shoot.”
    Rejoining the party, I took the chair at the head, Wolfe’s place, the first time I had ever sat there. Most of them lifted their glasses to welcome me back after a long absence. I was touched and thought an acknowledgment was called for. As Fritz entered with the soup tureen, I pushed my chair back and stood. Portia Liss kept on chattering, and Dolly Harriton, the member of the bar, shushed her.
    “Oyez, oyez!” Helen Troy cried.
    I spoke. “Ladies and no gentlemen thank God, I have a lot of speeches to make, and I might as well get one done. Thank you for coming to my party. There isonly one thing I would rather look at than orchids, and you are it. [Applause.] In the absence of Mr. Wolfe I shall follow his custom and introduce to you the most important member of this household, Mr. Fritz Brenner, now dishing soup. Fritz, a bow, please. [Applause.] I am going to ask you to help me with a little problem. Yesterday I received a phone call from a lady, doubtless fair, who refused to tell me her name. I beg you to supply it. I shall repeat some, by no means all, of what she said to me, hoping it will give you a hint. I am not a good mimic but shall do my best.
    “She said: ‘Mr. Goodwin, I simply had to call you! Of course it isn’t proper, since I’ve never met you, but if I don’t tell you my name and never see you I don’t think it will be such a terrible misstep, do you? Those are the loveliest orchids I have ever seen! I’m going to wear them to a little party this evening, and can you imagine what they’ll say? And can you imagine what I’ll say when they ask who gave them to me? I simply can’t imagine! Of course I can say they’re from an unknown admirer, but really—’”
    There was no use going on because the shrieks and hoots were drowning me out. Even Mrs. Adams loosened up enough to smile. Claire Burkhardt, the high school girl, choked on a bite of roll. I sat down and started on my soup, flushed with triumph. When it was a little quieter I demanded, “Her name?”
    So many shouted it together that I had to get it from Sue Dondero, on my right. It was Cora Barth. I did not file it.
    With Fritz having eleven places to serve, I had told him to leave the liquids to me. An advantage of that arrangement was that I knew what each one was drinking and could keep the refills coming without asking any questions, and another was that Sue Dondero offeredto help me. Not only was it nice to have her help, but also it gave me a chance to make a suggestion to her, while we were together at the side table,