In the Best Families

Evidently I wasn't tactful enough about it, for she took on. I calmed her down by promising to drown myself as soon as the present crisis was past, went home and got my dinner out of the refrigerator, and settled down in the office for another evening of not reading magazines. A little after nine the minutes were beginning to get too damn' long entirely when the phone rang. It was Lily.

“All right, she said briskly, “come on up here.

“I told you-

“I know, but now I'm telling you. I'm going to have company around eleven, and as I understand it you're supposed to get here first. Get started.

“Phooey. I'm flattered that you bothered to try it, but-

“I wouldn't have dreamed of trying it. The company just phoned, and I'm following instructions. My God, are you conceited!

Til be there in twenty minutes.

It took twenty-two, to her door. She was vindictive enough to insist that there were three television programmes she wouldn't miss for anything, which was just as well, considering my disposition. I suppose I might have adjusted to it in time, say ten years, but I was so used to having Wolfe right at hand any minute of the day or night when difficulties were being met that this business of having to sit it out until word came, and then rushing up to a friend's penthouse and waiting another hour and a half, was too much of a strain.

He finally arrived. I must admit that when the bell rang, Lily having promised to behave like a lady, did so. She insisted on opening the door for him, but having got him into the living-room, she excused herself and left us.

He sat. I stood and looked at him. Eleven days had passed since our reunion, and

I hadn't properly remembered how grotesque he was. Except for the eyes, he was no one I had ever seen or cared to see.

“What's the matter? I asked peevishly. “You look as if you hadn't slept for a week.

“I'm a little tired, that's all, he growled. “I have too much to watch, and I'm starving to death. So far as I know everything at my end is satisfactory. What about Miss Rowan?

“She's all right. As you may remember, every week or so I used to send her a couple of orchids of a kind that couldn't be bought. I have told her that the custom may be resumed some day provided we get this difficulty ironed out, and that it depends on her. Women like to have things depend on them.

He grunted. “I don't like to have things depend on them. He sighed. “It can't be helped. I can only stay an hour. Bring me some of Miss Rowan's perfume.