In the Best Families

She did. “Mrs Rackham said she had to talk about it with someone, and she wanted to with her daughter-in-law, Mrs Frey, but she just couldn't, so there was only me. She said she had gone to see Nero Wolfe the day before, to ask him to find out where her husband was getting money from, and he had agreed to do it. Mr

Wolfe had phoned her that evening, Friday evening, and told her that he had already partly succeeded. He had learned that her husband was connected with something that was criminal. He was helping somebody with things that were against the law, and he was getting well paid for it. Mr Wolfe advised her to keep it to herself until he had more details. He said his assistant, Mr Goodwin, would come up Saturday afternoon, and might have more to report then.

“And that Goodwin knew all about it? Archer asked.

“Well, naturally she took that for granted. She didn't say that Mr Wolfe told her in so many words that Mr Goodwin knew all about it, but if he was his assistant and helping with it, naturally she would think so. Anyway that didn't seem to be important then, because she had told it all to her husband. They used the same bedroom at Birchvale, and she said that after they had gone to bed she simply couldn't help it. She didn't tell me their conversation, what they said to each other, but they had had a violent quarrel. She had told him they would have to separate, she was through with him, and she would have Mr Wolfe go on with his investigation and get proof of what he had done. Mrs Rackham had a very strong character, and she hated to be deceived. But the next day she wasn't sure she really meant it, that she really wanted to part from him. That was why she wanted to talk about it with someone. I think the reason she didn't want to talk with Mrs Frey-

“If you don't mind, Miss Darrow, Archer suggested gently, “just the facts now.