In the Best Families

“Hurry up, I growled, “or I'll kill him sure as hell.

It took him a year. It took him forever. But finally he straightened up, came around to take another look at the handkerchief and poke it in a little tighter, backed up, and muttered, “All right, Archie.

When I took my hands away my fingers ached like the devil, but that was nerves, not muscles. I leaned over to get my ear an inch away from his nose; there was no question about his breathing.

“His pulse is all right, Roeder said, not through his nose.

“You're crazy, Rackham said hoarsely. “Good God! You're crazy!

He was out of his chair, standing there in front of it, trembling all over.

Roeder's hand went to his side pocket for the Carson Snub Thirty, which he had got from the briefcase along with the piece of cord. I took it and aimed it at

Rackham.

“Sit down, I said, “and stay.

He sank down into the chair. I moved to the end of the desk so as to have him in a corner of my eye while looking at Zeck. Roeder, at my left elbow, spoke rapidly but distinctly.

“Mr Zeck, he said, “you told me on the telephone two years ago that you had great admiration for me. I hope that what has just happened here has increased it. I'm Nero Wolfe, of course. There are many things it would give me satisfaction to say to you, and perhaps I shall some day, but not now. It is true that if one of your men suddenly opened the door Mr Goodwin would kill you first, but I'm afraid you'd have company. So I'll get on. Having by your admission matched you in intellect, it's a question of will, and mine has not failed me, as you thought. Confound it, I wish you could speak.

The expression of Zeck's eyes, no longer popping, indicated that Wolfe had nothing on him there.

“Here's the situation, Wolfe went on. “During the two months I've been here in this outlandish guise I have collected enough evidence to get you charged on thirty counts under Federal law. I assure you that the evidence is sound and sufficient, and is in the hands of a man whom you cannot stop or deflect. You'll have to take my word for it that if that evidence is produced and used you are done for, and that it will be immediately produced and used if anything untoward happens to Mr Goodwin or me. I fancy you will take my word since you admit that