“Keep your shirt on,” Bertha said. “Has something else happened?”
“Has something else happened! Great heavens, there’s been a procession of things. Do you know what the latest is? My wife’s left me — and she’s got every cent I have in the world. Every dime, every receivable contract. She even owns the office furniture!”
Bertha studied him for a moment, then turned toward her private office. “Well, I suppose I’ve got to hear the lurid details. Come in.”
Belder was talking even before Bertha had closed the door to her sanctum.
“She’s had her mind poisoned against me, and now she’s simply walked out on me.”
“Without taking her clothes?” Bertha asked.
“She went back and got her clothes, Mrs. Cool.”
“Oh, oh,” Bertha said significantly.
“I didn’t find it out until half an hour ago,” Belder said. “I had looked in her closet just to be certain. I saw her clothes hanging up and didn’t notice anything was missing, but when Mrs. Goldring got alarmed and started making a search, she and Carlotta discovered several things that had been taken out. The blue suit, a plaid skirt and blouse, two pairs of shoes, and—”
“Toothbrush?” Bertha asked.