“Have I asked you to draw a check?”
“No, sir.”
He picked up the slice of sturgeon and took a bite. He never skimped on his chewing, and it took him a good four minutes to finish. Meanwhile I disposed of my melon.
“Archie,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
“How does Mr. Heath feel about Miss Goheen?”
“Well.” I considered. “There are different ways of putting it. I would say something like you would feel about a dish of stewed terrapin with sherry — within your sight and smell — if you thought you knew how it would taste but had never had any.”
He grunted. “Don’t be fanciful. It’s a serious question in a field where you are qualified as an expert and I’m not. Is his appetite deeply aroused? Would he take a risk for her?”
“I don’t know how he is on risks, but I saw how he looked at her and how he reacted when she touched him. Also I saw Delia Devlin, and so did you. I would say he would try crossing a high shaky bridge with a wind blowing, but not unless it had rails.”
“That was the impression I got. We’ll have to try it.”