“What question? What do you mean?”
“I’m coming to it. I want—”
“Do you mean I lied? About what?”
I shook my head, not to call her a liar. “Wait till I get to it. You would of course show shocked surprise if I made the flat statement that Fifi Goheen murdered Arthur Rackell by changing his capsules at the restaurant that evening and that you saw her do it. Naturally you would, since the police have asked you if you saw anyone perform that action or any part of it, and you have answered no. Wouldn’t you?”
She was frowning, concentrated. Her hands were still clasped. “But you — you haven’t made any such statement.”
“Right. I’d rather put it another way. Nero Wolfe has his own way of investigating and his own way of reaching conclusions. He has concluded that if he sends me to see you, to ask you to tell the police that you saw Fifi Goheen substituting the capsules, it will serve the interest of truth and justice. So he sent me, and I’m asking you. It will be embarrassing for you, but not so bad. As I explained, it won’t be the first time they’ve had somebody suddenly remembering something. You can say you and Miss Goheen have been friends and you hated to come out with it, but now you see you have to. You can even say I came here and persuaded you to speak, if you want to, but you certainly shouldn’t mention the ten thousand dollars. That—”
“What ten thousand dollars?”
“I’m telling you. Mr. Wolfe has also concluded that it would not be reasonable to expect you to undergo such embarrassment without some consideration. He has made a suggestion to Mr. and Mrs. Rackell, and they have agreed to provide a certain sum of money. Ten thousand of it will come to you, in appreciation of your cooperation in the cause of justice. It will be given you in cash, in currency, within forty-eight hours after you have done your part — and we’ll have to discuss that, exactly what you’ll tell the police. Speaking for Nero Wolfe, I guarantee the payment within forty-eight hours, or, if you want to, come down to his office with me now and he’ll guarantee it himself. Don’t ask me what it was that made him conclude that Fifi Goheen did it and that you saw her, because I don’t know. Anyhow, if he’s right, and he usually is, she’ll only be getting what she deserves. You know that’s true.”
I stopped. She sat motionless, staring at me. There wasn’t much light, and I couldn’t tell anything from her eyes, but they looked absolutely blank. As the seconds grew to a minute and on I began to think I had literally stupefied her, and I gave her a nudge.
“Have I made it plain?”