Mrs. Rackell grabbed the ball. She said it was absolutely contemptible, spying on her and threatening her with the police. It was infamous and treacherous. She wouldn’t tolerate it.
Wolfe let her get it out and then said dryly, “You astonish me, madam.” He shook his head. “You chatter about proprieties when you are under the menace of a mortal peril. Don’t you realize what I’ve done? Don’t you know where we stand?”
“You’re chattering yourself,” Heath said harshly. “We were brought here under a threat. By what right?”
“I’ll tell you.” Wolfe leaned back. “This is no pleasure for me, so I’ll hurry it — my part of it. But you need to know exactly what the situation is, for you have a vital decision to make. First let me introduce Mr. Saul Panzer.” His eyes moved. “Saul, you followed Mr. Heath to a clandestine meeting with Mrs. Rackell?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then I’ll risk an assumption. I assume that his purpose was to protest against her supplying funds to inculpate Miss Goheen, and to demand that the attempt be abandoned. You heard much of what they said?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did it impeach my assumption?”
“No, sir.”
“Did it support it?”