Cramer returned to the red leather chair, sat, and said to someone, “You snippy little bastard.” I ignored it, knowing it couldn’t be for me, since I am just under six feet and weigh a hundred and eighty and therefore could not be called little.
Cramer went at Wolfe. “So the minute we let her go she comes here. That has some bearing on my wanting to know what she was after yesterday, huh?”
Wolfe spoke to me. “Archie. You say Miss Nieder is in the front room?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It was she who rang the bell while Mr. Cramer was trying to knock my luncheon dishes off the table?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing, except that she wanted to see you. She has spent hours with cops and her tongue’s tired.”
“Bring her in here.”
Cramer started offering objections, but I didn’t hear him. I went and opened the connecting door to the front room, which was as soundproof as the wall, and said respectfully for all to hear, “Inspector Cramer is here asking about you. Will you come in, please?”