“Yes, sir.”
“My name is Nero Wolfe. Have you ever seen me before this moment?”
“No, sir. Of course I’ve heard of you—”
“What is your business, Mr. Levine?”
“I’m a partner in B. and S. Levine. My brother and I have a men’s clothing store at Five-fourteen Fillmore Street in Newark.”
“Why are you here? How did it happen? Just tell us.”
“Why, there was a phone call at the store, and a man said—”
“Please. When?”
“This afternoon about four o’clock. He said his wife had bought a felt hat and a brown suit at our store last week, last Wednesday, and did we remember about it. I said sure I remembered, I waited on her. Then he said so there wouldn’t be any mistake would I describe her, and I did. Then he—”
“Please. Did he describe his wife or ask you to describe the customer?”