“You might have found an occasion to use it. Was that the idea?”
“Yes. Why shouldn’t I?” Her voice went up the scale again, in defiance. “Even though they knew I couldn’t prove it — and like a fool I blurt it out to you.”
“It can’t be helped now.” Wolfe’s tone was smooth, even sympathetic. “I doubt if you could have used it effectively, anyway. They’re a pretty tough crowd. You say April had a bunch of cornflowers in her belt while you were having tea on the lawn Tuesday afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“You might as well tell me about it. Maybe we can figure out a way of proving it.”
“You can’t. How can you? Osric Stauffer picked them in the garden and brought them and gave them to her and she stuck them in at her waist. She had on a green blouse and yellow slacks. We commented on the blue of the cornflowers with the other colors.”
“Did Mr. Stauffer keep one for himself?”
“Why, I—” She considered. “No, he didn’t.”
“Or give some to anyone else?”
“No. He gave them all to April.”