Gambit by Rex Stout Page B

stand-bys, such as that he had known Blount for many years and he wouldn’t kill a fly.
    “Neither do I,” Wolfe said, as if he did mean it. “But the factual evidence pointing to him is weighty and can’t be impeached. You know that?”
    “Yes.”
    “So I ignore it. There are other facts - for instance, that four other men, the four messengers, had opportunities to poison the chocolate, when they entered the library to report moves. I understand that on those occasions, some if not all, Jerin closed his eyes to concentrate. Is that true?”
    “Yes. Usually he did, after the first three or four moves. He bent his head down and sometimes covered his eyes with his hands.” Yerkes turned to the client.
    “You understand, Sally, my answering these questions doesn’t mean that I’m siding with you against your father and mother. I’m not. But you have a right to your opinion, and I’m willing to oblige you within reason.” Back to Wolfe. “And I agree that you’re not likely to be a hindrance. I know something of your record. But Kalmus is quite aware that the four messengers had plenty of opportunities, including me. That’s obvious. The question is, why would I'Why would any of them?”
    Wolfe nodded. “That’s the point. Take you. You had no animus for Mr. Jerin. But it’s conceivable that you had, and still have, ill will toward Mr. Blount. And Jerin’s death was only one of two dismal consequences of his drinking that chocolate; the other is that Blount is in deadly peril. Is that somehow pleasing to you, Mr. Yerkes'I have been hired to make an inquiry and I’m inquiring. Did you perhaps suggest to Blount that he should himself take the chocolate to Jerin'Or, when you informed him that Jerin was unwell, did you suggest that he should attend to the pot and cup?”
    The banker’s eyes were narrowed, and his lips were tight. “I see,” he said, low,
    so low that I barely got it, and I have good ears. “That’s how you… I see.” He nodded. “Very clever. Possibly more than clever. Kalmus may have it in mind too - I don’t know. You asked me two questions - no, three. The answer is no to all of them. But you have certainly hit on a point. This makes it… hmmm…
    Hausman, Farrow, and Kalmus … hmmm. Of course I have no comment.” He turned to Sally. “But I’m not so sure you made a mistake.” Back to Wolfe. “I do understand you'You’re saying that Jerin was merely a pawn to be sacrificed in a deliberate plot to destroy Blount?”
    “I’m suggesting it. It’s my working hypothesis. Naturally you said no to my three questions; so would the other three. You would also say no if I asked you whether you have any knowledge of their relations with Blount that would be suggestive; and so would they. But a man’s feeling toward another so intense that he is bent implacably on his ruin - such a feeling doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It has discoverable roots, and I intend to find them. Or the feeling,
    intense feeling, might not be directed at Blount; it might be fastened on some desired object which only Blount’s removal would render accessible. With Farrow,
    it might be control of an industrial empire, through his aunt; with Hausman, who is by nature fanatic, it might be some grotesque aspiration; with you or Kalmus,
    it might be Mrs. Blount. I intend - “
    “Mrs. Blount’s daughter is present, Wolfe.”
    “So she is. I’m only speculating at random. I didn’t inject Mrs. Blount’s name wantonly; Mr. Goodwin, who has seen her and who is qualified to judge, says that she might well unwittingly lead a man to defy the second prescription of the Tenth Commandment, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife. But I am only speculating. I intend to find the roots. I haven’t the legions of the law, but I have three good men available besides Mr. Goodwin, and there is no pressing urgency. Mr. Blount won’t be brought to trial this week or month.”
    He was talking to hear himself, rambling on