The Mother Hunt (22 page)
Authors: Rex Stout
Wolfe turned to the client. “Mrs. Valdon. You have indulged me and I am beholden to you. I suggest that you leave the room. Go upstairs and bolt the door. In Mr. Cramer’s present temper he’ll insist that you go along and there’s no reason why you should. Please go.”
Lucy got up and walked out. Forty-eight days had passed since she had walked out on me from that same room.
A
t my breakfast table in the kitchen one morning last week, the kind of a snowy blowy January morning when it’s nice to be inside a window looking out, I chewed slowly on my third bite of scrapple, swallowed it, and turned to Fritz.
“Creating again?” I asked.
He beamed at me. “You’re learning to taste, Archie. To
distinguer.
In ten years more you’ll have a palate. Can you tell me what I did?”
“Certainly not. But you did something. What?”
“I reduced the sage a little and added a touch of oregano. What do you think?”
“I think you’re a genius. Two geniuses in one house, and one of them is easy to Uve with. You may quote me to the other one.” I took a bite of scrapple, no bacon. Ordinarily I take bacon after the first two or three bites of scrapple, but I wanted to develop my palate. “Speaking of him, I suppose you’ve read the morning paper?”
“Yes. That murderer, that Haft, his appeal was denied.”
“He’ll try again. With money to pay lawyers you can
do a lot of dodging. That’s one of the disadvantages of being poor, you don’t dare kill anybody.”
He was at the range, flipping the next slice of scrapple. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Archie, but the griddle was cold. I didn’t expect you down until later. You said you were going to the Flamingo.”
I swallowed scrapple and bacon. “Circling around again,” I said. “You could just ask, why did I not go to the Flamingo, and if I did go why did I come home early.”
“Bien.
I ask.”
“Good. I answer. First, I went. Second, I came home early because we left early. Third, why did we leave early. The baby had a temperature and my companion was worried about it. A worrying woman should not be dancing. Does that cover it?”
“Yes.” He came and got my plate, and in a moment returned it with a slice of hot scrapple. “He is worried too, Archie. He thinks there is danger that you may marry that woman.”
“I know he does. That suits me fine. In a month or so I can hit him for a raise.” I took a bite of homemade scrapple with a touch of oregano.
Rex Stout
Now, for the first time ever, enjoy a peek into the life of Nero Wolfe’s creator, Rex Stout, courtesy of the Stout estate. Pulled from Rex Stout’s own archives, here is rarely seen, or never-before-published memorabilia. Each title in the Rex Stout Library will offer an exclusive look into the life of the man who gave Nero Wolfe life.
The Mother Hunt
Stout’s directions for the much discussed scrambled eggs can be found in The World of Rex Stout section of
Where There’s a Will.
June 13 1963
TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE A LETTER IN MAY TO CURTIS BROWN LTD. PROM WHICH THEY WROTE IN A LETTER THEY WROTE ON MAY
31
to VIKING PRESS.
Dear Sir or Madam:
1. My face is pink with pleasure at your remarks about ray “high standard” and my latest book.
2. The cheque Mrs. Valdon handed Archie Goodwin (page 10, last line) was for one thousand dollars. The
“00/100”
merely shows that she knew how to make out a check, American style.
Cordially,
This edition contains the complete text of
the original hardcover edition.
NOT ONE WORD HAS BEEN OMITTED
THE MOTHER HUNT
A Bantam Crime Line Book / published by arrangement with the author’s estate
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Viking edition published 1963
Bantam edition / December 1961
Bantam reissue / May 1993
CRIME LINE
and the portrayal of a boxed “cl” are trademarks of Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1963 by Rex Stout.
Introduction copyright © 1993 by Marilyn Wallace.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 63-17070.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.
eISBN: 978-0-307-75605-3
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
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