Gambit by Rex Stout Read Free Book Online Page A

to oblige a client,” I said, “but you’re not a client yet. If I left, I’d have to stand at the peephole to look and listen, and I’d rather sit.”
    He looked at Wolfe. “This is for you only.”
    “Then it’s not for me. What’s for me is categorically for Mr. Goodwin.”
    I thought for ten seconds Hausman was going to call it off, and so did he. He showed his teeth, and his lips stayed parted for a full ten seconds while his eyes went back and forth to Wolfe and me. Finally they settled on Wolfe, and he spoke. “I act on impulse. I came here on impulse. You said something about a man’s loyalty to his concept of the obligations of manhood, and I owe this to Matthew Blount. I’m a hard man, Wolfe. If you or Goodwin cross me you’ll regret it.”
    Wolfe grunted. Then we must be at pains not to.”
    “You had better. No man has ever crossed me without regretting it. I want you to get proof that someone else put the arsenic in the chocolate. I’ll tell you exactly how to do it. All you have to do is follow instructions. I have it planned to the last detail.”
    “Indeed.” Wolfe leaned back. “Then it shouldn’t be difficult. You say “someone.”
    Any particular one?”
    “Yes. His name is Bernard Nash. He’s the steward of the Gambit Club. There was arsenic there in the kitchen. Isn’t arsenic used to poison rats?”
    “It has been. It can be.”
    “There was some there in the kitchen, and by mistake Nash put some in the chocolate. Perhaps instead of sugar. When I said I have it planned to the last detail I meant the basic details. You will arrange the minor details with Nash,
    of course without any mention of me - the kind of container the arsenic was in,
    where it was kept, how much he put in the chocolate - all such points. Also, of course, how and when he disposed of the container afterward. When Blount went down to the kitchen with the pot and cup and emptied them - do you know about that?”
    “Yes.”
    “He told the steward and the cook that Jerin was ill and asked about the chocolate. After he left, with the fresh chocolate, Nash thought about it, and realized what he had done, and disposed of the container with arsenic in it.
    Isn’t that plausible?”
    “It’s credible.”
    “Of course that will have to be carefully considered - how and where and when he disposed of the container. I realize that in a matter like this nothing can be overlooked, absolutely nothing. That’s why I came to you. With your experience,
    you know exactly what the police will do. You will know how to arrange it so there will be no possibility of a slip. But on one point I’m going to insist.
    Nash will have to retract what he has told the police - undoubtedly he has signed a statement - and he must have a good reason. The reason will be that after Kalmus hired you, you saw Nash and questioned him, and you forced him to admit what he had done. I insist on that. That way there will be no indication that I have had a hand in it. Of course you agree.”
    Wolfe was rubbing his nose with a finger tip. “I might, after talking with Mr.
    Nash, Has he agreed?”
    “Certainly not. But he will, with the inducement you’ll offer. That won’t be the difficulty, getting him to do it; the difficulty will be arranging all the little details so the police will be satisfied. That’s up to you.”
    “What inducement will I offer?”
    “That’s up to you too. I’ll pay you fifty thousand dollars, and you’ll give me a receipt for payment in full for services rendered. I think if you offer Nash half that amount, twenty-five thousand, that will be ample. He has personal difficulties and needs money badly. Only a month ago he appealed to me for help.
    He wanted me to lend him fifteen thousand dollars, but I would never have got it back. His wife is ill and needs a series of operations and other expensive treatment, he’s in debt on account of her, and he has two sons in college, and two daughters. He has the stupid