“Let me pass,” she said. “I’m going home.”
I have seldom felt sorry for that pair, but I did then, especially Cramer.
“Not right now,” he said gruffly. “I’m afraid you’ll have to answer some questions.”
Chapter 17
One item. You may remember my mentioning that one day, the day after the murderer of Faith Usher was convicted, I was discussing with a friend what was the most conceited remark we had ever heard? It was that same day that I caught sight of Edwin Laidlaw in the men’s bar at the Churchill and decided to do a good deed. Besides, I had felt that the amount on the bill we had sent him, which he had paid promptly without a murmur, had been pretty stiff, and he had something coming. So I approached him, and after greetings had been exchanged I performed the deed.
“I didn’t want to mention it,” I said, “while her mother was on trial for murder, but now I can tell you, in case you’re interested. One day during that commotion I was talking with Celia Grantham, and your name came up, and she said, ‘I may marry him someday. If he gets into a bad jam I’ll marry him now.’ I report it only because I thought you might want to take some dancing lessons.”
“I don’t have to,” he said. “I appreciate it, and many thanks, but we’re getting married next week. On the quiet. We put it off until the trial was over. Let me buy you a drink.”
There you are. I’m one good deed shy.
The World of 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 are rarely seen, some 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.
Champagne for One
Authors and editors often rely on one another when deciding on a title for a novel. Fortunately for Marshall Best, Stout’s longtime editor, his author was able to come up with something that worked perfectly without the help of his “title department.” Could you imagine this classic story titled Champagne for Faith Usher?
This book is fiction. No resemblance is intended
between any character herein and any person,
living or dead; any such resemblance is
purely coincidental.
CHAMPAGNE FOR ONE
A Bantam Crime Line Book / published by arrangement
with Viking Penguin
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Viking edition published November 1958
Bantam edition / April 1960
Bantam reissue edition / January 1996
CRIME LINE and the portrayal of a boxed “cl” are trademarks of Bantam
Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1958 by Rex Stout.
Introduction copyright © 1996 by Lena Horne.
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: 978-0-307-75576-6
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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Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Copyright
Rex Stout - Nero Wolfe 31 Page 18
