A Nero Wolfe Mystery2000

D.A. Mandelbaum:
Did Leonard Ashe say anything else to you? [pause as Wolfe is contemplating his answer] Mr. Wolfe?

Nero Wolfe:
I would like to be sure I understand the question. Do you mean, what he said that day, or on a later occasion?

D.A. Mandelbaum:
That day, of course. But... what other occasion?

Nero Wolfe:
Are you asking me?

D.A. Mandelbaum:
In your deposition, you swore you hadn't met Leonard Ashe before or after July 13th.

Nero Wolfe:
That was true then. We met again.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
When?

Nero Wolfe:
In this building at half past eight this morning.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
You met and spoke with the defendant in this building at half past eight this morning, today?

Nero Wolfe:
His wife arranged to see him, and she allowed me to accompany her.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
Was Mr. Donovan, the defense counsel, present?

Nero Wolfe:
No,sir.

Jimmy Donovan:
Your Honor, I would like to state for the record that I knew nothing of this.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
Don't you know that it's a misdemeanor for a witness for the state to speak with a defendant charged with a felony?

Nero Wolfe:
We didn't discuss my testimony.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
What did you discuss?

Nero Wolfe:
Matters which I thought would be of interest to him.

D.A. Mandelbaum:
What exactly did you say, Mr. Wolfe?

Archie Goodwin:
*narrating* The fat son of a gun had put it over. Having asking him directly, Mandelbaum couldn't possibly keep Wolfe's theories from the jury unless Jimmy Donovan was a sap.

Judge Corbett:
Do you wish to withdraw the question, Mr. Mandelbaum?

D.A. Mandelbaum:
Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I'm absolutely fascinated, you didn't discuss your testimony, what did you discuss?