- Case
- And Be a Villain
- Year Published
- 1948
- Case Introduction
- 18 March - 3 April 1948. Referred to in later books as "the Orchard case." A "bleak" financial outlook forces Wolfe to call in a favor from Mr. Richards of the Federal Broadcasting Company. Richards sheds light on the prosperity of the Madelaine Fraser radio show. Cyril Orchard had been killed on the live radio show by a poisoned drink. Wolfe gets a job to clear the show and its sponsors names. Suggestion: Read this story before you read "The Second Confession" and "In the Best Families". This is the first novel to set up the importance of Arnold Zeck in Wolfe's life.
- Notes
- Resolution
-
Madelaine Fraser was the victim of Zeck's blackmail scheme. Unknowingly the blackmailers guessed correctly that Fraser killed her husband. Fraser killed Cyril Orchard to protect her secret.
Characters in the case:
Archie says she looks like a 'female wrestler'.
Character descriptionCook for Madeline Fraser.
Reserved notes for this case
Helped Archie get the Shepherd's out of Atlantic City.
Character descriptionAtlantic City cab driver.
Reserved notes for this case
Abandons the sponsorship of the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show during the hunt for the murderer.
Character descriptionPresident of the Hi-Spot soft drink company.
Reserved notes for this caseAbandons the show because of a tip from Tully Strong of Fraser's imminent demise.
Leads the investigation into Rony's death.
Interrogates Archie first concerning his finding of Rony's body and then for the match of the sedan as the hit and run car -- some jabs are thrown by both parties.
Character descriptionDistrict Attorney of Westchester County.
Archie says, " . . . he wasn't a bad guy."
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned as a source for investigative help.
Character descriptionOperator of Detective Agency in New York City.
Reserved notes for this case
Wants to hire Wolfe to find the murderer of Cyril Orchard. Wolfe declines.
Character descriptionA vice president with the Federal Broadcasting Company.
Reserved notes for this case
Fritz prepared Fried Shrimp, Cape Cod Clam Cakes, Sour Sauce, Vitello Tonnato, Fresh Pork Tenderloin in Casserole, Corn Fritters, Corned-Beef Sandwiches, Minced Rabbit Sandwiches, Georgia Country Sandwiches and Onion Soup during this case.
Character descriptionMaster chef in Wolfe's kitchen, has a small apartment in the basement. (In "Fer-De-Lance," his apartment is across from the plant room, not in the basement.) Swiss; native French speaker, served in WWI. Uninterested in murder, except whether a client is in the offing; gets anxious about household finance when Wolfe isn't working. Doesn't like to talk while cooking. Changes to his old slippers at 9 pm because of "things left on his feet by the war to remember it by". Implied he was a member of the Swiss Alpine Patrol during WWI.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted in investigation of Orchard murder.
Character descriptionSecond in line behind Saul Panzer when Nero and Archie need extra manpower.
Reserved notes for this case
Potential client - rejected because Wolfe thought he had dandruff.
Character descriptionLawyer
Reserved notes for this case
Finds Madelaine Fraser's location when Wolfe wants to pitch his proposal to her (re: finding the killer of Cyril Orchard).
Character descriptionReporter at the Gazette. Dark skin, dark brown eyes. Neat little face, slick black hair. Neatest (card) shuffler Archie knows.
Reserved notes for this case
Unable to solve the Cyril Orchard murder.
Character descriptionInspector with NYPD, Homicide. Has tolerate / hate relationship with Wolfe. He respects Wolfe, but is greatly irritated by his eccentricities. Habitually chews (but rarely lights) cigars. Notably, Cramer lights a cigar in Wolfe's office during "Instead of Evidence" in which the murder weapon is an exploding cigar! First name is given as Fergus one time, but generally accepted as Lionel. Had a son in the Army Air Corps during WWII. Archie has called Mrs. Cramer on the phone more than once to reach the Inspector at home. Archie's favorite alias for him is "the man about the chair" or "any name with a double "d", e.g., Mr. Judd".
At no time is Inspector Cramer ever referred to in the books as "Lionel T." Cramer; his first name is given as "Fergus" in "Where There's a Will." There is a lone later reference to him as L.T.C. (The Silent Speaker), but never Lionel. Stout's biographer, John McAleer, asked Stout to explain the "Fergus"/"L.T.C" discrepancy; Stout replied: "No significance. Laziness. I didn't bother to check on whether he already had a first name. Of course, all discrepancies in the Nero Wolfe stories are Archie Goodwin's fault." (from "Royal Decree; Conversations with Rex Stout)
He is featured in a book by Stout called Red Threads, first published 1939, tracking down a killer with a young fashion designer. There is no reference to Nero Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this caseStrikes a deal with Wolfe -- Cramer's army does legwork per Wolfe's instructions, the homicide department gets the credit, and Cramer privately informs Wolfe's employers that Wolfe solved the crime.
Hotel dick turned cop working for Homicide.(?)
Character descriptionHotel dick at the Waldorf.
Reserved notes for this case
Inspector Cramer's phone attendant.
Character descriptionWorks for Cramer in Homicide.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted in investigation of Orchard murder.
Character descriptionHired hand used by Wolfe and Archie when extra manpower is needed. Not the best, but can tail better than anybody but Saul. The favorite "irregular" after Saul - Fritz: "I'm glad it's Orrie instead of Saul or Fred"; Archie: "Such a chore for Saul or Fred of course, but I didn't like doing it for Orrie."; Mr Wolfe: "He doesn't have the dignity of a man who has found his place and occupies it, as you have, Fred."
Bald, burly, 5'10, 190 lbs; moves like a bear. Married with four children. Archie: "You can trust him to hell and back."
Reserved notes for this case
Agrees to share Wolfe's fee to find the killer of Cyril Orchard, a guest on her radio show.
Character descriptionRadio star.
Reserved notes for this caseKilled her husband and was being blackmailed for it (unknowingly by her blackmailers) in Arnold Zeck's blackmail scheme.
Poisoned the drink of Cyril Orchard during her radio show because he was the man to whom she had to pay her blackmail.
Poisoned Deborah Koppel because she suspected Fraser of the murders.
Sells Wolfe's idea of finding the killer of Cyril Orchard to Madelaine Fraser and her staff. Ultimately, many of the sponsors want and get a piece of the action.
Character descriptionNero Wolfe's tough and witty assistant.
Reserved notes for this caseManages to get Nancylee Shepherd into Wolfe's office after Saul failed, earning a "standing ovation" from Wolfe.
Archie is taken prisoner by Deputy Commissioner O'Hara for declining to answer questions about a letter found on his person. Wolfe ultimately rescues Archie by threatening to announce the killer of Cyril Orchard on a live radio broadcast.
Mentioned.
Character descriptionOlder man. Wolfe's orchid nurse. Lives in small cubbyhole on the roof with the plants. First mentioned in ch. 3 of "Fer-de-lance" - Archie sometimes hears him shouting at Wolfe in the mornings.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
Character descriptionReserve manpower called in periodically. Looks like a Princeton boy with his face washed. With his satisfied handsomeness, Johnny unquestionably wants Archie's job, Archie believes; but Archie knows Wolfe would never be able to stand him.
Reserved notes for this case
Suspect in the killing of Cyril Orchard.
Character descriptionManager of the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Reserved notes for this caseKilled by poisoned Meltettes candy in Madelaine Fraser's apartment.
Died years before the story opens, having committed suicide by cyanide poisoning.
Character descriptionDeceased husband of Madeline Fraser, brother of Deborah Koppel. Photographer.
Reserved notes for this caseActually murdered, complete with fake suicide note(s).
She subscribed to Orchard's 'Track Almanac' but was NOT a horse player.
Character descriptionBeauty Parlor owner.
Reserved notes for this case
On air stooge and feeder.
Character descriptionStaffer for the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Reserved notes for this case
Dr. Michaels' wife responds to Wolfe's ads in the papers for subscribers to Orchard's publication.
Having met his wife, both Wolfe and Goodwin felt sorry for Michaels.
Character descriptionGynecologist.
Reserved notes for this caseMichaels was being blackmailed by Zeck's organization, and he tells Wolfe his experiences -- Michaels information provides Wolfe with the basis necessary to realize that someone on the Fraser Radio Show staff was being blackmailed and killed because of it.
Gave Wolfe the crack he needed to solve the Orchard murder case.
Character descriptionOutspoken woman.
Reserved notes for this case
Hauls Archie downtown after finding the fabricated anonymous note to a fictitious friend of Elinor Vance and Archie's refusal to discuss the matter.
Character descriptionAntagonistic city employee.
Has rich wife.
Reserved notes for this case
Murder victim.
Character descriptionPublisher of horse racing sheet 'Track Almanac'.
Reserved notes for this caseKilled on the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Cardiac arrest is right around the corner when he learns what Wolfe has uncovered.
Character descriptionDirector of public relations, Hi-Spot soft drink company.
Reserved notes for this case
Travels to Atlantic City to fetch Nancylee Shepherd for a meeting with Wolfe.
Character descriptionTop hired hand Nero and Archie look to for manpower. Hosts regular Thursday night poker game at eight pm at his apartment in Brooklyn. Rust-colored hair, 5'7, 145 lbs, big nose and flat ears.
In the "Rubber Band" (ch. 6) Archie tells us that Panzer has a photographic memory when it comes to faces.
Reserved notes for this caseOffers to waive his fee after failing to bring back the Shepherds.
Published inside, advanced information sheet 'What To Expect'.
Character descriptionPublisher of newsletter predicting political events.
Reserved notes for this case
Vice-President of FBC.
Character descriptionExecutive in the Federal Broadcasting Co.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted Inspector Cramer with Orchard murder investigation.
Character descriptionLieutenant in NYPD. Has antagonistic relationship with Archie and Wolfe.
Reserved notes for this case
Wanted to develope a crime solving formula with Wolfe's help.
Character descriptionMathematics professor.
Reserved notes for this case
Got his wife and daughter out of town and away from reporters and police.
Character descriptionFather to Nancylee Shepherd.
Reserved notes for this case
Took daughter Nancylee out of New York and to Atlantic City.
Character descriptionMother to Nancylee Shepherd.
Reserved notes for this case
Lives with her parents in the Bronx. Takes occasional part-time modelling work.
Character descriptionYoung girl; fanatical fan of the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show. High school dropout.
Reserved notes for this case
Assisted Inspector Cramer with Orchard murder investigation.
Character descriptionInitially an employee in N.Y. D.A.'s office. Later Cramer's man.
Detective (sergeant). Unfriendly.
Reserved notes for this case
Character descriptionSecretary of the Sponsors Council of the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Reserved notes for this caseTargeted by Zeck's blackmail scheme.
Handled ads for three of the Fraser show sponsers.
Character descriptionExecutive for an advertising agency handling the sponsors for the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Reserved notes for this case
Wolfe read his 'Book Of Poems'.
AND BE A VILLIAN actually starts on March 13, not 18th, as is stated in the first few paragraphs
Character descriptionPoet
Reserved notes for this case
Script writer for the Fraser show.
Character descriptionScript writer for the Madelaine Fraser Radio Show.
Accomplished young woman: Smith diploma, play written.
Reserved notes for this case
Dropped in at the brownstone for a Sunday evening snack on five kinds of cheese, quava jelly, freshly roasted chestnuts and almond tarts.
Character description"He was one of only two men whom Wolfe will call by their first names, apart from employees," Archie relates as he introduces Marko in "Too Many Cooks." A boyhood friend from Montenegro, Marko is welcome to address Wolfe by his first name, and he dines monthly at Wolfe's house. One of the Fifteen Masters, Marko is the great chef of Rusterman's restaurant in New York -- one of the few places Wolfe will dine away from home.
Reserved notes for this case
Mentioned.
Character descriptionEnglish aristocrat, reigned for 10 months as Edward VIII.
Reserved notes for this case
Discovers that Madelaine Fraser is allergic to Starlite, the drink served on her radio show. Tape was placed on a bottle, which was filled with coffee, and reserved for Madelaine to drink.
When Wolfe places an ad in the paper asking for subscribers to the publication of Cyril Orchard, Arnold Zeck calls to advise against such inquiries.
Wolfe deduces Zeck's blackmailing scheme.
Character descriptionMaster detective. Genius. Estimated weight: 1/7 ton. Carries a large platinum watch in his vest pocket. Sends a check every month to his mother in Budapest ("Fer-de-lance, ch. 13)..
Reserved notes for this case
Zeck tells Wolfe over the phone, "The wisest course for you will be to drop the matter."
Character descriptionCriminal mastermind. Wolfe's arch nemesis.
First made himself known to Wolfe in June 1943.
Reserved notes for this case
Meals in the case:
(no meals are currently in the NWD for this story)
Orchids in the case:
(no orchids are currently in the NWD for this story)
Quotations in the case:
Ch. 4
Very well, I resign as of now. You are simply too conceited, too eccentric, and too fat to work for.
Quotation noteArchie upset with Wolfe for not accepting Sweeties as a client.
Ch. 4
I would rather become a policeman and take orders from Mr. Cramer than work for anything or anyone called Sweeties.
Quotation noteNero explaining his decision not to allow Sweeties to pay part of his fee to find the killer of Cyril Orchard.