- Mr. Belson: You work for Nero Wolfe?
- Archie Goodwin: Yes sir.
- Mr. Belson: What does he mean saying Dr. Lowenberg was murdered?
- Archie Goodwin: Dr. Lowenberg worked as the head of missile development for this company, did he not?
- Mr. Belson: I'll answer questions when you answer questions. Who hired Wolfe to find out if Lowenberg was murdered?
- Archie Goodwin: "Who hired Wolfe to find out who murdered Dr. Lowenberg?" is the correct way to phrase that question. The correct answer is, "I'm not at liberty to say."
- Nero Wolfe: The orchid and I are listening to Scarlatti. I have no proof, but it seems to me that Scarlatti improves the color shading much more than any prelude by Chopin.
- Archie Goodwin: What happens when you play rock 'n' roll?
- Nero Wolfe: Don't be obscene.