The Stronger Sex Read Online Free Page A

again.
    He said, “She got back last Sunday. And she turned up at the works on Monday saying she was better. And then she made a terrible scene to Pauly because… because of being fired. Typical of the woman! Pauly had to throw her out. More or less.” He took a deep breath.
    I nodded. I hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Are you all right? Or should we take a break?”

    He drew his eyebrows together. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m OK. Go on, go on!” And he quickly passed his handkerchief over his forehead again.
    After a little while I asked, “And she told your manager she was going to take legal action against you for wrongful dismissal?”
    â€œOf course she did!” He laughed. “I’d have been very surprised if she hadn’t threatened us with that on the spot!”
    I nodded, and then fell silent. I was going through his account of the incident again in my mind. He watched me, clearly suspicious.
    In the end I said, “How do you know, by the way, that Frau Fuchs went to Switzerland?”
    He smiled. “On that Saturday a week ago, when Pauly found her medical certificate in the letterbox, I hired a detective then and there.”
    â€œA detective?”
    â€œWhy, yes! Anyone wanting to go one better than that woman has to think of something good!” He laughed. “Pauly told me at midday, and I hired the detective. He took up his position outside her apartment on the Saturday afternoon. He had another man take over for the night and then followed her on the Sunday morning. When she went to the airport, understand? He called me from there and told me she was flying to Geneva, and I told him to get on the same plane.” He laughed. “Next morning, when it was obvious that she was going to stay until the next Sunday, he came back.”
    I nodded.
    He said, “Any more questions?”
    I thought for a moment and then said, “Yes, one more.”
    â€œAnd that is?”
    I said, “Did you have to get a stand-in for Frau Fuchs? To deal with that large order?”

    He threw his head back as if remembering something unwelcome. “Ah, the order, yes.” He looked at me and shook his head. “I’m sorry to say I didn’t get it. A competitor snapped it up from under my nose at the last minute. Offered the customer a rock-bottom price. These things happen in business today.” He shook his head. “But I won’t go along with that kind of approach, not me!”
    I sat there for a little longer and then got to my feet.
    He looked at me keenly. “That’s it?”
    â€œYes.” After a pause I said, “Unless you have anything else to tell me?”
    He shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
    I picked up my briefcase. “Please let me know as soon as you hear from the tribunal.”
    â€œYes, of course. I’ll do that.”
    I indicated the file folder. “Is that for me?”
    â€œYes, sure.” He picked it up, held it in mid-air and looked at me. “And… how will the hearing go?”
    I said, “I don’t know.” After a pause, in which he stared at me with obviously increasing resentment, I said, “I’m not sure that we shall win.”
    â€œWhat?” He glared at me. “Then can you tell me why you’ve been hanging around here so long?”
    Before I could answer that, he threw the folder down on the table in front of me. “Oh, devil take it! Here, take the thing and have fun with it!”

3
    As I went down the stairs the bell rang in the hall again, twice. Cilly Klofft came into the living room and toward me. She said she hoped I could stay a little longer; would I please wait for her? She wouldn’t be long, she added. I stood aside on the stairs to let her go by.

    As she passed me I caught the scent of her perfume again.
    Before I went into the living room, I suddenly heard a distant voice from