Chapter 2 Chapter One

Perry Mason and secretary Della Streeter had lunch at Mr. Maddison's landmark restaurant in town. Mason was talking with Della when he suddenly noticed a shadow in front of him. When he looked up, he realized that it was the owner of the restaurant, Kathy Madison, who was looking at him with a smile. "Mr. Mason, is the food okay?" Madison asked. "Very good," Mason said. "Your food is always good." "How is the service?" "very good." Maddison glanced back and whispered, "I mean, how's the waiter in the back doing?" Mason was a little baffled. "Great."

"I'm asking this because I found out that the second waiter bought your table from the first one," Maddison said. "What do you mean?" Mason asked. "Didn't you see it?" Maddison said. "The waiter who brings you the knife and fork, the cream, the water and the menu is not the same person who takes your order afterwards." "I wasn't paying attention," Mason said. "I'm talking to Della." "I see," Maddison said. "I don't like to bother you. We really don't encourage this kind of table buying behavior."

"What's a buy table?" Mason asked. "Some restaurants have this custom," Maddison said. "Generally, the squad leader appoints a waiter to be in charge of a certain table, but if the customer tip generously, there may be other waiters who want to buy this table. For example, a customer will give 20% If he spends more than five yuan, it means a tip of at least one yuan. The waiter who intends to buy a table may bid fifty cents. The one he sells can earn fifty cents and rest his feet. Buyers do more You can earn money even if you work. The more money you need, the more people will buy tables.”

"Does that mean I tip generously?" Mason asked. "You have always been very generous. If the service is good, you usually give a tip of 25%, sometimes even more. But I feel that Kit is not just for tips, so I came to ask you." "What's the meaning?" "If she's coming to you for legal advice, just let me know. Doctors and lawyers are special, you know, and there's always someone who wants a service for free." "You don't have to worry about that," Mason said. "Since Kit is new here, I want to know what's on her mind."

"Her name is Kit?" Mason asked. "Full name is Catherine Elise. Everyone calls her Kit. She's not been here long. She wasn't in the business before." "Well, thanks for the warning," Mason said. "Perry, this isn't just a warning. If she wants anything from you, I want you to let me know, okay?" Mason looked at him thoughtfully for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled and said, "Not good." "you are not willing?" "No," Mason said. "I don't like snitching. Thank you for warning me. It's so-called preparedness. I won't tell you whether Kit has asked me for legal advice."

"Okay," Maddison said. "But I'll watch from the sidelines. Here she comes." Catherine brought two corned beef sandwiches, a glass of milk, and a cup of coffee.Madison walked away as if nothing had happened. After putting down the meal, Catherine asked Della, "Can I have creamer and sugar, please?" Della shook her head and said, "I drink plain coffee." Catherine arranged the milk and cups in front of Mason, inspected the entire table and asked, "Do you two need anything else?" "No more," Mason said. But Catherine still hesitated to go.

Della glanced at Mason intently, then looked back to see Madison standing with his arms folded across the kitchen.On the surface, he was patrolling the entire restaurant, but he was actually monitoring Catherine. "That's it," Mason said. Catherine murmured "Thank you" and turned away. Mason said to Della, "What do you think?" "She obviously had something to say," Della said. "But I don't know how to speak." "It may also be that she knew that Madison was watching from behind, so she didn't dare to speak." Mason said.

Mason handed Della the mustard and sprinkled it himself on the corned beef. "Did you bring out my business card?" Mason asked. Della nodded and took a business card from her purse. "do what?" Mason smiled and said, "I have a whim and I want to do something. Pass me your business card from under the table." Mason secretly wrote on the business card: "My usual consultation fee is ten yuan, and the eleven yuan under the plate is a tip." Then Mason secretly took out eleven yuan from his pocket and stuffed them together with the business card in the oval where the sandwich was placed. under the plate.

Della looked on very interestingly. "Maybe that's not what she wanted," Della said. "Maybe she just wanted your autograph." "Then she still got my autograph," Mason said. "Now the bar association can sue me for forcing clients." The two laughed.Then we went on to lunch, and the sandwiches had just been finished when Catherine came again. "Is there anything else you two need?" "No more," Mason said. Catherine pretends to write something on the bill, and Mason notices that it's already written. "Mr. Mason, may I ask you a question?" Catherine asked.

"Okay," Mason said. "But in my office." After saying that, she immediately stood up and went to Ladella's chair, while smiling kindly at Catherine. Catherine said, "Oh," dejectedly, and handed the bill to Mason. "The tip is under the plate," Mason said. "Thank you." Catherine replied coldly. Mason took Della's elbow and went to the counter to pay. Della looked back. "Is she mad?" Mason asked. "It's frustrating," Della said. "Hey, she's looking under the plate." "Is there any reaction?" Mason asked.

"Can't see it," Della said. "She turned her back on us." Mason said, "If Maddison is spying on Catherine, you can rest easy now. What's the waiter's name?" "Catherine Alice," said Della. "I wrote it down." "If she does come to our office, let me know." "You want to see her?" Della asked. "I'd love to meet her," Mason said. "Remember to charge her ten dollars."