[voice]
[clears his throat]
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. You will of course forgive me if I am maladroit, I am unaccustomed to addressing large groups of people without being able to observe any of them, or in fact know their identities. I feel an introduction is in order since I am certain none of you are familiar with me, as I am unfamiliar with all of you, whoever you all are. My name is Nero Wolfe. In this great city in 1954, I was a private detective, a successful one. Now I am merely a refugee, as we all are. I had hoped I had suffered all the physical hardships for my lifetime in my youth, but fate, it seems, is capricious and I am again forced to struggle for survival.
Now I am entirely ignorant of the last fifty-four years of history. This is a problem that will be easily resolved by New York City's Public Library, which has been most graciously spared by the city's new dictator. I have been informed that most of New York's current citizenry consists of others drawn from distant times and places of which I currently know nothing, and I will learn nothing of from history books. Therefore, to come to the point, I am requesting information from anyone who is willing to share it. I dislike being ignorant and I enjoy conversation. I would like to know as much as you care to tell me about your homelands. I will not pry the information out of anyone who is unwilling, I have neither reason or leverage to do so. I only wish to cure myself of my current obliviousness.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. You will of course forgive me if I am maladroit, I am unaccustomed to addressing large groups of people without being able to observe any of them, or in fact know their identities. I feel an introduction is in order since I am certain none of you are familiar with me, as I am unfamiliar with all of you, whoever you all are. My name is Nero Wolfe. In this great city in 1954, I was a private detective, a successful one. Now I am merely a refugee, as we all are. I had hoped I had suffered all the physical hardships for my lifetime in my youth, but fate, it seems, is capricious and I am again forced to struggle for survival.
Now I am entirely ignorant of the last fifty-four years of history. This is a problem that will be easily resolved by New York City's Public Library, which has been most graciously spared by the city's new dictator. I have been informed that most of New York's current citizenry consists of others drawn from distant times and places of which I currently know nothing, and I will learn nothing of from history books. Therefore, to come to the point, I am requesting information from anyone who is willing to share it. I dislike being ignorant and I enjoy conversation. I would like to know as much as you care to tell me about your homelands. I will not pry the information out of anyone who is unwilling, I have neither reason or leverage to do so. I only wish to cure myself of my current obliviousness.
Thank you.