dh.theglasskey-第35部分

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　She　did　not　protest。　She　was　twining　her　fingers　together。　When　she　asked　her　next　question　it　was　with　difficulty。　〃Waswas　he　going　toto　shoot　Paul？〃
　〃He　was。　He　could　get　away　with　the　grand…old…man…avenging…the…death…the…law…couldn't…avenge　line。　He　knew　Paul　wasn't　going　to　stay　dummied　up　if　he　was　arrested。　Paul　was　doing　it；　just　as　he　was　supporting　your　father　for　re…election；　because　he　wanted　you。　He　couldn't　get　you　by　pretending　he'd　killed　your　brother。　He　didn't　care　what　anybody　else　thought；　but　he　didn't　know　you　thought　he　had　and　he　would　have　cleared　himself　in　a　second　if　he　had。〃
　She　nodded　miserably。　〃I　hated　him；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　wronged　him　and　I　still　hate　him。〃　She　sobbed。　〃Why　is　that；　Ned？〃
　He　made　an　impatient　gesture　with　one　hand。　〃Don't　ask　me　riddles。〃
　〃And　you；〃　she　said；　〃tricked　me　and　made　a　fool　of　me　and　brought　this　on　me　and　I　don't　hate　you。〃
　〃More　riddles；〃　he　said。
　〃How　long；　Ned；〃　she　asked；　〃how　long　have　you　knownknown　about　Father？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　It's　been　in　the　back　of　my　head　for　a　long　time。　That　was　about　the　only　thing　that'd　fit　in　with　Paul's　foolishness。　If　he'd　killed　Taylor　he'd've　let　me　know　before　this。　There　was　no　reason　why　he　should　hide　that　from　me。　There　was　a　reason　why　he'd　hide　your　father's　crimes　from　me。　He　knew　I　didn't　like　your　father。　I'd　made　that　plain　enough。　He　didn't　think　he　could　trust　me　not　to　knife　your　father。　He　knew　I　wouldn't　knife　him。　So；　when　I'd　told　him　I　was　going　to　clear　up　the　killing　regardless　of　what　he　said；　he　gave　me　that　phony　confession　to　stop　me。〃
　She　asked：　〃Why　didn't　you　like　Father？〃
　〃Because；〃　he　said　hotly；　〃I　don't　like　pimps。〃
　Her　face　became　red；　her　eyes　abashed。　She　asked　in　a　dry　constricted　voice：　〃And　you　don't　like　me　because？〃
　He　did　not　say　anything。
　She　bit　her　lip　and　cried：　〃Answer　me！〃
　〃You're　all　right；〃　he　said；　〃only　you're　not　all　right　for　Paul；　not　the　way　you've　been　playing　him。　Neither　of　you　were　anything　but　poison　for　him。　I　tried　to　tell　him　that。　I　tried　to　tell　him　you　both　considered　him　a　lower　form　of　animal　life　and　fair　game　for　any　kind　of　treatment。　I　tried　to　tell　him　your　father　was　a　man　all　his　life　used　to　winning　without　much　trouble　and　that　in　a　hole　he'd　either　lose　his　head　or　turn　wolf。　Well；　he　was　in　love　with　you；　so〃　He　snapped　his　teeth　together　and　walked　over　to　the　piano。
　〃You　despise　me；〃　she　said　in　a　low　hard　voice。　〃You　think　I'm　a　whore。〃
　〃I　don't　despise　you；〃　he　said　irritably；　not　turning　to　face　her。　〃Whatever　you've　done　you've　paid　for　and　been　paid　for　and　that　goes　for　all　of　us。〃
　There　was　silence　between　them　then　until　she　said：　〃Now　you　and　Paul　will　be　friends　again。〃
　He　turned　from　the　piano　with　a　movement　as　if　he　were　about　to　shake　himself　and　looked　at　the　watch　on　his　wrist。　〃I'll　have　to　say　good…by　now。〃
　A　startled　light　came　into　her　eyes。　〃You're　not　going　away？〃
　He　nodded。　〃I　can　catch　the　four…thirty。〃
　〃You're　not　going　away　for　good？〃
　〃If　I　can　dodge　being　brought　back　for　some　of　these　trials　and　I　don't　think　that'll　be　so　hard。〃
　She　held　her　hands　out　impulsively。　〃Take　me　with　you。〃
　He　blinked　at　her。　〃Do　you　really　want　to　go　or　are　you　just　being　hysterical？〃　he　asked。　Her　face　was　crimson　by　then。　Before　she　could　speak　he　said：　〃It　doesn't　make　any　difference。　I'll　take　you　if　you　want　to　go。〃　He　frowned。　〃But　all　this〃he　waved　a　hand　to　indicate　the　house　〃who'll　take　care　of　that？〃
　She　said　bitterly：　〃I　don't　careour　creditors。〃
　〃There's　another　thing　you　ought　to　think　about；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃Everybody's　going　to　say　you　deserted　your　father　as　soon　as　he　got　in　trouble。〃
　〃I　am　deserting　him；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　want　people　to　say　that。　I　don't　care　what　they　sayif　you'll　take　me　away。〃　She　sobbed。　〃IfI　wouldn't　if　only　he　hadn't　gone　away　and　left　him　lying　there　alone　in　that　dark　street。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　said　brusquely：　〃Never　mind　that　now。　If　you're　going　get　packed。　Only　what　you　can　get　in　a　couple　of　bags。　We　can　send　for　the　other　stuff　later；　maybe。〃
　She　uttered　a　high…pitched　unnatural　laugh　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　He　lit　a　cigar；　sat　down　at　the　piano；　and　played　softly　until　she　returned。　She　had　put　on　a　black　hat　and　black　coat　and　was　carrying　two　traveling…bags。
　
　
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　They　rode　in　a　taxicab　to　his　rooms。　For　most　of　the　ride　they　were　silent。　Once　she　said　suddenly：　〃In　that　dreamI　didn't　tell　youthe　key　was　glass　and　shattered　in　our　hands　just　as　we　got　the　door　open；　because　the　lock　was　stiff　and　we　had　to　force　it。〃
　He　looked　sidewise　at　her　and　asked：　〃Well？〃
　She　shivered。　〃We　couldn't　lock　the　snakes　in　and　they　came　out　all　over　us　and　I　woke　up　screaming。〃
　〃That　was　only　a　dream；〃　he　said。　〃Forget　it。〃　He　smiled　without　merriment。　〃You　threw　my　trout　backin　the　dream。〃
　The　taxicab　stopped　in　front　of　his　house。　They　went　up　to　his　rooms。　She　offered　to　help　him　pack；　but　he　said：　〃No；　I　can　do　it。　Sit　down　and　rest。　We've　got　an　hour　before　the　train　leaves。〃
　She　sat　in　one　of　the　red　chairs。　〃Where　are　youwe　going？〃　she　asked　timidly。
　〃New　York；　first　anyhow。〃
　He　had　one　bag　packed　when　the　door…bell　rang。　〃You'd　better　go　into　the　bedroom；〃　he　told　her　and　carried　her　bags　in　there。　He　shut　the　connecting　door　when　he　came　out。
　He　went　to　the　outer　door　and　opened　it。
　Paul　Madvig　said：　〃I　came　to　tell　you　you　were　right　and　I　know　it　now。〃
　〃You　didn't　e　last　night。〃
　〃No；　I　didn't　know　it　then。　I　got　home　right　after　you　left。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded。　〃e　in；〃　he　said；　stepping　out　of　the　doorway。
　Madvig　went　into　the　living…room。　He　looked　immediately　at　the　bags；　but　let　his　glance　roam　around　the　room　for　a　while　before　asking：　〃Going　away？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Madvig　sat　in　the　chair　Janet　Henry　had　occupied。　His　age　showed　in　his　face　and　he　sat　down　wearily。
　〃How's　Opal？〃　Ned　Beaumont　asked。
　〃She's　all　right；　poor　kid。　She'll　be　all　right　now。〃
　〃You　did　it　to　her。〃
　〃I　know；　Ned。　Jesus；　I　know　it！〃　Madvig　stretched　his　legs　out　and　looked　at　his　shoes。　〃I　hope　you　don't　think　I'm　feeling　proud　of　myself。〃　After　a　pause　Madvig　added：　〃I　thinkI　know　Opal'd　like　to　see　you　before　you　go。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　say　good…by　to　her　for　me　and　to　Mom　too。　I'm　leaving　on　the　four…thirty。〃
　Madvig　raised　blue　eyes　clouded　by　anguish。　〃You're　right；　of　course；　Ned；〃　he　said　huskily；　〃butwellChrist　knows　you're　right！〃　He　looked　down　at　his　shoes　again。
　Ned　Beaumont　asked：　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　with　your　not　quite　faithful　henchmen？　Kick　them　back　in　line？　Or　have　they　kicked　themselves　back？〃
　〃Farr　and　the　rest　of　those　rats？〃
　〃Uh…huh。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　teach　them　something。〃　Madvig　spoke　with　determination；　but　there　was　no　enthusiasm　in　his　voice　and　he　did　not　look　up　from　his　shoes。　〃It'll　cost　me　four　years；　but　I　can　use　those　four　years　cleaning　house　and　putting　together　an　organization　that　will　stay　put。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃Going　to　knife　them　at　the　polls？〃
　〃Knife　them；　hell；　dynamite　them！　Shad's　dead。　I'm　going　to　let　his　crew　run　things　for　the　next　four　years。　There's　none　of　them　that　can　build　anything　solid　enough　for　me　to　worry　about。　I'll　get　the　city　back　next　time　and　by　then　I'll　have　done　my　housecleaning。〃
　〃You　could　win　now；〃　Ned　Beaumont　said。
　〃Sure；　but　I　don't　want　to　win　with　those　bastards。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　nodded。　〃It　takes　patience　and　guts；　but　it's　the　best　was'　to　play　it；　I　reckon。〃
　〃They're　all　I've　got；〃　Madvig　said　miserably。　〃I'll　never　have　any　brains。〃　He　shifted　the　focus　of　his　eyes　from　his　feet　to　the　fireplace。　〃Have　you　got　to　go；　Ned？〃　he　asked　almost　inaudibly。
　〃Got　to。〃
　Madvig　cleared　his　throat　violently。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　Goddamned　fool；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'd　like　to　think　that　whether　you　went　or　stayed　you　weren't　holding　anything　against　me；　Ned。〃
　〃I'm　not　holding　anything　against　you；　Paul。〃
　Madvig　raised　his　head　quickly。　〃Shake　hands　with　me？〃
　〃Certainly。〃
　Madvig　jumped　up。　His　hand　caught　Ned　Beaumont's；　crushed　it。　〃Don't　go；　Ned。　Stick　it　out　with　me。　Christ　knows　I　need　you　now。　Even　if　I　didn'tI'll　do　my　damndest　to　make　up　for　all　that。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　shook　his　head。　〃You　haven't　got　anything　to　make　up　for　with　me。〃
　〃And　you'll？〃
　Ned　Beaumont　shook　his　head　again。　〃I　can't。　I've　got　to　go。〃
　Madvig　released　the　other's　hand　and　sat　down　again；　morosely；　saying：　〃Well；　it　serves　me　right。〃
　Ned　Beaumont　made　an　impatient　gesture。　〃That's　got　nothing　to　do　with　it。〃　He　stopped　and　bit　his　lip。　Then　he　said　bluntly：　〃Janet's　here。〃
　Madvig　stared　at　him。
　Janet　Henry　opened　the　bedroom…door　and　came　into　the　livingroom。　Her　face　was　pale　and　drawn；　but　she　held　it　high。　She　went　straight　up　to　Paul　Madvig　and　said：　〃I've　done　you　a　lot　of　harm；　Paul。　I've〃
　His　face　had　bee　pale　as　hers。　Now　blood　rushed　into　it。　〃Don't；　Janet；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃Nothing　you　could　do　。　。　。〃　The　rest　of　his　speech　was　unintelligibly　mumbled。
　She　stepped　back；　flinching。
　Ned　Beaumont　said：　〃Janet　is　going　away　with　me。〃
　Madvig's　lips　parted。　He　looked　dumbly　at　Ned　Beaumont　and　as　he　looked　the　blood　went　out　of　his　face　again。　When　his　face　was　quite　bloodless　he　mumbled　something　of　which　only　the　word　〃luck〃　could　be　understood；　turned　clumsily　around；　went　to　the　door；　opened　it；　and　went　out；　leaving　it　open　behind　him。
　Janet　Henry　looked　at　Ned　Beaumont。　He　stared　fixedly　at　the　door。
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
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