erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第36部分

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　　　　　　Mason　chuckled。
　　　　　　〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　forget　it；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃Forget　what？〃　asked　the　reporter　suspiciously。
　　　　　　〃That　bottle　of　whisky　in　my　desk；〃　said　the　attorney；　and　slipped　the　receiver　back　on　the　hook。
　
　
　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR
　
　　　　　　THE　Norton　mansion　blazed　with　light；　every　window　in　the　place　was　illuminated。　More　than　a　dozen　automobiles　were　parked　along　the　curb；　or　crowded　into　the　driveway。　Men　came　and　went　through　the　open　door；　and　four　or　five　police　officers　strutted　importantly　about　the　premises。
　　　　　　Up　in　the　study　where　Edward　Norton　had　been　murdered；　Claude　Drumm　stared　speculatively　at　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　what　you　could　ask　for　that　is　more　fair　than　this；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　Perry　Mason　told　him；　〃it　doesn't　seem　particularly　plete　to　me　as　a　test。　Don　Graves　has　only　a　fifty　percent　chance　of　guessing　wrong　even　if　he　were　blindfolded。〃
　　　　　　〃I　don't　see　what　you're　getting　at；〃　said　Claude　Drumm　with　purposeful　stupidity。
　　　　　　〃You've　got　two　women　here；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃one　in　a　black　dress　and　one　in　a　pink　dress。　You've　got　three　men；　all　of　whom　are　known　to　Graves。　Now　the　idea　is；　as　I　understand　it；　that　Judge　Purley　will　drive　his　car　up　the　roadway　at　exactly　the　same　rate　of　speed；　as　nearly　as　he　can　remember；　that　he　drove　it　on　the　night　of　the　murder。　When　the　car　reaches　a　certain　position　in　the　roadway；　Judge　Purley　is　to　shout：　'Look！'　And　at　that　time　Graves　is　to　turn　and　look。
　　　　　　〃After　we　have　started　up　the　roadway；　the　figures　will　arrange　a　pantomime。　One　of　the　three　will　stand　with　a　club　in　his　hand；　and　one　of　the　women　will　stand　so　that　her　head；　shoulder　and　arm　are　visible　to　a　person　going　up　the　roadway。〃
　　　　　　〃That　is；　correct；〃　said　Drumm。
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Now　the　point　that　I　am　making　is　this：　As　far　as　the　men　are　concerned；　if　Graves　simply　guessed；　he　would　stand　one　chance　in　three　of　being　right。　As　far　as　the　women　are　concerned；　if　he　simply　guessed；　he　would　stand　an　even　chance　of　being　right。〃
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Drumm；　〃you　can't　ask　to　have　conditions　any　more　favorable　to　your　side　of　the　case　than　they　were　at　the　time　of　the　murder。　Now　there　were　only　two　women　in　the　house　at　that　time。　There　was　Mrs。　Mayfield；　the　housekeeper；　and　Frances　Celane；　your　client。　Now；　it's　conceded　that　there　was　a　woman　in　the　room　at　the　time　of　the　murder。。。〃
　　　　　　〃No　it　isn't；〃　snapped　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Well；　according　to　my　theory　of　the　case；　and　according　to　the　testimony　of　Don　Graves；　a　disinterested　witness；　there　was；〃　said　Drumm；　〃and；　if　the　test　is　going　through；　that　has　got　to　stand。　Now　that　woman　who　was　in　the　room　either　had　to　be　Mrs。　Mayfield　or　Miss　Celane。　Similarly；　there　were　three　men　who　might　have　mitted　the　murder。　There　was　Pete　Devoe；　the　chauffeur；　who　was　drunk　when　we　found　him；　but　who；　nevertheless；　was　under　suspicion；　there　was　Rob　Gleason；　the　defendant　in　the　action；　and　Purkett；　the　butler。　One　of　those　three　men　must　have　been　the　one　to　swing　the　club。〃
　　　　　　〃That；〃　said　Mason；　〃is　taking　for　granted　that　the　evidence　of　the　footprints　under　the　window；　and　the　window　that　had　been　jimmied　open；　is　evidence　that　was　planted。〃
　　　　　　〃Of　course　it　is；〃　said　Drumm。　〃You　wouldn't　want　us　to　have　the　whole　city　standing　here　in　the　room　because　there　might　have　been　someone　in　the　city　who　had　broken　into　the　house。　You　can't　have　this　thing　all　your　way。〃
　　　　　　〃I　should　have　it　enough　my　way　so　that　we　can　tell　whether　Graves　uses　his　eyes；　or　whether　it's　just　a　lucky　guess。〃
　　　　　　Claude　Drumm　showed　a　glint　of　triumph　in　his　eyes。
　　　　　　〃I　have　arranged　this　test；〃　he　said；　〃under　circumstances　which　are　identical　to　those　which　surrounded　the　mission　of　the　crime。　This　test　is　made　as　the　result　of　a　challenge　by　you。　Now；　if　you　are　afraid　to　have　Graves　go　ahead　with　it；　all　you　have　got　to　do　is　to　say　so；　and　we'll　call　the　test　off；　because　you　didn't　dare　to　let　the　witness　go　through　with　it。〃
　　　　　　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃if　you're　going　to　put　it　on　that　ground；　go　ahead。〃
　　　　　　The　glint　of　triumph　which　had　been　in　Drumm's　eyes　became　a　light　of　victory；　and　he　grinned　with　blatant　assurance。
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　to　the　pact　group　that　had　gathered　about　the　two　men；　〃I　think　you　two　gentlemen　understand　the　situation　perfectly。　We　are　to　go　up　the　hill　in　the　car。　I　will　be　seated　in　the　back　seat　with　Mr。　Graves。　Mr。　Mason；　the　attorney　for　the　defendants；　will　be　seated　in　the　front　seat　beside　Judge　Purley。
　　　　　　〃After　the　car　has　started　up　the　hill；　you　gentlemen　of　the　press　will　select　one　of　these　women；　who　will　stand　so　that　her　head；　neck；　shoulder　and　arm　will　be　visible　through　the　window；　to　anyone　standing　on　the　curve　in　the　road　at　the　point　where　Graves　looks　back。　You　will　also　select　one　of　the　three　men；　each　of　whom　is　attired　in　a　distinctly　different　suit　of　clothes；　to　stand　with　a　club　in　his　hand；　leaning　over　the　chair　in　which　Edward　Norton　was　sitting　when　he　was　killed。
　　　　　　〃I　think　that　covers　the　situation。　The　reputation　and　integrity　of　Judge　Purley　will　be　sufficient　to　guarantee　that　whatever　may　happen　in　the　automobile　will　not　subsequently　be　distorted　by　either　party。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　said：　〃Just　a　minute。　Before　Don　Graves　leaves　this　room　I　want　to　have　a　confidential　word　with　Judge　Purley。〃
　　　　　　Drumm　looked　at　him　suspiciously。
　　　　　　〃Not　unless　I　am　along；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　a　test；　and　if　you　are　going　to　have　any　confidential　words　with　anyone；　I'm　going　to　hear　what　they　are。〃
　　　　　　〃I　have　no　objection　to　your　listening；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃but　naturally；　inasmuch　as　this　is　a　test；　I　don't　want　Don　Graves　to　hear　it。〃
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Drumm。　〃You　can　wait　here；　Graves；　until　we　call　you。〃
　　　　　　〃We'll　blow　the　horn　on　the　automobile；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃when　we　are　ready。〃
　　　　　　In　frigidly　dignified　silence；　the　two　opposing　attorneys　walked　down　the　broad　stairs；　through　the　front　door；　and　to　the　automobile　where　Judge　Purley　sat　in　ponderous　dignity；　surrounded　by　flashlight　photographers；　his　face　wearing　an　expression　of　satisfaction　which　he　endeavored　to　conceal　beneath　the　cloak　of　a　judicial　and　ponderous　dignity。
　　　　　　〃Are　you　ready；　gentlemen？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　〃It　is　understood；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃that　I　am　to　sit　in　the　front　seat　with　Judge　Purley；　that　you；　Mr。　Drumm；　are　to　sit　in　the　rear　seat　with　Don　Graves？〃
　　　　　　〃That　is　so　understood；〃　said　Drumm。
　　　　　　〃Under　those　circumstances；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃I　am　going　to　ask　that　you　remove　your　glasses。〃
　　　　　　〃That　I　what？〃　snapped　the　Deputy　District　Attorney。
　　　　　　〃That　you　remove　your　glasses；〃　Perry　Mason　said。　〃You　will　readily　understand　that　if　you　are　wearing　your　glasses　so　that　your　vision　is　fully　corrected；　and　you　should　turn　at　the　same　time　that　Don　Graves　turns；　it　might　be　that　by　some　involuntary　exclamation　or　motion；　you　would　signal　Don　Graves　which　one　of　the　three　men　you　thought　was　holding　the　club。　In　which　case　I　should　be　having　a　test　made　with　two　pairs　of　eyes　instead　of　one。〃
　　　　　　〃That　sir；〃　said　Claude　Drumm；　〃is　an　insult　to　my　veracity。〃
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃it　is　no　such　thing。　It　is　merely　a　matter　of　precaution　against　an　involuntary　betrayal。〃
　　　　　　〃I　refuse　to　consent　to　it；〃　said　Drumm。
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃I　shall　not　insist。　I　have　merely　mentioned　the　matter。　One　other　thing　is　that　I　am　going　to　ask　Judge　Purley　to　keep　his　eyes　straight　ahead　on　the　road。〃
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Drumm；　〃I　am　not　going　to　consent　to　that　condition；　because　when　Judge　Purley　was　driving　the　car　on　the　night　the　murder　was　mitted；　and　Don　Graves　gave　his　exclamation；　it　was　only　natural　that　Judge　Purley　should　have　looked　back　to　see　what　it　was　that　had　caused　the　exclamation；　and　in　doing　this；　he　naturally　slowed　down　the　car；　which　gave　Graves　opportunity　for　a　much　longer　and　steadier　look。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　sighed　wearily；　after　the　manner　of　one　who　has　been　out…generaled。
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　he　said；　〃summon　Graves。〃
　　　　　　Judge　Purley　pressed　the　button　of　the　horn　on　the　automobile。
　　　　　　They　waited　a　few　minutes；　and　Perry　Mason　reached　over　and　again　pressed　the　button　of　the　horn。
　　　　　　There　was　still　no　Graves；　and　Judge　Purley　pushed　his　left　palm　imperatively　against　the　button　on　the　steering　post　of　the　car；　looking　expectantly　up　at　the　window。
　　　　　　There　was　a　motion　for　a　moment；　and　then　Don　Graves　stood　in　the　window　and　shouted：　〃One　of　these　newspaper　reporters　wants　to　change　the　conditions　of　the　test。〃
　　　　　　Claude　Drumm　gave　an　exclamation；　slammed　open　the　door　of　the　car；　strode　across　the　street；　and　stood　under　the　window。　〃The　conditions　of　that　test　were　fully　arranged　when　we　left　the　room；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　discuss　the　matter　with　any　of　the　newspaper　reporters。　If　they　can't　cooperate　in　this　thing　they'll　be　excluded。　e　down　here　at　once！〃
　　　　　　〃Very　well；　sir；〃　Don　Graves　said；　and　left　the　window。
　　　　　　Almost　at　once　Harry　Nevers　thrust　out　his　head　and　called：　〃This　test　isn't　fair。　We　should　have　the　right　to　have　one　of　the　men　stand　where　Graves　claims　the　woman　was　standing；　if　we　want　to。　That　would　determine　whether　Graves　could　actually　see　that　the　other　occupant　of　the　room　was　a　woman。　It　might　have　been　a　man。〃
　　　　　　〃In　a　pink　negligee；　eh？〃　sneered　Drumm。　〃Now　listen；　the　only　function　that　you　gentlemen　have　is　to　pick　which　one　of　the　three　men；　and　which　one　of　the　two　women　will　stand　in　that　position。　That　was　definitely　understood；　and　that　is　the　condition　of　the　test。　If　an　attempt　is　to　be　made　to　change　it；　I　will　call　off　the　test。〃
　　　　　　〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　Nevers；　〃have　it　your　own　way。　But　it　doesn't　seem　fair　to　me。〃
　　　　　　Don　Graves　came　down　the　stairs；　left　the　front　door；　and　said　in　a　low　voice　to　Claude　Drumm：　〃The　man　is　drunk。　He　made　a　nuisance　of　himself　up　there；　but　I　didn't　want　to　offend　him　because　I　didn't　want　his　newspaper　to　roast　me。〃
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　snapped　Drumm；　〃leave　him　to　me。　Are　we　ready？〃