erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第39部分

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s　call　and　stated　that　he　had　a　criminal　matter　to　report　…　didn't　you　know　then　that　when　the　body　of　Edward　Norton　was　discovered；　the　police　would　check　back　and　find　a　record　of　that　call；　knowing　then　the　exact　time　that　Mr。　Norton　had　been　killed；　and　being　able　to　surmise　something　of　the　motive　for　his　murder？〃
　　　　　　〃No　sir；〃　gulped　Arthur　Crinston；　but　his　forehead　was　glistening　in　the　light　which　came　from　the　high　windows　of　the　courtroom；　as　the　beads　of　perspiration　oozed　through　his　skin。
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact　that　with　the　consciousness　of　guilt　upon　you；　you　knew　that　it　was　necessary　to　explain　that　call　to　the　police　in　some　way；　that　you　saw　the　insurance　policy　lying　on　his　desk；　that　you　knew　this　insurance　policy　lay　there　because　Mr。　Norton；　who　was　very　methodical；　had　intended　to　make　certain　that　the　insurance　had　been　renewed　before　the　expiration　date。　Isn't　it　a　fact　that　this　insurance　policy　gave　you　an　inspiration；　and　that　you　immediately　called　back　the　Police　Headquarters　and　stated　to　the　desk　sergeant　that　you　were　Mr。　Norton；　who　had　just　called；　that　you　had　been　cut　off；　and　that　you　desired　to　report　the　theft　of　an　automobile；　and　that　you　then　and　there　read　the　description　of　the　Buick　automobile　from　the　insurance　policy　which　lay　upon　Mr。　Norton's　desk？〃
　　　　　　〃No　sir；〃　said　Arthur　Crinston　in　a　tone　of　mechanical　defiance。
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact　that　then　the　door　opened；　and　Don　Graves　came　into　the　room；　that　Don　Graves　had　been　your　acplice　and　assistant　in　connection　with　the　embezzlement　of　the　nine　hundred　thousand　odd　dollars　which　you　had　lost　in　speculations　upon　the　stock　market；　using　partnership　funds　to　cover　your　individual　losses？　And　isn't　it　a　fact　that　you　and　Don　Graves　then　and　there　fixed　up　a　plan　by　which　the　murder　of　Mr。　Norton　would　be　blamed　upon　others？〃
　　　　　　〃No　sir；〃　came　the　same　mechanical　denial。
　　　　　　〃Isn't　it　a　fact　that　you　knew　that　Judge　Purley　did　not　know　Edward　Norton　personally；　and　therefore　would　not　recognize　his　voice　from　the　voice　of　any　other　man？　Isn't　it　a　fact　that　you　and　your　acplice；　Don　Graves；　sneaked　down　to　the　room　of　Pete　Devoe；　the　chauffeur；　and　planted　evidence　in　that　room　which　would　have　a　tendency　to　connect　Devoe　with　the　murder？　Isn't　it　a　fact　that　you　jimmied　a　window　and　left　footprints　in　the　loam　on　the　soil　outside　of　the　window　so　that　it　would　appear　that　Mr。　Devoe　had　made　a　clumsy　attempt　to　divert　suspicion　from　himself？
　　　　　　〃Isn't　it　a　fact　that　you　then　went　back　to　the　study　where　the　dead　man　was　slumped　across　his　desk；　and　that　you　arranged　with　Mr。　Graves　so　that　you　were　to　go　down　the　stairs　and　start　for　Judge　Purley's　automobile；　that　Mr。　Graves　was　to　raise　the　window　in　Mr。　Norton's　study；　keeping　the　desk　light　well　to　his　back；　so　that　Judge　Purley　would　see　nothing　but　the　blurred　outline　of　a　human　form；　and　that　Mr。　Graves；　pretending　to　be　Edward　Norton；　would　call　down　and　ask　you　to　take　Don　Graves　in　the　automobile　to　your　home；　and　that　you　then　and　there　arranged　that　you　would　go　to　ask　Judge　Purley　for　his　permission；　and　that　Don　Graves　would　then　move　away　from　the　window；　rush　downstairs；　and　be　standing　by　your　side；　while　you　pretended　to　call　up　to　Mr。　Norton；　whom　you　pretended　that　you　could　see　in　the　window；　saying　that　it　was　all　right；　and　Judge　Purley　had　given　his　permission？〃
　　　　　　〃No　sir；〃　said　Arthur　Crinston。
　　　　　　〃That；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　in　tones　that　rang　through　the　courtroom　until　they　seemed　to　make　the　rafters　in　the　ceiling　vibrate；　〃is　all　the　cross…examination　I　have　of　this　witness。〃
　　　　　　Judge　Markham　glanced　at　Claude　Drumm。
　　　　　　〃Is　there　any　redirect　examination；　counselor？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　Claude　Drumm　made　a　sweeping　gesture。　〃None；　Your　Honor。　A　very　pretty　theory　has　been　advanced；　but　there　has　been　no　evidence　to　support　it。　The　witness　has　denied。。。〃
　　　　　　Judge　Markham　banged　his　gavel　on　the　desk。
　　　　　　〃Counselor；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　make　your　argument　to　the　jury　at　the　proper　time。　The　question　of　the　court　was　whether　there　was　any　additional　redirect　examination。　Your　answer　was　in　the　negative；　and　the　witness　will　stand　aside。〃
　　　　　　〃Recall　Judge　Purley　for　further　cross…examination；〃　said　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　Judge　Purley　came　to　the　witness　stand。　Gone　was　the　judicial　assurance　which　had　clothed　his　manner　earlier　in　the　trial。　His　face　was　drawn　and　strained；　and　there　was　a　haunting　doubt　in　his　eyes。
　　　　　　〃You　also　have　been　sworn　in　this　case；　so　there　is　no　necessity　for　you　to　be　sworn　again；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Take　your　place　on　the　witness　stand。〃
　　　　　　Judge　Purley　heaved　his　big　bulk　into　the　witness　chair。
　　　　　　〃When　this　test　was　being　made　over　the　week　end；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　in　the　tone　of　voice　of　one　who　is　pronouncing　a　final　and　solemn　judgment；　〃you　sat　in　your　automobile　under　the　window　of　Edward　Norton's　study；　in　exactly　the　same　place　and　position　as　that　you　occupied　on　the　night　of　the　murder；　did　you　not？〃
　　　　　　〃I　did；　sir；　yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃And　from　that　position；　by　craning　your　neck；　you　could　see　the　study　windows　in　Edward　Norton's　house？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃But　because　the　top　of　the　automobile　was　so　low　as　to　interfere　with　your　vision；　you　could　only　see　those　windows　by　craning　your　neck；　is　that　right？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact；　Judge　Purley；　that　while　you　were　seated　there　in　that　automobile；　in　exactly　the　same　position　that　it　occupied　on　the　night　of　the　murder；　Don　Graves　came　to　the　window　of　the　study　and　called　down　to　you；　or　to　Claude　Drumm；　who　was　with　you　in　the　car？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Judge　Purley；　taking　a　deep　breath。
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact；〃　thundered　Perry　Mason；　extending　his　rigid　forefinger；　so　that　it　pointed　directly　at　Judge　Purley；　〃that　now　the　matter　has　been　called　to　your　attention；　and　your　recollection　has　had　an　opportunity　to　check　over　the　circumstances　of　what　happened　upon　that　fateful　night　of　the　murder；　that　you　now　realize　that　the　voice　which　called　down　to　you　from　that　second　story　window　on　the　night　of　the　test；　was　the　same　voice　which　had　called　down　from　that　window　on　the　night　of　the　murder？〃
　　　　　　Tense；　dramatic　silence　gripped　the　courtroom。
　　　　　　Judge　Purley's　hands　tugged　at　the　arm　of　the　witness　chair；　and　his　face　writhed　in　agony。
　　　　　　〃My　God！〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know！　I　have　been　asking　myself　that　question　for　the　last　ten　minutes；　and　I　cannot　answer　it　satisfactorily　to　my　conscience。　All　I　know　is　that　it　may　have　been！〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　turned　half　around　and　faced　the　jury。　His　steady；　unwavering　eyes　surveyed　the　faces　of　the　nine　men　and　the　three　women。
　　　　　　〃That；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　finality；　〃is　all。〃
　　　　　　For　a　long　moment　the　courtroom　remained　silent；　then　there　were　rustlings；　whispering；　half…gasps。　Somewhere　in　the　background　a　woman　tittered　hysterically。
　　　　　　Judge　Markham　banged　his　gavel　down　on　the　desk。
　　　　　　〃Order！〃　he　said。
　　　　　　Claude　Drumm　bit　his　lip　in　an　agony　of　indecision。　Dare　he　go　into　the　matter　on　redirect　examination；　or　dare　he　wait　until　he　could　talk　privately　with　the　Municipal　Judge？
　　　　　　And；　in　that　moment　of　indecision；　in　that　moment　when　the　attention　of　every　human　being　in　the　courtroom　was　fastened　upon　him；　Claude　Drumm　hesitated　for　one　second　too　long。
　　　　　　The　attention　of　the　crowd　shifted。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　his　eyes　placidly　surveying　the　sea　of　faces；　saw　it　shift。　Judge　Markham；　sitting　on　the　bench；　wise　in　the　ways　of　the　courtroom；　veteran　of　a　hundred　murder　trials；　saw　it　shift。
　　　　　　As　with　one　motion；　as　though　actuated　by　some　subtle；　psychic　mand；　the　eyes　of　the　jurors；　the　eyes　of　the　spectators；　turned　away　from　Claude　Drumm；　and　fastened　themselves　upon　the　agonized　face　of　Arthur　Crinston。
　　　　　　It　was　the　silent　verdict　of　the　courtroom；　and　that　verdict　exonerated　the　two　defendants；　and　fixed　the　guilt　of　Edward　Norton's　murder　squarely　upon　Arthur　Crinston　and　his　acplice。
　
　
　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　
　　　　　　PERRY　MASON　sat　in　his　office。　The　light　from　the　window　streaming　in　upon　his　rugged；　virile　features　made　him　seem　somehow　older；　brought　out　the　strong　lines　of　his　face。
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　sat　in　the　big　black　leather　chair；　her　forefinger　poking　and　twisting　as　she　slid　it　along　the　smooth　arm　of　the　chair。　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　filled　with　emotion。
　　　　　　Robert　Gleason　stood　leaning　against　the　book　case；　his　heavy；　dark　face　twisted　into　that　agony　of　silence　which　es　to　those　inarticulate　men　who　have　much　to　say；　yet　cannot　find　a　means　of　expression。
　　　　　　Through　the　open　windows；　from　the　street　below；　came　the　cries　of　the　newsboys；　shouting　their　extra　edition　of　the　STAR。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　tapped　the　newspaper　on　his　desk；　a　paper　which　was　still　damp　from　the　presses。
　　　　　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃is　clever　journalism。　Nevers　had　that　paper　on　the　street　before　you　had　gone　from　the　courthouse　to　my　office。　He　had　the　thing　all　figured　out　and　blocked　out。　All　he　needed　to　do　was　to　add　a　brief　summary　of　the　testimony　of　Judge　Purley；　and　the　headlines。〃
　　　　　　He　slid　his　forefinger　along　the　headlines　which　streamed　blackly　across　the　top　of　the　newspaper：　〃MURDER　CASE　DISMISSED。〃
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　said　softly：　〃It　wasn't　the　journalism　in　this　case　that　was　so　remarkable；　Mr。　Mason；　it　was　your　wonderful　analysis　of　what　must　have　happened；　and　the　steps　you　took　to　reconstruct　the　scene　so　that　Judge　Purley　would　be　convinced。　I　watched　him　when　he　was　on　the　witness　stand　the　first　time；　and　I　could　see　the　problem　that　you　had　with　him。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　smiled。
　　　　　　〃Judge　Purley；〃　he　said；　〃is　rather　opinionated；　and　he　would　very　much　have　disliked　having　to　confess　himself　in　error。　In　fact；　if　I　had　asked　him　that　question　the　first　time　he　was　on　the　witness　stand；　he　would　have　indignantly　denied　that　such　could　have　been　the　case；　and　the　denial　would　have　so　impressed　itself　upon　his　own　mind；　that　no　amount　of　subsequent　testimony　could　ever　have　caused　him　even　to　entertain　the　faintest　notion　that　he　might　have　been　mist