rs.toomanywomen-第15部分

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ave　left　the　bed　and　got　to　the　bathroom　door　at　the　other　side　of　the　room　without　being　aware　of　it。　My　mind　was　pletely　empty；　and　rested；　there　were　no　dreams　in　it　at　all；　though　there　often　are　when　I　get　up。　That　was　all　there　was　to　it　that　night；　I　undressed　and　went　to　bed　and　after　a　while　went　back　to　sleep；　but　in　the　morning；　when　I　read　the　news　of　Moore's　death　in　the　paper…of　course　it　was　an　electrifying　experience　for　me…my　mind　was　suddenly　occupied；　pletely　dominated；　by　the　impression　that　I　had　killed　him。　I　think　one　little　circumstance　was　a　major　factor　in　the　birth　of　the　impression：　the　circumstance　that　the　car　that　killed　him　had　been　found　parked　on　Ninety…fifth　Street；　just　one　block　from　where　I　lived。〃
　　〃Think　again；　Mr。　Frenkel。　The　car　wasn't　found　until　nearly　noon；　so　it　couldn't　have　been　in　the　morning　paper。〃
　　〃What！〃　He　was　disconcerted。　〃Are　you　sure　of　that？〃
　　〃Positive。〃
　　〃That's　strange。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃That　shows　what　a　mind　can　do　with　itself。　I　clearly　remember　that　the　impression　was　with　me　that　morning　when　I　went　to　work；　so　the　detail　of　where　the　car　was　found　must　have　e　later　and　only　made　the　impression　deeper　and　stronger。　Anyhow；　that　was　when　it　started；　and　I've　had　it　ever　since；　and　I　want　to　get　rid　of　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　blame　you；〃　I　assured　him。　〃That　first　time　you　went　to　sleep；　when　you　were　exhausted　with　conceptions　and　your　head　ached；　what　time　was　it？〃
　　〃It　was　around　nine　o'clock。　Naturally　I've　considered　that。　I　can't　determine　it　very　exactly；　but　it　couldn't　have　been　far　from　nine　one　way　or　the　other。〃
　　〃Did　you　know　where　Moore　was　that　evening？　Or　where　you　might　expect　to　find　him？〃
　　〃No。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I　knew…〃　He　left　it　hanging。
　　I　nudged。　〃Let's　have　it。〃
　　〃I　knew　where　I　surmised　he　was；　or　might　be。　No；　that's　not　right。　I　knew　whom　I　surmised　he　might　be　with；　and　that's　all。　I　prefer　not　to　mention　names。〃
　　〃When　you　woke　up　by　the　bathroom　door；　how　were　you　dressed？〃
　　〃As　usual。　As　I　had　been　when　I　lay　down。　Suit；　shoes…fully　dressed。〃
　　〃No　hat　or　overcoat？〃
　　〃My　God；　no。　That　would　have　removed　any　doubt；　wouldn't　it？〃
　　〃Well；　a　couple　of　layers。　Any　other　indications…dirty　hands　or　any　thing？〃
　　〃No。　Nothing。〃
　　〃Have　you　ever　mentioned　this　to　anyone；　your　impression　that　you　killed　Moore？〃
　　〃Never。　When　the　police　were　investigating；　soon　after　it　happened；　a　detective　called　on　me　and　asked　if　I　had　been　out　for　a　walk　late　that　night　and　had　noticed　anyone　parking　a　car　on　Ninety…fifth　Street。
　　Of　course　that　meant　they　were　interested　in　me　because　I　lived　only　a　block　away。　He　also　asked　about　certain…about　my　relations　with　Moore。　I　told　him　frankly　that　I　hated　Moore。〃
　　〃But　you　didn't　tell　him　about　your　impression？〃
　　〃No；　why　should　I？〃
　　〃You　shouldn't。　Why　are　you　telling　me？〃
　　Frenkel　hunched　his　shoulders　together。　His　eyes　were　no　longer　probing　me；　now　they　left　me　entirely；　going　down　until　they　reached　the　floor。　He　seemed　to　be　getting　forlorn；　and　I　hoped　he　didn't　have　another　headache　ing　on。　I　waited　for　him　to　lift　his　eyes　again；　which　he　eventually　did。
　　〃It's　very　difficult；〃　he　said　in　a　grieved　tone。　〃It　may　sound　foolish；　but　when　I　learned　that　you　are　investigating　Moore's　murder　I　had　a　kind　of　vague　hope　that　if　I　told　you　about　it　you　might　be　able　to　check　up　on　it…you're　a　detective　and　would　know　how　to　do　it…perhaps　by　questioning　the　landlady　and　other　people　there　you　could　establish　the　fact　that　I　didn't　leave　my　room　that　evening。〃　He　looked　uncertain。　〃Or　perhaps　you　could　relieve　my　mind。　Maybe　I　haven't　made　it　plain　what　terrible　pressure　I've　been　under。　Perhaps　you　could　tell　me　whether　Mr。　Naylor　has　mentioned　any　names　in　connection　with　this…with　that　irresponsible　report　he　sent　to　Mr。　Pine。　Specifically；　has　he　mentioned　mine？〃
　　I　was　no　longer　bored；　but　if　any　gleam　showed　in　my　eyes　it　was　against　orders。　〃Well；〃　I　said　offhand；　〃a　lot　of　names　have　been　mentioned　of　course。　Have　you　any　reason　to　suppose　that　Mr。　Naylor　might　single　you　out？〃
　　〃No　good　reason；　no。　It's　like　this；　Mr。　Truett。〃　He　leaned　forward；　and　apparently　he　had　got　his　second　wind；　for　he　was　probing　again。　〃This　impression　that　I　killed　a　man　has　been　the　dominating　element　of　my　whole　mental　process　for　nearly　four　months。　It　is　vital　to　me；　absolutely　vital；　that　I　either　validate　it　or　destroy　it　with　as　little　delay　as　possible。　I　need　to　know；　and　I　have　a　right　to　know；　if　anyone　else　has　the　same　impression；　and　if　so　for　what　reason　and　with　what　justification。　It　can't　be　the　same　reason　as　mine；　for　no　one　on　earth；　except　you　now　that　I've　told　you；　knows　what　happened　to　me　in　my　room　that　evening。　So　I　ask　if　Mr。　Naylor　has　mentioned　my　name。　If　he　has；　and　if　your　telling　me　so　is　not　regarded　as　in　confidence；　I　would　like　to　go　to　him…〃
　　The　door　opened　and　Kerr　Naylor　was　in　the　room。
　　In　spite　of　Ben　Frenkel's　distress　and　SOS　appeal　I　had　sprouted　no　germ　of　brotherly　feeling　for　him；　or　if　I　had；　it　had　wilted　fast　at　the　suspicion　that　what　he　chiefly　wanted　was　to　pump　me。　But　the　sight　of　Naylor's　neat　little　colorless　face　and　glittery　colorless　eyes　aroused　my　protective　instinct；　not　only　in　behalf　of　Frenkel；　but　of　the　whole　stock　department。　As　Frenkel　saw　who　the　newer　was　and　arose；　nearly　knocking　his　chair　over　in　his　haste；　I　told　Naylor　casually：
　　〃Hello；　I　haven't　seen　you　today。　I've　been　discussing　the　personnel　of　his　section　with　Mr。　Frenkel。　I　think…〃
　　〃He　isn't　the　head　of　the　section；〃　Naylor　snapped。
　　〃Yeah；　but　I　often　find　in　my　personnel　work　that　you　get　more　from　an　assistant　than　you　do　from　a　head。　Did　you　want　something？〃
　　〃You　can　finish　with　Frenkel　later。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　I　said　agreeably；　〃but　about　one　point　that　came　up；　I　got　the　impression　that　he　wanted　to　ask　you　about　it。　That　right；　Mr。　Frenkel？〃
　　It　didn't　seem　to　be　since　he　was　edging　toward　the　door。　He　had　not　gone　wholly　inarticulate；　but　his　rumble　had　degenerated　to　a　mumble；　something　about　the　outgoing　mail　waiting　for　him；　and　he　was　gone。　He　left　the　door　standing　open。　Kerr　Naylor　went　and　closed　it；　came　to　the　chair　his　underling　had　just　vacated；　and　sat　down。
　　〃You've　got　them　jumping　through　hoops；〃　I　said　in　admiring　awe。　〃Even　big　ones　like　Frenkel；　who　could　do　a　major　operation　on　you　with　one　hand。〃
　　Naylor　smiled　his　two…cent　smile。　〃He　would　like　to；　Frenkel　would。〃
　　〃Why；　any　particular　reason？〃
　　〃No；　except　that　he　thinks　I　prevented　his　promotion　in　January。〃　Naylor　pulled　a　pamphlet　from　his　side　pocket。　〃I　came　across　this　in　a　drawer　of　my　desk　and　thought　you　might　like　to　read　it。〃
　　I　took　it。　The　title　on　the　cover　was　PROTEINS　AND　ENZYMES。　〃Did　you　say　read　it　or　eat　it？〃　I　inquired。
　　Having　no　sense　of　humor；　he　ignored　that。　It　seemed　that　he　had　paid　me　a　visit　expressly　to　give　me　the　pamphlet　and　discuss　its　thesis…or　rather；　to　give　me　a　lecture　on　it。　It　was　all　at　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　and　he　reeled　it　off　as　if　I　had　paid　to　get　in　and　was　dying　to　hear　about　it。
　　I　did　hear　a　word　here　and　there；　enough　to　enable　me　to　contribute　an　occasional　grunt　or　a　question；　but　mostly　I　was　trying　to　decide　what　kept　him　wound　up。　That　he　really　had　it　in　his　heart　to　sell　me　on　the　enzyme　potential　of　foliage　I　did　not　believe　for　a　moment。　I　felt　helpless；　and　so　of　course　I　was　irritated。　Right　there　in　his　little　head；　as　he　sat　doing　his　spiel；　were　facts　and　intentions　that　were　what　I　needed　and　all　I　needed；　and　I　hadn't　the　faintest　idea　how　to　start　prying　them　loose。　I　have　often　felt；　talking　with　a　man　in　the　line　of　duty；　okay；　brother；　wait　till　Wolfe　gets　a　crack　at　you；　but　with　Kerr　Naylor　I　wasn't　at　all　sure　that　even　Wolfe　could　get　a　wedge　in　him。
　　He　went　on　and　on。　I　glanced　twice　at　my　writstwatch；　without　effect。　Finally　I　told　him　I　was　sorry；　I　had　an　appointment　and　was　already　late。　He　wanted　to　know　who　with。　I　gave　him　the　first　name　that　popped　into　my　head；　Sumner　Hoff。
　　〃Ah。〃　He　nodded；　leaving　his　chair。　〃One　of　our　best　men…a　fine　engineer　and　a　good　organizer。　It's　regrettable…really　unfortunate…that　he　is　endangering　his　whole　career　on　account　of　that　Livsey　girl。　He　could　have　gone　to　Brazil；　taken　charge　there；　and　he　wouldn't　leave　because　of　her。　You　know　who　she　is…you　were　in　her　room　yesterday　and　again　today。　Do　you　know　where　Hoff's　office　is？〃
　　〃I'll　find…〃
　　〃e　along。　It's　near　mine。　I'll　show　you。〃
　　I　followed　him；　thinking　that　his　intelligence　service　was　not　only　thorough　but　on　its　toes；　since　he　already　knew　of　my　brief　call　on　Miss　Livesy。　We　went　down　the　broad　aisle　that　separated　the　main　arena　from　the　row　of　offices；　and　when　we　were　nearing　its　end　he　halted　in　front　of　a　closed　door。
　　〃This　is　Hoff's　room；〃　he　announced　in　the　thin　tenor　that　I　had　had　enough　offer　a　while。　〃By　the　way；　something　I　nearly　forgot　to　mention。　Regarding　the　murder　of　Waldo　Moore；　I　told　you　yesterday　that　all　I　could　furnish　was　the　bare　fact。　That　was　not　strictly　true；　and　was　therefore　in　the　nature　of　a　misrepresentation。　I　am　in　possession　of　another　fact：　the　name　of　the　person　who　killed　him。　I　know　who　it　was。　But　I　can　go　no　further。　It　is　neither　proper　nor　safe　to　accuse　a　person　of　murder　without　municable　evidence　to　support　the　charge。　So　that's　all　I　can　say。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃Tell　Mr。　Wolfe　I'm　sorry。〃　He　turned　and　went；　headed　for　his　own　office　at　the　end　of　the　aisle。
　　My　impulse　was　to　go　after　him。　I　stood　and　considered　it。　He　had　done　it　in　style；　his　style；　waiting　to　toss　it　at　me　until　we　were　outside；　with　the　nearest　row　of　desks　and　personnel　so　close　that　I　would　have　had　to　take　only　two　short　steps　to　touch　the　rayon　shoulder　of　a　dark…haired　beauty　with　magenta　lipstick。　She　was　looking　at　me；　now　that　the　big　boss　had　departed；　and　so　were　others　in　that　sector；　enjoying　a　good　view　of　the　bloodhound。　I　made　a　face　at　them　collectively；　and；　deciding　not　to　go　after　Naylor　because　I　wasn't　sure　I　could　keep　from　strangling　him；　I　opened　the　door　of　Hoff　s　room　and　went　in。
　　He　looked　up；　got　me　at　a　glanc