rs.toomanywomen-第19部分

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other　campaign　of　criticism　of　the　police　for　an　unsolved　murder；　and　that　it　is　irresponsible　because　there　isn't　the　slightest　evidence　that　Mr。　Moore's　death　was　anything　but　a　hit…and…run　accident。　They　say　that　our　undertaking　an　investigation　is　the　only　valid　excuse　the　Gazetee　can　have　for　starting　such　a　campaign　or　continuing　it。　They　say　that　either　we　have　been　gulled　by　the　whimsicality　of　an　eccentric　man；　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor；　or　that；　not　gulled；　we　are　exploiting　it　in　order　to　build　up　for　a　fee。　They　say　that　you　have　even　gone　so　far　as　to　report　that　Mr。　Naylor　said　something　to　you…that　he　knows　who　killed　Mr。　Moore…which　he　never　said；　in　the　necessity　to　invent　something　that　would　justify　our　continued　employment。　Does　that　cover　it；　Mr。　Cramer？〃
　　〃It'll　do　for　an　outline；〃　Cramer　rasped。　〃I　want　to　ask　Goodwin…〃
　　〃If　you　please。〃　Wolfe　was　brusque。　He　turned　to　me。　〃Archie。　If　I　need　to　tell　you；　I　do；　that　I　have　unqualified　confidence　in　you　and　am　pletely　satisfied　with　your　performance　in　this　case；　as　I　have　been　in　all　past　cases　and　expect　to　be　in　all　future　ones。　Of　course　you　tell　lies　and　so　do　I；　even　to　clients　when　it　seems　advisable；　but　you　would　never　lie　to　me　nor　I　to　you　in　a　matter　where　mutual　trust　and　respect　are　involved。　Your　lack　of　brilliance　may　be　regrettable　but　is　really　a　triviality；　and　in　any　event　two　brilliant　men　under　one　roof　would　be　intolerable。　Your　senseless　peccadilloes；　such　as　your　refusal　to　use　a　noiseless　typewriter；　are　a　confounded　nuisance；　but　this　idiotic　accusation　that　you　lied　in　that　report　to　Mr。　Pine　has　put　me　in　a　different　frame　of　mind　about　it。　Keep　your　typewriter；　but　for　heaven's　sake　oil　it。〃　〃Good　God；〃　I　protested；　〃I　oil　it　every…〃　Cramer　exploded　with　a　word　which　the　printer　would　not　approve　of。　〃Your　goddam　household　squabbles　will　keep；〃　he　said　rudely。　He　was　at　me。　〃Do　you　stick　to　it　that　Naylor　told　you　he　knew　who　killed　Moore？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't；〃　I　told　him；　〃not　to　you。　To　you　I　don't　stick　to　anything。　This　is　a　private　investigation　about　a　guy　shooting　off　his　mouth；　and　I　do　my　reporting　to　Mr。　Wolfe　and　to　our　client。　Where　do　you　e　in？　You're　the　head　of　the　Homicide　Squad；　but　you　say　yourself　that　Moore's　death　was　an　accident；　so　it's　none　of　your　business　what　I　stick　to　and　what　I　let　go　of。　I　don't　blame　you　for　not　wanting　the　Gazetee　to　start　a　howl；　but　if　you　expect　any　cooperation　from　me　you're　not　going　to　get　it　by　asking　me　whether　I　stick　to　it　that　I'm　not　a　liar。　I　suppose　O'Hara　has　been　on　the　phone　and　given　you　a　pain　in　the　sitdown；　a　substitute　I　use　out　of　respect　for　your　age；　but　you　don't　need　to　take　it　out　on　me。〃
　　I　spread　out　my　palms。　〃Take　it　this　way。　Let's　suppose　you're　a　reasonable　man　instead　of　a　hothead；　and　you　e　here　to　ask　me　something　in　that　spirit；　suppose　you　even　call　me　Archie。　And　you　tell　me　what　you　want　in　a　friendly　well…modulated　tone。　What　would　it　be？〃
　　〃I've　already　told　Wolfe；　and　he　has　told　you。〃　Cramer　was　no　longer　bellicose；　merely　firm。　〃I　want　you　to　quit　stirring　up　a　murder　stink　where　there's　no　evidence　and　peddling　stale　rumors　to　the　papers。〃
　　〃I　didn't　peddle。　I　went　to　the　Gazetee　boys　for　information；　and　I　got　it。　As　for　stink…stirring；　do　you　mean　you　want　me　to　quit　my　job　at　Naylor…Kerr？〃
　　〃Yes。　You　don't　need　money　that　bad。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　know；　I'm　only　the　bookkeeper。　That's　up　to　Mr。　Wolfe。　He　employs　me　and　I　follow　orders。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　Wolfe　put　in；　〃am　in　turn　employed　by　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　through　its　president；　Mr。　Pine。　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　in　hiring　me　he　and　his　fellow　executives　had　certain　special　undeclared　purposes　in　mind。　Their　nature　is　not　known　to　me；　but　I　have　no　reason　to　suppose　them　to　be　criminal　or　unethical；　and　they　may　even　be　praiseworthy。　Why　don't　you　ask　Mr。　Pine　about　it？　Have　you　talked　to　him？〃
　　〃The　Deputy　missioner　has。〃　Cramer　had　got　out　a　cigar　and　was　threatening　his　teeth　with　it。　〃This　afternoon。　I　understand　it　was　mostly　about　Goodwin　lying　about　what　Naylor　had　said　to　him。　I　don't　suppose　the　Deputy　missioner　asked　him　specifically　to　call　you　off。　That　part　of　it　was　left　to　me。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　feel　justified；〃　Wolfe　said　virtuously；　〃in　quitting　the　case　without　the　approval　of　the　client。〃
　　〃Okay；　then　get　it。　Call　him　up　now。　We'll　both　talk　to　him；　and　me　first。〃
　　Wolfe　nodded　at　me。　〃Get　Mr。　Pine；　Archie。　But　not　you　first；　Mr。　Cramer。　You　second。〃
　　I　got　the　number　from　the　book　and　dialed　it。　When；　after　a　short　wait；　there　was　a　voice　in　my　ear　that　I　recognized；　I　was　surprised　that　a　woman　with　enough　money　to　keep　pets　answered　the　phone　herself；　but　it　was　midnight　and　the　servants　probably　didn't　get　to　sleep　as　late　in　the　morning　as　she　did。　I　told　her　who　I　was　and　she　reacted　instantly。
　　〃Of　course；　I　knew　your　voice　at　once！　How　is　your　face；　Archie？〃
　　She　sounded　as　if　she　had　really　had　it　on　her　mind　and　wanted　to　know。　〃Better；　thanks；〃　I　told　her。　〃I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you　so　late　at　night；　but…〃
　　〃Oh；　it's　not　late　for　me！　I'm　never　in　bed　before　three　or　four。　The　season　tickets　aren't　available　yet；　but　they　will　be　next　week；　and　yours　will　be　sent　at　once。〃
　　〃Much　obliged。　Is　your　husband　there？　Mr。　Wolfe　would　like　to　speak　to　him。〃
　　〃Yes　he's　here　but　he　may　be　asleep。　He　goes　to　bed　much　earlier　than　I　do。　Hold　the　wire　and　I'll　find　out。　Is　it　important？〃
　　〃Not　important　enough　to　wake　him　up　if　he　hates　it　as　much　as　I　do。〃
　　〃All　right；　hold　the　wire。　I'll　see。〃
　　It　took　her　long　enough。　I　sat　and　held　it；　reflecting　that　considering　the　state　of　their　romance　her　husband's　bed　was　probably　not　just　the　other　side　of　a　door。　Finally　she　was　back。
　　〃No。；　I'm　sorry；　he's　sound　asleep。　I　thought　he　might　be　reading。　Is　it　about　what　I　came　to　see　you　about？〃
　　〃Yes；　it's　connected　with　that。　We'll　get　him　in　the　morning。　Many　thanks。〃
　　〃Maybe　I　could　help。　What　is　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；　it's　just　a　detail。　Hold　it　a　second。〃　I　covered　the　transmitter　and　announced；　〃He's　asleep　and　she　wants　to　know　if　she　can　help。　She　would　like　very　much　to　help。〃
　　〃No；〃　Wolfe　said　positively。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Cramer　began；　but　I　ignored　him　and　told　the　phone；　〃Mr。　Wolfe　thanks　you　for　your　offer；　Mrs。　Pine；　but　he　will　call　your　husband　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Then　just　tell　me　what　it　is；　Archie；　and　I　can　discuss　it　with　him　before　Mr。　Wolfe　calls。〃
　　It　took　me　a　good　three　minutes　to　get　it　concluded　without　being　impolite。
　　A　childish　wrangle　started。　Cramer　adopted　the　position　that　I　should　have　persuaded　her　to　wake　Pine　up；　and　Wolfe；　who　hates　having　his　sleep　interrupted　even　more　than　I　do；　violently　disagreed。　They　kept　at　it　as　if　it　had　been　one　of　the　world's　major　problems；　like　what　to　do　with　the　Ruhr。　Neither　of　them　budged　an　inch；　so　they　ended　where　they　began；　stalemated。
　　〃Very　well；〃　Cramer　said　finally；　still　belligerent。　〃So　I　get　nothing　for　losing　two　hours　of　my　own　sleep　and　ing　clear　over　here　to　ask　you　a　favor。〃
　　〃Nonsense。〃　Wolfe　was　belligerent　too。　〃You　haven't　asked　a　favor。　You　have　called　Mr。　Goodwin　a　liar　and　you　have　made　preposterous　demands。　Besides；　this　is　on　your　way　home　from　your　office。〃
　　That　was　the　intellectual　level　they　had　descended　to。　I　wouldn't　have　been　surprised　if　Cramer　had　produced　a　map　of　the　city；　to　prove　that　Wolfe's　house　was　not　on　a　direct　line　between　his　office　and　his　home；　but　he　skipped　that　and　concentrated　on　the　other　point…whether　he　had　asked　a　favor　or　not。　He　maintained　that　he　had；　and　that　if　it　had　sounded　like　a　demand　that　was　only　on　account　of　his　mannerisms；　with　which　we　were　well　acquainted　and　therefore　had　no　right　to　misinterpret。　At　length；　by　that　roundabout　route；　he　got　back　to　his　main　point：　would　we　or　would　we　not　break　off　relations　with　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。？　Apparently　Deputy　missioner　O'Hara　had　really　built　a　fire　under　him。
　　〃It　isn't　as　urgent　as　all　that；　is　it？〃　Wolfe　asked　in　his　tone　of　fake　concern；　which　has　maddened　older　men　than　me；　or　even　than　Cramer。　〃For　a　long　time　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor…〃
　　The　phone　rang。　I　gave　it　a　glance　of　distaste　before　reaching　for　it；　thinking　it　was　certainly　Mrs。　Pine；　with　nothing　special　to　do　for　another　two　hours　till　bedtime；　calling　to　ask　about　my　face。　But　no。　A　gruff　male　voice　asked　to　speak　to　Inspector　Cramer　and　I　moved　out　of　my　chair　to　let　Cramer　take　the　call　at　my　desk。
　　It　was　a　one…sided　conversation；　with　Cramer　contributing　only　a　few　grunts　and；　at　the　end；　three　or　four　questions。　He　told　someone　he　would　be　there　in　five　minutes；　hung　up；　and　swiveled　to　us。
　　〃Kerr　Naylor　has　been　found　dead　on　Thirty…ninth　Street　near　Eleventh　Avenue。　Four　blocks　from　here。　Apparently　run　over　by　a　car；　with　his　head　smashed。〃　Cramer　was　on　his　feet。　〃They　got　his　name　from　papers　in　his　pocket。〃　He　growled　at　me；　〃Want　to　e　and　identify　him？〃
　　〃Indeed；〃　Wolfe　muttered。　〃Remarkable　coincidence。　Mr。　Moore　died　there　too。　It　must　be　a　dangerous　street。〃
　　〃And　now；〃　I　plained；　〃I'll　never　be　able　to　make　him　take　back　calling　me　a　liar。　Sure；　glad　to　help。　e　along；　Inspector。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Twenty
　　Since　so　far　as　I　knew　I　was　still　on　the　Naylor…Kerr　payroll；　it　was　a　good　thing　they　didn't　work　Saturdays；　because　Saturday　morning　I　didn't　get　out　of　bed　until　noon　was　in　plain　sight。　At　that　I　had　been　there　something　short　of　six　hours；　having　got　home　just　as　the　sun　was　taking　its　first　slanting　look　at　Thirty…fifth　Street。
　　Coincidence　was　right。　On　Thirty…ninth　Street　between　Tenth　and　Eleventh　Avenues；　not　thirty　feet　from　the　spot　where　the　body　of　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore　had　been　found　nearly　four　months　before；　a　car　had　run　over　Kerr　Naylor；　flattening　his　head　and　breaking　his　bones。　I　had　appreciated；　better　than　I　had　when　he　had　told　me　about　it；　the　difficulties　Kerr　Naylor　had　encountered　when　he　had　gone　to　the　morgue　to　identify　the　remains　of　Waldo　Moore；　but　there　had　been　no　doubt　about　it。　It　was　unquestionably　Naylor；　when　you　had　made　the　mental　adjustment　required　by　the　transformation　of　a　sphere　into　a　disk。
　　To　go　on　with　the　coincidence；　the　body；　wh