rs.toomanywomen-第25部分

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s　ankles。〃
　　Inspector　Cramer；　with　Sergeant　Purley　Stebbins　at　his　heels；　wasn't　even　polite　enough　to　give　me　a　nod；　after　all　the　help　I　had　been　to　him　Friday　night。　They　marched　down　the　hall　and　into　the　office；　with　me　in　their　rear。
　　〃Good　morning；〃　Wolfe　said　curtly。
　　〃Godalmighty；〃　Cramer　yawped；　〃so　you're　at　it　again！〃
　　〃Am　I？　At　what？〃
　　〃This；〃　Cramer　yawped；　〃can　take　one　minute　or　it　can　take　hours！　It's　up　to　you　which！　What　did　Kerr　Naylor　e　here　for　Friday　night；　what　time　did　he　leave；　and　where　did　he　go？〃
　　〃That　won't　take　even　a　minute；　Mr。　Cramer。　Mr。　Naylor　wasn't　here　Friday　night。　I　don't　like　your　manner。　I　seldom　do。　Good　day；　sir。〃
　　〃Are　you　saying…〃　For　a　moment　Cramer　was　speechless。　〃Naylor　didn't　e　to　see　you　at　twenty　minutes　to　nine　Friday　night；　the　night　he　was　killed？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　That's　twice；　and　that's　enough。　You　may…〃
　　〃By　God；　you're　crazy！〃　Cramer　whirled。　〃He's　off　his　nut；　Stebbins！〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Bring　that　man　in　here。〃
　　Purley　strode　out。　Cramer　strode　to　the　red　leather　chair　and　sat　down。　I　kept　my　eye　on　Wolfe；　not　to　miss　a　signal　to　take　steps　to　keep　Purley　and　that　man；　whoever　he　was；　on　the　outside；　but　got　none。　Wolfe　had　evidently　decided　that　the　most　exasperating　thing　he　could　do　was　look　bored；　and　was　doing　so。　The　only　sound　was　Cramer　breathing；　enough　for　all　three　of　us；　until　footsteps　came　from　the　hall。　A　man　entered　with　Purley　behind　him。　The　man　was　middle…aged　and　starting　to　go　bald　and　had　shoulders　as　broad　as　a　barn。　He　was　absolutely　out　of　humor。　Purley　moved　a　chair　up　for　him　and　he　plumped　himself　down。
　　〃This；〃　Cramer　said　distinctly　and　impressively；　〃is　Carl　Darst。　Friday　evening　he　was　hacking　with　Sealect　cab　number　nine…forty…three；　license　number　WX　one…nine…seven…four…four…zero。　Darst；　who　did　you　pick　up　on　Fifty…third　Street　between　First　and　Second　Avenue？〃
　　〃The　guy　you　showed　me　a　picture　of。〃　Darst's　voice　was　husky　and　not　affable。　〃He　yelled　at　me。　I　wish　to　God　he　hadn't。　My　one　Sunday…〃
　　〃And　the　man　whose　body　you　saw　at　the　morgue？〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　guess　so。　It　was　hard…sure；　it　was　him。〃
　　〃That　was　Kerr　Naylor。　So　was　the　photograph　I　showed　you。　Where　did　you　take　him　to？〃
　　〃He　told　me　Nine…fourteen　West　Thirty…fifth　Street　and　that's　where　I　took　him。〃
　　〃That's　this　address　where　we　are　now？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃What　happened　when　you　got　here？〃
　　〃When　he　paid　me　he　said　he　wasn't　sure　there　would　be　anybody　home；　so　would　I　wait　till　he　found　out；　and　I　waited　until　he　went　up　the　steps　and　rang　the　bell；　and　the　door　opened　and　he　started　talking　to　someone；　and　then　I　shoved　off。　I　didn't　wait　until　he　went　inside　because　he　didn't　ask　me　to。〃
　　〃But　the　door　opened　for　him　and　he　spoke　with　someone？〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　can　say　that　much。〃
　　〃All　right；　go　out　to　the　car　and　stay　there。　I　may　want　you　in　here　again。　Do　you　want　to　ask　him　any　questions；　Wolfe？〃
　　Wolfe；　still　bored；　shook　his　head　indifferently。　Darst　got　up　and　left；　but　Sergeant　Stebbins　stayed　put。　Cramer　waited　until　the　sound　of　the　front　door　closing　behind　Darst　came　to　us　and　then　spoke　with　the　calm　assurance　of　a　man　who　has　cards　to　spare。
　　〃So　I　say　you're　crazy。　This　is　pletely　Cockeyed　and　if　you　can　brush　this　one　off　I　want　to　hear　it。　Try　telling　me　that　the　fact　that　Naylor　came　and　rang　your　bell　and　the　door　was　opened　doesn't　prove　that　he　came　on　in；　and　then　I　ask　you　please　to　tell　me；　in　that　case；　how　did　you　happen　to　know　that　he　got　in　a　cab　on　Fifty…third　Street　at　half…past　eight？　Wait　a　minute；　I'm　not　through。　That　sounds　like　good　reasoning；　don't　it？　But　if　it　is；　why　in　the　name　of　God　did　you　phone　my　office　to　tell　about　his　taking　a　taxi；　and　even　give　us　the　number　of　the　cab？　Knowing　it　would　be　pie　to　find　it。　I　say　you're　crazy。　Usually　when　you're　staging　a　runaround　at　least　I　have　a　general　idea　which　direction　you're　going；　but　this　time　you'll　have　to　spell　it　out。　I　would　love　to　hear　you。〃
　　〃Pfui；〃　Wolfe　muttered。
　　〃Okay；　phooey。　Go　on　from　there。〃
　　〃Archie；〃　Wolfe　asked　me　casually；　〃you　went　to　a　movie　Friday　evening？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃What　time　did　you　leave　here？〃
　　〃Right　around　eight…thirty。〃
　　〃Then　you　couldn't　have　opened　the　door　for　Mr。　Naylor。〃　Wolfe　pushed　a　button　on　his　desk；　and　in　a　moment　the　door　to　the　hall　opened　and　Fritz　appeared。
　　Wolfe　addressed　him；　〃Fritz；　do　you　remember　that　Friday　evening　after　dinner　Archie　went　out？　To　the　movies？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃And　that　somewhat　later；　around　a　quarter　to　eleven　I　think；　Mr。　Cramer　called？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃That　should　identify　the　evening　sufficiently。　Did　the　doorbell　ring　soon　after　Archie　left？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You　answered　it？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Who　was　it？〃
　　〃He　didn't　tell　me　his　name。　It　was　a　man。〃
　　〃What　did　he　want？〃
　　〃He　asked　for　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Go　on；　finish　it。〃
　　〃I　told　him　Mr。　Goodwin　was　out。　He　asked　if　Mr。　Wolfe　was　in　and　I　told　him　yes。　After　thinking　to　himself　a　brief　period　he　asked　when　Mr。　Goodwin　would　be　back　and　I　said　probably　some　time　after　eleven。　I　asked　him　if　he　wished　to　leave　his　name　and　he　said　no。　He　had　turned　and　was　going　down　the　steps　when　I　closed　the　door。〃
　　Cramer　made　a　sound　which　Wolfe　ignored。　〃What　time　was　this？〃
　　〃It　was　eight…forty…five　when　I　got　back　to　the　kitchen。　I　made　a　note；　as　always…God　in　heaven！〃
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　　〃I　forgot　to　tell　Archie　about　it！　When　he　returned　Inspector　Cramer　was　here；　and　then　he　was　gone　all　night　and　slept　late　Saturday…this　is　extremely　bad；　sir…〃
　　〃Not　at　all。　It　wouldn't　have　mattered。　Did　you　tell　me　about　it？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　You　were　reading　those　three　books；　and　he　hadn't　left　his　name…〃
　　〃Describe　the　man。〃
　　〃He　was　short；　shorter　than　me；　and　he　wore　a　coat　and　hat。　He　had　a　small　face　and　looked　pinched　and　worried；　as　if　he　wasn't　a　good　eater。〃
　　〃All　right；　Fritz；　that's　all；　thank　you。〃　Fritz　went；　closing　the　door　to　the　hall　behind　him。　Wolfe　turned　to　Cramer。
　　〃Well；　sir？〃
　　Cramer　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said　emphatically。　〃Even　with　Fritz　coached　like　that　I　still　say　you're　crazy。　How　did　you　know　about　Naylor　taking　a　cab　and　why　did　you　phone…〃
　　Wolfe　cut　him　off。　〃Don't　start　shouting　at　me　again。　You'll　never　learn；　I　suppose；　how　to　detect　when　I'm　lying　and　when　I'm　not。　Saturday　afternoon　a　man　came　to　this　office　and　told　me　he　had　seen　Mr。　Naylor　taking　that　taxicab。　I　questioned　him　and　was　satisfied　that　the　facts　he　gave　me　were　authentic；　and　I　immediately　phoned　your　office　and　gave　those　facts　to　Mr。　Stebbins。　What　the　devil　is　obreptitious　about　that？〃
　　〃Who　was　the　man　that　came　to　your　office？〃
　　〃No；　sir。　You　don't　need　that。〃
　　〃Excuse　me；　Inspector；〃　Purley　Stebbins　put　in。
　　Cramer　glared　at　him。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Why；　if　we　want　any　part　of　this　that　item　won't　worry　us。　If　we　buy　this　it　wasn't　Goodwin；　so　it　was　one　of　the　boys　that　do　jobs　for　Wolfe…Gore；　Gather；　Durkin；　Panzer；　or　Keems。　It　stands　to　reason　he　was　tailing　Naylor。　So　either　you　can　bear　down　on　that；　or　if　he's　too　damn　stubborn　we　can　send　out　and　collect　'em…〃
　　The　phone　rang。　I　whirled　my　chair　and　got　it。　It　was　Saul　Panzer；　desiring；　he　said　to　speak　to　Wolfe。
　　〃Sure；〃　I　said；　in　a　tone　you　would　use　to　a　client　you　expected　to　send　a　nice　bill　to；　〃he's　right　here；　Mr。　Platt。　By　the　way；　while　I'm　on　the　wire；　that　big　downtown　law　firm　that　says　all　it　wants　is　justice；　not　to　mention　names；　you　know；　they're　going　to　try　to　serve　a　summons　on　you　and　it　would　be　good　policy　for　you　to　duck　it；　anyhow　for　a　day　or　two。　There　are　lots　of　places　you　can　go　besides　home。　Don't　you　agree？〃
　　〃Nothing　simpler；〃　Saul　said；　〃if　I　understand　you。　Who's　there；　Cramer？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　suppose　they're　going　to　be　quite　insistent　about　it。　Here's　Mr。　Wolfe。〃
　　Wolfe　got　on。　He　followed　me　on　the　Mr。　Platt。　Since　he　signaled　me　to　hang　up；　meaning　that　his　arrangements　with　Saul　were　still　none　of　my　business；　I　got　as　little　out　of　the　conversation　as　Cramer　and　Purley　did；　which　was　nothing　at　all。　Wolfe's　end　was　mostly　grunts。　Purley　sneezed。　The　three　of　us　sat　and　waited　for　him；　looking　at　him；　until　an　event　occurred　which　caused　us　to　move　our　eyes　elsewhere。
　　The　door　to　the　hall　came　open　and　Rosa　Bendini　was　there　among　us。
　　It　was　a　fairly　embarrassing　situation；　with　Wolfe　still　busy　on　the　phone　and　the　two　public　servants　and　me　sitting　staring　at　her　as　she　stood　just　inside　the　door　in　that　cherry…colored　thing　which；　whatever　its　name　might　be；　was　certainly　not　intended　for　street　wear。　I　thought　of　saying　something　like；　〃Mabel　dear；　we're　discussing　business　with　these　gentlemen　so　go　back　to　your　room　and　wait　for　me；〃　or　something　like；　〃We're　engaged　at　present；　Miss　Carmichael；　but　we'll　see　you　shortly；〃　but　the　first　seemed　indecent　and　the　second　illogical；　and　no　satisfactory　substitute　got　to　my　tongue　in　time。
　　Wolfe；　finished；　dropped　the　phone　back　in　its　cradle　and　snapped　at　her；　〃What　do　you　mean；　ing　in　here　dressed　like　that？　Go　back　upstairs　until　I'm　ready　for　you！〃
　　His　effort；　it　seemed　to　me；　was　no　improvement　on　the　ones　I　had　rejected。　But　no　effort　would　have　been　good　enough。　She　hadn't　merely　blundered　in。　She　came　forward；　on　past　Cramer　and　Purley；　clear　to　me。　She　might　easily　have　had　it　in　mind　to　resume　her　former　seat　on　my　lap；　so　by　the　time　she　reached　me　I　was　standing　up。
　　〃You　promised　you'd　be　with　me　when　they　are；〃　she　said。　That　was　not　strictly　true；　but　close　enough　for　a　woman；　especially　for　one　who　was　scared　to　death　of　cops。　〃There's　a　police　car　out　in　front；　so　I　came　to　the　hall　and　listened；　and　that's　who　they　are；　and　I　knew　I'd　never　get　a　better　chance；　with　you　here　and　Mr。　Wolfe　too。〃
　　She　turned　and　told　Cramer　and　Purley　right　to　their　faces；　〃My　name　is　Rosa　Bendini；　or　it's　Mrs。　Harold　Anthony；　either　one　will　do；　and　I　live　at　Four…eighteen　Bank　Street；　second　floor；　and　when　a　cop　came　for　me　Friday　night　I　was　there　in　bed　all　the　time。　Now　what　do　you　want　to　ask　me？〃
　　One　thing　I　approved　of；　she　didn't　hook