rs.toomanywomen-第31部分

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er；　trying　to　speak　like　a　pet。　She　asked　if　I　would　dispose　of　her　wrap；　and　I　took　it…this　time　it　was　chinchilla…and　put　it　on　the　couch。　Apparently　she　was　in　mourning；　as　her　gray　and　black　dress　covered　a　lot　of　pink　skin　that　had　been　visible　the　other　time。
　　〃I　doubt；〃　Wolfe　muttered；　〃if　that　conclusion　is　sound。　Your　brother　had　adopted　a　policy　of　jaunty　indiscretion　long　before　Mr　Goodwin　got　there。　Besides；　you　said　last　week　that　Mr。　Moore's　death　was　accidental。　Now　you're　assuming　that　he　was　murdered　and　that　the　murderer　killed　your　brother　to　anticipate　disclosure。　You　can't　have　it　both　ways；　madam。〃
　　He　was　wasting　logic　on　her　again。
　　She　pletely　ignored　it。　〃My　brother　jaunty？　Good　lord！〃　She　added；　〃The　funeral　was　yesterday。〃
　　Whether　she　was　merely　stating　a　deplorable　fact；　or　whether　she　meant　to　imply　that　it　was　up　to　us　to　have　the　funeral　repealed　or　nullified；　there　was　no　way　of　telling。　Evidently　it　was　the　former；　for　she　didn't　follow　through　on　it；　but　sent　me　an　unsmiling　glance。
　　〃You　see；　Archie；　this　wouldn't　have　happened　if　you　had　taken　my　suggestion　and　quit　working　for　him　and　started　your　own　business。　How　much　will　it　cost？〃
　　〃Eleven　thousand；　four　hundred　and　sixty…five　dollars；〃　I　told　her。
　　〃That　much？〃
　　〃Yeah；　inflation。〃
　　〃It　seems　high；　but　we'll　see。〃　She　switched　back　to　Wolfe。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　now？〃
　　〃I　have　engaged；〃　he　said；　〃to　catch　the　murderer　of　your　brother。〃
　　〃I　know　you　have；　but　what　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　　〃Catch　him。　Or　her。〃　Wolfe　wiggled　a　finger　at　her。　〃Now；　madam；　wouldn't　you　like　to　help？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　decisively。　〃I　am　not　vindictive。〃　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　〃Will　you　close　that　door；　Archie？　Or　bring　me　my　wrap？〃
　　Preferring　the　door　idea；　I　went　and　closed　it。
　　Meanwhile　she　was　going　on；　〃The　police　have　been　asking　about　the　relationship　between　my　brother　and　me；　which　is　impertinent　and　ridiculous。　One　of　them；　a　vulgar　little　bald　man；　openly　resented　it　because　I　am　not　prostrated　with　grief！　Actually　I　was　extremely　fond　of　my　brother；　but　my　feelings　about　him　and　about　his　death　are　my　private　affair　and　concern　no　one　else。　The　wish　that　was　dearest　to　him；　the　wish　to　bee　the　active　directing　head　of　the　firm　our　father　founded；　was　utterly　hopeless　because　he　wasn't　fitted　for　it。　He　should　have　been　either　a　policeman　or　a　fireman…that　was　what　he　wanted　when　he　was　a　little　boy。　You　can't　make　him　a　policeman　or　a　fireman　by　finding　out　who　killed　him。　Anyway；　I　don't　think　he　was　killed…not　deliberately。　I　think　it　was　an　accident。　What　do　you　think；　Archie？〃
　　〃I　think　what　you　do；　Mrs。　Pine。〃　I　gave　her　a　personalized　grin。　〃I　mean　what　you　think；　not　what　you　say　you　think。　If　you're　leading　up　to　a　cash　offer　for　proof　that　it　was　an　accident；　forget　it；　no　one　could　deliver；　not　even　us。　Is　that　what　you　came　for？〃
　　〃No。〃　She　smiled　at　me。　〃Those　tickets　came　today　and　I　wanted　to　get　them　to　you；　and　I　wanted　to　see　how　your　face　looks。〃　She　was　leaning　forward　to　see　me　better。　〃You　must　have　extremely　good　blood；　to　heal　so　rapidly。　How　old　are　you？〃
　　〃Thirty…three。〃
　　〃Wonderful！　Men　in　their　twenties　are　so　raw。　Have　you　got　a　list　of　that　eleven　thousand；　four　hundred　and　sixty…five　dollars？〃
　　Wolfe　made　an　emphatic　sound　without　words；　arose；　told　the　visitor　good　evening；　and　left　the　room。　In　a　moment　we　heard　the　opening　and　closing　of　the　door　of　his　elevator。
　　〃There　is　no　list；〃　I　said　in　a　hurt　tone。　〃If　your　trust　in　me　is　so　shaky　that　you　have　to　see　lists。。。And　speaking　of　my　blood；　it　ought　to　be　good；　since　I'm　half　gypsy。〃　I　crossed　to　her　and　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　〃That's　why　I　can　understand　things；　without　knowing　exactly　how；　that　even　Mr。　Wolfe　can't　understand。　About　these　two　deaths；　Waldo　Moore　and　your　brother…〃
　　She　began　to　laugh；　a　real　laugh；　from　her　throat　and　on　out。
　　〃You　certainly　don't　understand　me！〃　she　declared；　and　laughed　some　more。　〃Your　father's　name　is　James　Arner　Goodwin；　and　you　were　born　in　Canton；　Ohio；　in　nineteen…fourteen。　Your　mother's　maiden　name　was　Leslie。　You　have　two　brothers　and　two　sisters。　No；　no　gypsy。　I'm　a　very　cautious　woman；　Archie；　cautious　and　dependable。〃　She　stood　up；　abruptly；　and　I　must　admit　not　clumsily。　〃The　reason　I　want　to　see　a　list　is　to　make　sure　you're　including　everything。　Let's　sit　on　the　couch　and　talk　about　it。〃
　　We　were　alone；　with　the　whole　floor　to　ourselves。　Fritz　had　gone　to　his　bed　in　the　basement。　I　had　been　up　and　around　all　of　eighteen　hours；　Cecily　probably　not　more　than　twelve。　It　was　not　a　situation　that　could　be　handled　with　half…measures。
　　〃This；〃　I　said；　〃is　dangerous。　Mr。　Wolfe　already　suspects　me。　You'll　have　to　go；　for　my　sake。　If　I　stay　here　alone　with　you　he'll　think　I'm　double…crossing　him　on　this　case　and　he'll　have　my　license　revoked；　and　then　I　couldn't　go　into　business　for　myself　even　if　you　wanted　me　to。　When　this　case　is　finished　we'll　talk。。。and　talk。。。and　talk。。。but　you'll　have　to　go　now；　Mrs。　Pine。〃
　　I　thought　I　might　as　well　clinch　it；　and　added；　〃Cecily。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Twenty…Eight
　　The　next　day；　Friday；　I　got　home　from　Naylor…Kerr　around　five…thirty　and　went　up　to　my　room　to　bathe　and　change。　Gwynne　Ferris　had　maneuvered　me　into　an　agreement　to　try　the　food　and　music　at　the　Silver　Room　at　the　Churchill　that　evening；　and　that　called　for　black　and　white。　I　had　to　step　on　it　because　Wolfe　expected　me　in　the　office　at　six　o'clock；　when　he　would　descend　from　the　plant　rooms；　to　report　on　the　day。　The　report；　God　knows；　would　be　totally　without　nourishment；　but　by　that　time　Wolfe　would　have　weled　an　underfed　straw　to　grab　at；　and　he　would　want　all　details。
　　He　didn't　get　them；　not　then；　for　when　I　got　down　to　the　office　at　five　past　six　Inspector　Cramer　was　there　with　him　and　was　already　off　to　a　good　start。
　　It　was　obvious　from　the　first　growls　I　heard　that　Cramer　had　e　to　try　something　that　he　had　often　tried　before；　and　never　with　any　profit。　He　had　e　to　take　the　lid　off　of　Wolfe　and　look　inside。　That　meant　he　was　all　out　of　everything。　It　had　e　to　snafu　and　he　was　helpless。
　　〃So　you　were　having　Naylor　tailed；〃　he　was　barking。　〃So；　by　God；　you　knew　something　was　going　to　happen　to　him！　I'll　tell　you　what　I　think！　That　Saul　Panzer　is　the　best　tailer　in　New　York。　I　don't　for　a　minute　believe　he　lost　Naylor！　He　don't　lose　'em！　Even　if　he　did；　when　Naylor　came　here；　wouldn't　you　have　had　him　tailed　when　he　left；　since　you　were　interested　in　him？　Of　course　you　would！　I　think　Panzer　was　right　up　with　Naylor　all　that　evening；　right　up　to　the　time　he　was　killed　and　then　some；　right　up　to　the　car　running　over　him　on　Thirty…ninth　Street！〃
　　〃Pfui；〃　Wolfe　muttered。
　　〃Look　at　this。〃　Cramer　put　up　a　finger。　〃One。　You　were　hired　to　smoke　Naylor　out　in　connection　with　the　death　of　Moore。〃　Another　finger。　〃Two。　Goodwin　pressured　him　into　a　deadly　threat　against　someone。〃　A　third　finger。　〃Three。　You　had　your　best　man　on　his　tail。〃　A　finger。　〃Four。　You　kept　Panzer　away　from　me　for　two　days。〃　Thumb。　〃Five。　You　tried　to　sick　us　on　that　Hoff　and　it's　a　phony。〃　The　fingers　made　a　fist。　〃And　six；　you　keep　Goodwin　down　there　to　sit　on　it；　not　doing　a　damn　thing　but　play　with　the　girls！　Look　at　him；　dressed　for　a　party！〃
　　〃I　didn't　know　you　had　noticed　me；〃　I　murmured　politely。　〃Thanks。〃
　　But　Cramer　was　beyond　minding　me。
　　〃Look　at　it！〃　he　bellowed。
　　〃I　am；〃　Wolfe　said　dryly。　〃Is　that　all　there　is？〃
　　Cramer　settled　back；　then　suddenly　jerked　forward　again　and　laid　the　fist　on　Wolfe's　desk。　〃I'm　going　to　e　out　with　it；〃　he　said　slowly　and　emphatically。　〃I've　had　occasion　many　times；　Wolfe；　to　ride　you…or　to　try　to。　But　actually；　and　you　know　it；　I　have　never　accused　you　of　covering　for　a　murderer；　and　I　have　never　considered　you　capable　of　that。〃　He　lifted　the　fist　and　brought　it　down　again。　〃I　do　now。　I　think　you're　capable　of　it；　and　I　think　you're　doing　it。　I　think　you　know　who　killed　Moore　and　Naylor；　and　I　think　you　intend　to　keep　me　from　getting　him。　Is　that　plain　enough？〃
　　〃You　know　what　you're　saying；　Mr。　Cramer。〃
　　〃You're　damn　right　I　do。〃
　　〃Archie。〃　Wolfe's　eyes　came　to　me。　〃Get　him　out　of　my　house。　By　force　if　necessary。〃
　　That　did　not　appeal　to　me。　He　was　a　police　inspector；　he　was　probably　armed；　and　I　had　on　my　best　clothes。
　　I　stayed　in　my　chair。　〃Gentlemen；〃　I　said　sneeringly；　〃I　had　supposed　you　could　take　it；　both　of　you；　but　I　see　I　was　wrong。　You're　both　licked；　that's　all　there　is　to　it；　and　you're　trying　to　take　it　out　on　each　other　by　acting　childish。　Inspector　Cramer；　you　know　damn　well　how　tricky　Mr。　Wolfe　is；　and　you　know　he's　at　least　ten　times　too　tricky　ever　to　go　around…or　rather　sit　around…with　a　murderer　in　his　pocket　with　the　idea　of　guarding　his　health。　You're　just　mad　and　kicking　the　furniture。　Mr。　Wolfe；　you　are　fully　aware　that　he　is　merely　shooting　off　his　mouth；　and　if　you　were　yourself　you　would　be　only　bland　and　offensive　to　him　instead　of　ordering　me　to　make　an　ass　of　myself。　You're　just　sore　and　savage　because　you've　finally　run　into　one　too　slick　for　you。〃
　　I　arose；　crossed　to　the　hall　door；　and　turned。　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me；　gentlemen；　I've　got　a　date　with　a　suspect。　I'm　a　detective　and　I'm　working　on　a　murder　case。〃
　　I　have　never　learned　how　that　conversation　ended。　Wolfe　never　mentioned　it；　and　when；　somewhat　later；　I　tried　a　question　or　two　about　it　all　I　got　was　a　grunt。
　　Saturday　and　Sunday　it　was　really　pitiful。　Saturday　morning　Wolfe　buzzed　me　to　e　to　his　room　while　he　was　eating　breakfast；　and　when　I　went；　he；　having　remembered　his　taboo　on　talk　of　business　during　meals；　let　me　sit　and　watch　him　gloomily　dispose　of　four　pieces　of　toast　and　a　dish　of　eggs　au　beurre　noir。　When　he　had　finished　he　had　instructions　for　me；　and　they　were　a　knockout。　He　was　sure　going　to　wade　into　it。　I　was　to　spend　my　week…end　getting　Ben　Frenkel；　Harold　Anthony；　Rosa　Bendini；　and　Gwynne　Ferris；　one　at　a　time；　and　bringing　them　to　him！　And　he　was　to　spend　his　week…end　getting　things　out　of　them！
　　So　it　was。　That's　how　we　spent　Saturday　and　Sunday；　with　one　or　two　other　items　worked　in；　such　as　my　going　with　Lieute