rs.toomanywomen-第39部分

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　　〃I　am　simply　dying；〃　I　declared；　〃to　hear　about　Mr。　Appleton。　Meet　me　at　the　bar　at　Rusterman's　at　seven。〃
　　〃But　they　don't　have　dancing　there！　I　thought　we…〃
　　〃Excuse　me　for　interrupting；　but　I　have　work　to　do。　We　can　move　on　after　we　eat　and　dance　all　night。　See　you　at　seven　o'clock；　dearie。〃
　　I　ignored　the　snort　from　Wolfe's　direction　and　resumed　at　the　typewriter。　When　the　bill　was　finished　I　read　it　over　and　checked　the　additions；　folded　it　neatly　and　put　it　in　an　envelope；　and　filed　the　carbon　in　the　cabinet　over　by　the　couch。　Then　I　returned　to　the　typewriter；　inserted　a　sheet　of　my　personal　stationery；　dated　it；　and　started：　
　　Dear　Mrs。　Pine：　
　　Last　night　I　went　
　　I　had　to　stop　to　answer　the　phone　again。
　　〃Archie？　This　is　Rosa。〃
　　〃Well；　well。　You　don't　need　to　tell　me。　That　voice。　How　are　the　curves？〃
　　〃Now　really。〃　She　tittered。　〃How　can　you　find　out　on　the　telephone？　You　know；　I　went　to　bed　last　night　at　nine　o'clock；　and　I　didn't　get　up　till　ten　this　morning；　and　I　feel　simply　wonderful！　While　I　was　drinking　my　coffee　it　reminded　me　of　you；　and　this　is　Saturday；　and　I　wondered　if　you　were　doing　anything　this　evening。〃
　　〃Nothing　special。　Are　you？〃
　　〃No；　that's　why　I　called。　I　thought…〃
　　〃Good　for　you。　Meet　me　at　the　bar　at　Rusterman's　at　seven　o'clock。〃
　　〃Oh；　that　wonderful　wine！　And　steak？〃
　　〃Sure；　two　steaks。　Or　maybe　three。　Seven　sharp？〃
　　〃Yes！〃
　　Wolfe　snorted　again；　and　again。　I　ignored　it。　Anyway；　I　had　to　put　ray　rnimd　on　my　work。　This　was　not　a　case　of　transcribing　from　notes；　I　had　to　concentrate　on　a　job　of　original　position。　I　proceeded　with　it：　
　　Dear　Mrs。　Pine：
　　Last　night　I　went　to　a　fortune…teller；　which　is　something　I　seldom　do。　What　was　bothering　me　was　your　remark　the　other　day　that　everybody　gets　tiresome　sooner　or　later；　and　I　wanted　to　find　out　where　I　stood。　She　told　me　that　the　most　I　could　count　on　was　two　months。　It　seems　that　I　am　wonderful　as　long　as　I　last　and　then　I　go　tiresome　all　at　once　without　any　warning。
　　I　regret　to　say　that　under　the　circumstances　it　wouldn't　be　worth　it　to　you；　and　I　am　therefore　returning　herewith　the　baseball　tickets。　It　is　still　two　weeks　before　the　season　starts；　so　you　have　plenty　of　time　to　dig　up　another　prospect。　
　　Sincerely；　
　　I　was　debating　whether　to　sign　it　just　Archie　or　with　my　full　name；　and　had　decided　in　favor　of　the　latter　when　the　phone　interrupted　me　again。　I　picked　it　up。
　　〃Nero　Wolfe's　office；　Archie　Goodwin　speaking。〃
　　〃This　is　Hester　Livsey；　Mr。　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Good　morning。〃　I　cleared　my　throat。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I　know　I　deserve　that；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　say　I'm　sorry　I　was　rude　to　you　when　you　phoned　Thursday　evening。　I…I　hope　you'll　understand。　I　didn't　feel　like　anything；　and　I　was　terribly　rude。　I　wanted　to　explain…〃
　　〃Don't　mention　it。　Feeling　better？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　much　better。　I　really　would　like　to　explain　some　things　to　you。　Would　you　care　to　e　over　here　this　evening…you　know　my　address；　don't　you？　It's　just　a　little　apartment　where　I　live　with　my　mother。〃
　　〃In　Brooklyn。〃
　　〃Yes。　Twenty…three　ninety…four…〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　know。　I　guess　I　can　find　it。　How　about　taking　a　ride　with　me　tomorrow；　in　Mr。　Wolfe's　rackety　old　sedan；　to　the　country　somewhere　and　see　if　spring　has　e？〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；　I　couldn't　make　it　tomorrow　because　my　mother　and　I　are　going　to　visit　some　friends。　Don't　bother；　really…〃
　　〃No　bother　at　all。〃　An　idea　struck　me。　〃The　trouble　is　I'm　so　uncouth　I'm　afraid　I'd　make　a　bad　impression　on　your　mother。　I　think　you　ought　to　know　me　better　before　you　invite　me　to　your　home。　Do　you　know　where　Rusterman's　restaurant　is？〃
　　〃Rusterman's？　Certainly。〃
　　〃That's　a　nice　quiet　place　with　good　food。　How　about　meeting　me　in　Rusterman's　bar　at　seven　this　evening？〃
　　〃Well…that　wasn't…I　wasn't　fishing　for　a　dinner…〃
　　〃No；　I　know；　you　don't　fish。　But　I　think　it　might　be　very　enjoyable；　at　least　for　me。　Will　you？〃
　　〃Well…〃
　　〃You　will。〃
　　〃All　right；　I　will。〃
　　I　hung　up；　reached　for　my　pen；　and　signed　the　letter　to　Cecily。
　　Wolfe　growled　at　me；　〃What　the　devil　are　you　going　to　do　with　all　of　them？〃
　　I　grinned　at　him。　〃God　knows；　I　don't。　I'm　so　damn　sociable。　I　can't　bear　to　disappoint　people。〃　
　　



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