raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第16部分

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　 I　opened　a　little　paper…bound　book　of　tournament　games　published　in　Leipzig；　picked　out　a　dashing…looking　Queen's　Gambit；　moved　the　white　pawn　to　Queen's　four；　and　the　bell　rang　at　the　door。
　 I　stepped　around　the　table　and　picked　the　Colt　。38　off　the　drop　leaf　of　the　oak　desk　and　went　over　to　the　door　holding　it　down　beside　my　right　leg。
　 〃Who　is　it？〃
　 〃Breeze。〃
　 I　went　back　to　the　desk　to　lay　the　gun　down　again　before　I　opened　the　door。　Breeze　stood　there　looking　just　as　big　and　sloppy　as　ever；　but　a　little　more　tired。　The　young；　freshfaced　dick　named　Spangler　was　with　him。
　 They　rode　me　back　into　the　room　without　seeming　to　and　Spangler　shut　the　door。　His　bright　young　eyes　flicked　this　way　and　that　while　Breeze　let　his　older　and　harder　ones　stay　on　my　face　for　a　long　moment；　then　he　walked　around　me　to　the　davenport。
　 〃Look　around；〃　he　said　out　of　the　corner　of　his　mouth。
　 Spangler　left　the　door　and　crossed　the　room　to　the　dinette；　looked　in　there；　recrossed　and　went　into　the　hall。　The　bathroom　door　squeaked；　his　steps　went　farther　along。
　 Breeze　took　his　hat　off　and　mopped　his　semi…bald　dome。　Doors　opened　and　closed　distantly。　Closets。　Spangler　came　hack。
　 〃Nobody　here；〃　he　said。
　 Breeze　nodded　and　sat　down；　placing　his　panama　beside　him。
　 Spangler　saw　the　gun　lying　on　the　desk。　He　said：　〃Mind　if　I　look？〃
　 I　said：　〃Phooey　on　both　of　you。〃
　 Spangler　walked　to　the　gun　and　held　the　muzzle　to　his　nose；　sniffing。　He　broke　the　magazine　out；　ejected　the　shell　in　the　chamber；　picked　it　up　and　pressed　it　into　the　magazine。　He　laid　the　magazine　on　the　desk　and　held　the　gun　so　that　light　went　into　the　open　bottom　of　the　breech。　Holding　it　that　way　he　squinted　down　the　barrel。
　 〃A　little　dust；〃　he　said。　〃Not　much。〃
　 〃What　did　you　expect？〃　I　said。　〃Rubies？〃
　 He　ignored　me；　looked　at　Breeze　and　added：　〃I'd　say　this　gun　has　not　been　fired　within　twenty…four　hours。　I'm　sure　of　it。〃
　 Breeze　nodded　and　chewed　his　lip　and　explored　my　face　with　his　eyes。　Spangler　put　the　gun　together　neatly　and　laid　it　aside　and　went　and　sat　down。　He　put　a　cigarette　between　his　lips　and　lit　it　and　blew　smoke　contentedly。
　 〃We　know　damn　well　it　wasn't　a　long　。38　anyway；〃　he　said。　〃One　of　those　things　will　shoot　through　a　wall。　No　chance　of　the　slug　staying　inside　a　man's　head。〃
　 〃Just　what　are　you　guys　talking　about？〃　I　asked。
　 Breeze　said：　〃The　usual　thing　in　our　business。　Murder。　Have　a　chair。　Relax。　I　thought　I　heard　voices　in　here。　Maybe　it　was　the　next　apartment。〃
　 〃Maybe；〃　I　said。
　 〃You　always　have　a　gun　lying　around　on　your　desk？〃
　 〃Except　when　it's　under　my　pillow；〃　I　said。　〃Or　under　my　arm。　Or　in　the　drawer　of　the　desk。　Or　somewhere　I　can't　just　remember　where　I　happened　to　put　it。　That　help　you　any？〃
　 〃We　didn't　e　here　to　get　tough；　Marlowe。〃
　 〃That's　fine；〃　I　said。　〃So　you　prowl　my　apartment　and　handle　my　property　without　asking　my　permission。　What　do　you　do　when　you　get　toughknock　me　down　and　kick　me　in　the　face？〃
　 〃Aw　hell；〃　he　said　and　grinned。　I　grinned　back。　We　all　grinned。　Then　Breeze　said：　〃Use　your　phone？〃
　 I　pointed　to　it。　He　dialed　a　number　and　talked　to　someone　named　Morrison；　saying：　〃Breeze　at〃　He　looked　down　at　the　base　of　the　phone　and　read　the　number　off　〃Anytime　now。　Marlowe　is　the　name　that　goes　with　it。　Sure。　Five　or　ten　minutes　is　okay。〃　
　 He　hung　up　and　went　back　to　the　davenport。　〃I　bet　you　can't　guess　why　we're　here。〃
　 〃I'm　always　expecting　the　brothers　to　drop　in；〃　I　said。
　 〃Murder　ain't　funny；　Marlowe。〃
　 〃Who　said　it　was？〃
　 〃Don't　you　kind　of　act　as　if　it　was？〃
　 〃I　wasn't　aware　of　it。〃
　 He　looked　at　Spangler　and　shrugged。　Then　he　looked　at　the　floor。　Then　he　lifted　his　eyes　slowly；　as　if　they　were　heavy；　and　looked　at　me　again。　I　was　sitting　down　by　the　chess　table　now。
　 〃You　play　a　lot　of　chess？〃　he　asked；　looking　at　the　chessmen。
　 〃Not　a　lot。　Once　in　a　while　I　fool　around　with　a　game　here；　thinking　things　out。〃
　 〃Don't　it　take　two　guys　to　play　chess？〃
　 〃I　play　over　tournament　games　that　have　been　recorded　and　published。　There's　a　whole　literature　about　chess。　Once　in　a　while　I　work　out　problems。　They're　not　chess；　properly　speaking。　What　are　we　talking　about　chess　for？　Drink？〃
　 〃Not　right　now；〃　Breeze　said。　〃I　talked　to　Randall　about　you。　He　remembers　you　very　well；　in　connection　with　a　case　down　at　the　beach。〃　He　moved　his　feet　on　the　carpet；　as　if　they　were　very　tired。　His　solid　old　face　was　lined　and　gray　with　fatigue。　〃He　said　you　wouldn't　murder　anybody。　He　says　you　are　a　nice　guy；　on　the　level。〃
　 〃That　was　friendly　of　him；〃　I　said。
　 〃He　says　you　make　good　coffee　and　you　get　up　kind　of　late　in　the　mornings　and　are　apt　to　run　to　a　very　bright　line　of　chatter　and　that　we　should　believe　anything　you　say；　provided　we　can　check　it　by　five　independent　witnesses。〃
　 〃To　hell　with　him；〃　I　said。
　 Breeze　nodded　exactly　as　though　I　had　said　just　what　he　wanted　me　to　say。　He　wasn't　smiling　and　he　wasn't　tough；　just　a　big　solid　man　working　at　his　job。　Spungler　had　his　head　back　on　the　chair　and　his　eyes　half　closed　and　was　watching　the　smoke　from　his　cigarette。
　 〃Randall　says　we　should　look　out　for　you。　He　says　you　are　not　as　smart　as　you　think　you　are；　but　that　you　are　a　guy　things　happen　to；　and　a　guy　like　that　could　be　a　lot　more　trouble　than　a　very　smart　guy。　That's　what　he　says；　you　understand。　You　look　all　right　to　me。　I　like　everything　in　the　clear。　That's　why　I'm　telling　you。〃
　 I　said　it　was　nice　of　him。
　 The　phone　rang。　I　looked　at　Breeze；　but　he　didn't　move；　so　I　reached　for　it　and　answered　it。　It　was　a　girl's　voice。　I　thought　it　was　vaguely　familiar；　but　I　couldn't　place　it。
　 〃Is　this　Mr。　Philip　Marlowe？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃Mr。　Marlowe。　I'm　in　trouble；　very　great　trouble。　I　want　to　see　you　very　badly。　When　can　I　see　you？〃
　 I　said：　〃You　mean　tonight？　Who　am　I　talking　to？〃
　 〃My　name　is　Gladys　Crane。　I　live　at　the　Hotel　Normandy　on　Rampart。　When　can　you〃
　 〃You　mean　you　want　me　to　e　over　there　tonight？〃　I　asked；　thinking　about　the　voice；　trying　to　place　it。
　 〃I〃　The　phone　clicked　and　the　line　was　dead。　I　sat　there　holding　it；　frowning　at　it；　looking　across　it　at　Breeze。　His　face　was　quietly　empty　of　interest。
　 〃Some　girl　says　she's　in　trouble；〃　I　said。　〃Connection　broken。〃　I　held　the　plunger　down　on　the　base　of　the　phone　waiting　for　it　to　ring　again。　The　two　cops　were　pletely　silent　and　motionless。　Too　silent；　too　motionless。
　 The　bell　rang　again　and　I　let　the　plunger　up　and　said：　〃You　want　to　talk　to　Breeze；　don't　you？〃
　 〃Yeah。〃　It　was　a　man's　voice　and　it　sounded　a　little　surprised。
　 〃Go　on；　be　tricky；〃　I　said；　and　got　up　from　the　chair　and　went　out　to　the　kitchen。　I　heard　Breeze　talking　very　briefly　then　the　sound　of　the　phone　being　returned　to　the　cradle。
　 I　got　a　bottle　of　Four　Roses　out　of　the　kitchen　closet　and　three　glasses。　I　got　ice　and　ginger　ale　from　the　icebox　and　mixed　three　highballs　and　carried　them　in　on　a　tray　and　sat　the　tray　down　on　the　cocktail　table　in　front　of　the　davenport　where　Breeze　was　sitting。　I　took　two　of　the　glasses；　handed　one　to　Spangler；　and　took　the　other　to　my　chair。
　 Spangler　held　the　glass　uncertainly；　pinching　his　lower　lip　between　thumb　and　finger；　looking　at　Breeze　to　see　whether　he　would　accept　the　drink。
　 Breeze　looked　at　me　very　steadily。　Then　he　sighed。　Then　he　picked　the　glass　up　and　tasted　it　and　sighed　again　and　shook　his　head　sideways　with　a　half　smile；　the　way　a　man　does　when　you　give　him　a　drink　and　he　needs　it　very　badly　and　it　is　just　right　and　the　first　swallow　is　like　a　peek　into　a　cleaner；　sunnier；　brighter　world。
　 〃I　guess　you　catch　on　pretty　fast；　Mr。　Marlowe；〃　he　said；　and　leaned　back　on　the　davenport　pletely　relaxed。　〃I　guess　now　we　can　do　some　business　together。〃
　 〃Not　that　way；〃　I　said。
　 〃Huh？〃　He　bent　his　eyebrows　together。　Spangler　leaned　forward　in　his　chair　and　looked　bright　and　attentive。
　 〃Having　stray　broads　call　me　up　and　give　me　a　song　and　dance　so　you　can　say　they　said　they　recognized　my　voice　somewhere　sometime。〃
　 〃The　girl's　name　is　Gladys　Crane；〃　Breeze　said。
　 〃So　she　told　me。　I　never　heard　of　her。〃
　 〃Okay；〃　Breeze　said。　〃Okay。〃　He　showed　me　the　flat　of　his　freckled　hand。　〃We're　not　trying　to　pull　anything　that's　not　legitimate。　We　only　hope　you　ain't；　either。〃
　 〃Ain't　either　what？〃
　 〃Ain't　either　trying　to　pull　anything　not　legitimate。　Such　as　holding　out　on　us。〃
　 〃Just　why　shouldn't　I　hold　out　on　you；　if　I　feel　like　it？〃　I　asked。　〃You're　not　paying　my　salary。〃
　 〃Look；　don't　get　tough；　Marlowe。〃
　 〃I'm　not　tough。　I　don't　have　any　idea　of　being　tough。　I　know　enough　about　cops　not　to　get　tough　with　them。　Go　ahead　and　speak　your　piece　and　don't　try　to　pull　any　more　phonies　like　that　telephone　call。〃
　 〃We're　on　a　murder　case；〃　Breeze　said。　〃We　have　to　try　to　run　it　the　best　we　can。　You　found　the　body。　You　had　talked　to　the　guy。　He　had　asked　you　to　e　to　his　apartment。　He　gave　you　his　key。　You　said　you　didn't　know　what　he　wanted　to　see　you　about。　We　figured　that　maybe　with　time　to　think　back　you　could　have　remembered。〃
　 〃In　other　words　I　was　lying　the　first　time；〃　I　said。
　 Breeze　smiled　a　tired　smile。　〃You　been　around　enough　to　know　that　people　always　lie　in　murder　cases。〃
　 〃The　trouble　with　that　is　how　are　you　going　to　know　when　I　stop　lying？〃
　 〃When　what　you　say　begins　to　make　sense；　we'll　be　satisfied。〃
　 I　looked　at　Spangler。　He　was　leaning　forward　so　far　he　was　almost　out　of　his　chair。　He　looked　as　if　he　was　going　to　jump。　I　couldn't　think　of　any　reason　why　he　should　jump；　so　I　thought　he　must　be　excited。　I　looked　back　at　Breeze。　He　was　about　as　excited　as　a　hole　in　the　wall。　He　had　one　of　his　cellophane…wrapped　cigars　between　his　thick　fingers　and　he　was　slitting　the　cellophane　with　a　penknife。　I　watched　him　get　the　wrapping　off　and　trim　the　cigar　end　with　the　blade　and　put　the　knife　away；　first　wiping　the　blade　carefully　on　his　pants。　I　watched　him　strike　a　wooden　match　and　light　the　cigar　carefully；　turning　it　around　in　the　flame；　then　hold　the　match　away　from　the　cigar；　still　burning；　and　draw　on　the　cigar　until　he　decided　it　was　properly　lighted。　Then　he　shook　the　match　out　and　laid　it　down　beside　the　crumpled　cellophane　on　the　glass　top　of