raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第26部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　pass　at　my　girl。　I'm　the　boy　that　will　give　him　something　to　remember　me　by。　So　he　keeps　an　eye　open　for　Phillips。　Yesterday　afternoon　he　sees　Phillips　go　into　his　apartment。　He　tells　the　girl　to　go　for　a　walk。　She　don't　want　to　go　for　a　walk；　so　Hench　socks　her　in　the　other　eye。　She　goes　for　a　walk。　Hench　knocks　on　Phillips'　door　and　Phillips　opens　it。　Hench　is　a　little　surprised　at　that；　but　I　told　him　Phillips　was　expecting　you。　Anyway　the　door　opens　and　Hench　goes　in　and　tells　Phillips　how　he　feels　and　what　he　is　going　to　do　and　Phillips　is　scared　and　pulls　a　gun。　Hench　hits　him　with　a　sap。　Phillips　falls　down　and　Hench　ain't　satisfied。　You　hit　a　guy　with　a　sap　and　he　falls　down　and　what　have　you？　No　satisfaction；　no　revenge。　Hench　picks　the　gun　off　the　floor　and　he　is　very　drunk　there　being　dissatisfied　and　Phillips　grabs　for　his　ankle。　Hench　doesn't　know　why　he　did　what　he　did　then。　He's　all　fuzzy　in　the　head。　He　drags　Phillips　into　the　bathroom　and　gives　him　the　business　with　his　own　gun。　You　like　it？〃
　 〃I　love　it；〃　I　said。　〃But　what　is　the　satisfaction　in　it　for　Hench？〃
　 〃Well；　you　know　how　a　drunk　is。　Anyway　he　gives　him　the　business。　Well　it　ain't　Hench's　gun；　you　see；　but　he　can't　make　a　suicide　out　of　it。　There　wouldn't　be　any　satisfaction　for　him　in　that。　So　Hench　takes　the　gun　away　and　puts　it　under　his　pillow　and　takes　his　own　gun　out　and　ditches　it。　He　won't　tell　us　where。　Probably　passes　it　to　some　tough　guy　in　the　neighborhood。　Then　he　finds　the　girl　and　they　eat。〃
　 〃That　was　a　lovely　touch；〃　I　said。　〃Putting　the　gun　under　his　pillow。　I'd　never　in　the　world　have　thought　of　that。〃
　 Breeze　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　at　the　ceiling。　Spangler；　the　big　part　of　the　entertainment　over；　swung　around　in　his　chair　and　picked　up　a　couple　of　bank　pens　and　threw　one　at　the　cushion。
　 〃Look　at　it　this　way；〃　Breeze　said。　〃What　was　the　effect　of　that　stunt？　Look　how　Hench　did　it。　He　was　drunk；　but　he　was　smart。　He　found　that　gun　and　showed　it　before　Phillips　was　found　dead。　First　we　get　the　idea　that　a　gun　is　under　Hench's　pillow　that　killed　a　guybeen　fired　anywayand　then　we　get　the　stiff。　We　believed　Hench's　story。　It　seemed　reasonable。　Why　would　we　think　any　man　would　be　such　a　sap　as　to　do　what　Hench　did？　It　doesn't　make　any　sense。　So　we　believed　somebody　put　the　gun　under　Hench's　pillow　and　took　Hench's　gun　away　and　ditched　it。　And　suppose　Hench　ditched　the　death　gun　instead　of　his　own；　would　he　have　been　any　better　off？　Things　being　what　they　were　we　would　be　bound　to　suspect　him。　And　that　way　he　wouldn't　have　started　our　minds　thinking　any　particular　way　about　him。　The　way　he　did　he　got　us　thinking　he　was　a　harmless　drunk　that　went　out　and　left　his　door　open　and　somebody　ditched　a　gun　on　him。〃
　 He　waited；　with　his　mouth　a　little　open　and　the　cigar　in　front　of　it；　held　up　by　a　hard　freckled　hand　and　his　pale　blue　eyes　full　of　dim　satisfaction。
　 〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃if　he　was　going　to　confess　anyway；　it　wouldn't　have　made　very　much　difference。　Will　he　cop　a　plea？〃
　 〃Sure。　I　think　so。　I　figure　Palermo　could　get　him　off　with　manslaughter。　Naturally　I'm　not　sure。〃
　 〃Why　would　Palermo　want　to　get　him　off　with　anything？〃
　 〃He　kind　of　likes　Hench。　And　Palermo　is　a　guy　we　can't　push　around。〃
　 I　said：　〃I　see。〃　I　stood　up。　Spangler　looked　at　me　sideways　along　glistening　eyes。　〃What　about　the　girl？〃
　 〃Won't　say　a　word。　She's　smart。　We　can't　do　anything　to　her。　Nice　neat　little　job　all　around。　You　wouldn't　kick；　would　you？　Whatever　your　business　is；　it's　still　your　business。　Get　me？〃
　 〃And　the　girl　is　a　tall　blond；〃　I　said。　〃Not　of　the　freshest　but　still　a　tall　blond。　Although　only　one。　Maybe　Palermo　doesn't　mind。〃
　 〃Hell；　I　never　thought　of　that；〃　Breeze　said。　He　thought　about　it　and　shook　it　off。　〃Nothing　in　that；　Marlowe。　Not　enough　class。〃
　 〃Cleaned　up　and　sober；　you　never　can　tell；〃　I　said。　〃Class　is　a　thing　that　has　a　way　of　dissolving　rapidly　in　alcohol。　That　all　you　want　with　me？〃
　 〃Guess　so。〃　He　slanted　the　cigar　up　and　aimed　it　at　my　eye。　〃Not　that　I　wouldn't　like　to　hear　your　story。　But　I　don't　figure　I　have　an　absolute　right　to　insist　on　it　the　way　things　are。
　 〃That's　white　of　you；　Breeze；〃　I　said。　〃And　you　too；　Spangler。　A　lot　of　the　good　things　in　life　to　both　of　you。〃
　 They　watched　me　go　out；　both　with　their　mouths　a　little　open。
　 I　rode　down　to　the　big　marble　lobby　and　went　and　got　my　car　out　of　the　official　parking　lot。
　
　
　24
　
　 Mr。　Pietro　Palermo　was　sitting　in　a　room　which；　except　for　a　mahogany　roll…top　desk；　a　sacred　triptych　in　gilt　frames　and　a　large　ebony　and　ivory　crucifixion；　looked　exactly　like　a　Victorian　parlor。　It　contained　a　horseshoe　sofa　and　chairs　with　carved　mahogany　frames　and　antimacassars　of　fine　lace。　There　was　an　ormolu　clock　on　the　gray　green　marble　mantel；　a　grandfather　clock　ticking　lazily　in　the　corner；　and　some　wax　flowers　under　a　glass　dome　on　an　oval　table　with　a　marble　top　and　curved　elegant　legs。　The　carpet　was　thick　and　full　of　gentle　sprays　of　flowers。　There　was　even　a　cabinet　for　bric…a…brac　and　there　was　plenty　of　bric…a…brac　in　it；　little　cups　in　fine　china；　little　figurines　in　glass　and　porcelain　odds　and　ends　of　ivory　and　dark　rosewood；　painted　saucers；　an　early　American　set　of　swan　salt　cellars；　stuff　like　that。
　 Long　lace　curtains　hung　across　the　windows；　but　the　room　faced　south　and　there　was　plenty　of　light。　Across　the　street　I　could　see　the　windows　of　the　apartment　where　George　Anson　Phillips　had　been　killed。　The　street　between　was　sunny　and　silent。
　 The　tall　Italian　with　the　dark　skin　and　the　handsome　head　of　iron　gray　hair　read　my　card　and　said：
　 〃I　got　business　in　twelve　minutes。　What　you　want；　Meester　Marlowe？〃
　 〃I'm　the　man　that　found　the　dead　man　across　the　street　yesterday。　He　was　a　friend　of　mine。〃
　 His　cold　black　eyes　looked　me　over　silently。　〃That'sa　not　what　you　tell　Luke。〃
　 〃Luke？〃
　 〃He　manage　the　joint　for　me。〃
　 〃I　don't　talk　much　to　strangers；　Mr。　Palermo。〃
　 〃That'sa　good。　You　talk　to　me；　huh？〃
　 〃You're　a　man　of　standing；　an　important　man。　I　can　talk　to　you。　You　saw　me　yesterday。　You　described　me　to　the　police。　Very　accurately。　they　said。〃
　 〃Si。　I　see　much；〃　he　said　without　emotion。
　 〃You　saw　a　tall　blond　woman　e　out　of　there　yesterday。〃　
　 He　studied　me。　〃Not　yesterday。　Wasa　two　three　days　ago　I　tell　the　coppers　yesterday。〃　He　snapped　his　long　dark　fingers。　〃The　coppers；　bah！〃
　 〃Did　you　see　any　strangers　yesterday；　Mr。　Palermo？〃
　 〃Is　back　way　in　and　out；〃　he　said。　〃Is　stair　from　second　floor　also。〃　He　looked　at　his　wrist　watch。
　 〃Nothing　there　then；〃　I　said。　〃This　morning　you　saw　Hench。〃
　 He　lifted　his　eyes　and　ran　them　lazily　over　my　face。　〃The　coppers　tell　you　that；　huh？〃
　 〃They　told　me　you　got　Hench　to　confess。　They　said　he　was　a　friend　of　yours。　How　good　a　friend　they　didn't　know；　of　course。〃
　 〃Hench　make　the　confess；　huh？〃　He　smiled；　a　sudden　brilliant　smile。
　 〃Only　Hench　didn't　do　the　killing；〃　I　said。
　 〃No？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃That'sa　interesting。　Go　on；　Meester　Marlowe。〃
　 〃The　confession　is　a　lot　of　baloney。　You　got　him　to　make　it　for　some　reason　of　your　own。〃
　 He　stood　up　and　went　to　the　door　and　called　out：　〃Tony。〃　He　sat　down　again。　A　short　tough…looking　wop　came　into　the　room；　looked　at　me　and　sat　down　against　the　wall　in　a　straight　chair。
　 〃Tony；　thees　man　a　Meester　Marlowe。　Look；　take　the　card。〃　Tony　came　to　get　the　card　and　sat　down　with　it。　〃You　look　at　thees　man　very　good；　Tony。　Not　forget　him；　huh？〃
　 Tony　said：　〃Leave　it　to　me；　Mr。　Palermo。〃　
　 Palermo　said：　〃Was　a　friend　to　you；　huh？　A　good　friend；　huh？〃
　 〃Yes。〃
　 〃That'sa　bad。　Yeah。　That'sa　bad。　I　tell　you　something。　A　man's　friend　is　a　man's　friend。　So　I　tell　you。　But　you　don'　tell　anybody　else。　Not　the　damn　coppers；　huh？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃That'sa　promise；　Meester　Marlowe。　That'sa　something　not　to　forget。　You　not　forget？〃
　 〃I　won't　forget。〃
　 〃Tony；　he　not　forget　you。　Get　the　idea？〃
　 〃I　gave　you　my　word。　What　you　tell　me　is　between　us　here。〃
　 〃That'sa　fine。　Okay。　I　e　of　large　family。　Many　sisters　and　brothers。　One　brother　very　bad。　Almost　so　bad　as　Tony。〃
　 Tony　grinned。
　 〃Okay；　thees　brother　live　very　quiet。　Across　the　street。　Gotta　move。　Okay；　the　coppers　fill　the　joint　up。　Not　so　good。　Ask　too　many　questions。　Not　good　for　business；　not　good　for　thees　bad　brother。　You　get　the　idea？〃
　 〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃I　get　the　idea。〃
　 〃Okay；　thees　Hench　no　good；　but　poor　guy；　drunk；　no　job。　Pay　no　rent；　but　I　got　lotsa　money。　So　I　say；　Look；　Hench；　you　make　the　confess。　You　sick　man。　Two　three　weeks　sick。　You　go　into　court。　I　have　a　lawyer　for　you。　You　say　to　hell　with　the　confess。　I　was　drunk。　The　damn　coppers　are　stuck。　The　judge　he　turn　you　loose　and　you　e　back　to　me　and　I　take　care　of　you。　Okay？　So　Hench　say　okay；　make　the　confess。　That'sa　all。〃
　 I　said：　〃And　after　two　or　three　weeks　the　bad　brother　is　a　long　way　from　here　and　the　trail　is　cold　and　the　cops　will　likely　just　write　the　Phillips　killing　off　as　unsolved。　Is　that　it？〃
　 〃Si。〃　He　smiled　again。　A　brilliant　warm　smile；　like　the　kiss　of　death。
　 〃That　takes　care　of　Hench；　Mr。　Palermo；〃　I　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　help　me　much　about　my　friend。〃
　 He　shook　his　head　and　looked　at　his　watch　again。　I　stood　up。　Tony　stood　up。　He　wasn't　going　to　do　anything；　but　it's　better　to　be　standing　up。　You　move　faster。
　 〃The　trouble　with　you　birds；〃　I　said；　〃is　you　make　mystery　of　nothing。　You　have　to　give　the　password　before　you　bite　a　piece　of　bread。　If　I　went　down　to　headquarters　and　told　the　boys　everything　you　have　told　me；　they　would　laugh　in　my　face。　And　I　would　be　laughing　with　them。〃
　 〃Tony　don't　laugh　much；〃　Palermo　said。
　 〃The　earth　is　full　of　people　who　don't　laugh　much；　Mr。　Palermo；〃　I　said。　〃You　ought　to　know。　You　put　a　lot　of　them　where　they　are。〃
　 〃Is　my　business；〃　he　said；　shrugging　enormously。　
　 〃I'll　keep　my　promise；〃　I　said。　〃But　in　case　you　should　get　to　doubting　that；　don't　try　to　make　any　business　for　yourself　out　of　me。　Because　in　my　part　of　town　I'm　a　pretty　good　man　and　if　the　business　got　made　out　of　Tony　instead；　it　would　be　strictly　on　the　house。　No　profit。〃
　 Palermo　laughed。　〃That'sa　good；〃　he　said。　〃Tony。　One　funeralon　the　house。　Okay。〃
　 He　stood