raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第3部分

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　 〃It　takes　three　days　to　have　that　kind　of　momentary　impulse　in　California；　Mrs。　Murdock。〃
　 〃Young　man；　do　you　want　this　job　or　don't　you？〃
　 〃I　want　it　if　I'm　told　the　facts　and　allowed　to　handle　the　case　as　I　see　fit。　I　don't　want　it　if　you're　going　to　make　a　lot　of　rules　and　regulations　for　me　to　trip　over。〃
　 She　laughed　harshly。　〃This　is　a　delicate　family　matter；　Mr。　Marlowe。　And　it　must　be　handled　with　delicacy。〃
　 〃If　you　hire　me；　you'll　get　all　the　delicacy　I　have。　If　I　don't　have　enough　delicacy；　maybe　you'd　better　not　hire　me。　For　instance；　I　take　it　you　don't　want　your　daughter…in…law　framed。　I'm　not　delicate　enough　for　that。〃
　 She　turned　the　color　of　a　cold　boiled　beet　and　opened　her　mouth　to　yell。　Then　she　thought　better　of　it；　lifted　her　port　glass　and　tucked　away　some　more　of　her　medicine。
　 〃You'll　do；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃I　wish　I　had　met　you　two　years　ago；　before　he　married　her。〃
　 I　didn't　know　exactly　what　this　last　meant；　so　I　let　it　ride。　She　bent　over　sideways　and　fumbled　with　the　key　on　a　house　telephone　and　growled　into　it　when　she　was　answered。
　 There　were　steps　and　the　little　copper…blond　came　tripping　into　the　room　with　her　chin　low；　as　if　somebody　might　be　going　to　take　a　swing　at　her。
　 〃Make　this　man　a　check　for　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；〃　the　old　dragon　snarled　at　her。　〃And　keep　your　mouth　shut　about　it。〃
　 The　little　girl　flushed　all　the　way　to　her　neck。　〃You　know　I　never　talk　about　your　affairs；　Mrs。　Murdock；〃　she　bleated。　〃You　know　I　don't。　I　wouldn't　dream　of　it；　I〃
　 She　turned　with　her　head　down　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　As　she　closed　the　door　I　looked　out　at　her。　Her　little　lip　was　trembling　but　her　eyes　were　mad。
　 〃I'll　need　a　photo　of　the　lady　and　some　information；〃　I　said　when　the　door　was　shut　again。
　 〃Look　in　the　desk　drawer。〃　Her　rings　flashed　in　the　dimness　as　her　thick　gray　finger　pointed。
　 I　went　over　and　opened　the　single　drawer　of　the　reed　desk　and　took　out　the　photo　that　lay　all　alone　in　the　bottom　of　the　drawer；　face　up；　looking　at　me　with　cool　dark　eyes。　I　sat　down　again　with　the　photo　and　looked　it　over。　Dark　hair　parted　loosely　in　the　middle　and　drawn　back　loosely　over　a　solid　piece　of　forehead。　A　wide　cool　go…to…hell　mouth　with　very　kissable　lips。　Nice　nose；　not　too　small；　not　too　large。　Good　bone　all　over　the　face。　The　expression　of　the　face　lacked　something。　Once　the　something　might　have　been　called　breeding；　but　these　days　I　didn't　know　what　to　call　it。　The　face　looked　too　wise　and　too　guarded　for　its　age。　Too　many　passes　had　been　made　at　it　and　it　had　grown　a　little　too　smart　in　dodging　them。　And　behind　this　expression　of　wiseness　there　was　the　look　of　simplicity　of　the　little　girl　who　still　believes　in　Santa　Claus。
　 I　nodded　over　the　photo　and　slipped　it　into　my　pocket。　thinking　I　was　getting　too　much　out　of　it　to　get　out　of　a　mere　photo；　and　in　a　very　poor　light　at　that。
　 The　door　opened　and　the　little　girl　in　the　linen　dress　came　in　with　a　three…decker　check　book　and　a　fountain　pen　and　made　a　desk　of　her　arm　for　Mrs。　Murdock　to　sign。　She　straightened　up　with　a　strained　smile　and　Mrs。　Murdock　made　a　sharp　gesture　towards　me　and　the　little　girl　tore　the　check　out　and　gave　it　to　me。　She　hovered　inside　the　door；　waiting。　Nothing　was　said　to　her；　so　she　went　out　softly　again　and　closed　the　door。
　 I　shook　the　check　dry；　folded　it　and　sat　holding　it。　〃What　can　you　tell　me　about　Linda？〃
　 〃Practically　nothing。　Before　she　married　my　son　she　shared　an　apartment　with　a　girl　named　Lois　Magiccharming　names　these　people　choose　for　themselveswho　is　an　entertainer　of　some　sort。　They　worked　at　a　place　called　the　Idle　Valley　Club；　out　Ventura　Boulevard　way。　My　son　Leslie　knows　it　far　too　well。　I　know　nothing　about　Linda's　family　or　origins。　She　said　once　she　was　born　in　Sioux　Falls。　I　suppose　she　had　parents。　I　was　not　interested　enough　to　find　out。〃
　 Like　hell　she　wasn't。　I　could　see　her　digging　with　both　hands；　digging　hard；　and　getting　herself　a　double　handful　of　gravel。
　 〃You　don't　know　Miss　Magic's　address？〃
　 〃No。　I　never　did　know。〃
　 〃Would　your　son　be　likely　to　knowor　Miss　Davis？〃
　 〃I'll　ask　my　son　when　he　es　in。　I　don't　think　so。　You　can　ask　Miss　Davis。　I'm　sure　she　doesn't。〃
　 〃I　see。　You　don't　know　of　any　other　friends　of　Linda's？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃It's　possible　that　your　son　is　still　in　touch　with　her；　Mrs。　Murdockwithout　telling　you。〃
　 She　started　to　get　purple　again。　I　held　my　hand　up　and　dragged　a　soothing　smile　over　my　face。　〃After　all　he　has　been　married　to　her　a　year；〃　I　said。　〃He　must　know　something　about　her。〃
　 〃You　leave　my　son　out　of　this；〃　she　snarled。
　 I　shrugged　and　made　a　disappointed　sound　with　my　lips。　〃Very　well。　She　took　her　car；　I　suppose。　The　one　you　gave　her？〃
　 〃A　steel　gray　Mercury；　1940　model；　a　coupé。　Miss　Davis　can　give　you　the　license　number；　if　you　want　that。　I　don't　know　whether　she　took　it。〃
　 〃Would　you　know　what　money　and　clothes　and　jewels　she　had　with　her？〃
　 〃Not　much　money。　She　might　have　had　a　couple　of　hundred　dollars；　at　most。〃　A　fat　sneer　made　deep　lines　around　her　nose　and　mouth。　〃Unless　of　course　she　has　found　a　new　friend。〃
　 〃There's　that；〃　I　said。　〃Jewelry？〃
　 〃An　emerald　and　diamond　ring　of　no　very　great　value；　a　platinum　Longines　watch　with　rubies　in　the　mounting；　a　very　good　cloudy　amber　necklace　which　I　was　foolish　enough　to　give　her　myself。　It　has　a　diamond　clasp　with　twenty…six　small　diamonds　in　the　shape　of　a　playing　card　diamond。　She　had　other　things；　of　course。　I　never　paid　much　attention　to　them。　She　dressed　well　but　not　strikingly。　Thank　God　for　a　few　small　mercies。〃
　 She　refilled　her　glass　and　drank　and　did　some　more　of　her　semi…social　belching。
　 〃That's　all　you　can　tell　me；　Mrs。　Murdock？〃
　 〃Isn't　it　enough？〃
　 〃Not　nearly　enough；　but　I'll　have　to　be　satisfied　for　the　time　being。　If　I　find　she　did　not　steal　the　coin；　that　ends　the　investigation　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。　Correct？〃
　 〃We'll　talk　it　over；〃　she　said　roughly。　〃She　stole　it　all　right。　And　I　don't　intend　to　let　her　get　away　with　it。　Paste　that　in　your　hat；　young　man。　And　I　hope　you　are　even　half　as　rough　as　you　like　to　act；　because　these　night　club　girls　are　apt　to　have　some　very　nasty　friends。〃
　 I　was　still　holding　the　folded　check　by　one　corner　down　between　my　knees。　I　got　my　wallet　out　and　put　it　away　and　stood　up；　reaching　my　hat　off　the　floor。
　 〃I　like　them　nasty；〃　I　said。　〃The　nasty　ones　have　very　simple　minds。　I'll　report　to　you　when　there　is　anything　to　report；　Mrs。　Murdock。　I　think　I'll　tackle　this　coin　dealer　first。　He　sounds　like　a　lead。〃
　 She　let　me　get　to　the　door　before　she　growled　at　my　back：　〃You　don't　like　me　very　well；　do　you？〃
　 I　turned　to　grin　back　at　her　with　my　hand　on　the　knob。　〃Does　anybody？〃
　 She　threw　her　head　back　and　opened　her　mouth　wide　and　roared　with　laughter。　In　the　middle　of　the　laughter　I　opened　the　door　and　went　out　and　shut　the　door　on　the　rough　mannish　sound。　I　went　back　along　the　hall　and　knocked　on　the　secretary's　half　open　door；　then　pushed　it　open　and　looked　in。
　 She　had　her　arms　folded　on　her　desk　and　her　face　down　on　the　folded　arms。　She　was　sobbing。　She　screwed　her　head　around　and　looked　up　at　me　with　tear…stained　eyes。　I　shut　the　door　and　went　over　beside　her　and　put　an　arm　around　her　thin　shoulders。
　 〃Cheer　up；〃　I　said。　〃You　ought　to　feel　sorry　for　her。　She　thinks　she's　tough　and　she's　breaking　her　back　trying　to　live　up　to　it。〃
　 The　little　girl　jumped　erect；　away　from　my　arm。　〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃Please。　I　never　let　men　touch　me。　And　don't　say　such　awful　things　about　Mrs。　Murdock。〃
　 Her　face　was　all　pink　and　wet　from　tears。　Without　her　glasses　her　eyes　were　very　lovely。
　 I　stuck　my　long…waiting　cigarette　into　my　mouth　and　lit　it。
　 〃II　didn't　mean　to　be　rude；〃　she　snuffled。　〃But　she　does　humiliate　me　so。　And　I　only　want　to　do　my　best　for　her。〃　She　snuffled　some　more　and　got　a　man's　handkerchief　out　of　her　desk　and　shook　it　out　and　wiped　her　eyes　with　it。　I　saw　on　the　hanging　down　corner　the　initials　L。M。　embroidered　in　purple。　I　stared　at　it　and　blew　cigarette　smoke　towards　the　corner　of　the　room；　away　from　her　hair。　〃Is　there　something　you　want？〃　she　asked。
　 〃I　want　the　license　number　of　Mrs。　Leslie　Murdock's　car。〃
　 〃It's　2X1111；　a　gray　Mercury　convertible；　1940　model。〃
　 〃She　told　me　it　was　a　coupé。〃
　 〃That's　Mr。　Leslie's　car。　They're　the　same　make　and　year　and　color。　Linda　didn't　take　the　car。〃
　 〃Oh。　What　do　you　know　about　a　Miss　Lois　Magic？〃
　 〃I　only　saw　her　once。　She　used　to　share　an　apartment　with　Linda。　She　came　here　with　a　Mr。a　Mr。　Vannier。〃
　 〃Who's　he？〃
　 She　looked　down　at　her　desk。　〃Ishe　just　came　with　him。　I　don't　know　him。〃
　 〃Okay；　what　does　Miss　Lois　Magic　look　like？〃
　 〃She's　a　tall　handsome　blond。　Veryvery　appealing。〃
　 〃You　mean　sexy？〃
　 〃Well〃　she　blushed　furiously；　〃in　a　nice　well…bred　sort　of　way；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　 〃I　know　what　you　mean；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　never　got　anywhere　with　it。〃
　 〃I　can　believe　that；〃　she　said　tartly。
　 〃Know　where　Miss　Magic　lives？〃
　 She　shook　her　head；　no。　She　folded　the　big　handkerchief　very　carefully　and　put　it　in　the　drawer　of　her　desk；　the　one　where　the　gun　was。
　 〃You　can　swipe　another　one　when　that's　dirty；〃　I　said。　She　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　put　her　small　neat　hands　on　her　desk　and　looked　at　me　levelly。
　 〃I　wouldn't　carry　that　tough…guy　manner　too　far；　if　I　were　you；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Not　with　me；　at　any　rate。〃
　 〃No？〃
　 〃No。　And　I　can't　answer　any　more　questions　without　specific　instructions。　My　position　here　is　very　confidential。〃
　 〃I'm　not　tough；〃　I　said。　〃Just　virile。〃
　 She　picked　up　a　pencil　and　made　a　mark　on　a　pad。　She　smiled　faintly　up　at　me；　all　posure　again。
　 〃Perhaps　I　don't　like　virile　men；〃　she　said。　
　 〃You're　a　screwball；〃　I　said；　〃if　ever　I　met　one。　Good…by。〃　
　 I　went　out　of　her　office；　shut　the　door　firmly；　and　walked　back　along　the　empty　halls　through　the　big　silent　sunken　funereal　living　room　and　out　of　the　front　door。
　 The　sun　danced　on　the　warm　lawn　outside。　I　put　my　dark　glasses　on　and　went　over　and　patted　the　little　Negro　on　the　head　again。
　 〃Brother；　it's　even　worse　than　I　expected；〃　I　told　him。　The　stumble…stones　were　hot　throug