esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第15部分

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　　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　a　lawyer。　If　you　have　anything　to　confide　in　me；　now　would　make　an　excellent　time。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch；　tonelessly。
　　〃How's　that？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　〃I　merely　agreed；〃　she　said；　〃that　this　would　be　an　excellent　time。〃
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Mason。
　　〃But　I　have　nothing　to　confide；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　still　fixed　on　the　table　top。
　　At　that　moment；　the　percolator　menced　to　bubble。　Mason　turned　down　the　fire。
　　〃I'll　get　some　cups　and　saucers；〃　said　Norma；　jumping　to　her　feet。
　　Mrs。　Veitch　said；　〃Sit　down；　Norma。　I'll　do　it。〃　She　pushed　back　her　chair；　walked　to　one　of　the　cupboards；　and　took　down　some　cups　and　saucers。　〃They'll　drink　out　of　these。〃
　　〃Mother；〃　said　Norma；　〃those　are　the　cups　and　saucers　that　are　kept　for　the　chauffeurs　and　servants。〃
　　〃These　are　police　officers；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch。　〃They're　just　the　same。〃
　　〃No；　they　aren't；　Mother；〃　said　Norma。
　　〃I'm　doing　this；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch。　〃You　know　what　the　master　would　have　said　had　he　been　alive。　He'd　have　given　them　nothing。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃Well；　he　isn't　alive。　Mrs。　Belter　is　going　to　be　the　one　that　runs　things。〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch　turned　and　looked　steadily　at　her　daughter　from　those　deep…set；　lack…luster　eyes。
　　〃Don't　be　too　sure　that　she　is；〃　she　said。
　　Perry　Mason　poured　some　of　the　coffee　into　the　cups；　and　then　poured　it　back　through　the　coffee　container　in　the　percolator。　When　he　had　poured　it　through　the　second　time；　it　was　black　and　steaming。
　　〃Get　me　a　tray；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　take　in　a　couple　of　cups　to　Sergeant　Hoffman　and　Carl　Griffin。　You　can　serve　coffee　to　the　others　upstairs。〃
　　Wordlessly；　she　secured　him　a　tray。　Perry　Mason　poured　three　cups　of　coffee；　picked　up　the　tray；　and　walked　into　the　dining　room；　through　it　into　the　sitting　room。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　was　standing；　his　shoulders　thrown　back；　his　head　thrust　forward；　feet　wide　apart。
　　Plumped　down　in　one　of　the　chairs；　his　face　flushed　and　his　eyes　very　red；　was　Carl　Griffin。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　was　talking　as　Perry　Mason　brought　in　the　coffee。
　　〃That　wasn't　the　way　you　talked　about　her　when　you　first　came　in；〃　Sergeant　Hoffman　said。
　　〃I　was　drunk　then；〃　said　Griffin。
　　Hoffman　stared　at　him。　〃Many　times　a　person　tells　the　truth　when　he's　drunk　and　conceals　his　feelings　when　he's　sober；〃　he　remarked。
　　Carl　Griffin　raised　his　eyebrows　in　an　expression　of　well…bred　surprise。
　　〃Indeed？〃　he　observed。　〃I'd　never　noticed　it。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　heard　Mason　behind　him；　whirled；　and　grinned　as　he　saw　the　steaming　cups　of　coffee。
　　〃Okay；　Mason；〃　he　said；　〃that's　going　to　e　in　pretty　handy。　Drink　one　of　these；　Griffin；　and　you'll　feel　better。〃
　　Griffin　nodded。　〃It　looks　good；　but　I　feel　all　right　now。〃
　　Mason　handed　him　a　cup　of　coffee。
　　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　a　will？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman；　abruptly。
　　〃I'd　rather　not　answer　that；　if　you　don't　mind；　Sergeant；〃　Griffin　answered。
　　Hoffman　took　himself　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃It　happens　that　I　do　mind；〃　he　mented。　〃I　want　you　to　answer　that　question。〃
　　〃Yes；　there's　a　will；〃　Griffin　admitted。
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know　there　is　one？〃
　　〃He　showed　it　to　me。〃
　　〃Does　the　property　all　go　to　his　wife？〃
　　Griffin　shook　his　head。
　　〃I　don't　think　anything　goes　to　her；〃　he　said；　〃except　the　sum　of　five　thousand　dollars。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　raised　his　eyebrows；　and　whistled。
　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃puts　a　different　aspect　on　it。〃
　　〃Different　aspect　on　what？〃　asked　Griffin。
　　〃On　the　whole　situation；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃She　was　kept　here　practically　dependent　on　him；　and　upon　his　continuing　to　live。　The　minute　he　died；　she　was　put　out　with　virtually　nothing。〃
　　Griffin　volunteered　a　statement　by　way　of　explanation。　〃I　don't　think　they　were　very　congenial。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　said；　musingly；　〃That's　not　the　point。　Usually　in　any　of　these　cases；　we　have　to　look　for　a　motive。〃
　　Mason　grinned　at　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃Are　you　insinuating　that　Mrs。　Belter　fired　the　shot　which　killed　her　husband？〃　he　asked；　as　though　the　entire　idea　were　humorous。
　　〃I　was　making　a　routine　investigation；　Mason；　in　order　to　find　out　who　might　have　killed　him。　In　such　cases；　we　always　look　for　a　motive。　We　try　to　find　out　any　one　who　would　have　benefited　by　his　death。〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　Griffin　remarked；　soberly；　〃I　presume　that　I'll　e　under　suspicion。〃
　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃Under　the　terms　of　the　will；〃　said　Griffin　slowly；　〃I　take　virtually　all　of　the　estate。　I　don't　know　as　it's　any　particular　secret。　I　think　that　Uncle　George　had　more　affection　for　me　than　he　did　for　any　one　else　in　the　world。　That　is；　he　had　as　much　affection　for　me　as　he　could　have；　considering　his　disposition。　I　doubt　if　he　was　capable　of　having　affection　for　any　one。〃
　　〃How　did　you　feel　toward　him？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃I　respected　his　mind；〃　Carl　Griffin　replied；　choosing　his　words　carefully；　〃and　I　think　I　appreciated　something　of　his　disposition。　He　lived　a　life　that　was　very　much　apart；　because　he　had　a　mind　which　was　very　impatient　of　all　subterfuges　and　hypocrisies。〃
　　〃Why　did　that　condemn　him　to　live　apart？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　Griffin　made　a　slight　motion　with　his　shoulders。
　　〃If　you　had　a　mind　like　that；〃　he　said；　〃you　wouldn't　need　to　ask　the　question。　The　man　had　wonderful　intellectual　capacity。　He　had　the　ability　to　see　through　people　and　to　penetrate　sham　and　hypocrisy。　He　was　the　type　of　a　man　who　never　made　any　friends。　He　was　so　thoroughly　self…reliant　that　he　didn't　have　to　lean　on　any　one；　and；　therefore；　he　hadn't　any　ground　for　establishing　friendships。　His　sole　inclination　was　to　fight。　He　fought　the　world　and　everyone　in　it。〃
　　〃Evidently　he　didn't　fight　you；〃　said　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃No；〃　admitted　Griffin；　〃he　didn't　fight　me；　because　he　knew　that　I　didn't　give　a　damn　about　him　or　his　money。　I　didn't　lick　his　boots；　and；　on　the　other　hand；　I　didn't　double…cross　him。　I　told　him　what　I　thought；　and　I　shot　fair　with　him。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃Who　did　double…cross　him？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Why；　what　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃You　said　you　didn't　double…cross　him；　so　he　liked　you。〃
　　〃That's　right。〃
　　〃And　there　was　an　emphasis　on　the　pronoun　you　used。〃
　　〃I　didn't　mean　it　that　way。〃
　　〃How　about　his　wife？　Didn't　he　like　her？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　He　didn't　discuss　his　wife　with　me。〃
　　〃Did　she　double…cross　him？〃　demanded　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃How　should　I　know　that？〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　stared　at　the　young　man。　〃You　sure　know　how　to　keep　things　to　yourself；〃　he　mused；　〃but　if　you　won't　talk；　you　won't；　so　that's　all　there　is　to　it。〃
　　〃But　I'll　talk；　Sergeant；〃　protested　Griffin；　〃I'll　tell　you　everything　I　can。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　sighed　and　said；　〃Can　you　tell　me　exactly　where　you　were　when　the　murder　was　mitted？〃
　　A　flush　came　over　Griffin's　face。
　　〃I'm　sorry；　Sergeant；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　can't。〃
　　〃Why？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃Because；〃　said　Griffin；　〃in　the　first　place；　I　don't　know　when　the　murder　was　mitted；　and　in　the　second　place；　I　wouldn't　know　where　I　was。　I'm　afraid　I'd　been　making　quite　an　evening　of　it。　I　was　out　with　a　young　woman　earlier　in　the　evening；　and　after　I　left　her　I　went　to　a　few　speakeasies　on　my　own。　When　I　started　home；　I　had　that　damned　flat　tire　and　I　knew　I　was　too　drunk　to　change　it。　I　couldn't　find　a　garage　that　was　open；　and　it　was　raining；　so　I　just　fought　the　car　along　over　the　road。　It　must　have　taken　me　hours　to　get　here。〃
　　〃The　tire　was　pretty　well　chewed　to　pieces；〃　remarked　Sergeant　Hoffman。　〃And；　by　the　way；　did　any　one　else　know　of　your　uncle's　will？　Had　any　one　else　seen　it？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　Griffin　answered；　〃my　lawyer　saw　it。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　said　Sergeant　Hoffman；　〃so　you　had　a　lawyer；　too；　did　you？〃
　　〃Of　course　I　had　a　lawyer。　Why　wouldn't　I？〃
　　〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃Arthur　Atwood。　He's　got　offices　in　the　Mutual　Building。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　turned　to　Mason。　〃I　don't　know　him。　Do　you　know　him；　Mason？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said；　〃I've　met　him　once　or　twice。　He's　a　bald…headed　chap；　who　used　to　do　some　personal　injury　work。　They　say　he　always　settles　his　cases　out　of　court　and　always　gets　a　good　settlement。〃
　　〃How　did　you　happen　to　see　the　will　in　the　presence　of　your　lawyer？〃　pressed　Sergeant　Hoffman。　〃It's　not　usual　for　a　man　to　call　in　the　beneficiary　under　his　will；　together　with　his　lawyer；　in　order　to　show　them　how　the　will　is　made；　is　it？〃
　　Griffin　pressed　his　lips　together。　〃That's　something　that　you'll　have　to　ask　my　attorney　about。　I　simply　can't　go　into　it。　It's　rather　a　plicated　matter　and　one　that　I　would　prefer　not　to　discuss。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　snapped。　〃All　right；　let's　forget　about　that　stuff。　Now　go　ahead　and　tell　me　what　it　was。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Griffin。
　　Bill　Hoffman　turned　around　so　that　he　was　squarely　facing　the　young　man；　and　looked　down　at　him。　His　jaw　was　thrust　slightly　forward；　and　his　patient　eyes　were　suddenly　hard。
　　〃I　mean　just　this；　Griffin；〃　he　said；　slowly　and　ominously；　〃you　can't　pull　that　stuff。　You're　trying　to　protect　somebody；　or　trying　to　be　a　gentleman；　or　something　of　the　sort。　It　won't　go。　You　either　tell　me　what　you　know　here　and　now；　or　else　you　go　to　jail　as　a　material　witness。〃
　　Griffin's　face　flushed。　〃I　say；〃　he　protested；　〃isn't　that　rather　steep？〃
　　〃I　don't　give　a　damn　how　steep　it　is；〃　Hoffman　said。　〃This　is　a　murder　case；　and　you're　sitting　here　trying　to　play　button；　button；　who's　got　the　button　with　me。　Now　e　on；　and　kick　through。　What　was　said　at　that　time；　and　how　did　it　happen　that　the　will　was　exhibited　to　you　and　to　your　lawyer？〃
　　Griffin　spoke　reluctantly。　〃You　understand　that　I'm　telling　you　this　under　protest？〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Hoffman；　〃go　ahead　and　tell　me。　What　is　it？〃
　　〃Well；〃　Griffin　said　slowly　and　with　evident　reluctance；　〃I've　intimated　that　Uncle　George　and　his　wife　weren't　on　the　best　of　terms。　Uncle　George　had　an　idea　that　perhaps　she　was　going　to　bring　a　suit　against　him　for　divorce　in　the　event　she　could　get　the　sort　of　evidence　she　wanted。　Uncle