raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第18部分

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　We　both　grinned。　He　waved　his　hand　and　I　went　in　through　the　half　open　gate。　The　drive　curved　and　tall　molded　hedges　of　dark　green　pletely　screened　it　from　the　street　and　from　the　house。　Through　a　green　gate　I　saw　a　Jap　gardener　at　work　weeding　a　huge　lawn。　He　was　pulling　a　piece　of　weed　out　of　the　vast　velvet　expanse　and　sneering　at　it　the　way　Jap　gardeners　do。　Then　the　tall　hedge　closed　in　again　and　I　didn't　see　anything　more　for　a　hundred　feet。　Then　the　hedge　ended　in　a　wide　circle　in　which　half　a　dozen　cars　were　parked。
　One　of　them　was　a　small　coupe。　There　were　a　couple　of　very　nice　two…tone　Buicks　of　the　latest　model；　good　enough　to　go　for　the　mail　in。　There　was　a　black　limousine；　with　dull　nickel　louvres　and　hubcaps　the　size　of　bicycle　wheels。　There　was　a　long　sport　phaeton　with　the　top　down。　A　short　very　wide　all…weather　concrete　driveway　led　from　these　to　the　side　entrance　of　the　house。
　Off　to　the　left；　beyond　the　parking　space　there　was　a　sunken　garden　with　a　fountain　at　each　of　the　four　corners。　The　entrance　was　barred　by　a　wrought…iron　gate　with　a　flying　Cupid　in　the　middle。　There　were　busts　on　light　pillars　and　a　stone　seat　with　crouching　griffins　at　each　end。　There　was　an　oblong　pool　with　stone；　waterlilies　in　it　and　a　big　stone　bullfrog　sitting　on　one　of　the　leaves。　Still　farther　a　rose　colonnade　led　to　a　thing　like　an　altar；　hedged　in　at　both　sides；　yet　not　so　pletely　but　that　the　sun　lay　in　an　arabesque　along　the　steps　of　the　altar。　And　far　over　to　the　left　there　was　a　wild　garden；　not　very　large；　with　a　sun…dial　in　the　corner　near　an　angle　of　wall　that　was　built　to　look　like　a　ruin。　And　there　were　flowers。　There　were　a　million　flowers。
　The　house　itself　was　not　so　much。　It　was　smaller　than　Buckingham　Palace；　rather　gray　for　California；　and　probably　had　fewer　windows　than　the　Chrysler　Building。
　I　sneaked　over　to　the　side　entrance　and　pressed　a　bell　and　somewhere　a　set　of　chimes　made　a　deep　mellow　sound　like　church　bells。
　A　man　in　a　striped　vest　and　gilt　buttons　opened　the　door；　bowed；　took　my　hat　and　was　through　for　the　day。　Behind　him　in　dimness；　a　man　in　striped　knife…edged　pants　and　a　black　coat　and　wing　collar　with　gray　striped　tie　leaned　his　gray　head　forward　about　half　an　inch　and　said：　〃Mr。　Marlowe？　If　you　will　e　this　way；　please…〃
　We　went　down　a　hall。　It　was　a　very　quiet　hail。　Not　a　fly　buzzed　in　it。　The　floor　was　covered　with　Oriental　rugs　and　there　were　paintings　along　the　walls。　We　turned　a　corner　and　there　was　more　hall。　A　French　window　showed　a　gleam　of　blue　water　far　off　and　I　remembered　almost　with　a　shock　that　we　were　near　the　Pacific　Ocean　and　that　this　house　was　on　the　edge　of　one　of　the　canyons。
　The　butler　reached　a　door　and　opened　it　against　voices　and　stood　aside　and　I　went　in。　It　was　a　nice　room　with　large　chesterfields　and　lounging　chairs　done　in　pale　yellow　leather　arranged　around　a　fireplace　in　front　of　which；　on　the　glossy　but　not　slippery　floor；　lay　a　rug　as　thin　as　silk　and　as　old　as　Aesop's　aunt。　A　jet　of　flowers　glistened　in　a　corner；　another　on　a　low　table；　the　walls　were　of　dull　painted　parchment；　there　was　fort；　space；　coziness；　a　dash　of　the　very　modern　and　a　dash　of　the　very　old；　and　three　people　sitting　in　a　sudden　silence　watching　me　cross　the　floor。
　One　of　them　was　Anne　Riordan；　looking　just　as　I　had　seen　her　last；　except　that　she　was　holding　a　glass　of　amber　fluid　in　her　hand。　One　was　a　tall　thin　sad…faced　man　with　a　stony　chin　and　deep　eyes　and　no　color　in　his　face　but　an　unhealthy　yellow。　He　was　a　good　sixty；　or　rather　a　bad　sixty。　He　wore　a　dark　business　suit；　a　red　carnation；　and　looked　subdued。
　The　third　was　the　blonde。　She　was　dressed　to　go　out；　in　a　pale　greenish　blue。　I　didn't　pay　much　attention　to　her　clothes。　They　were　what　the　guy　designed　for　her　and　she　would　go　to　the　right　man。　The　effect　was　to　make　her　look　very　young　and　to　make　her　lapis　lazuli　eyes　look　very　blue。　Her　hair　was　of　the　gold　of　old　paintings　and　had　been　fussed　with　just　enough　but　not　too　much。　She　had　a　full　set　of　curves　which　nobody　had　been　able　to　improve　on。　The　dress　was　rather　plain　except　for　a　clasp　of　diamonds　at　the　throat。　Her　hands　were　not　small；　but　they　had　shape；　and　the　nails　were　the　usual　jarring　note…almost　magenta。　She　was　giving　me　one　of　her　smiles。　She　looked　as　if　she　smiled　easily；　but　her　eyes　had　a　still　look；　as　if　they　thought　slowly　and　carefully。　And　her　mouth　was　sensual。
　〃So　nice　of　you　to　e；〃　she　said。　〃This　is　my　husband。　Mix　Mr。　Marlowe　a　drink；　honey。〃
　Mr。　Grayle　shook　hands　with　me。　His　hand　was　cold　and　a　little　moist。　His　eyes　were　sad。　He　mixed　a　Scotch　and　soda　and　handed　it　to　me。
　Then　he　sat　down　in　a　corner　and　was　silent。　I　drank　half　of　the　drink　and　grinned　at　Miss　Riordan。　She　looked　at　me　with　a　sort　of　absent　expression；　as　if　she　had　another　clue。
　〃Do　you　think　you　can　do　anything　for　us？〃　the　blonde　asked　slowly；　looking　down　into　her　glass。　〃If　you　think　you　can；　I'd　be　delighted。　But　the　loss　is　rather　small；　pared　with　having　any　more　fuss　with　gangsters　and　awful　people。〃
〃I　don't　know　very　much　about　it　really；〃　I　said。
〃Oh；　I　hope　you　can。〃　She　gave　me　a　smile　I　could　feel　in　my　hip　pocket。
　I　drank　the　other　half　of　my　drink。　I　began　to　feel　rested。　Mrs。　Grayle　rang　a　bell　set　into　the　arm　of　the　leather　chesterfield　and　a　footman　came　in。　She　half　pointed　to　the　tray。　He　looked　around　and　mixed　two　drinks。　Miss　Riordan　was　still　playing　cute　with　the　same　one　and　apparently　Mr。　Grayle　didn't　drink。　The　footman　went　out。
　Mrs。　Grayle　and　I　held　our　glasses。　Mrs。　Grayle　crossed　her　legs；　a　little　carelessly。
　〃I　don't　know　whether　I　can　do　anything；〃　I　said。　〃I　doubt　it。　What　is　there　to　go　on？〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　can。〃　She　gave　me　another　smile。　〃How　far　did　Lin　Marriott　take　you　into　his　confidence？〃
　She　looked　sideways　at　Miss　Riordan。　Miss　Riordan　just　couldn't　catch　the　look。　She　kept　right　on　sitting。　She　looked　sideways　the　other　way。　Mrs。　Grayle　looked　at　her　husband。　〃Do　you　have　to　bother　with　this；　honey？〃
　Mr。　Grayle　stood　up　and　said　he　was　very　glad　to　have　met　me　and　that　he　would　go　and　lie　down　for　a　while。　He　didn't　feel　very　well。　He　hoped　I　would　excuse　him。　He　was　so　polite　I　wanted　to　carry　him　out　of　the　room　just　to　show　my　appreciation。
　He　left。　He　closed　the　door　softly；　as　if　he　was　afraid　to　wake　a　sleeper。　Mrs。　Grayle　looked　at　the　door　for　a　moment　and　then　put　the　smile　back　on　her　face　and　looked　at　me。
　〃Miss　Riordan　is　in　your　plete　confidence；　of　course。〃
　〃Nobody's　In　my　plete　confidence；　Mrs。　Grayle。　She　happens　to　know　about　this　case…what　there　is　to　know。〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　drank　a　sip　or　two；　then　finished　her　glass　at　a　swallow　and　set　it　aside。
　〃To　hell　with　this　polite　drinking；〃　she　said　suddenly。　〃Let's　get　together　on　this。　You're　a　very　good…looking　man　to　be　in　your　sort　of　racket。〃
　〃It's　a　smelly　business；〃　I　said。
　〃I　didn't　quite　mean　that。　Is　there　any　money　in　it…or　is　that　impertinent？〃
　〃There's　not　much　money　in　it。　There's　a　lot　of　grief。　But　there's　a　lot　of　fun　too。　And　there's　always　a　chance　of　a　big　case。〃
　〃How　does　one　get　to　be　a　private　detective？　You　don't　mind　my　sizing　you　up　a　little？　And　push　that　table　over　here；　will　you？　So　I　can　reach　the　drinks。〃
　I　got　up　and　pushed　the　huge　silver　tray　on　a　stand　across　the　glossy　floor　to　her　side。　She　made　two　more　drinks。　I　still　had　half　of　my　second。
〃Most　of　us　are　ex…cops；〃　I　said。　〃I　worked　for　the　D。A。　for　a　while。　I　got　fired。〃
She　smiled　nicely。　〃Not　for　inpetence；　I'm　sure。〃
〃No；　for　talking　back。　Have　you　had　any　more　phone　calls？〃
〃Well…〃　She　looked　at　Anne　Riordan。　She　waited。　Her　look　said　things。
　Anne　Riordan　stood　up。　She　carried　her　glass；　still　full；　over　to　the　tray　and　set　it　down。　〃You　probably　won't　run　short；〃　she　said。　〃But　if　you　do…and　thanks　very　much　for　talking　to　me；　Mrs。　Grayle。　I　won't　use　anything。　You　have　my　word　for　it。〃
　〃Heavens；　you're　not　leaving；〃　Mrs。　Grayle　said　with　a　smile。
　Anne　Riordan　took　her　lower　lip　between　her　teeth　and　held　it　there　for　a　moment　as　if　making　up　her　mind　whether　to　bite　it　off　and　spit　it　out　or　leave　it　on　a　while　longer。
　〃Sorry；　afraid　I'll　have　to。　I　don't　work　for　Mr。　Marlowe；　you　know。　Just　a　friend。　Good…by；　Mrs。　Grayle。〃
　The　blonde　gleamed　at　her。　〃I　hope　you'll　drop　in　again　soon。　Any　time。〃　She　pressed　the　bell　twice。　That　got　the　butler。　He　held　the　door　open。
　Miss　Riordan　went　out　quickly　and　the　door　closed。　For　quite　a　while　after　it　closed；　Mrs。　Grayle　stared　at　it　with　a　faint　smile。　〃It's　much　better　this　way；　don't　you　think？〃　she　said　after　an　interval　of　silence。
　I　nodded。　〃You're　probably　wondering　how　she　knows　so　much　if　she's　just　a　friend；〃　I　said。　〃She's　a　curious　little　girl。　Some　of　it　she　dug　out　herself；　like　who　you　were　and　who　owned　the　jade　necklace。　Some　of　it　just　happened。　She　came　by　last　night　to　that　dell　where　Marriott　was　killed。　She　was　out　riding。　She　happened　to　see　a　light　and　came　down　there。〃
　〃Oh。〃　Mrs。　Grayle　lifted　a　glass　quickly　and　made　a　face。　〃It's　horrible　to　think　of。　Poor　Lin。　He　was　rather　a　heel。　Most　of　one's　friends　are。　But　to　die　like　that　is　awful。〃　She　shuddered。　Her　eyes　got　large　and　dark。
〃So　it's　all　right　about　Miss　Riordan。　She　won't　talk。　Her　father　was　chief　of　police　here　for　a　long　time；〃　I　said。
〃Yes。　So　she　told　me。　You're　not　drinking。〃
〃I'm　doing　what　I　call　drinking。〃
〃You　and　I　should　get　along。　Did　Lin…Mr。　Marriott…tell　you　how　the　hold…up　happened？〃
〃Between　here　and　the　Trocadero　somewhere。　He　didn't　say　exactly。　Three　or　four　men。〃
　She　nodded　her　golden　gleaming　head。　〃Yes。　You　know　there　was　something　rather　funny　about　that　holdup。　They　gave　me　back　one　of　my　rings；　rather　a　nice　one；　too。〃
　〃He　told　me　that。〃
　〃Then　again　I　hardly　ever　wore　the　jade。　After　all；　it's　a　museum　piece；　probably　not　many　like　it　in　the　world；　a　very　rare　type　of　jade。　Yet　they　snapped　at　it。　I　wouldn't　expect　them　to　think　it　had　any　value　much；　would　you？〃
〃They'd　know　you　wouldn't　wear　it　otherwise。　Who　knew　about　its　value？〃
She　thought。　It　was　nice　to　watch　her　thinking。　She　still　had　her　legs　crossed；　and　still　carelessly。
〃All　sorts　of　people；　I　suppose。〃
〃But　they　didn't　know　you　wo