raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第38部分

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stairway　with　a　chain　and　a　brass　sign。　We　found　the　livelier　element　would　step　over　that。〃
　He　was　talking　a　long　time；　either　to　be　nice；　or　to　be　waiting。　I　didn't　know　which。　I　said：　〃Somebody　must　have　left　the　door　open。〃
　The　shadowed　head　nodded。　It　was　lower　than　mine。
　〃You　can　see　the　spot　that　puts　us　in；　though。　If　somebody　did　leave　it　open；　the　boss　won't　like　it　a　nickel。　If　somebody　didn't；　we'd　like　to　know　how　you　got　up　here。　I'm　sure　you　get　the　idea。〃
〃It　seems　a　simple　idea。　Let's　go　down　and　talk　to　him　about　it。〃
〃You　e　with　a　party？〃
〃A　very　nice　party。〃
〃You　ought　to　have　stayed　with　them。〃
〃You　know　how　it　is…you　turn　your　head　and　some　other　guy　is　buying　her　a　drink。〃
He　chuckled。　Then　he　moved　his　chin　slightly　up　and　down。
　I　dropped　and　did　a　frogleap　sideways　and　the　swish　of　the　blackjack　was　a　long　spent　sigh　in　the　quiet　air。　It　was　getting　to　be　that　every　blackjack　in　the　neighborhood　swung　at　me　automatically。　The　tall　one　swore。
I　said：　〃Go　ahead　and　be　heroes。〃
I　clicked　the　safety　catch　loudly。
　Sometimes　even　a　bad　scene　will　rock　the　house。　The　tall　one　stood　rooted；　and　I　could　see　the　blackjack　swinging　at　his　wrist。　The　one　I　had　been　talking　to　thought　it　over　without　any　hurry。
〃This　won't　buy　you　a　thing；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃You'll　never　get　off　the　boat。〃
〃I　thought　of　that。　Then　I　thought　how　little　you'd　care。〃
It　was　still　a　bum　scene。
〃You　want　what？〃　he　said　quietly。
〃I　have　a　loud　gun；〃　I　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　have　to　go　off。　I　want　to　talk　to　Brunette。〃
〃He　went　to　San　Diego　on　business。〃
〃I'll　talk　to　his　stand…in。〃
〃You're　quite　a　lad；〃　the　nice　one　said。　〃We'll　go　down。　You'll　put　the　heater　up　before　we　go　through　the　door。〃
〃I'll　put　the　heater　up　when　I'm　sure　I'm　going　through　door。〃
He　laughed　lightly。　〃Go　back　to　your　post；　Slim。　I'll　look　into　this。〃
He　moved　lazily　in　front　of　me　and　the　tall　one　appeared　to　fade　into　the　dark。
〃Follow　me；　then。〃
　We　moved　Indian　file　across　the　deck。　We　went　down　brassbound　slippery　steps。　At　the　bottom　was　a　thick　door。　He　opened　it　and　looked　at　the　lock。　He　smiled；　nodded；　held　the　door　for　me　and　I　stepped　through；　pocketing　the　gun。
　The　door　closed　and　clicked　behind　us。　He　said：
　〃Quiet　evening；　so　far。〃
　There　was　a　gilded　arch　in　front　of　us　and　beyond　it　a　gaming　room；　not　very　crowded。　It　looked　much　like　any　other　gaming　room。　At　the　far　end　there　was　a　short　glass　bar　and　some　stools。　In　the　middle　a　stairway　going　down　and　up　this　the　music　swelled　and　faded。　I　heard　roulette　wheels。　A　man　was　dealing　faro　to　a　single　customer。　There　were　not　more　than　sixty　people　in　the　room。　At　the　faro　table　there　was　a　pile　of　yellowbacks　that　would　start　a　bank。　The　player　was　an　elderly　white…haired　man　who　looked　politely　attentive　to　the　dealer；　but　no　more。
　Two　quiet　men　in　dinner　jackets　came　through　the　archway　sauntering；　looking　at　nothing。　That　had　to　be　expected。　They　strolled　towards　us　and　the　short　slender　man　with　me　waited　for　them。　They　were　well　beyond　the　arch　before　they　let　their　hands　find　their　side　pockets；　looking　for　cigarettes　of　course。
〃From　now　on　we　have　to　have　a　little　organization　here；〃　the　short　man　said。　〃I　don't　think　you'll　mind？〃
〃You're　Brunette；〃　I　said　suddenly。　
He　shrugged。　〃Of　course。〃　
〃You　don't　look　so　tough；〃　I　said。　
〃I　hope　not。〃
The　two　men　in　dinner　jackets　edged　me　gently。　
〃In　here；〃　Brunette　said。　〃We　can　talk　at　ease。〃　
He　opened　the　door　and　they　took　me　into　dock。
　The　room　was　like　a　cabin　and　not　like　a　cabin。　Two　brass　lamps　swung　in　gimbels　hung　above　a　dark　desk　that　was　not　wood；　possibly　plastic。　At　the　end　were　two　bunks　in　grained　wood。　The　lower　of　them　was　made　up　and　on　the　top　one　were　half　a　dozen　stacks　of　phonograph　record　books。　A　big　bination　radio…phonograph　stood　in　the　corner。　There　was　a　red　leather　chesterfield；　a　red　carpet；　smoking　stands；　a　tabouret　with　cigarettes　and　a　decanter　and　glasses；　a　small　bar　sitting　cattycorners　at　the　opposite　end　from　the　bunks。
　〃Sit　down；〃　Brunette　said　and　went　around　the　desk。　There　were　a　lot　of　business…like　papers　on　the　desk；　with　columns　of　figures；　done　on　a　bookkeeping　machine。　He　sat　in　a　tall　backed　director's　chair　and　tilted　it　a　little　and　looked　me　over。　Then　he　stood　up　again　and　stripped　off　his　overcoat　and　scarf　and　tossed　them　to　one　side。　He　sat　down　again。　He　picked　a　pen　up　and　tickled　the　lobe　of　one　ear　with　it。　He　had　a　cat　smile；　but　I　like　cats。
　He　was　neither　young　nor　old；　neither　fat　nor　thin。　Spending　a　lot　of　time　on　or　near　the　ocean　had　given　him　a　good　healthy　plexion。　His　hair　was　nut…brown　and　waved　naturally　and　waved　still　more　at　sea。　His　forehead　was　narrow　and　brainy　and　his　eyes　held　a　delicate　menace。　They　were　yellowish　in　color。　He　had　nice　hands；　not　babied　to　the　point　of　insipidity；　but　well…kept。　His　dinner　clothes　were　midnight　blue；　I　judged；　because　they　looked　so　black。　I　thought　his　pearl　was　a　little　too　large；　but　that　might　have　been　jealousy。
　He　looked　at　me　for　quite　a　long　time　before　he　said：　〃He　has　a　gun。〃
　One　of　the　velvety　tough　guys　leaned　against　the　middle　of　my　spine　with　something　that　was　probably　not　a　fishing　rod。　Exploring　hands　removed　the　gun　and　looked　for　others。
〃Anything　else？〃　a　voice　asked。
Brunette　shook　his　head。　〃Not　now。〃
　One　of　the　gunners　slid　my　automatic　across　the　desk。　Brunette　put　the　pen　down　and　picked　up　a　letter　opener　and　pushed　the　gun　around　gently　on　his　blotter。
　〃Well；〃　he　said　quietly；　looking　past　my　shoulder。　〃Do　I　have　to　explain　what　I　want　now？〃
　One　of　them　went　out　quickly　and　shut　the　door。　The　other　was　so　still　he　wasn't　there。　There　was　a　long　easy　silence；　broken　by　the　distant　hum　of　voices　and　the　deep…toned　music　and　somewhere　down　below　a　dull　almost　imperceptible　throbbing。
〃Drink？〃
〃Thanks。〃
　The　gorilla　mixed　a　couple　at　the　little　bar。　He　didn't　try　to　hide　the　glasses　while　he　did　it。　He　placed　one　on　each　side　of　the　desk；　on　black　glass　scooters。
〃Cigarette？〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃Egyptian　all　right？〃
〃Sure。〃
We　lit　up。　We　drank。　It　tasted　like　good　Scotch。　The　gorilla　didn't　drink。
〃What　I　want…〃　I　began。
〃Excuse　me；　but　that's　rather　unimportant；　isn't　it？〃　
The　soft　catlike　smile　and　the　lazy　half…closing　of　the　yellow　eyes。
　The　door　opened　and　the　other　one　came　back　and　with　him　was　Mess…jacket；　gangster　mouth　and　all。　He　took　one　look　at　me　and　his　face　went　oyster…white。
　〃He　didn't　get　past　me；〃　he　said　swiftly；　curling　one　end　of　his　lips。
　〃He　had　a　gun；〃　Brunette　said；　pushing　it　with　the　letter　opener。　〃This　gun。　He　even　pushed　it　into　my　back　more　or　less；　on　the　boat　deck。〃
〃Not　past　me；　boss；〃　Mess…jacket　said　just　as　swiftly。　
Brunette　raised　his　yellow　eyes　slightly　and　smiled　at　me。　〃Well？〃
〃Sweep　him　out；〃　I　said。　〃Squash　him　somewhere　else。〃
〃I　can　prove　it　by　the　taximan；〃　Mess…jacket　snarled。
〃You've　been　off　the　stage　since　five…thirty？〃
〃Not　a　minute；　boss。〃
〃That's　no　answer。　An　empire　can　fall　in　a　minute。〃
〃Not　a　second；　boss。〃
〃But　he　can　be　had；〃　I　said；　and　laughed。　
　Mess…jacket　took　the　smooth　gliding　step　of　a　boxer　and　his　fist　lashed　like　a　whip。　It　almost　reached　my　temple。　There　was　a　dull　thud。　His　fist　seemed　to　melt　in　midair。　He　slumped　sideways　and　clawed　at　a　corner　of　the　desk；　then　rolled　on　his　back。　It　was　nice　to　see　somebody　else　get　sapped　for　a　change。
Brunette　went　on　smiling　at　me。
〃I　hope　you're　not　doing　him　an　injustice；〃　Brunette　said。　〃There's　still　the　matter　of　the　door　to　the　panionway。〃
〃Accidentally　open。〃
〃Could　you　think　of　any　other　idea？〃

〃Not　in　such　a　crowd。〃
〃I'll　talk　to　you　alone；〃　Brunette　said；　not　looking　at　anyone　but　me。
　The　gorilla　lifted　Mess…jacket　by　the　armpits　and　dragged　him　across　the　cabin　and　his　partner　opened　an　inner　door。　They　went　through。　The　door　closed。
　〃All　right；〃　Brunette　said。　〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃
　〃I'm　a　private　detective　and　I　want　to　talk　to　a　man　named　Moose　Malloy。〃
　〃Show　me　you're　a　private　dick。〃
　I　showed　him。　He　tossed　the　wallet　back　across　the　desk。　His　wind…tanned　lips　continued　to　smile　and　the　smile　was　getting　stagy。
　〃I'm　investigating　a　murder；〃　I　said。　〃The　murder　of　a　man　named　Marriott　on　the　bluff　near　your　Belvedere　Club　last　Thursday　night。　This　murder　happens　to　be　connected　with　another　murder；　of　a　woman；　done　by　Malloy；　an　ex…con　and　bank　robber　and　all…round　tough　guy。〃
　He　nodded。　〃I'm　not　asking　you　yet　what　it　has　to　do　me。　I　assume　you'll　e　to　that。　Suppose　you　tell　me　how　you　got　on　my　boat？〃
　〃I　told　you。〃
　〃It　wasn't　true；〃　he　said　gently。　〃Marlowe　is　the　name？　It　wasn't　true；　Marlowe。　You　know　that。　The　kid　down　on　the　stage　isn't　lying。　I　pick　my　men　carefully。〃
　〃You　own　a　piece　of　Bay　City；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　know　how　big　a　piece；　but　enough　for　what　you　want。　A　man　named　Sonderborg　has　been　running　a　hideout　there。　He　been　running　reefers　and　stickups　and　hiding　hot　boys。　Naturally；　he　couldn't　do　that　without　connections。　I　don't　think　he　could　do　it　without　you。　Malloy　was　staying　with　him。　Malloy　has　left。　Malloy　is　about　seven　feet　tall　and　hard　to　hide。　I　think　he　could　hide　nicely　on　a　gambling　boat。〃
　〃You're　simple；〃　Brunette　said　softly。　〃Supposing　I　wanted　to　hide　him；　why　should　I　take　the　risk　out　here？〃　He　sipped　his　drink。　〃After　all　I'm　in　another　business。　It's　hard　enough　to　keep　a　good　taxi　service　running　with　out　a　lot　of　trouble。　The　world　is　full　of　places　a　crook　can　hide。　If　he　has　money。　Could　you　think　of　a　better　idea？〃
〃I　could；　but　to　hell　with　it。〃
〃I　can't　do　anything　for　you。　So　how　did　you　get　on　the　boat？〃
〃I　don't　care　to　say。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　I'll　have　to　have　you　made　to　say；　Marlowe。〃　His　teeth　glinted　in　the　light　from　the　brass　ship's　lamps。　〃After　all；　it　can　be　done。〃
〃If　I　tell　you；　will　you　get　word　to　Malloy？〃
〃What　word？〃
　I　reached　for　my　wallet　lying　on　the　desk　and　drew　a　card　from　it　and　turned　it　over。　I　put　the　wallet　away　and　got　a　pencil　instead。　I　wrote　five　words　on　the　back　of　the　card　and　pushed　it　across　the　desk。　Brunette　took　it　and　read　what　I　had　written　on　it。　〃It　means　nothing　to　me；〃　he　said。
　〃It　will　mean　something　to　Malloy。〃
　He　leaned　back　and