raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第6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！


er。〃
　〃Okey；　ride　me；〃　Nulty　scowled。　〃What　you　been　doing？〃
　〃What　you　ought　to　have　done。　This　place　called　Florian's　was　under　the　same　name　when　it　was　a　white　night　trap。　I　talked　to　a　Negro　hotelman　who　knows　the　neighborhood。　The　sign　was　expensive　so　the　shines　just　went　on　using　it　when　they　took　over。　The　man's　name　was　Mike　Florian。　He's　dead　some　years；　but　his　widow　is　still　around。　She　lives　at　1644　West　54th　Place。　Her　name　is　Jessie　Florian。　She's　not　in　the　phone　book；　but　she　is　in　the　city　directory。〃
　〃Well；　what　do　I　do…date　her　up？〃　Nulty　asked。
　〃I　did　it　for　you。　I　took　in　a　pint　of　bourbon　with　me。　She's　a　charming　middle…aged　lady　with　a　face　like　a　bucket　of　mud　and　if　she　has　washed　her　hair　since　Coolidge's　second　term；　I'll　eat　my　spare　tire；　rim　and　all。〃
　〃Skip　the　wisecracks；〃　Nulty　said。
　〃I　asked　Mrs。　Florian　about　Velma。　You　remember；　Mr。　Nulty；　the　redhead　named　Velma　that　Moose　Malloy　was　looking　for？　I'm　not　tiring　you；　am　I；　Mr。　Nulty？〃
　〃What　you　sore　about？〃
　〃You　wouldn't　understand。　Mrs。　Florian　said　she　didn't　remember　Velma。　Her　home　is　very　shabby　except　for　a　new　radio；　worth　seventy　or　eighty　dollars。〃
　〃You　ain't　told　me　why　that's　something　I　should　start　screaming　about。〃
　〃Mrs。　Florian…Jessie　to　me…said　her　husband　left　her　nothing　but　his　old　clothes　and　a　bunch　of　stills　of　the　gang　who　worked　at　his　joint　from　time　to　time。　I　plied　her　with　liquor　and　she　is　a　girl　who　will　take　a　drink　if　she　has　to　knock　you　down　to　get　the　bottle。　After　the　third　or　fourth　she　went　into　her　modest　bedroom　and　threw　things　around　and　dug　the　bunch　of　stills　out　of　the　bottom　of　an　old　trunk。　But　I　was　watching　her　without　her　knowing　it　and　she　slipped　one　out　of　the　packet　and　hid　it。　So　after　a　while　I　snuck　in　there　and　grabbed　it。〃
　I　reached　into　my　pocket　and　laid　the　Pierrot　girl　on　his　desk。　He　lifted　it　and　stared　at　it　and　his　lips　quirked　at　the　corners。
　〃Cute；〃　he　said。　〃Cute　enough；　I　could　have　used　a　piece　of　that　once。　Haw；　haw。　Velma　Valento；　huh？　What　happened　to　this　doll？〃
　〃Mrs。　Florian　says　she　died…but　that　hardly　explains　why　she　hid　the　photo。〃
　〃It　don't　do　at　that。　Why　did　she　hide　it？〃
　〃She　wouldn't　tell　me。　In　the　end；　after　I　told　her　about　the　Moose　being　out；　she　seemed　to　take　a　dislike　to　me。　That　seems　impossible；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Go　on；〃　Nulty　said。
　〃That's　all。　I've　told　you　the　facts　and　given　you　the　exhibit。　If　you　can't　get　somewhere　on　this　set…up；　nothing　I　could　say　would　help。〃
　〃Where　would　I　get？　It's　still　a　shine　killing。　Wait'll　we　get　the　Moose。　Hell；　it's　eight　years　since　he　saw　the　girl　unless　she　visited　him　in　the　pen。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃But　don't　forget　he's　looking　for　her　and　he's　a　man　who　would　bear　down。　By　the　way；　he　was　in　for　a　bank　job。　That　means　a　reward。　Who　got　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Nulty　said。　〃Maybe　I　could　find　out。　Why？〃
　〃Somebody　turned　him　up。　Maybe　he　knows　who。　That　would　be　another　job　he　would　give　time　to。〃　I　stood　up。　〃Well；　goodby　and　good　luck。〃　
〃You　walking　out　on　me？〃
I　went　over　to　the　door。　〃I　have　to　go　home　and　take　a　bath　and　gargle　my　throat　and　get　my　nails　manicured。〃　
〃You　ain't　sick；　are　you？〃
〃Just　dirty；〃　I　said。　〃Very；　very　dirty。〃
　〃Well；　what's　your　hurry？　Sit　down　a　minute。〃　He　leaned　back　and　hooked　his　thumbs　in　his　vest；　which　made　him　look　a　little　more　like　a　cop；　but　didn't　make　him　look　any　more　magnetic。
　〃No　hurry；〃　I　said。　〃No　hurry　at　all。　There's　nothing　more　I　can　do。　Apparently　this　Velma　is　dead；　if　Mrs。　Florian　is　telling　the　truth…and　I　don't　at　the　moment　know　of　any　reason　why　she　should　lie　about　it。　That　was　all　I　was　interested　in。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Nulty　said　suspiciously…from　force　of　habit。
　〃And　you　have　Moose　Malloy　all　sewed　up　anyway；　and　that's　that。　So　I'll　just　run　on　home　now　and　go　about　the　business　of　trying　to　earn　a　living。〃
　〃We　might　miss　out　on　the　Moose；〃　Nulty　said。　〃Guys　get　away　once　in　a　while。　Even　big　guys。〃　His　eyes　were　suspicious　also；　insofar　as　they　contained　any　expression　at　all。　〃How　much　she　slip　you？〃
〃What？〃
〃How　much　this　old　lady　slip　you　to　lay　off？〃
〃Lay　off　what？〃
　〃Whatever　it　is　you're　layin'　off　from　now　on。〃　He　moved　his　thumbs　from　his　armholes　and　placed　them　together　in　front　of　his　vest　and　pushed　them　against　each　other。　He　smiled。
　〃Oh；　for　Christ's　sake；〃　I　said；　and　went　out　of　the　office；　leaving　his　mouth　open。
　When　I　was　about　a　yard　from　the　door；　I　went　back　and　opened　it　again　quietly　and　looked　in。　He　was　sitting　in　the　same　position　pushing　his　thumbs　at　each　other。　But　he　wasn't　smiling　any　more。　He　looked　worried。　His　mouth　was　still　open。
　He　didn't　move　or　look　up。　I　didn't　know　whether　he　heard　me　or　not。　I　shut　the　door　again　and　went　away。
　
　7
　They　had　Rembrandt　on　the　calendar　that　year；　a　rather　smeary　self…portrait　due　to　imperfectly　registered　color　plate。　It　showed　him　holding　a　smeared　palette　with　a　dirty　thumb　and　wearing　a　tam…o'…shanter　which　wasn't　any　too　clean　either。　His　other　hand　held　a　brush　poised　in　the　air；　as　if　he　might　be　going　to　do　a　little　work　after　a　while；　if　somebody　made　a　down　payment。　His　face　was　aging；　saggy；　full　of　the　disgust　of　life　and　the　thickening　effects　of　liquor。　But　it　had　a　hard　cheerfulness　that　I　liked；　and　the　eyes　were　as　bright　as　drops　of　dew。
　I　was　looking　at　him　across　my　office　desk　at　about　four…thirty　when　the　phone　rang　and　I　heard　a　cool；　supercilious　voice　that　sounded　as　if　it　thought　it　was　pretty　good。　It　said　drawlingly；　after　I　had　answered：
〃You　are　Philip　Marlowe；　a　private　detective？〃
〃Check。〃
　〃Oh…you　mean；　yes。　You　have　been　remended　to　me　as　a　man　who　can　be　trusted　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。　I　should　like　you　to　e　to　my　house　at　seven　o'clock　this　evening。　We　can　discuss　a　matter。　My　name　is　Lindsay　Marriott　and　I　live　at　4212　Cabrillo　Street；　Montemar　Vista。　Do　you　know　where　that　is？〃
　〃I　know　where　Montemar　Vista　is；　Mr。　Marriott。〃
　〃Yes。　Well；　Cabrillo　Street　is　rather　hard　to　find。　The　streets　down　here　are　all　laid　out　in　a　pattern　of　interesting　but　intricate　curves。　I　should　suggest　that　you　walk　up　the　steps　from　the　sidewalk　cafe。　If　you　do　that；　Cabrillo　is　the　third　street　you　e　to　and　my　house　is　the　only　one　on　the　block。　At　seven　then？〃
〃What　is　the　nature　of　the　employment；　Mr。　Marriott？〃
〃I　should　prefer　not　to　discuss　that　over　the　phone。〃
〃Can't　you　give　me　some　idea？　Montemar　Vista　is　quite　a　distance。〃
〃I　shall　be　glad　to　pay　your　expenses；　if　we　don't　agree。　Are　you　particular　about　the　nature　of　the　employment？〃
〃Not　as　long　as　it's　legitimate。〃
The　voice　grew　icicles。　〃I　should　not　have　called　you；　if　it　were　not。〃
　A　Harvard　boy。　Nice　use　of　the　subjunctive　mood。　The　end　of　my　foot　itched；　but　my　bank　account　was　still　trying　to　crawl　under　a　duck。　I　put　honey　into　my　voice　and　said：　〃Many　thanks　for　calling　me；　Mr。　Marriott。　I'll　be　there。〃
　He　hung　up　and　that　was　that。　I　thought　Mr。　Rembrandt　had　a　faint　sneer　on　his　face。　I　got　the　office　bottle　out　of　the　deep　drawer　of　the　desk　and　took　a　short　drink。　That　took　the　sneer　out　of　Mr。　Rembrandt　in　a　hurry。
　A　wedge　of　sunlight　slipped　over　the　edge　of　the　desk　and　fell　noiselessly　to　the　carpet。　Traffic　lights　bong…bonged　outside　on　the　boulevard；　interurban　cars　pounded　by；　a　typewriter　clacked　monotonously　in　the　lawyer's　office　beyond　the　party　wall。　I　had　filled　and　lit　a　pipe　when　the　telephone　rang　again。
　It　was　Nulty　this　time。　His　voice　sounded　full　of　baked　potato。　〃Well；　I　guess　I　ain't　quite　bright　at　that；〃　he　said；　when　he　knew　who　he　was　talking　to。　〃I　miss　one。　Malloy　went　to　see　that　Florian　dame。〃
　I　held　the　phone　tight　enough　to　crack　it。　My　upper　lip　suddenly　felt　a　little　cold。　〃Go　on。　I　thought　you　had　him　cornered。〃
　〃Was　some　other　guy。　Malloy　ain't　around　there　at　all。　We　get　a　call　from　some　old　window…peeker　on　West　Fifty…four。　Two　guys　was　to　see　the　Florian　dame。　Number　one　parked　the　other　side　of　the　street　and　acted　kind　of　cagey。　Looked　the　dump　over　good　before　he　went　in。　Was　in　about　an　hour。　Six　feet；　dark　hair；　medium　heavy　built。　e　out　quiet。〃
　〃He　had　liquor　on　his　breath　too；〃　I　said。
　〃Oh；　sure。　That　was　you；　wasn't　it？　Well；　Number　Two　was　the　Moose。　Guy　in　loud　clothes　as　big　as　a　house。　He　e　in　a　car　too　but　the　old　lady　don't　get　the　license；　can't　read　the　number　that　far　off。　This　was　about　a　hour　after　you　was　there；　she　says。　He　goes　in　fast　and　is　in　about　five　minutes　only。　Just　before　he　gets　back　in　his　car　he　takes　a　big　gat　out　and　spins　the　chamber。　I　guess　that's　what　the　old　lady　saw　he　done。　That's　why　she　calls　up。　She　don't　hear　no　shots　though；　inside　the　house。〃
　〃That　must　have　been　a　big　disappointment；〃　I　said。
　〃Yeah。　A　nifty。　Remind　me　to　laugh　on　my　day　off。　The　old　lady　misses　one　too。　The　prowl　boys　go　down　there　and　don't　get　no　answer　on　the　door；　so　they　walk　in；　the　front　door　not　being　locked。　Nobody's　dead　on　the　floor。　Nobody's　home。　The　Florian　dame　has　skipped　out。　So　they　stop　by　next　door　and　tell　the　old　lady　and　she's　sore　as　a　boil　on　account　of　she　didn't　see　the　Florian　dame　go　out。　So　they　report　back　and　go　on　about　the　job。　So　about　an　hour；　maybe　hour　and　a　half　after　that；　the　old　lady　phones　in　again　and　says　Mrs。　Florian　is　home　again。　So　they　give　the　call　to　me　and　I　ask　her　what　makes　that　important　and　she　hangs　up　in　my　face。〃
　Nulty　paused　to　collect　a　little　breath　and　wait　for　my　ments。　I　didn't　have　any。　After　a　moment　he　went　on　grumbling。
　〃What　you　make　of　it？〃
　〃Nothing　much。　The　Moose　would　be　likely　to　go　by　there；　of　course。　He　must　have　known　Mrs。　Florian　pretty　well。　Naturally　he　wouldn't　stick　around　very　long。　He　would　be　afraid　the　law　might　be　wise　to　Mrs。　Florian。〃
　〃What　I　figure；〃　Nulty　said　calmly；　〃Maybe　I　should　go　over　and　see　her…kind　of　find　out　where　she　went　to。〃
　〃That's　a　good　idea；〃　I　said。　〃If　you　can　get　somebody　to　lift　you　out　of　your　chair。〃
　〃Huh？　Oh；　another　nifty。　It　don't　make　a　lot　of　difference　any　more　now　though。　I　guess　I　won't　bother。〃
　〃All　right；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　have　it　whatever　it　is。〃
　He　chuckled。　〃We　got　Malloy　all　lined　up。　We　really　got　him　this　time。　We　make　him　at　Girard；　headed　north