raymondchandler.farewellmylovely-第7部分

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　〃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　in　a　rented　hack。　He　gased　up　there　and　the　service　station　kid　recognized　him　from　the　description　we　broadcast　a　while　back。　He　said　everything　jibed　except　Malloy　had　changed　to　a　dark　suit。　We　got　county　and　state　law　on　it。　If　he　goes　on　north　we　get　him　at　the　Ventura　line；　and　if　he　slides　over　to　the　Ridge　Route；　he　has　to　stop　at　Castaic　for　his　check　ticket。　If　he　don't　stop；　they　phone　ahead　and　block　the　road。　We　don't　want　no　cops　shot　up；　if　we　can　help　it。　That　sound　good？〃
〃It　sounds　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃If　it　really　is　Malloy；　and　if　he　does　exactly　what　you　expect　him　to　do。〃
Nulty　cleared　his　throat　carefully。　〃Yeah。　What　you　doing　on　it…just　in　case？〃
〃Nothing。　Why　should　I　be　doing　anything　on　it？〃
〃You　got　along　pretty　good　with　that　Florian　dame。　Maybe　she　would　have　some　more　ideas。〃
〃All　you　need　to　find　out　is　a　full　bottle；〃　I　said。　
〃You　handled　her　real　nice。　Maybe　you　ought　to　kind　of　spend　a　little　more　time　on　her。〃
〃I　thought　this　was　a　police　job。〃
〃Oh　sure。　Was　your　idea　about　the　girl　though。〃
〃That　seems　to　be　out…unless　the　Florian　woman　is　lying　about　it。〃
〃Dames　lie　about　anything…just　for　practice；〃　Nulty　said　grimly。　〃You　ain't　real　busy；　huh？〃
〃I've　got　a　job　to　do。　It　came　in　since　I　saw　you。　A　job　where　I　get　paid。　I'm　sorry。〃
〃Walking　out；　huh？〃
〃I　wouldn't　put　it　that　way。　I　just　have　to　work　to　earn　a　living。〃
〃Okey；　pal。　If　that's　the　way　you　feel　about　it；　okey。〃
〃I　don't　feel　any　way　about　it；〃　I　almost　yelled。　〃I　just　don't　have　time　to　stooge　for　you　or　any　other　cop。〃
〃Okey；　get　sore；〃　Nulty　said；　and　hung　up。
　I　held　the　dead　phone　and　snarled　into　it：　〃Seventeen　hundred　and　fifty　cops　in　this　town　and　they　want　me　to　do　their　leg　work　for　them。〃
　I　dropped　the　phone　into　its　cradle　and　took　another　drink　from　the　office　bottle。
　After　a　while　I　went　down　to　the　lobby　of　the　building　to　buy　an　evening　paper。　Nulty　was　right　in　one　thing　at　least。　The　Montgomery　killing　hadn't　even　made　the　want…ad　section　so　far。
　I　left　the　office　again　in　time　for　an　early　dinner。
　
　8
　I　got　down　to　Montemar　Vista　as　the　light　began　to　fade；　but　there　was　still　a　fine　sparkle　on　the　water　and　the　surf　was　breaking　far　out　in　long　smooth　curves。　A　group　of　pelicans　was　flying　bomber　formation　just　under　the　creaming　lip　of　the　waves。　A　lonely　yacht　was　taking　in　toward　the　yacht　harbor　at　Bay　City。　Beyond　it　the　huge　emptiness　of　the　Pacific　was　purple…gray。
　Montemar　Vista　was　a　few　dozen　houses　of　various　sizes　and　shapes　hanging　by　their　teeth　and　eyebrows　to　a　spur　of　mountain　and　looking　as　if　a　good　sneeze　would　drop　them　down　among　the　box　lunches　on　the　beach。
　Above　the　beach　the　highway　ran　under　a　wide　concrete　arch　which　was　in　fact　a　pedestrian　bridge。　From　the　inner　end　of　this　a　flight　of　concrete　steps　with　a　thick　galvanized　handrail　on　one　side　ran　straight　as　a　ruler　up　the　side　of　the　mountain。　Beyond　the　arch　the　sidewalk　cafe　my　client　had　spoken　of；　was　bright　and　cheerful　inside；　but　the　iron…legged　tile…topped　tables　outside　under　the　striped　awning　were　empty　save　for　a　single　dark　woman　in　slacks　who　smoked　and　stared　moodily　out　to　sea；　with　a　bottle　of　beer　in　front　of　her。　A　fox　tether　was　using　one　of　the　iron　chairs　for　a　lamppost。　She　chided　the　dog　absently　as　I　drove　past　and　gave　the　sidewalk　cafe　my　business　to　the　extent　of　using　its　parking　space。
　I　walked　back　through　the　arch　and　started　up　the　steps。　It　was　a　nice　walk　if　you　liked　grunting。　There　were　two　hundred　and　eighty　steps　up　to　Cabrillo　Street。　They　were　drifted　over　with　windblown　sand　and　the　handrail　was　as　cold　and　wet　as　a　toad's　belly。
　When　I　reached　the　top　the　sparkle　had　gone　from　the　water　and　a　seagull　with　a　broken　trailing　leg　was　twisting　against　the　offsea　breeze。　I　sat　down　on　the　damp　cold　top　step　and　shook　the　sand　out　of　my　shoes　and　waited　for　my　pulse　to　e　down　into　the　low　hundreds。　When　I　was　breathing　more　or　less　normally　again　I　shook　my　shirt　loose　from　my　back　and　went　along　to　the　lighted　house　which　was　the　only　one　within　yelling　distance　of　the　steps。
　It　was　a　nice　little　house　with　a　salt…tarnished　spiral　of　staircase　going　up　to　the　front　door　and　an　imitation　coachlamp　for　a　porchlight。　The　garage　was　underneath　and　to　one　side。　Its　door　was　lifted　up　and　rolled　back　and　the　light　of　the　porchlamp　shone　obliquely　on　a　huge　black　battleship　of　a　car　with　chromium　trimmings；　a　coyote　tail　tied　to　the　Winged　Victory　on　the　radiator　cap　and　engraved　initials　where　the　emblem　should　be。　The　car　had　a　right…hand　drive　and　looked　as　if　had　cost　more　than　the　house。
　I　went　up　the　spiral　steps；　looked　for　a　bell；　and　used　a　knocker　in　the　shape　of　a　tiger's　head。　Its　clatter　was　swallowed　in　the　early　evening　fog。　I　heard　no　steps　in　the　house。　My　damp　shirt　felt　like　an　icepack　on　my　back。　The　door　opened　silently；　and　I　was　looking　at　a　tall　blond　man　in　a　white　flannel　suit　with　a　violet　satin　scarf　around　his　neck。
　There　was　a　cornflower　in　the　lapel　of　his　white　coat　and　his　pale　blue　eyes　looked　faded　out　by　parison。　The　violet　scarf　was　loose　enough　to　show　that　he　wore　no　tie　and　that　he　had　a　thick；　soft　brown　neck；　like　the　neck　of　a　strong　woman。　His　features　were　a　little　on　the　heavy　side；　but　handsome；　he　had　an　inch　more　of　height　than　I　had；　which　made　him　six　feet　one。　His　blond　hair　was　arranged；　by　art　or　nature；　in　three　precise　blond　ledges　which　reminded　me　of　steps；　so　that　I　didn't　like　them。　I　wouldn't　have　liked　them　anyway。　Apart　from　all　this　he　had　the　general　appearance　of　a　lad　who　would　wear　a　white　flannel　suit　with　a　violet　scarf　around　his　neck　and　a　cornflower　in　his　lapel。
　He　cleared　his　throat　lightly　and　looked　past　my　shoulder　at　the　darkening　sea。　His　cool　supercilious　voice　said：　〃Yes？〃
　〃Seven　o'clock；〃　I　said。　〃On　the　dot。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Let　me　see；　your　name　is…〃　he　paused；　and　frowned　in　the　effort　of　memory。　The　effect　was　as　phony　as　the　pedigree　of　a　used　car。　I　let　him　work　at　it　for　a　minute；　then　I　said：
　〃Philip　Marlowe。　The　same　as　it　was　this　afternoon。〃　
　He　gave　me　a　quick　darting　frown；　as　if　perhaps　something　ought　to　be　done　about　it。　Then　he　stepped　back　and　said　coldly：
　〃Ah　yes。　Quite　so。　e　in；　Marlowe。　My　house　boy　is　away　this　evening。〃
　He　opened　the　door　wide　with　a　fingertip；　as　though　opening　the　door　himself　dirtied　him　a　little。
　I　went　in　past　him　and　smelled　perfume。　He　closed　the　door。　The　entrance　put　us　on　a　low　balcony　with　a　metal　railing　that　ran　around　three　sides　of　a　big　studio　living　room。　The　fourth　side　contained　a　big　fireplace　and　two　doors。　A　fire　was　crackling　in　the　fireplace。　The　balcony　was　lined　with　bookshelves　and　there　were　pieces　of　glazed　metallic　looking　bits　of　sculpture　on　pedestals。
　We　went　down　three　steps　to　the　main　part　of　the　living　room。　The　carpet　almost　tickled　my　ankles。　There　was　a　concert　grand　piano；　closed　down。　On　one　corner　of　it　stood　a　tall　silver　vase　on　a　strip　of　peach…colored　velvet；　and　a　single　yellow　rose　in　the　vase。　There　was　plenty　of　nice　soft　furniture；　a　great　many　floor　cushions；　some　with　golden　tassels　and　some　just　naked。　It　was　a　nice　room；　if　you　didn't　get　rough。　There　was　a　wide　damask　covered　divan　in　a　shadowy　corner；　like　a　casting　couch。　It　was　the　kind　of　room　where　people　sit　with　their　feet　in　their　laps　and　sip　absinthe　through　lumps　of　sugar　and　talk　with　high　affected　voices　and　sometimes　just　squeak。　It　was　a　room　where　anything　could　happen　except　work。
　Mr。　Lindsay　Marriott　arranged　himself　in　the　curve　of　the　grand　piano；　leaned　over　to　sniff　at　the　yellow　rose；　then　opened　a　French　enamel　cigarette　case　and　lit　a　long　brown　cigarette　with　a　gold　tip。　I　sat　down　on　a　pink　chair　and　hoped　I　wouldn't　leave　a　mark　on　it。　I　lit　a　Camel；　blew　smoke　through　my　nose　and　looked　at　a　piece　of　shiny　metal　on　a　stand。　It　showed　a　full；　smooth　curve　with　a　shallow　fold　in　it　and　two　protuberances　on　the　curve。　I　stared　at　it；　Marriott　saw　me　staring　at　it。
〃An　interesting　bit；〃　he　said　negligently。　〃I　picked　it　up　just　the　other　day。　Asta　Dial's　Spirit　of　Dawn。〃
〃I　thought　it　was　Klopstein's　Two　Warts　on　a　Fanny；〃　I　said。
Mr。　Lindsay　Marriott's　face　looked　as　if　he　had　swallowed　a　bee。　He　smoothed　it　out　with　an　effort。
〃You　have　a　somewhat　peculiar　sense　of　humor；〃　he　said。
〃Not　peculiar；〃　I　said。　〃Just　uninhibited。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　very　coldly。　〃Yes…of　course。　I've　no　doubt。　。　。Well；　what　I　wished　to　see　you　about　is；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　a　very　slight　matter　indeed。　Hardly　worth　bringing　you　down　here　for。　I　am　meeting　a　couple　of　men　tonight　and　paying　them　some　money。　I　thought　I　might　as　well　have　someone　with　me。　You　carry　a　gun？〃
　〃At　times。　Yes；〃　I　said。　I　looked　at　the　dimple　in　his　broad；　fleshy　chin。　You　could　have　lost　a　marble　in　it。
　〃I　shan't　want　you　to　carry　that。　Nothing　of　that　sort　at　all。　This　is　a　purely　business　transaction。〃
　〃I　hardly　ever　shoot　anybody；〃　I　said。　〃A　matter　of　blackmail？〃
　He　frowned。　〃Certainly　not。　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　giving　people　grounds　for　blackmail。〃
　〃It　happens　to　the　nicest　people。　I　might　say　particularly　to　the　nicest　people。〃
　He　waved　his　cigarette。　His　aquamarine　eyes　had　a　faintly　thoughtful　expression；　but　his　lips　smiled。　The　kind　of　smile　that　goes　with　a　silk　noose。
　He　blew　some　more　smoke　and　tilted　his　head　back。　This　accentuated　the　soft　firm　lines　of　his　throat。　His　eyes　came　down　slowly　and　studied　me。
　〃I'm　meeting　these　men…most　probably…in　a　rather　lonely　place。　I　don't　know　where　yet。　I　expect　a　call　giving　me　the　particulars。　I　have　to　be　ready　to　leave　at　once。　It　won't　be　very　far　away　from　here。　That's　the　understanding。〃
〃You've　been　making　this　deal　some　time？〃
〃Three　or　four　days；　as　a　matter　of　fact。〃
〃You　left　your　bodyguard　problem　until　pretty　late。〃　
　He　thought　that　over。　He　snicked　some　dark　ash　from　his　cigarette。　〃That's　true。　I　had　some　difficulty　making　my　mind　up。　It　would　be　better　for　me　to　go　alone；　although　nothing　has　been　said　definitely　about　my　having　someone　with　me。　On　the　other