rs.inthebestfamelies-第6部分

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　　However；　I　did　finally　get　what　might　have　been　a　nibble。　The　screen　had　been　turned　off；　and　we　had　all　got　up　to　stretch；　and　Annabel　had　offered　to　drive　Leeds　and　me　home；　and　Leeds　had　told　her　that　we　would　rather　walk；　when　Barry　Rackham　moseyed　over　to　me　and　said　be　hoped　the　television　hadn't　bored　me　too　much。　I　said　no；　just　enough。
　　〃Think　you'll　get　anywhere　on　your　job　for　Leeds？〃　he　asked；　jiggling　his　highball　glass　to　make　the　ice　tinkle。
　　I　lifted　my　shoulders　and　let　them　drop。　〃I　don't　know。　A　month's　gone　by。〃
　　He　nodded。　〃That's　what　makes　it　hard　to　believe。〃
　　〃Yeah；　why？〃
　　〃That　he　would　wait　a　month　and　then　decide　to　blow　himself　to　a　fee　for　Nero　Wolfe。　Everybody　knows　that　Wolfe　es　high。　I　wouldn't　have　thought　Leeds　could　afford　it。〃　Rackham　smiled　at　me。　〃Driving　back　tonight？〃
　　〃No；　I'm　staying　over。〃
　　〃That's　sensible。　Night　driving　is　dangerous；　I　think。　The　Sunday　traffic　won't　be　bad　this　time　of　year　if　you　leave　early。〃　He　touched　my　chest　with　a　forefinger。　〃That's　it；　leave　early。〃　He　moved　off。
　　Annabel　was　yawning；　and　Dana　Hammond　was　looking　at　her　as　if　that　was　exactly　what　he　had　e　to　Birchvale　for；　to　see　her　yawn。　Lina　Darrow　was　looking　from　Barry　Rackham　to　me　and　back　again；　and　pretending　she　wasn't　looking　anywhere　with　those　eyes。　The　Doberman　pinscher　was　standing　tense；　and　Pierce；　from　a　safe　ten　feet…one　more　than　springing　distance…was　regarding　it　with　an　expression　that　gave　me　a　more　sympathetic　feeling　for　him　than　I　ever　expected　to　have　for　a　statesman。
　　Calvin　Leeds　and　Mrs。　Rackham　were　also　looking　at　the　dog；　with　a　quite　different　expression。
　　〃At　least　two　pounds　overweight；〃　Leeds　was　saying。　〃You　feed　him　too　much。〃
　　Mrs。　Rackham　protested　that　she　didn't。
　　〃Then　you　don't　run　him　enough。〃
　　〃I　know　it；〃　she　admitted。　〃I　will　from　now　on；　I'll　be　here　more。　I　was　busy　today。　I'll　take　him　out　now。　It's　a　perfect　night　for　a　good　walk…Barry；　do　you　feel　like　walking？〃
　　He　didn't。　He　was　nice　about　it；　but　he　didn't。　She　broadened　the　invitation　to　take　in　the　group；　but　there　were　no　takers。　She　offered　to　walk　Leeds　and　me　home；　but　Leeds　said　she　would　go　too　slow；　and　he　should　have　been　in　bed　long　ago　since　his　rising　time　was　six　o'clock。　He　moved；　and　told　me　to　e　on　if　I　was　ing。
　　We　said　good　night　and　left。
　　The　outdoor　air　was　sharper　now。　There　were　a　few　stars　but　no　moon；　and　alone　with　no　flashlight　I　would　never　have　been　able　to　keep　that　trail　through　the　woods　and　might　have　made　the　Hillside　Kennels　clearing　by　dawn。　For　Leeds　a　flashlight　would　have　been　only　a　nuisance。　He　strode　along　at　the　same　gait　as　in　the　daytime；　and　I　stumbled　at　his　heels；　catching　my　toes　on　things；　teetering　on　roots　and　pebbles；　and　once　going　clear　down。　I　am　not　a　deerstalker　and　don't　want　to　be。　As　we　approached　the　kennels　Leeds　called　out；　and　the　sound　came　of　many　movements；　but　not　a　bark。　Who　wants　a　dog；　let　alone　thirty　or　forty；　not　even　human　enough　to　bark　when　you　e　home？
　　Leeds　said　that　since　the　poisoning　he　always　took　a　look　around　before　going　to　bed；　and　I　went　on　in　the　house　and　up　to　the　little　room　where　I　had　put　my　bag。　I　was　sitting　on　the　bed　in　pajamas；　scratching　the　side　of　my　neck　and　considering　Barry　Rackham's　last…minute　remarks；　when　Leeds　entered　downstairs　and　came　up　to　ask　if　I　was　fortable。　I　told　him　I　soon　would　be；　and　he　said　good　night　and　went　down　the　short　hall　to　his　room。
　　I　opened　a　window；　turned　out　the　light；　and　got　into　bed；　but　in　three　minutes　I　saw　it　wasn't　working。　My　practice　is　to　empty　my　head　simultaneously　with　dropping　it　on　the　pillow。　If　something　sticks　and　doesn't　want　to　e　out　I'll　give　it　up　to　three　minutes　but　no　more。　Then　I　act。
　　This　time；　of　course；　it　was　Barry　Rackham　that　stuck。　I　had　to　decide　that　he　knew　what　I　was　there　for　or　that　he　didn't；　or；　as　an　alternative；　decide　definitely　that　I　wouldn't　try　to　decide　until　tomorrow。　I　got　out　of　bed　and　went　and　sat　on　a　chair。
　　It　may　have　taken　five　minutes；　or　it　could　have　been　fifteen；　I　don't　know。　Anyhow　it　didn't　acplish　anything　except　getting　Rackham　unstuck　from　my　head　for　the　night；　for　the　best　I　could　do　was　decide　for　postponement。　If　he　had　his　guard　up；　so　far　I　had　not　got　past　it。　With　that　settled；　I　got　under　the　covers　again；　took　ten　seconds　to　get　into　position　on　a　strange　mattress；　and　was　off　this　time。　。　。
　　Nearly；　but　not　quite。　A　shutter　or　something　began　to　squeak。　Calling　it　a　shutter　jerked　me　back　part　way；　because　there　were　no　shutters　on　the　windows；　so　it　couldn't　be　that。　I　was　now　enough　awake　to　argue。　The　sound　continued；　at　brief　intervals。　It　not　only　wasn't　a　shutter；　it　wasn't　a　squeak。　Then　it　was　a　baby　whining；　but　it　wasn't；　because　it　came　from　the　open　window；　and　there　were　no　babies　out　there。　To　hell　with　it。　I　turned　over；　putting　my　back　to　the　window；　but　the　sound　still　came；　and　I　had　been　wrong。　It　was　more　of　a　whimper　than　a　whine。　Oh；　nuts。
　　I　rolled　out　of　bed；　switched　on　a　light；　went　down　the　hall　to　Leed's　door；　knocked　on　it；　and　opened　it。
　　〃Well？〃　he　asked；　full　voice。
　　〃Have　you　got　a　dog　that　whimpers　at　night？〃
　　〃Whimpers？　No。〃
　　〃Then　shall　I　go　see　what　it　is？　I　hear　it　through　my　window。〃
　　〃It's　probably…turn　on　the　light；　will　you？〃
　　I　found　the　wall　switch　and　flipped　it。　His　pajamas　were　green　with　thin　white　stripes。　Giving　me　a　look　which　implied　that　here　was　one　more　reason　for　disapproving　of　my　being　there；　he　padded　past　me　into　the　hall　and　on　into　my　room；　me　following。　He　stood　a　moment　to　listen；　crossed　and　stuck　his　head　out　the　window；　pulled　it　in　again；　and　this　time　went　by　me　with　no　look　at　all　and　moving　fast。　I　followed　him　downstairs　and　to　the　side　door；　where　he　pushed　a　light　switch　with　one　hand　while　he　opened　the　door　with　the　other；　and　stepped　across　the　sill。
　　〃By　God；〃　he　said。　〃All　right。　Nobby；　all　right。〃
　　He　squatted。
　　I　take　back　none　of　my　remarks　about　Doberman　pinschers；　but　I　admit　that　that　was　no　time　to　expand　on　them；　nor　did　I　feel　like　it。　The　dog　lay　on　its　side　on　the　slab　of　stone　with　its　legs　twitching；　trying　to　lift　its　head　enough　to　look　at　Leeds；　and　from　its　side　that　was　up；　toward　the　belly　and　midway　between　the　front　and　hind　legs；　protruded　the　chased　silver　handle　of　a　knife。　The　hair　around　was　matted　with　blood。
　　The　dog　had　stopped　whimpering。　Now　suddenly　it　bared　its　teeth　and　snarled；　but　weakly。
　　〃All　right；　Nobby；〃　Leeds　said。　He　had　his　palm　against　the　side；　forward；　over　the　heart。
　　〃He's　about　gone；〃　he　said。
　　I　discovered　that　I　was　shivering；　decided　to　stop；　and　did。
　　〃Pull　the　knife　out　of　him？〃　I　suggested。　〃Maybe…〃
　　〃No。　That　would　finish　him。　I　think　he's　finished　anyhow。〃
　　He　was。　The　dog　died　as　Leeds　squatted　there　and　I　stood　not　permitting　myself　to　shiver　in　the　cold　night　breeze。　I　could　see　the　slender　muscular　legs　stretch　tight　and　then　go　loose；　and　after　another　minute　Leeds　took　his　hand　away　and　stood　up。
　　〃Will　you　please　hold　the　door　open？〃　he　asked。　〃It's　off　plumb　and　swings　shut。〃
　　I　obliged；　holding　it　wide　and　standing　aside　to　let　him　through。　With　the　dog's　body　in　his　arms；　he　crossed　to　a　wooden　bench　at　one　side　of　the　little　square　hall　and　put　the　burden　down。　Then　he　turned　to　me。　〃I'm　going　to　put　something　on　and　go　out　and　look　around。　e　or　stay；　suit　yourself。〃
　　〃I'll　e。　Is　it　one　of　your　dogs？　Or…〃
　　He　had　started　for　the　stairs；　but　halted。　〃No。　Sarah's…my　cousin's。　He　was　there　tonight；　you　saw　him。〃　His　face　twitched。　〃By　God；　look　at　him！　Getting　here　with　that　knife　in　him！　I　gave　him　to　her　two　years　ago；　he's　been　her　dog　for　two　years；　but　when　it　came　to　this　it　was　me　he　came　to。　By　God！〃
　　He　went　for　the　stairs　and　up；　and　I　followed。　Over　the　years　there　have　been　several　occasions　when　I　needed　to　get　some　clothes　on　without　delay；　and　I　thought　I　was　fast；　but　I　was　still　in　my　room　with　a　shoe　to　lace　when　Leed's　steps　were　in　the　hall　again　and　he　called　in　to　me；　〃Wait　downstairs。　I'll　be　back　in　a　minute。〃
　　I　called　that　I　was　ing；　but　he　didn't　halt。　By　the　time　I　got　down　to　the　little　square　hall　he　was　gone；　and　the　outside　door　was　shut。　I　opened　it　and　stepped　out　and　yelled；　〃Hey；　Leeds！〃
　　His　voice　came　from　somewhere　in　the　darkness。　〃I　said　wait！〃
　　Even　if　he　had　decided　not　to　bother　with　me　there　was　no　use　trying　to　dash　after　him；　with　my　handicap；　so　I　settled　for　making　my　way　around　the　er　of　the　house　and　across　the　graveled　rectangle　to　where　my　car　was　parked。　Getting　the　door　unlocked；　I　climbed　in　and　got　the　flashlight　from　the　dash　partment。　That　put　me；　if　not　even　with　Leeds　for　a　night　outdoors　in　the　country；　at　least　a　lot　closer　to　him。　Relocking　the　car　door；　I　sent　the　beam　of　the　flash　around　and　then　switched　it　off　and　went　back　to　the　side　door　of　the　house。
　　I　could　hear　steps；　faint；　then　louder；　and　soon　Leeds　appeared　within　the　area　of　light　from　the　hall's　window。　He　wasn't　alone。　With　him　was　a　dog；　a　length　ahead　of　him；　on　a　leash。　As　they　approached　I　courteously　stepped　aside；　but　the　dog　ignored　me　pletely。　Leeds　opened　the　door　and　they　entered　the　hall；　and　I　joined　them。
　　〃Get　in　front　of　her；〃　Leeds　said；　〃a　yard　off；　and　stand　still。〃
　　I　obeyed；　circling。
　　〃See；　Hebe。〃
　　For　the　first　time　the　beast　admitted　I　was　there。　She　lifted　her　head　at　me；　then　stepped　forward　and　smelled　my　pants　legs；　not　in　haste。　When　she　had　finished　Leeds　crossed　to　where　the　dead　dog　lay　on　the　bench；　made　a　sign；　and　Hebe　went　to　him。
　　Leeds　passed　his　fingertips　along　the　dead　dog's　belly；　touching　lightly　the　smooth　short　hair。　〃Take　it；　Hebe。〃
　　She　stretched　her　sinewy　neck；　sniffed　along　the　course　his　fingertips　had　taken；　backed　up　a　step；　and　looked　up　at　him。
　　〃Don't　be　so　damn　sure；〃　Leeds　told　her。　He　pointed　a　finger。　〃Take　it　again。〃
　　She　did　so；　taking　more　dme　for　it；　and　again　looked　up　at　him。
　　〃I　didn't　know　they　were　hounds；〃　I　remarked。
　　〃They're　everything　they　ought　to　be。〃　I　suppose　Leeds　made　some　signal；　though　I　didn't　see　it；　and　the　dog