rs.inthebestfamelies-第4章

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ed　at　him　for　the　third　time；　and　this　time　it　might　be　for　keeps；　I　thought　I　should　at　least　see　his　roof　and　count　his　chimneys。　That　was　all。
　　He　had　been　too　damn　remote　and　mysterious。　Now　I　knew　he　had　four　chimneys；　and　that　the　one　on　the　south　wing　had　two　loose　bricks。
　　I　turned　the　car　around　and　headed　down　the　hill；　and；　if　you　care　to　believe　it；　I　kept　glancing　in　the　mirror　to　see　if　something　showed　up　behind。　That　was　how　far　gone　I　was　on　Zeck。　It　was　not　healthy　for　my　self…respect；　it　was　bad　for　my　nerves；　and　I　was　good　and　tired　o￡　it。
　　Mrs。　Rackham's　place；　Birchvale；　was　only　five　miles　from　there；　the　other　side　of　Mount　Kisco；　but　I　made　a　wrong　turn　and　didn't　arrive　until　a　quarter　past　three。　The　entrance　to　her　estate　was　adequate　but　not　imposing。　I　went　on　by；　and　before　I　knew　it　there　was　a　neat　little　sign　on　the　left：
　　
　　HILLSIDE　KENNELS。
　　Doberman　Pinschers。
　　
　　The　gate　opening　was　narrow　and　so　was　the　drive；　and　I　kept　going　on　past　the　house　to　a　bare　rectangle　in　the　rear；　not　very　well　graveled；　and　maneuvered　into　a　er　close　to　a　wooden　building。　As　I　climbed　out　a　voice　came　from　somewhere；　and　then　a　ferocious　wild　beast　leaped　from　behind　a　hush　and　started　for　me　like　a　streak　of　lightning。　I　froze　except　for　my　right　arm；　which　sent　my　hand　to　my　shoulder　holster　automatically。
　　A　female　voice　sounded　sharp　in　mand。　〃Back！〃
　　The　beast；　ten　paces　from　me；　whirled　on　a　dime；　trotted　swiftly　to　the　woman　who　had　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　rectangle；　whirled　again　and　stood　facing　me；　concentrating　with　all　its　might　on　looking　beautiful　and　dangerous。　I　could　have　plugged　it　with　pleasure。　I　do　not　like　dogs　that　assume　you're　guilty　until　you　prove　you're　innocent。　I　like　democratic　dogs。
　　A　man　had　appeared　beside　the　woman。　They　advanced。
　　She　spoke。　〃Mr。　Goodwin？　Mr。　Leeds　had　to　go　on　an　errand；　but　he'll　be　back　soon。　I'm　Annabel　Frey。〃　She　came　to　me　and　offered　a　hand；　and　I　took　it。
　　This　was　my　first　check　on　an　item　of　information　furnished　us　by　Mrs。Rackham；　and　I　gave　her　an　A　for　accuracy。　She　had　said　that　her　daughterin…law　was　very　beautiful。　Some　might　have　been　inclined　to　argue　it；　for　instance　those　who　don't　like　eyes　so　far　apart　or　those　who　prefer　pink　skin　to　dark；　but　I'm　not　so　finicky　about　details。　The　man　stepped　up；　and　she　pronounced　his　name；　Hammond；　and　we　shook。　He　was　a　stocky　middleaged　specimen　in　a　bright　blue　shirt；　a　tan　jacket；　and　gray　slacks…a　hell　of　a　bination。　I　was　wearing　a　mixed　tweed　made　by　Fradick；　with　an　offwhite　shirt　and　a　maroon　tie。
　　〃I'll　sit　in　my　car；〃　I　told　them；　〃to　wait　for　Mr。　Leeds。　With　the　livestock　around　loose　like　that。〃
　　She　laughed。　〃Duke　isn't　loose；　he's　with　me。　He　wouldn't　have　touched　you。　He　would　have　stopped　three　paces　off；　springing　distance；　and　waited　for　me。　Don't　you　like　dogs？〃
　　〃It　depends　on　the　dog。　You　might　as　well　ask　if　I　like　lemon　pie。　With　a　dog　who　thinks　of　space　between　him　and　me　only　in　terms　of　springing　distance；　my　attitude　is　strictly　one　of　trepidant　vigilance。〃
　　〃My　Lord。〃　She　blinked　long　lashes　over　dark　blue　eyes。　〃Do　you　always　talk　like　that？〃　The　eyes　went　to　Hanunond。　〃Did　you　get　that；　Dana？〃
　　〃I　quite　agree　with　him〃　Hammond　declared；　〃as　you　know。　I'm　not　afraid　to　say　so；　either；　because　it　shows　the　lengths　I'll　go　to；　to　be　with　you。　When　you　opened　his　kennel　and　he　leaped　out　I　could　feel　my　hair　standing　up。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　Annabel　Frey　said　scornfully。　〃Duke　knows　too。　I　guess　I'd　better　put　him　in。〃　She　left　us；　speaking　to　the　dog；　who　abandoned　his　pose　and　trotted　to　her；　and　they　disappeared　around　a　er　of　the　building。　There　was　a　similarity　in　the　movements　of　the　two；　muscular　and　sure　and　quick；　but　sort　of　nervous　and　dainty。
　　〃Now　we　can　relax；〃　I　told　Hammond。
　　〃I　just　can't　help　it；〃　he　said；　irritated。　〃I'm　not　strong　for　dogs　anyhow；　and　with　these　。　。　。〃　He　shrugged。　〃I'd　just　as　soon　go　for　a　walk　with　a　tiger。〃
　　Soon　Annabel　rejoined　us；　with　a　crack　about　Hammond's　hair。　I　suggested　that　if　they　had　something　to　do　I　could　wait　for　Leeds　without　any　help；　but　she　said　no。
　　〃We　only　came　to　see　you；〃　she　stated　impersonally。　〃That　is；　I　did；　and　Mr。　Hammond　went　to　the　length　of　ing　along。　Just　to　see　you；　even　if　you　are　Archie　Goodwin；　I　wouldn't　cross　the　street；　but　I　want　to　watch　you　work。　So　many　things　fall　short　of　the　build…up；　I　want　to　see　if　a　famous　detective　does。　I'm　skeptical　already。　You　look　younger　than　you　should；　and　you　dress　too　well；　and　if　you　really　thought　that　dog　might　jump　you；　you　should　have　done　something　to…where　did　that　e　from？　Hey！〃
　　Sometimes　I　fumble　a　little　drawing　from　my　armpit；　but　that　time　it　had　been　slick　and　clean。　I　had　the　barrel　pointed　straight　up。　Hammond　had　made　a　noise　and　an　involuntary　backward　jerk。
　　I　grinned　at　her。　〃Showing　off。　Okay？　Want　to　try　it？　Get　him　and　send　him　out　from　behind　that　same　bush；　with　orders　to　take　me；　and　any　amount　up　to　two　bits；　even；　that　he　won't　reach　me。〃　I　returned　the　gun　to　the　holster。　〃Ready？〃
　　She　blinked。　〃You　mean　you　would？〃
　　Hammond　giggled。　He　was　a　full…sized　middle…aged　man　and　he　looked　like　a　banker；　and　I　want　to　be　fair　to　him；　but　he　giggled。　〃Look　out；　Annabel；〃　he　said　warningly。　〃He　might。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　I　told　her；　〃you　would　be　in　the　line　of　fire；　and　I've　never　shot　a　fast…moving　dog；　so　we　would　both　be　taking　a　risk。　Only　I　don't　like　you　being　skeptical。　Stick　around　and　you'll　see。〃
　　That　was　a　mistake；　caused　by　my　temperament。　It　is　natural　and　wholesome　for　a　man　of　my　age　to　enjoy　association　with　a　woman　of　her　age；　maid；　wife；　or　widow；　but　I　should　have　had　sense　enough　to　stop　to　realize　what　I　was　getting　in　for。　She　had　said　that　she　had　e　to　watch　me　work；　and　there　I　was　asking　for　it。　As　a　result；　I　had　to　spend　a　solid　hour　pretending　that　I　was　hell　bent　to　find　out　who　had　poisoned　one　of　Leed's　dogs　when　I　didn't　care　a　hang。　Not　that　I　love　dog…poisoners；　but　that　wasn't　what　was　on　my　mind。
　　When　Calvin　Leeds　showed　up；　as　he　did　soon　in　an　old　station　wagon　with　its　rear　taken　up　with　a　hig　wire　cage；　the　four　of　us　made　a　tour　of　the　kennels　and　the　runs；　with　Leeds　briefing　me；　and　me　asking　questions　and　making　notes；　and　then　we　went　in　the　house　and　extended　the　inquiry　to　aspects　such　as　the　poison　used；　the　method　employed；　the　known　suspects；　and　so　on。
　　It　was　a　strain。　I　had　to　make　it　good；　because　that　was　what　I　was　supposed　to　be　there　for；　and　also　because　Annabel　was　too　good…looking　to　let　her　be　skeptical　about　me。　And　the　dog　hadn't　even　died！　He　was　alive　and　well。　But　I　went　to　it　as　if　it　were　the　biggest　case　of　the　year　for　Nero　Wolfe　and　me；　and　Leeds　got　a　good　fifty　bucks'　worth　of　detection　for　nothing。　Of　course　nobody　got　detected；　but　I　asked　damn　good　questions。
　　After　Annabel　and　Hammond　left　to　return　to　Birchvale　next　door；　I　asked　Leeds　about　Hammond；　and　sure　enough　he　was　a　banker。　He　was　a　vice…president　of　the　Metropolitan　Trust　pany；　who　handled　affairs　for　Mrs。　Rackham…had　done　so　ever　since　the　death　of　her　first　husband。　When　I　remarked　that　Hammond　seemed　to　have　it　in　mind　to　handle　Mrs。　Rackham's　daughter…in…law　also；　Leeds　said　he　hadn't　noticed。　I　asked　who　else　would　be　there　at　dinner。
　　〃You　and　me；〃　Leeds　said。　He　was　sipping　a　highball；　taking　his　time　with　it。　We　were　in　the　little　living　room　of　his　little　house；　about　which　there　was　nothing　remarkable　except　the　dozens　of　pictures　of　dogs　on　the　walls。　Moving　around　outside；　there　had　been　more　spring　to　him　than　to　lots　of　guys　half　his　age；　now　he　was　sprawled　on　a　coucn；　all　loose。　I　was　reminded　of　one　of　the　dogs　we　had　e　upon　during　our　tour；　lying　in　the　sun　at　the　door　of　its　kennel。
　　〃You　and　me；〃　he　said；　〃and　my　cousin　and　her　husband；　and　Mrs。　Frey；　whom　you　have　met；　and　Hammond；　and　the　statesman；　that's　seven…〃
　　〃Who's　the　statesman？〃
　　〃Oliver　A。　Pierce。〃
　　〃I'm　intimate　with　lots　of　statesmen；　but　I　never　heard　of　him。〃
　　〃Don't　let　him　know　it。〃　Leeds　chuckled。　〃It's　true　that　at　thirty…four　he　has　only　got　as　far　as　state　assemblyman；　but　the　war　made　a　gap　for　him　the　same　as　for　other　young　men。　Give　him　a　chance。　One　will　be　enough。〃
　　〃What　is　he；　a　friend　of　the　family？〃
　　〃No；　and　that's　one　on　him。〃　He　chuckled　again。　〃When　he　was　first　seen　here；　last　summer；　he　came　as　a　guest　of　Mrs。　Frey…that　is；　invited　by　her…but　before　long　either　she　had　seen　enough　of　him　or　he　had　seen　enough　of　her。　Meanwhile；　however；　he　had　seen　Lina　Darrow；　and　he　was　caught　anyhow。〃
　　〃Who's　Lina　Darrow？〃
　　〃My　cousin's　secretary…by　the　way；　she'll　be　at　dinner　too；　that'll　make　eight。　I　don't　know　who　invited　him…my　cousin　perhaps…but　it's　Miss　Dar　row　that　gets　him　here；　a　busy　statesman。〃　Leeds　snorted。　〃At　his　age　he　might　know　better。〃
　　〃You　don't　think　much　of　women；　huh？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　of　them　at　all。　Much　or　little。〃　Leeds　finished　his　drink。
　　〃Look　at　it。　Which　would　you　rather　live　with；　those　wonderful　animals　out　there；　or　a　woman？〃
　　〃A　woman；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃I　haven't　run　across　her　yet；　there　are　so　many；　but　even　if　she　does　turn　out　to　be　a　dog　I　hope　to　God　it　won't　be　one　of　yours。　I　want　the　kind　I　can　let　run　loose。〃　I　waved　a　hand。　〃Forget　it。　You　like　'em；　you　can　have　'em。　Mrs。　Frey　is　a　member　of　the　household；　is　she？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said　shortly。
　　〃Mrs。　Rackham　keeping　her　around　as　a　souvenir　of　her　dead　son？　Being　neurotic　about　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Ask　her。〃　Leeds　straightened　up　and　got　to　his　feet。　〃You　know；　of　course；　that　I　didn't　approve　of　her　going　to　Nero　Wolfe。　I　went　with　her　only　because　she　insisted　on　it。　I　don't　see　how　any　good　can　e　of　it；　but　I　think　harm　might。　I　don't　think　you　ought　to　be　here；　but　you　are；　and　we　might　as　well　go　on　over　and　drink　their　liquor　instead　of　mine。　I'll　go　and　wash　up。〃
　　He　left　me。
　　
　　4
　　HAVING　been　given　by　Leeds　my　choice　of　driving　over…three　minutes…or　taking　a　trail　through　the　woods；　I　voted　for　walking。　The　edge　of　the　woods　was　only　a　hundred　yards　to　the　rear　of　the　kennels。　It　had　been　a　warm　day　for　early　April；　but　now；　with　the　sun　gone　over　the　hill；　the　sharp　air　made　me　want　to　step　it　up；　which　was　just　as　well　because　I　had　to；　to　keep　up　with　Leeds。　He　walked　as　if　he　meant　it。　When　I　mented　on　the　fact　that　we　ran　into　no　fence　anywhere；　neither　in　the　woods　nor　in　the　clear；　he　said　that　his　place　was　merely　a　little　er　of　Mrs。　Rackham's　property　which　she　had　let　him　build　on　some　years　ago。
　　The　last　stretch　of　our　walk　was　along　a　curving　gravel　path　that　wound　through　lawns；　shrubs；　trees；　and　different…shaped　patches　of　bare　earth。
　　Living　in　the　country　would　be　more　convenient　if　they　would　repeal　the　law　against　paths　that　go　straight　from　one　place　to　another　place。　The　bigger　and　showier　the　grounds　are；　the　more　the　paths　have　to　curve；　and　the　main　reason　for　having　lots　of　bushes　and　things　is　to　pel　the　paths　to　curve　in　order　to　get　through　the　mess。　Anyhow；　Leeds　and　I　finally　got　to　the　house；　and　entered　without　ringing　or　knocking；　so　apparently　he　was　more　or　less　a　member