rs.toomanywomen-第1章

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　　It　was　the　same　old　rigmarole。　Sometimes　I　found　it　amusing；　sometimes　it　only　bored　me；　sometimes　it　gave　me　a　pronounced　pain；　especially　when　I　had　had　more　of　Wolfe　than　was　good　for　either　of　us。
　　This　time　it　was　fairly　funny　at　first；　but　it　developed　along　regrettable　lines。　Mr。　Jasper　Pine；　president　of　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　914　William　Street；　down　where　a　thirty…story　building　is　a　shanty；　wanted　Nero　Wolfe　to　e　to　see　him　about　something。　I　explained　patiently；　all　about　Wolfe　being　too　lazy；　too　big　and　fat；　and　too　much　of　a　genius；　to　let　himself　be　evoked。　When　Mr。　Pine　phoned　again；　in　the　afternoon；　he　insisted　on　speaking　to　Wolfe　himself；　and　Wolfe　made　it　short；　sour；　and　final。　An　hour　later；　after　Wolfe　had　gone　up　to　the　plant　rooms；　just　to　pass　the　time　I　dialed　the　number　of　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　managed　to　get　through　to　Mr。　Pine；　and　asked　him　why　he　didn't　e　to　see　us。　He　snapped　that　he　was　too　busy；　and　then　he　wanted　to　know；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　　I　told　him　I　was　Archie　Goodwin；　the　heart；　liver；　lungs；　and　gizzard　of　the　private　detective　business　of　Nero　Wolfe；　Wolfe　being　merely　the　brains。　He　asked　sarcastically　if　I　was　a　genius　too；　and　I　told　him　no　indeed；　I　was　paratively　human。
　　〃I　could　run　down　now；〃　I　said。
　　〃No。〃　He　was　curt　but　not　discourteous。　〃I'm　filled　up　for　today。　e　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock。　Better　make　it　ten…fifteen。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Two
　　Those　pyramids　of　profit　down　in　the　Wall　Street　section；　sticking　straight　up　nine　hundred　feet　and　more；　are　tenanted　by　everything　from　one…room　midgets　to　ten…floor　super…giants。　Though　the　name　of　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　was　vaguely　familiar　to　me；　it　was　not　a　household　word；　and　I　lifted　the　brows　when　I　learned　from　the　lobby　directory　that　it　paid　the　rent　for　three　whole　floors。　The　executive　offices　were　on　the　thirty…sixth；　so　up　I　went。　The　atmosphere　up　there　was　of　thick　carpets；　wood　panels；　and　plenty　of　space；　but　as　for　the　receptionist；　though　she　was　not　really　miscast　she　was　way　past　the　deadline；　having　reached　the　age　when　it　is　more　blessed　to　receive　than　to　give。
　　She　received　me　at　ten…fourteen；　and　at　ten…nineteen　I　was　escorted　down　a　corridor　to　the　office　of　the　president。　Naturally　he　had　a　corner　room　with　batteries　of　big　windows；　but　I　had　to　admit　that　in　spite　of　more　panels　and　carpets　and　the　kind　of　office　furniture　you　see　in　Sloane's　window；　it　gave　me　the　impression　of　a　place　where　somebody　got　some　work　done。
　　Mr。　Jasper　Pine　was　about　the　same　age　as　the　receptionist；　a　little　short　of　fifty　maybe；　but　on　him　it　looked　good。　Except　for　his　clothes；　with　the　coat　obviously　cut　for　the　stoop　of　his　shoulders；　he　had　more　the　appearance　of　a　foreman　or　a　job　boss　than　a　top　executive　of　a　big　corporation。　In　the　middle　of　the　room　he　shook　hands　as　if　he　were　paratively　human　too；　and；　instead　of　fencing　himself　off　behind　his　desk；　assigned　us　to　a　couple　of　fortable　chairs　between　two　windows。
　　〃My　morning's　a　little　crowded；〃　he　told　me　in　a　deep　voice　that　sounded　as　if　all　it　needed　was　more　breath　to　reach　to　Central　Park；　and　he　could　furnish　the　breath　when　necessary。　I　was　sizing　him　up；　not　knowing　then　whether　the　job　was　a　lead　pencil　leak　in　the　supply　room；　which　would　have　been　beneath　our　notice；　or　wife…tailing；　which　was　out　of　bounds　for　Nero　Wolfe。　On　the　phone　he　had　refused　to　specify。
　　〃So；〃　he　was　going　on；　〃I'll　sketch　it　briefly。　Looking　over　some　reports　recently；　I　noticed　that　our　employee　turnover　here　in　the　home　office；　exclusive　of　the　technical　staff；　was　over　twenty…eight　per　cent　for　the　year　nineteen　forty…six。　That　was　excessive。　I　decided　to　look　into　it。　As　a　first　step　I　had　a　form　drawn　up　and　two　thousand　copies　of　it　multigraphed；　and　sent　a　supply　of　it　to　all　heads　of　departments；　with　instructions　that　one　be　filled　out　for　each　person　who　had　left　our　employ　during　nineteen　forty…six。　The　forms　were　to　be　returned　direct　to　me。　Here's　one　that　came　from　the　head　of　the　stock　department。〃　He　extended　a　hand　with　a　paper　in　it。　〃Take　a　look　at　it。　Read　it　through。〃
　　It　was　a　single　sheet；　letter　size；　with　a　neat　job　of　multigraphing　on　one　side。　At　the　top　it　said：　
　　RETURN　TO　THE　OFFICEOF　THE　PRESIDENTBY　MARCH　TENTH　
　　The　blank　spaces　had　been　filled　in　with　a　typewriter。　First　came　the　name　of　the　ex…employee；　which　in　this　case　was　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore。　Age：　30。　Unmarried。　Home　address：　Hotel　Churchill。　Employment　began：　April　8；1946。　Hired　through：　Applied　personally。　Job：　Correspondence　checker。　Salary：　100　weekly。　Rises：　To　150　weekly　September　30；　1946。　Employment　ended：　December　5；　1946。
　　Other　spaces　had　been　filled　in；　about　how　well　he　had　done　his　job；　and　his　relations　with　other　employees　and　his　immediate　superiors；　and　so　forth；　and　then　at　the　bottom　came　what　was　of　course　the　key　question：　Reason　for　ending　of　employment　（give　details）。　There　was　three　inches　of　space　after　it；　plenty　of　room　for　details；　but　for　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore　only　one　word　had　been　thought　necessary　and　there　it　was：
　　Murdered。
　　
　　Chapter　Three
　　So　apparently　it　wasn't　a　lead　pencil　leak。
　　I　looked　at　Jasper　Pine。　〃An　excellent　idea；〃　I　said　enthusiastically。　〃These　reports　will　show　you　where　the　weak　spots　are；　and　you　can　take　steps。　Though　Moore's　case　was　probably　an　exception。　I　don't　suppose　many　of　the　twenty…eight　per　cent　got　murdered。　Incidentally；　I　keep　track　of　murders　for　business　reasons；　and　I　don't　remember　this　one。　Was　it　local？〃
　　Pine　was　shaking　his　head。　〃Moore　was　run　over　by　a　car；　a　hit…and…run　driver…here　in　New　York　somewhere　uptown。　I　believe　that　is　called　manslaughter；　not　murder；　which　requires　malice　aforethought。　I'm　not　a　lawyer；　but　I　looked　it　up　when　this　report…when　I　saw　this。〃　He　made　a　gesture　of　impatience。　〃The　hit…and…run　driver　was　not　found。　I　want　Nero　Wolfe　to　find　out　if　there　is　any　basis　for　the　supposition　that　it　was　murder。〃
　　〃Just　curiosity？〃
　　〃No。　I　took　it　up　with　the　head　of　the　stock　department；　who　made　that　report；　because　I　didn't　think　it　desirable　to　have　it　in　our　files；　stating　that　one　of　our　employees　had　been　murdered；　unless　that　was　actually　the　case。　Also　I　wanted　to　know　what　reason　he　had；　if　any；　to　make　that　statement。　He　refused　to　give　any　reason。　He　agreed　with　my　definition　of　murder　and　manslaughter；　but　he　refused　to　change　the　report　or　to　make　another　report　using　a　different　word　or　phrase。　He　insisted　that　the　report　is　correct　as　it　stands。　He　refused　to　elaborate。　He　refused　to　discuss　it。〃
　　〃Goodness。〃　I　was　impressed。　〃That　ought　to　be　a　record。　Four　refuses　to　a　corporation　president　from　a　mere　head　of　a　department！　Who　is　he？　Mr。　Naylor？　Or　Mr。　Kerr？〃
　　〃His　name　is　Kerr　Naylor。〃
　　I　thought　for　a　second　he　was　injecting　ic　relief；　but　the　look　on　his　face　showed　me　quite　the　contrary。　He　was　talking　time　out　to　light　a　cigarette；　and　it　was　easy　to　see　that　the　purpose　of　the　maneuver　was　to　hide　embarrassment。　The　president　was　unquestionably　embarrassed。
　　After　a　good　puff　he　coughed　explosively　and　explained；　〃Kerr　Naylor　is　the　son　of　one　of　the　founders　of　this　business。　He　was　named　Kerr　after　the　other　founder。　He　has　had　a…uh；　varied　career。　Also　he　is　my　wife's　brother。　He　actually　controls　a　large　block　of　the　corporation's　stock；　but　he　no　longer　owns　it　because　he　gave　it　away。　He　refuses　to　be　an　officer　of　the　pany；　and　he　refuses　to　serve　on　the　Board　of　Directors。〃
　　〃I　see。　He's　a　dyed…in…the…wool　refuser。〃　Pine　made　the　gesture　of　impatience　again。　He　did　it　with　a　little　fling　of　a　hand；　and　it　was　abrupt　but　not　domineering。　〃As　you　see；〃　he　said；　〃the　situation　is　not　simple。　After　Mr。　Naylor's　refusal　either　to　justify　the　report　or　to　change　it；　I　was　inclined　just　to　let　the　matter　drop　and　merely　destroy　the　report；　but　I　mentioned　it　to　two　of　my　brother　executives　and　to　a　member　of　the　Board；　and　they　were　all　of　the　opinion　that　it　should　be　followed　up。　Besides　that；　news　of　the　report；　with　that　word　on　it；　has　got　around　among　the　employees　of　the　department；　presumably　through　the　stenographer　who　typed　it；　and　there　is　a　lot　of　unhealthy　gossip。　This　man　Moore　was　the　type…I'll　put　it　this　way…he　was　the　type　that　stirs　up　gossip　in　the　circle　he　lives　in；　and　now；　nearly　four　months　after　his　death；　here　he　is　stirring　it　up　again。　We　don't　like　it　and　we　want　it　stopped。〃
　　〃Oh。　You　said　you　wanted　Mr。　Wolfe　to　find　out　if　there　was　any　basis　for　using　the　word　murdered。　Now　you　want　the　gossip　stopped。　You'd　better　pick　which。〃
　　〃It　amounts　to　the　same　thing；　doesn't　it？〃
　　〃Not　necessarily。　If　we　find　out　he　was　murdered　and　the　finding　percolates；　the　gossip　gauge　will　go　right　through　the　ceiling；　not　to　mention　other　possible　results。〃
　　Pine　glanced　at　his　wristwatch；　reached　to　an　ash　tray　to　ditch　his　cigarette；　and　stood　up。　〃Damn　it；〃　he　said；　with　more　breath　but　not　more　noise；　〃do　I　have　to　explain　that　the　situation　is　made　more　plicated　by　the　fact　that　it　was　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor　who　signed　that　report？　This　is　a　damn　nuisance　and　it's　taking　my　time　that　ought　to　be　spent　working！　His　father；　old　George　Naylor；　is　still　living　and　is　Chairman　of　the　Board；　though　he　turned　over　his　stock　to　his　children　long　ago。　This　is　the　oldest　and　largest　pany　in　its　field；　the　largest　in　the　world；　and　it　has　built　up　a　reputation　and　a　tradition。　It　has　also　built　up…oh；　plexities。　The　directors　and　executives　now　managing　its　affairs…of　whom　I　am　one…　want　this　thing　looked　into；　and　I　want　to　hire　Nero　Wolfe　to　do　the　looking。〃
　　〃You　mean　the　corporation？　Wants　to　hire　him？〃
　　〃Certainly！〃
　　〃To　do　what？　Wait　a　minute；　can　I　put　it　this　way？　We're　either　to　make　that　word　on　that　report　good；　or　we're　to　make　this　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor　eat　it。　Is　that　the　job？〃
　　〃Roughly；　yes。〃
　　〃Do　we　get　credentials　for　around　here？〃
　　〃You　get　all　reasonable　co…operation。　The　details　will　have　to　be　arranged　with　me。　More　time　gone。　It　will　have　to　be　handled　with　discretion…and　delicately。　I　had　an　idea　that　a　way　to　do　it　would　be　for　Nero　Wolfe　to　get　a　job　in　the　stock　department；　under　another　name　of　course；　and　he　could　…　what's　the　matter？〃
　　〃Nothing。　Excuse　me。〃　I　stood　up。　The　notion　of　Wolfe　fighting　his　way　down　to　William　Street　every　morning；　or　even　with　me　driving　him；　and　punching　a　time　clock；　and　working　all　day　in　the　stock　department；　had　been　too　much　for　my　facial　control。
　　〃Okay；〃　I　said；　〃I　guess　I　know　enough　to　put　it　up　to　Mr。　Wolfe。　Except　about　money。　I　ought　to　warn　you　that　his　charges　have　not　joined　in　the　postwar　inflation　because　they　were　already　so　high　that　a　boost　would　have　been　vulgar。〃
　　〃This　pany　never　expects　good　work　for　low　pay。〃
　　I　told　him　that　was　fine　and　got　my　hat　and　coat。
　　
　　Chapter　Four
　　A　coolness　had　sprung　up　between　Wolfe　and　me。　These　coolnesses　averaged　about　four　a　week；　say；　a　couple　of　hundred　a　year。　This　particular　one　had　two　separate　aspects：　first；　my　natural　desire　for　him　to　buy　a　new　car　opposed　to　his　pigheaded　determination　to　wait　another　year；　and　second；　his　notion　of　buying　a　noiseless　typewriter　opposed　to　my　liking　for　the