rs.toomanywomen-第16章

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　　〃Don't　spell　it；〃　she　said；　with　her　voice　a　little　less　musical　and　not　at　all　sweet。　〃Just　tell　me　what　it　means。　If　it　means　what　I　think　it　does　it's　a　lie　and　I　know　who　told　you。〃
　　〃Prove　it。　Who？〃
　　〃Hester　Livsey。　And　you　believed　her！　You　wouldn't　stop　to　consider　my　reputation；　a　girl's　reputation；　oh　no；　that　wouldn't　matter！　Not　if　Hester　Livsey　told　you；　because　she's　a　section　head's　secretary　and　she　wouldn't　lie；　oh　no！　What　did　she　say？　Exactly　what　words　did　she　say？〃
　　I　was　shaking　my　head。　〃Nope。　Bad　guess。　Miss　Livsey　hasn't　mentioned　you；　and　anyhow　I　want　no　part　of　the　idea　that　a　section　head's　secretary　never　tells　a　lie。〃　I　looked　at　her　as　man　to　woman。　〃Why　don't　I　forget　that　anyone　has　told　me　anything；　and　let　you　straighten　me　out？　You　did　know　Moore；　didn't　you？〃
　　〃Certainly；　everybody　did。〃　Her　voice　was　back　to　normal。　It　changed　as　often　and　as　fast　as　the　weather。　〃No　matter　what　a　girl's　character　was　she　stood　a　fat　chance　of　not　knowing　him！〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　understand　he　was　very　sociable。　Did　you　go　out　with　him　much？〃
　　〃No；　not…〃　She　bit　that　off。　A　tiny　wrinkle　appeared　on　her　lovely　smooth　forehead。　〃Oh；　he　took　me　to　a　couple　of　shows；　that　was　about　all。　Once　we　were　out　in　his　car；　out　on　Long　Island；　and　there　was　an　accident　and　I　got　a　little　cut　on　a　part　of　my　body。　Of　course　everyone　heard　about　that。〃
　　〃I'll　bet　they　did。　But　you　weren't　especially　intimate　with　him？〃
　　〃Good　lord　no；　intimate？　I　should　say　not！〃
　　〃Then　I　suppose　his　death　wasn't　a　particularly　hard　blow　for　you。〃
　　〃No；　I　scarcely　noticed　it。〃　She　caught　herself　up。　〃Of　course　I　don't　mean…I　mean；　I　noticed　it。　But　more　on　account　of　my　character　than　on　account　of　him。　What　I　mean　about　my　character；　I　mean　I　don't　like　death。　I　just　don't　like　it；　no　matter　who　it　is。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃I　feel　the　same　way　about　it。　You　mean　it　would　have　been　a　much　harder　blow　if　it　had　been；　for　instance；　Ben　Frenkel。〃
　　She　jerked　her　chin　up；　and；　as　though　it　had　been　synchronized；　her　skirt　simultaneously　jerked　itself　back　above　the　knee。　She　demanded；　〃Who　the　hell　mentioned　Ben　Frenkel？〃
　　〃I　did。　Just　now。　He　came　to　see　me　yesterday　and　we　had　a　talk。　Isn't　he　a　friend　of　yours？〃
　　〃We're　not　intimate；〃　she　said　defiantly。　〃Did　he　say　we　are？〃
　　〃No　no；　he's　not　that　kind　of　guy。　I　was　just　using　him　as　an　illustration　of　how　little　you　noticed　the　death　of　Moore。　What's　your　opinion　of　this　gossip　that's　going　around；　about　Moore　being　murdered？〃
　　〃I　think　it's　terrible　and　I　won't　listen　to　it。　Gossip　is　so　cheap！〃
　　〃But　of　course　you've　heard　it？〃
　　〃Mighty　little。　I　just　won't　listen！〃
　　〃Aren't　you　interested？　Or　curious？　I　thought　intelligent　women　were　curious　about　everything；　even　murder。〃
　　She　shook　her　angelic　head。　〃Not　me。　I　guess　it　isn't　a　part　of　my　character。〃
　　〃That's　funny。　It　really　surprises　me；　because　when　I　found　out　it　was　you　who　came　in　here　on　the　sly　and　went　through　that　cabinet；　and　looked　through　my　folders；　and　read　my　reports　about　Moore；　I　said　to　myself；　sure；　I　might　have　expected　that；　all　it　means　is　that　Gwynne　Ferris　is　a　beautiful　and　intelligent　young　woman　who　got　so　curious　about　it　that　she　couldn't　resist　the　temptation。　And　now　you　say　you're　not　curious　at　all。　It　certainly　is　funny。〃
　　I　am　no　Nero　Wolfe　at　reading　faces；　but　I　know　what　I　see；　and　it　was　a　bet　that　during　my　brief　speech　she　had　decided　three　times　to　call　me　a　liar；　and　had　thrice　changed　her　mind　and　made　a　grab　for　some　better　idea。　When　I　stopped　purposely　without　asking　a　question；　and　sat　and　waited　for　her　to　bat　it　back；　what　she　said　was：
　　〃It　certainly　is。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃So　since　you're　not　curious　I　suppose　you　had　some　special　reason　for　wanting　to　know　how　far　I　had　got。　The　reason　I'm　speaking　to　you　about　it　like　this；　alone　with　you；　is　because　I　think　it's　much　better　this　way　than　it　would　be　if　I　made　a　report　of　it　and　you　got　a　bunch　of　nitwits　barking　at　you…you　know　what　the　police　are　like。。。〃
　　I　let　it　fade　out　because　she　had　made　up　her　mind。　With　a　charming　impulsive　movement　she　was　out　of　her　chair　and　standing　in　front　of　me；　leaning　over；　getting　my　hands　in　hers。　In　the　close　little　room　with　the　door　shut　she　smelled　like　a　new　name　for　a　perfume；　but　there　was　no　time　to　invent　one　then　and　there。
　　〃You　don't　believe　that；〃　she　said；　not　much　more　than　a　whisper；　into　my　face。　〃Do　you　honestly　think　I'm　that　sort　of　girl；　honestly？　Do　my　hands　feel　like　the　kind　of　hands　that　would　do　mean　things　like　that？　Are　you　going　to　believe　everything　mean　you　hear　about　me？　Just　because　someone　says　they　saw　me　ing　in　your　room　or　going　out　again…can　you　honestly　look　at　me　and　tell　me　you　believe　it？　Can　you？〃
　　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃Impossible。〃
　　I　was　going　on；　but　couldn't　for　the　moment；　because　she　thought　I　had　earned　a　citation　and　was　proceeding　to　bestow　it　when　the　door　of　the　room　swung　open；　and　with　my　right　eye；　the　only　one　that　could　see　anything　past　her　ear；　I　observed　Kerr　Naylor　walking　in。
　　At　the　sound　my　seducer　jerked　away　and　whirled　to　face　the　door。
　　〃It's　past　quitting　time；　Miss　Ferris；〃　Naylor　said。
　　I　batted　for　her。　〃I　sent　for　Miss　Ferris；〃　I　told　the　glint　in　his　eyes；　〃and　we're　having　a　talk　which　has　at　least　an　hour　to　go　and　maybe　more。　She　was　taking　a　mote　out　of　my　eye。　Can　I　help　you　with　something？〃
　　Naylor　smiled；　stepped　to　the　chair　that　was　still　warm　from　Gwynne；　and　sat　down。　〃Perhaps　I　can　help　you　instead；〃　he　piped。　〃I'll　be　glad　to　take　part　in　the　talk　if　you'll　limit　it　to　an　hour。〃
　　I　shook　my　head　at　him　emphatically。　〃Much　obliged；　but　it's　strictly　private。…　No；　Miss　Ferris；　don't　leave。　You　stay　here。…　So　if　all　you　came　for　was　to　say　good　night；　good　night。〃
　　〃This　is　my　department；　Mr。　Truett。〃
　　〃Not　the　part　of　it　I'm　in　at　any　given　moment。　Yours　is　the　stock　department。　Mine　is　the　murder　department。　Good　night…unless　you　came　for　something　else。〃
　　He　was　speechless　with　fury。　Not　that　it　showed　on　his　little　wax　face；　but　he　was　speechless；　and　nothing　short　of　fury　could　have　done　that　to　him。　He　stood　up；　stared　at　Gwynne；　who　did　not　stare　back；　and　finally　transferred　it　to　me。
　　〃Very　well。　The　question　of　your　status　here　can　be　settled　on　Monday…if　you　are　here　Monday。　I　came　to　tell　you　something；　and　while　Miss　Ferris　is　not　ideal　for　the　purpose；　it　is　just　as　well　to　have　a　witness。　I　am　told　you　have　reported　that　I　told　you　I　know　the　name　of　the　person　who　murdered　Waldo　Moore。　Is　that　true？〃
　　〃Yep；　that's　true。〃
　　〃Then　you　reported　a　lie。　I　have　not　made　that　statement　to　you；　nor　any　statement　that　could　possibly　be　so　construed。　I　have　no　idea　why　you　reported　such　a　lie；　and　I　don't　intend　to　waste　time　trying　to　find　out。〃　He　walked　to　the　door；　turned；　and　smiled　at　us。　〃You　can　now　resume　the　conversation　I　interrupted。　Good　night。〃
　　He　was　gone；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　I　sat　still　to　listen；　and　in　the　silence　of　the　depopulated　arena　heard　his　footsteps　receding；　fading　into　the　silence。
　　Gwynne　approached　and　began；　〃You　see？　No　matter　who　said　they　saw　me　sneaking　into　your　room；　you　wouldn't　believe　it；　and　no　matter　who　said　you　had　told　a　lie；　I　wouldn't　believe…〃
　　〃Shut　up；　pet。　Shut　up　and　sit　down　while　I　sharpen　a　wit。〃
　　She　did　so。　I　gazed　at　the　neighborhood　of　her　chin；　found　that　distracting；　and　switched　to　something　neuter。　On　a　quick　and　concentrated　survey；　this　latest　impetuosity　of　Kerr　Naylor　looked　like　the　beginning　of　his　big　retreat。　Once　started　backward　he　would　probably　keep　going；　and　by　the　middle　of　next　week　would　be　taking　the　position　that　Moore　hadn't　been　killed　at　all；　maybe　not　even　hurt。
　　I　spoke　to　Gwynne。　〃What　makes　it　chilly　in　here　is　the　cold　feet　of　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor。　They　are　practically　frozen。　To　go　back　to　you；　or　should　I　say　us；　when　Naylor　came　I　was　about　to　tell　you　that　you　were　wasting　a　lot　of　ammunition；　and　damn　good　ammunition；　because　nobody　told　me　they　saw　you　ing　in　here　or　going　out。　It's　fingerprints。　You　left　about　five　dozen　scattered　all　over；　on　the　folders　and　the　reports。　I'm　going　to　keep　them　to　remember　you　by。　Now　what？　Were　you　walking　in　your　sleep？　Try　that。〃
　　She　was　wrinkling　her　forehead　in　profound　concentration；　as　if　I　had　been　giving　instructions　for　an　intricate　typing　job　and　she　was　deeply　anxious　to　get　it　straight。　My　free…for…nothing　suggestion　about　walking　in　her　sleep　didn't　appeal　to　her；　or　more　probably　she　didn't　even　hear　it。　At　length　she　spoke。
　　〃Fingerprints？〃
　　Her　tone　implied　that　it　must　be　a　Russian　word　and　unfortunately　she　didn't　know　that　language。
　　〃That's　right。　Little　lines　on　the　tips　of　your　fingers　that　make　pretty　patterns　when　you　touch　something。　F…I…N…G…〃
　　〃Don't　be　offensive；〃　she　said　in　a　hurt　tone。　〃Anyway；　you　said　it　would　be　impossible　for　you　to　believe　I　could　do　such　a　thing！〃
　　〃No　you　don't；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃In　the　first　place；　I　didn't　say　that。　In　the　second　place；　one　of　my　favorite　rules　is　never　to　let　a　woman　start　an　argument　about　what　she　said　or　what　I　said。　You've　had　time　now　to　think　up　something。　What　will　it　be？〃
　　She　was　still　hurt。　〃I　don't　have　to　think　up　something；〃　she　declared　indignantly。　〃All　I　have　to　do　is　tell　you　the　truth　even　if　I　think　you　don't　deserve　it。　Yesterday　you　said　you　wanted　to　see　me；　and　I　couldn't　e　because　I　had　a　pile　of　work　for　Mr。　Henderson；　because　his　secretary　is　home　sick；　and　I　had　to　stay　overtime；　and　when　I　got　through　I　came　here　because　I　thought　you　might　still　be　waiting　for　me；　and　you　were　gone；　and　I　thought　perhaps　you　had　left　some　work　for　me　in　your　cabinet；　so　I　looked　in　it　to　see；　and　of　course　I　had　to　look　in　the　folders　because　that　was　where　you　would　leave　it。　And　now　you　accuse　me　of　something　underhanded　just　because　I　tried　to　do　my　duty　even　if　it　was　nearly　seven　o'clock！〃
　　My　head　was　moving　slowly　up　and　down；　with　my　eyes　maintaining　focus　on　hers。　〃Not　bad；〃　I　conceded。　〃It　would　really　be　good；　although　loony；　if　you　hadn't　denied　it　at　first　and　e　clear　here　to　my　chair　with　your　perfume　and　other　attributes。　Why　did　you　deny　it；　precious？〃
　　〃Well…I　guess　I　just　can't　help　kidding　people。　I　guess　it's　part　of　my　character。〃
　　〃And　that's　your　story　and　you　like　it；　huh？〃
　　〃Of　course　it　is；　it's　the　truth！〃
　　I　would　have　liked　to　use　assorted　tortures　on　her　in　a　well…equipped　underground　chamber。　〃This　room　is　not　suitable；〃　I　admitted　reluctantly；　〃for　giving　you　the　kind　of　attention　merited　by　your　character　and　abilities。　But　there　are　other　rooms；　policemen　act　sore　at　acplished　and　fantastic　liars　much　quicker　than　I　do。　Tomorrow　will　be　Saturday　and　this　office　will　be　closed；　but　policemen　work　seven　days　a　week。　It　will　be　nice　meeting　you　in　other　surroundings。　Go　on　home。〃
　　〃You're　not　a　policeman；〃　she　stated；　as　if　she　were　contradicting　me。　She　got　out　of　her　chair。　〃You're　too　handsome　and　cultured。〃
　　When　I　had　just　got　through　saying；　or　at　least　plainly　implying；　that　I　was　not　a　policeman！
　　I　took　the　carton　home　with　me；　not　caring　to　leave　its　content