rs.toomanywomen-第29章

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？〃
　　〃You　know　what　you're　saying；　Mr。　Cramer。〃
　　〃You're　damn　right　I　do。〃
　　〃Archie。〃　Wolfe's　eyes　came　to　me。　〃Get　him　out　of　my　house。　By　force　if　necessary。〃
　　That　did　not　appeal　to　me。　He　was　a　police　inspector；　he　was　probably　armed；　and　I　had　on　my　best　clothes。
　　I　stayed　in　my　chair。　〃Gentlemen；〃　I　said　sneeringly；　〃I　had　supposed　you　could　take　it；　both　of　you；　but　I　see　I　was　wrong。　You're　both　licked；　that's　all　there　is　to　it；　and　you're　trying　to　take　it　out　on　each　other　by　acting　childish。　Inspector　Cramer；　you　know　damn　well　how　tricky　Mr。　Wolfe　is；　and　you　know　he's　at　least　ten　times　too　tricky　ever　to　go　around…or　rather　sit　around…with　a　murderer　in　his　pocket　with　the　idea　of　guarding　his　health。　You're　just　mad　and　kicking　the　furniture。　Mr。　Wolfe；　you　are　fully　aware　that　he　is　merely　shooting　off　his　mouth；　and　if　you　were　yourself　you　would　be　only　bland　and　offensive　to　him　instead　of　ordering　me　to　make　an　ass　of　myself。　You're　just　sore　and　savage　because　you've　finally　run　into　one　too　slick　for　you。〃
　　I　arose；　crossed　to　the　hall　door；　and　turned。　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me；　gentlemen；　I've　got　a　date　with　a　suspect。　I'm　a　detective　and　I'm　working　on　a　murder　case。〃
　　I　have　never　learned　how　that　conversation　ended。　Wolfe　never　mentioned　it；　and　when；　somewhat　later；　I　tried　a　question　or　two　about　it　all　I　got　was　a　grunt。
　　Saturday　and　Sunday　it　was　really　pitiful。　Saturday　morning　Wolfe　buzzed　me　to　e　to　his　room　while　he　was　eating　breakfast；　and　when　I　went；　he；　having　remembered　his　taboo　on　talk　of　business　during　meals；　let　me　sit　and　watch　him　gloomily　dispose　of　four　pieces　of　toast　and　a　dish　of　eggs　au　beurre　noir。　When　he　had　finished　he　had　instructions　for　me；　and　they　were　a　knockout。　He　was　sure　going　to　wade　into　it。　I　was　to　spend　my　week…end　getting　Ben　Frenkel；　Harold　Anthony；　Rosa　Bendini；　and　Gwynne　Ferris；　one　at　a　time；　and　bringing　them　to　him！　And　he　was　to　spend　his　week…end　getting　things　out　of　them！
　　So　it　was。　That's　how　we　spent　Saturday　and　Sunday；　with　one　or　two　other　items　worked　in；　such　as　my　going　with　Lieutenant　Rowcliff　to　look　over　Naylor's　papers　and　effects。　Nor　was　Wolfe　merely　making　motions　and　trying　to　pass　the　time。　Saturday　he　spent　three　hours　on　Harold　Anthony　and　four　hours　on　Gwynne　Ferris。　Sunday　he　spent　five　hours　on　Rosa　Bendini　and　six　on　Ben　Frenkel。　He　was　really　digging　and　sweating。　Late　Sunday　evening；　after　Frenkel　had　gone；　he　stayed　motionless　in　his　chair　a　long　while　and　then　remarked　in　a　low　rumble　that　indicated　he　had　caught　it　from　Frenkel。
　　〃I　suppose　I'll　have　to　see　those　other　people。　The　directors　and　executives。　Can　you　have　them　here　tomorrow　morning　at　eleven？〃
　　I　was　busy　at　the　typewriter；　catching　up　on　the　germination　records。　Without　bothering　to　turn　my　head　I　declared　firmly；　〃I　cannot。　They're　busy　supplying　engineers。　They　think　we're　a　false　alarm　as　it　is。　Even　Armstrong…you　know；　the　wiry　little　guy　…even　he　is　beginning　to　suspect　they're　wasting　corporation　funds。〃
　　He　didn't　even　grunt；　let　alone　argue。　I　resumed　on　the　typewriter。　I　finished　with　the　Miltonias　and　started　on　the　Phalaenopsis。　The　minutes　collected　enough　for　an　hour　and　started　on　another　one。　It　was　midnight；　bedtime；　but　I　stayed　on　because　Wolfe　was　leaning　back　with　his　eyes　closed　and　with　his　lips　working…pushing　out；　then　back　in；　then　out　and　in　again…and　I　was　curious　to　learn　if　anything　would　e　of　it。
　　He　stirred　in　his　chair；　sighed　clear　to　his　solar　plexus；　and　opened　his　eyes　to　a　slit。
　　〃Archie。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃You　were　correct。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃I　have；　as　you　put　it；　run　up　against　one　too　slick　for　me。　Either　too　slick　or　too　lucky。　Mr。　Moore　has　been　dead　nearly　four　months；　and　Mr。　Naylor　nine　days；　and　what　have　we　got？〃
　　〃An　expense　account。〃
　　〃Yes。　It　is　wholly　unprecedented。　We　have　one　fact　only　that　might　be　helpful…Miss　Livsey's　promenade　with　Mr。　Naylor…but　we　don't　know　whether　it　is　significant　or　not；　and　no　way　of　finding　out。　We　can't　sort　out　the　real　clues　and　the　false　ones　because　we　have　no　clues　at　all。　Literally　none。　Neither　has　Mr。　Cramer。　Has　that　ever　happened　to　us　before？〃
　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　〃No。　It　hasn't。　I　find　it　interesting　and　stimulating。　What　do　we　do　when　we　have　no　clues？　Do　you　know？〃
　　〃No；　sir。〃
　　〃We　make　one。　We　may　have　to　make　more；　but　we'll　start　with　one。　Experimentally。　Cover　that　confounded　machine　and　turn　your　chair　around　and　listen　to　me。
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　It　took　him　nearly　an　hour　to　plete　the　diagram；　with　me　making　notes。　At　the　end　he　asked　sharply；　〃Well？〃
　　I　nodded　uncertainly。　〃If　it's　the　best　you　can　do　we'll　have　to　try　it…or　rather　I　will。　The　least　we　can　get　is　another　murder。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Twenty…Nine
　　The　best　evidence　of　where　we　stood　and　how　we　were　doing　on　that　case　was　the　changed　attitude　toward　me；　when　I　appeared　in　the　Naylor…Kerr　stock　department　that　Monday　morning；　on　the　part　of　the　personnel。　The　time　had　been　when　my　progress　down　an　aisle　had　been　followed　by　hundreds　of　pairs　of　eyes。　No　more。　I　got　about　the　same　attention　as　one　of　the　messenger　boys　toting　mail　around。
　　The　first　item　of　the　build…up　was　a　visit；　not　too　brief；　with　Hester　Livsey；　and；　wanting　to　be　sure　of　getting　it　in　before　she　got　called　by　Rosenbaum　for　the　morning　dictation；　I　crossed　the　arena　to　her　office　as　soon　as　I　had　deposited　my　hat　and　coat　in　my　own　room；　which　I　was　still　being　allowed　to　occupy。　Her　door　was　standing　open；　but　I　closed　it　behind　me　when　I　entered。
　　She　had　finished　dusting　and　was　sorting　papers　on　her　desk。　She　sent　me　a　sidewise　glance；　then　jerked　her　head　around　and　demanded；　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　I　sat　down　and　grinned　at　her。　〃That's　a　bad　habit　you're　forming；　that　what　do　you　want。　It's　nerves。〃
　　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　She　looked　older　and　somewhat　more　used；　but　I　didn't　try　to　kid　myself　that　to　me　she　had　bee　merely　a　collection　of　assorted　cells　and　was　around　ninety　per　cent　water。　I　could　still　look　at　her　and　not　be　repulsed　by　the　notion　that　she　needed　me；　and　the　hell　of　it　was　that　I　was　mitted　to　an　operation　that　was　likely　to　make　her　need　me　a　lot　more。
　　〃Sit　down　and　relax；〃　I　told　her。
　　〃No。〃　She　stood　with　papers　in　her　hand。　〃I　could　tell　Mr。　Rosenbaum　that　you're　annoying　me。〃
　　〃Indeed　you　could；〃　I　agreed。　〃And　I　wouldn't　deny　it。　I'm　annoying　lots　of　people；　and　so　are　you。　That's　the　way　it　goes　under　circumstances　like　this。　I　doubt　if　Rosenbaum　would　try　to　bounce　me；　it　would　make　such　a　motion　with　me　yelling　and　hanging　onto　the　doorjamb；　and　maybe　breaking　loose　and　dodging　around　the　desks　out　there。　How…　ever；　you　can　try　it…or　you　can　just　ignore　me　and　go　on　with　your　work。　I　won't　pounce　on　you　from　behind。〃
　　She　was　sorting　papers；　with　her　face　looking　distorted　because　of　the　way　her　jaw　was　set；　with　tight　muscles。
　　〃Speaking　of　your　work；〃　I　went　on；　〃do　you　remember　that　you　told　me　once　that　you　like　it　here　and　have　to　have　a　job？　I　shouldn't　think　you'd　like　it　here　much　now；　with　all　the　annoyance。　But　I　can　understand　your　having　to　have　a　job　because　I　do　too。　I　can　understand　your　not　wanting　to　do　anything　that　would　get　you　fired。　So　don't　get　fired。　Quit。　Mr。　Wolfe　knows　a　lot　of　people；　and　one　of　them　is　a　senior　partner　in　one　of　the　best　and　biggest　law　firms　in　New　York。　You　can　have　a　job　with　them；　secretary　to　a　member　of　the　firm；　seventy　a　week　to　start；　nine…thirty　to　five　and　closed　Saturdays；　haven't　skipped　a　Christmas　bonus　for　eighteen　years。　Your　room　will　be　three　times　as　big　as　this　one；　two　windows；　two　rugs；　any　kind　of　typewriter　you　want；　good　view　of　the　harbor　and　the　Statue　of　Liberty。　What　do　you　say？〃
　　She　sorted　papers；　with　no　glance　at　me。　I　warmed　up　to　it　and　proceeded　to　analyze　her　chances　for　a　glowing　future　in　the　law　business。　To　get　the　effect　I　was　after　it　was　desirable　to　spend　at　least　a　quarter　of　an　hour　with　her；　and　twenty　minutes　would　be　better。　So　I　went　into　the　matter　thoroughly　and　considered　it　from　every　angle。　I　found　as　I　went　on　that　what　appealed　strongest　to　my　fancy　was　the　possibility　of　her　being　a　court　stenographer；　with　all　the　dramatic　opportunities　and　financial　advantages　which　that　offered。　On　that　I　really　went　to　town。　I　had　been　with　her　twenty…three　minutes；　and　saw　no　reason　why　it　shouldn't　go　on　until　lunchtime；　when　I　heard　the　door　opening　behind　me。　Twisting　my　head；　I　saw　Sumner　Hoff。
　　He　shut　the　door；　circled　around　to　confront　me；　and　told　me　in　a　low　threatening　tone；　〃Get　out　of　here。〃
　　I　couldn't　have　asked　for　anything　better。　This　would　be　a　real　help。　I　looked　up　at　him　and　matched　his　tone。　〃Get　out　yourself；　you　goddam　snooping　son　of　a　bitch。〃
　　He　reacted　as　might　have　been　expected　from　the　cavalier　who　had　plugged　Waldo　Moore　in　full　view　of　the　whole　arena。　He　made　me　aware　in　fact；　that　I　might　have　done　him　an　injustice　that　day　in　Wolfe's　office；　he　was　capable　of　rating　a　sock　when　his　emotions　were　fully　aroused。　But　it　would　have　been　bad　tactics　to　smash　him　at　that　point　and　anyway　his　ideas　of　bat　were　so　ill　advised　that　it　would　have　been　a　shame。　As　I　left　my　chair　he　came　for　me　with　his　right　as　if　it　was　the　only　fist　in　the　world　and　nothing　else　was　worth　considering。　I　jerked　my　head　aside　out　of　the　way；　and　while　he　was　recovering　his　balance　I　stepped　to　the　door　and　opened　it；　saying　in　a　loud　voice：
　　〃You're　too　late　to　stop　her；　Hoff！　You're　too　late！〃
　　Then　I　ran。　I　ran　across　the　middle　of　the　arena；　glancing　over　my　shoulder；　in　flight；　to　see　that　Hoff　had　started　after　me；　got　as　far　as　the　fourth　desk；　and　stopped。　I　kept　going；　getting；　now；　the　attention　I　deserved　from　all　eyes。　When　I　reached　the　other　side　I　darted　into　my　room；　grabbed　my　hat　and　coat；　emerged；　left　by　the　main　entrance；　took　a　down　elevator；　flagged　a　taxi　on　William　Street；　and　gave　the　driver　Wolfe's　address。
　　I　found　Wolfe　up　in　the　potting　room　with　Theodore；　inspecting　a　newly　arrived　shipment　of　osmundine。　It　was　humid　and　warm　in　there；　so　I　perched　on　a　stool；　got　out　my　handkerchief；　and　wiped　my　brow。
　　〃Well？〃　he　inquired。
　　〃Yes；　sir。　I　was　with　her　over　twenty　minutes。　Hoff　busted　in　and　ordered　me　out；　and　I　called　him　names　and　let　him　chase　me。　He　must　have　spies。〃
　　〃Excellent。　Proceed。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　I'll　stay　here　a　while；　to　show　that　I　had　to　consult　you　on　an　exciting　development；　and　then　go　back。　But　there's　one　thing　I　still　don't　like。　Each　and　every　day　I　have　been　typing　my　report　in　the　afternoon　and　taking　it　upstairs　around　four…thirty。　If　I　change　that　routine　and　turn　in　a　report　before　noon　someone　may　suspect　it's　a　phony。〃
　　〃You　said　that　last　night。〃
　　〃I　say　it　again　today。〃
　　〃The　substance　of　the　report　justifies　it。〃
　　〃It　did　with　Naylor　too；　but　I　followed　routine。〃
　　He　shrugged。　〃Very　well。　It　doesn't　matter。　Make　it　this　afternoon　as　usual。〃
　　I　left；　went　downstairs　to　the　office；　dialed　the　Naylor…Kerr　number；　asked　for　the　extension　of　the　head　of　the　reserve　pool　in　the　stock　department；　and　said　I　wanted　to　speak　to　Gwynne　Ferris。　I　was　told