rs.toomanywomen-第31章

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　　〃Remembering　Monday　and　Thursday。　Excuse　me。　Down　in　front。〃　I　stretched　my　neck　to　see。　Hester　had　emerged　from　her　room。　When　I　was　satisfied　that　she　was　bound　for　the　restroom　I　came　back　to　my　caller。　〃What　are　the　eyes　all　lit　up　for？　Not　just　for　me。〃
　　〃Shall　I　shut　the　door？〃
　　〃No；　ma'am。　Not　during　office　hours。〃
　　She　came　a　step　closer。　〃Hester's　lying　to　you；〃　she　said　with　sudden　startling　intensity。　Her　head　jerked　around　for　a　look　at　the　door　and　then　back　to　me。　〃Didn't　I　tell　you　about　her？　She　may　know　who　killed　Wally；　that　part's　all　right；　but　she's　trying　to　play　a　trick　on　you。　I　told　you　about　her；　didn't　I？〃
　　〃You　did。　Keep　your　voice　down。　What　makes　you　think　she　knows　who　killed　Wally？〃
　　〃She　told　you　so。〃　Rosa　put　a　hand　on　my　arm；　saw　my　glance　at　the　open　door；　and　took　the　hand　away。　〃Don't　let　her　fool　you。　Archie。　Next　she'll　be　telling　you　who　it　was。
　　〃If　she　does　that　will　be　more　than　you　did。　You　said　you　knew　who　killed　him　but　you　wouldn't　get　down　to　a　name。　Then　you　said　you　didn't　know。　Is　that　what　you　call　a　trick？〃
　　〃I…I…〃　She　looked　around　again。　〃I'm　going　to　shut　the　door。〃
　　〃Why；　are　you　ready　to　name　a　name？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　any　names；　Archie。　I　want　you　to　put　your　arms　around　me。　I'll　shut…〃
　　I　got　her　elbow；　stopping　her。　〃No；　Rosa；　not　now；　we'll　save　it　for　next　time。　Who　told　you…〃
　　She　jerked　free；　her　eyes　flashing。　〃There　may　not　be　any　next　time；〃　she　said；　and　went。
　　It　was　satisfactory　to　know　that　Gwynne　had　not　failed　me；　but　beyond　that　it　was　doubtful　what　I　had　got；　if　anything。　Wolfe　was　expecting　some　word　or　gesture　or　countermove；　and　my　instructions　were　to　keep　him　posted；　but　I　couldn't　for　the　life　of　me　see　anything　helpful　in　Rosa's　wanting　me　to　embrace　her。　Why　shouldn't　she？　It　had　been　four　days　since　Thursday。　I　was　making　up　my　mind　whether　to　go　to　a　phone　booth　and　tell　him　about　it；　and　had　decided　to　wait　at　least　until　Hester　had　returned　from　the　restroom；　when　my　door　was　darkened　again。
　　It　was　Ben　Frenkel。　He　advanced　two　long　strides　from　the　door；　stopped；　gazed　down　at　me　with　his　probe　working；　and　rumbled　his　thunder：
　　〃Am　I　intruding？〃
　　〃Sure。〃　I　grinned　up　at　him。　〃What　for？〃
　　〃You　had　lunch　with　Miss　Ferris　today。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃Nothing　personal。　There　was　something　I　wanted　to　discuss　with　her。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃　He　was　keeping　his　thunder　low。
　　〃Then　I'm　a　liar　again。　Ask　her。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　to　ask　her。　She　has　told　me。　You　said　you　wanted　to　ask　her　advice；　which　is　preposterous。　You　have　talked　with　her　several　times　now　at　great　length；　both　you　and　Mr。　Wolfe；　and　it　is　impossible　to　believe　that　you　would　want　to　ask　her　advice。　You　must　be　aware　that　she　is　pletely　devoid　of　intellect；　and　therefore　that　her　opinion　on　any　subject　whatever　is　without　value。　She　is　not　a　moron；　but　the　quality　of　her　brain　is　distinctly　inferior。〃
　　〃What's　this？〃　I　was　gaping　at　him。　〃I　thought　you　liked　her！〃
　　He　waved　that　aside　with　a　wide　sweep　of　his　long　bony　arm。　〃I　don't　like　her。　I　am　passionately　in　love　with　her　and　you　know　it。　Another　thing；　you　told　her　something　in　confidence；　which　is　even　more　preposterous。　She　is　utterly　incapable　of　keeping　her　mouth　shut。　You　know　that。　That　is　your　best　assurance　that　I　did　not　kill　Waldo　Moore…nor　Naylor　either。　If　I　had　I　couldn't　have　kept　it　from　her…I　can　keep　nothing　from　her。　And　if　she　knew　it　she　would　have　blabbed　it　long　ago；　not　just　to　you；　to　everybody。　That's　how　you　know　I'm　innocent。〃
　　〃It's　a　point；〃　I　conceded。
　　〃Certainly　it　is。　Then　how　do　you　account　for　the　fact　that　you　told　her　something　which　you　said　was　highly　confidential；　pledging　her　to　tell　no　one？〃
　　〃I　don't　see　why…excuse　me。〃　I　stretched　my　neck　again　to　gawk。　Hester　was　returning　from　the　restroom。　As　she　entered　her　office　I　glanced　at　my　wrist　and　registered　the　3：19。1　returned　to　Frenkel。
　　〃You　may　be　wrong　about　Miss　Ferris。　You　can't　take　it　for　granted　that　everybody's　opinion　of　her　brain　power　agrees　with　yours。　You　may　be　blinded　by　love。〃
　　His　arm　swept　that　away　too；　describing　an　arc　with　its　full　radius。　〃You're　just　talking；〃　he　rumbled。　〃You　are　trying　to　obscure　an　extremely　serious　matter　by　degrading　it　to　a　triviality。　Also　you　are　making　use　of　Miss　Ferris；　using　her　as　a　tool；　in　a　manner　that　may　be　dangerous　to　her。　That　is　a　vicious　thing　to　do。　Vicious　is　not　too　strong　a　word。〃　His　eyes　were　boring　into　me。　〃She　is　incapable　of　seeing　the　danger　or　of　guarding　against　it；　and　I　have　a　right　to　ask；　I　have　a　right　to　demand；　that　you　tell　me　exactly　what　Miss　Livsey　said　to　you。　The　exact　words。　Since　you　chose　Miss　Ferris　as　your　puppet；　I　assume　that　Miss　Livsey　mentioned　my　name。　Did　she？〃
　　〃Not　yet。〃　I　tilted　my　head　to　see　him　better。　〃That's　sort　of　funny；　how　you're　repeating　yourself。　It　was　the　same　about　Naylor；　remember？　You　came　to　ask　me　if　he　had　mentioned　your　name。　Funny；　huh？〃
　　〃Not　at　all。〃　Frenkel　whirled；　took　a　step；　grabbed　the　chair　at　the　desk；　planted　it　facing　me；　and　sat。　I　had　the　impression　that　his　eyes　hadn't　left　me　at　all。　〃I'm　an　introvert；〃　he　declared　as　if　that　explained　everything。　〃You　could　even　say　that　I　am　egocentric。　That's　why　my　infatuation　for　Miss　Ferris　has　so　deeply　disturbed　my　personality。　It　has　created　an　inner　conflict。。。〃
　　He　was　off。　There　were；　of　course；　various　ways　of　stopping　him；　but　I　saw　no　point　in　hurting　his　feelings　since　I　could　stick　to　my　observation　post　just　as　well　with　him　there；　though　he　could　have　only　my　ears　since　my　eyes　were　engaged　in　another　direction。　So　I　listened　to　him　attentively；　on　the　slim　chance　that　the　word　or　gesture　or　counter…move　might　e　from　him；　and　I　even　tossed　in　an　occasional　question　or　ment。　I　was　listening　to　him　at　3：41；　when　I　saw；　across　the　arena；　Sumner　Hoff　marching　down　the　aisle　and　entering　Hester's　room；　and　I　was　still　listening　at　3：55；　when　Hoff　emerged　and　started　in　my　direction。
　　Hoff　came　straight　to　my　door　and　on　in。　I　was　on　my　feet　by　the　time　he　arrived　because　there　wasn't　room　in　that　cubby…hole　for　any　fancy　acrobatics。　Ben　Frenkel　stopped　in　the　middle　of　a　sentence　and　stood　up　too。
　　Hoff　looked　at　him。　〃I　want　to　speak　with　Goodwin。　When　you're　through？〃
　　〃I'm　never　through；〃　Frenkel　declared。　He　strode　to　the　door；　told　us　over　his　shoulder；　〃I　never　will　be　through；〃　and　was　gone。
　　Hoff　started　to　close　the　door。　I　moved；　put　out　a　hand；　and　swung　the　door　open　again。
　　〃I　like　to　see　out；〃　I　said。　〃All　the　pretty　girls。　If　it's　a　private　talk　just　keep　your　voice　down。〃
　　For　a　second　he　thought　he　was　going　to　insist　on　having　the　door　shut；　then　he　changed　his　mind。　He　went　to　the　chair　Frenkel　had　vacated　and　sat　down。　I　would　hardly　have　recognized　him　for　the　Hoff　I　knew。　He　looked　neither　belligerent　nor　indignant；　it　was　even　doubtful　if　he　regarded　himself　as　adequately　prepared　to　handle　things。
　　〃I　underestimated　you；〃　he　said。　〃Either　you　or　Wolfe；　or　both。〃
　　〃Don't　mention　it；〃　I　said　amiably。　〃As　Eve　said　to　Adam；　we　all　make　mistakes。〃
　　〃Are　you　going　to　report　upstairs　and　to　the　police　that　Miss　Livsey　told　you　that　she　knows　who　killed　Moore　and　Naylor？〃
　　So　it　was　improving　with　age；　probably　started　that　way　by　Gwynne　herself。　〃I'm　not　employed　by　the　city；〃　I　asserted。　〃Of　course　it's　usual　and　proper　to　report　to　our　client　all　important　developments。〃　I　patted　my　breast　pocket。　〃Yes。〃
　　〃She　denies　that　she　told　you　that。　She　denies　that　she　told　you　anything　whatever。〃
　　I　nodded　regretfully。　〃I　expected　that；　though　I　hoped　she　wouldn't。　She　also　denied　that　she　took　a　walk　with　Naylor　for　an　hour　and　three　minutes　the　evening　he　was　killed。　She's　quite　a　denier。〃
　　Hoff　wet　his　lips　with　his　tongue。　He　swallowed。　〃You've　got　the　report　ready。　There　in　your　pocket。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　I　took　my　lapels；　one　in　each　hand；　and　pulled　my　coat　open　wide。　〃On　the　right；　the　pocket　with　the　report　in　it。　On　the　left；　the　armpit　holster　with　my　Wembly　automatic。　Everything　in　place。〃
　　He　didn't　seem　impressed　by　the　holster；　it　was　the　pocket　he　was　interested　in。　Then　he　came　back　to　my　eyes。　His　were　not　as　penetrating　and　intense　as　Ben　Frenkel's；　but　they　were　steadier。　〃What；〃　he　asked；　〃are　you　trying　to　force　Miss　Livsey　to　do？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃That's　up　to　her。　Maybe　we're　just　trying　to　teach　her　a　lesson；　how　immoral　it　is　to　deny　things。〃
　　〃She〃…he　wet　his　lips　again…〃she　has　told　the　truth。〃
　　〃Okay；　brother。　You　ought　to　know。〃
　　〃I　do　know。　I'm　not　a　rich　man；　Goodwin。　When　it　es　to　money　I　can't　talk　big；　I　have　to　stick　to　realities。　I'll　give　you　five　thousand　dollars　cash；　I　can　get　it　by　tomorrow；　if　you'll　just　think　it　over　and　decide　that　you　misunderstood　her。　That　wouldn't　be　difficult；　you　won't　have　to　revoke；　you　can　just　say　you　misunderstood　her。〃
　　〃Not　for　five　grand　I　can't。〃
　　〃But　I…〃　He　stopped　to　think。　〃How　much？〃
　　〃Not　for　money。　I　don't　like　money。　It　curls　up　at　the　corners。　I　could　listen　to　reason　if　Miss　Livsey　came　in　here　now；　or　came　with　me　to　see　Mr。　Wolfe；　and　delivered　a　dime's　worth　of　the　truth。　Provided　we　were　satisfied　it　was　a　full　dime's　worth。〃
　　〃She　has　told　you　the　truth。〃
　　〃You　ought　to　know。〃
　　He　was　silent。　Slowly　his　fingers　and　thumbs　closed　to　make　fists；　but　obviously　not　with　intent　to　attack　or　destroy。　They　stayed　fists　for　a　while；　then　opened　up　and　were　claws；　then　went　loose。
　　〃For　God's　sake；〃　he　implored；　〃don't　you　realize　what　you're　doing？　Don't　you　realize　the　danger　you're　putting　her　in？〃　He　was　ing　close　to　whimpering。　〃You　know　what　happened　to　Naylor…don't　you　know　her　life　isn't　safe；　not　for　a　minute？　What　kind　of　a　coldhearted　bastard　are　you　anyhow？〃
　　I　leaned　forward　to　tap　him　on　the　knee。　〃Lookit；　my　friend；〃　I　said　slowly　and　distinctly；　〃the　score　is　exactly　what　you　think　it　is。　It's　tied　up。　Like　it　or　lump　it。〃
　　He　jerked　his　knee　aside　as　if　my　fingertip　might　be　rubbing　germs　on　him；　went　sidewise　out　of　his　chair　and　up；　and　trotted　out　of　the　room。
　　I　had　enough　now；　it　seemed　to　me；　to　justify　blowing　a　nickel；　so　after　watching　Hoff　recross　the　arena　to　Hester's　room　I　went　out　and　down　the　aisle　to　the　corner　where　the　phone　booths　were。
　　I　told　Wolfe；　briefly；　what　had　happened；　and　asked　if　he　wanted　me　to　fill　it　in　on　the　phone。　He　said　no；　that　could　wait　until　I　got　home；　and　then　proceeded　to　ask　questions　that　amounted　to　contradicting　himself。　He　was　counting　on　getting　something　all　right；　a　good　deal　more　than　I　was。　Finally　he　let　me　go。　As　I　returned　down　the　aisle　three　hundred　typewriters　stopped　their　clatter；　and　all　the　eyes　were　mine。　It　was　enough　to　make　Dana　Andrews　feel　self…conscious。
　　When　I　reached　the　door　of　my　room　I　stopped　and　stood；　but　not　to　prolong　the　treat　for　my　audience。　The　door　was　closed；　and　I　was　sure　I　had　left　it　wide。　I　opened　it　and　went　in；　and　then　closed　the　door　behind　me　when　I　saw　that　Hester　Livsey　was　standing　there。
　　I　took　a　step；　and　she　took　two；　and　her　right　hand　took　hold　of　my　left　arm。
　　〃Please！〃　she　said；　her　face　lifted　to　me。