rs.inthebestfamelies-第1章

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　　IT　WAS　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary　that　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham　had　made　the　appointment　with　her　finger　pressed　to　her　lips。　That　is　by　no　means　an　unusual　gesture　for　people　who　find　themselves　in　a　situation　where　the　best　thing　they　can　think　of　is　to　make　arrangements　to　see　Nero　Wolfe。
　　With　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham　the　shushing　finger　was　only　figurative；　since　she　made　the　date　speaking　to　me　on　the　phone。　It　was　in　her　voice；　low　and　jerky；　and　also　in　the　way　she　kept　telling　me　how　confidential　it　was；　even　after　I　solemnly　assured　her　that　we　rarely　notified　the　press　when　someone　requested　an　appointment　on　business。　At　the　end　she　told　me　once　more　that　she　would　have　preferred　to　speak　to　Mr。　Wolfe　himself；　and　I　hung　up　and　decided　it　rated　a　discreet　routine　check　on　a　prospective　client；　starting　with　Mr。　Mitchell　at　the　bank　and　Lon　Cohen　at　the　Gazette。　On　the　main　point　of　interest；　could　she　and　did　she　pay　her　bills；　the　news　was　favorable：　she　was　worth　a　good　four　million　and　maybe　five。　Calling　it　four；　and　assuming　that　Wolfe's　bill　for　services　rendered　would　e　to　only　half　o￡　it；　that　would　be　enough　to　pay　my　current　salary…as　Wolfe's　secretary；　trusted　assistant　and　official　gnat…for　a　hundred　and　sixty…seven　years；　and　in　addition　to　that；　living　as　I　did　there　in　Wolfe's　house；　I　also　got　food　and　shelter。　So　I　was　fixed　for　life　if　it　turned　out　that　she　needed　two　million　bucks'　worth　of　detective　work。
　　She　might　have　at　that；　judging　from　the　way　she　looked　and　acted　at　11：05　the　next　morning；　Friday；　when　the　doorbell　rang　and　I　went　to　let　her　in。　There　was　a　man　on　the　stoop　with　her；　and　after　glancing　quicldy　east　and　then　west　she　brushed　past　him　and　darted　inside；　grabbed　my　sleeve；　and　told　me　in　a　loud　whisper；　〃You're　not　Nero　Wolfe！〃
　　Instantly　she　released　me；　seized　the　elbow　of　her　panion　to　hurry　him　across　the　sill；　and　whispered　at　him　explosively；　〃e　in　and　shut　the　door！〃　You　might　have　thought　she　was　a　duchess　diving　into　a　hock　shop。
　　Not　that　she　was　my　idea　of　a　duchess　physically。　As　I　attended　to　the　door　and　got　the　man's　hat　and　topcoat　hung　on　the　rack；　I　took　them　in。
　　She　was　a　paradox…bony　from　the　neck　up　and　ample　from　the　neck　down。　On　her　chin　and　jawbone　and　cheekbone　the　skin　was　stretched　tight；　but　alongside　her　mouth　and　nose　were　tangles　of　wrinkles。
　　As　I　helped　her　off　with　her　fur　coat　I　told　her；　〃Look；　Mrs。　Rackham。　You　came　to　consult　Nero　Wolfe；　huh？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　whispered。　She　nodded　and　said　right　out　loud；　〃Of　course。〃
　　〃Then　you　ought　to　stop　trembling　if　you　can。　It　makes　Mr。　Wolfe　uneasy　when　a　woman　trembles　because　he　thinks　she's　going　to　be　hysterical；　and　he　might　not　listen　to　you。　Take　a　deep　breath　and　try　to　stop。〃
　　〃You　were　trembling　all　the　way　down　here　in　the　car；〃　the　man　said　in　a　mild　baritone。
　　〃I　was　not！〃　she　snapped。　That　settled；　she　turned　to　me。　〃This　is　my　cousin；　Calvin　Leeds。　He　didn't　want　me　to　e　here；　but　I　brought　him　along　anyhow。　Where's　Mr。　Wolfe？〃
　　I　indicated　the　door　to　the　office；　went　and　opened　it；　and　ushered　them　in。
　　I　have　never　figured　out　Wolfe's　grounds　for　deciding　whether　or　not　to　get　to　his　feet　when　a　woman　enters　his　office。　If　they're　objective　they're　too　plicated　for　me；　and　if　they're　subjective　I　wouldn't　know　where　to　start。　This　time　he　kept　his　seat　behind　his　desk　in　the　corner　near　a　window；　merely　nodding　and　murmuring　when　I　pronounced　names。　I　thought　for　a　second　that　Mrs。　Rackham　was　standing　gazing　at　him　in　reproach　for　his　bad　manners；　but　then　I　saw　it　was　just　surprised　disbelief　that　he　could　be　that　big　and　fat。　I'm　so　used　to　the　quantity　of　him　that　I'm　apt　to　forget　how　he　must　impress　people　seeing　him　for　the　first　time。
　　He　aimed　a　thumb　at　the　red　leather　chair　beyond　the　end　of　his　desk　and　muttered　at　her；　〃Sit　down；　madam。〃
　　She　went　and　sat。　I　then　did　likewise；　at　my　own　desk；　not　far　from　Wolfe's　and　at　right　angles　to　it。　Calvin　Leeds；　the　cousin；　had　sat　twice；　first　on　the　couch　toward　the　rear　and　then　on　a　chair　which　I　moved　up　for　him。
　　I　would　have　guessed　that　both　he　and　Mrs。　Rackham　had　first　seen　the　light　about　the　same　time　as　the　twentieth　century；　but　he　could　have　been　a　little　older。　He　had　a　lot　of　weather　in　his　face　with　its　tough…looking　hide；　his　hair　had　been　brown　but　was　now　more　gray；　and　with　his　medium　size　and　weight　he　looked　and　moved　as　if　all　his　inside　springs　were　still　sound　and　lively。　He　had　taken　Wolfe　in；　and　the　surroundings　too；　and　now　his　eyes　were　on　his　cousin。
　　Mrs。　Rackham　spoke　to　Wolfe。　〃You　couldn't　very　well　go　around　finding　out　things。　Could　you？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　politely。　〃I　haven't　tried　for　years；　and　I　don't　intend　to。　Others　go　around　for　me。〃　He　gestured　at　me。　〃Mr。　Goodwin；　of　course；　and　others　as　required。　You　need　someone　to　go　around？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　She　paused。　Her　mouth　worked。　〃I　think　I　do。　Provided　it　can　be　done　safely…I　mean；　without　anyone　knowing　about　it。〃　Her　mouth　worked　some　more。　〃I　am　bitterly　ashamed…having　at　my　age；　for　the　first　time　in　my　life…having　to　go　to　a　private　detective　with　my　personal　affairs。〃
　　〃Then　you　shouldn't　have　e；〃　Leeds　said　mildly。
　　〃Then　you　have　e　too　soon；〃　Wolfe　told　her。
　　〃Too　soon？　Why？〃
　　〃You　should　have　waited　until　it　became　so　urgent　or　so　intolerable　that　it　would　cause　you　no　shame　to　ask　for　help；　especially　from　one　as　expensive　as　me。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Too　soon。　e　back　if　and　when　you　must。〃
　　〃Hear　that；　Sarah？〃　Leeds　asked；　but　not　rubbing　it　in。
　　Ignoring　him；　she　leaned　forward　and　blurted　at　Wolfe；　〃No；　I'm　here　now。　I　have　to　know！　I　have　to　know　about　my　husband！〃
　　Wolfe's　head　jerked　around　to　me；　to　give　me　a　look　intended　to　scorch。　But　I　met　his　eyes　and　told　him　emphatically；　〃No；　sir。　If　it　is；　she　fibbed。　I　told　her　we　wouldn't　touch　divorce　or　separation　evidence；　and　she　said　that　it　wasn't。
　　He　left　me　and　demanded；　〃Do　you　want　your　husband　followed？〃
　　〃I…I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　so…〃
　　〃Do　you　suspect　him　of　infidelity？〃
　　〃No！　I　don't！〃
　　Wolfe　grunted；　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　squirmed　to　get　fortable；　and　muttered；　〃Tell　me　about　it。〃
　　Mrs。　Rackham's　jaw　started　to　quiver。　She　looked　at　Leeds。　His　brows　went　up；　and　he　shook　his　head；　not　as　a　negative　apparently；　but　merely　leaving　it　to　her。　Wolfe　let　out　a　grunt。　She　moved　her　eyes　to　him　and　said　plaintively；　〃I'm　neurotic。〃
　　〃I　am　not；〃　Wolfe　snapped；　〃a　psychiatrist。　I　doubt　if…〃
　　She　cut　him　off。　〃I've　been　neurotic　as　long　as　I　can　remember。　I　had　no　brother　or　sister　and　my　mother　died　when　I　was　three；　and　my　father　didn't　enjoy　my　pany　because　I　was　ugly。　When　he　died…I　was　twenty　then…1　cried　all　during　the　funeral　service；　not　because　he　was　dead　but　because　I　knew　he　wouldn't　have　wanted　me　so　close　to　him　all　that　time　…in　the　church　and　driving　to　the　cemetery　and　there　at　the　grave。〃
　　Her　jaw　started　to　quiver　again；　but　she　damped　it　and　got　control。　〃I'm　telling　you　this　because　it's　no　secret　anyway；　and　I　want　you　to　understand　why　I　must　have　help。　I　have　never　been　sure　exactly　why　my　first　husband　married　me；　because　he　had　money　of　his　own　and　didn't　really　need　mine；　but　it　wasn't　long　until　he　hated　looking　at　me　just　as　my　father　had。　So　I…〃
　　〃That　isn't　true；　Sarah；〃　Calvin　Leeds　objected。　〃You　imagined…〃
　　〃Bosh！〃　she　quashed　him。　〃I'm　not　that　neurotic！　So　I　got　a　divorce　with　his　consent　and　gratitude；　I　think；　though　lie　was　too　polite　to　say　so；　and　I　hurried　it　through　because　I　didn't　want　him　to　know　I　was　pregnant。
　　Soon　after　the　divorce　my　son　was　bom；　and　that　made　plications；　but　I　kept　him…I　kept　him　and　he　was　mine　until　he　went　to　war。　He　never　showed　the　slightest　sign　of　feeling　about　my　looks　the　way　my　father　and　my　husband　had。　He　was　never　embarrassed　about　me。　He　liked　being　with　me。　Didn't　he；　Calvin？〃
　　〃Of　course　he　did；〃　Leeds　assured　her；　apparently　meaning　it。
　　She　nodded　and　looked　thoughtful；　looking　into　space　and　seeing　something　not　there。　She　jerked　herself　impadendy　back　to　Wolfe。　〃I　admit　that　before　he　went　away；　to　war；　he　got　married；　and　he　married　a　very　beautiful　girl。　It　is　not　true　that　I　wished　he　had　taken　one　who　resembled　me；　even　a　little　bit；　but　naturally　I　couldn't　help　but　see　that　he　had　gone　to　the　other　extreme。　Annabel　is　very　beautiful。　It　made　me　proud　for　my　son　to　have　her…it　seemed　to　even　my　score　with　all　the　beautiful　women　I　had　known　and　seen。　She　thinks　I　hate　her；　but　that　is　not　true。　People　as　neurotic　as　I　am　should　not　be　judged　by　normal　standards。　Not　that　I　blame　Annabel；　for　I　know　perfectly　well　that　when　the　news　came　that　he　had　been　killed　in　Germany　her　loss　was　greater　than　mine。　He　wasn't　mine　any　longer　then；　he　was　hers。〃
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　Wolfe　put　in　politely　but　firmly。　〃You　wanted　to　consult　me　about　your　husband。　You　say　you're　divorced？〃
　　〃Certainly　not！　I…〃　She　caught　herself　up。　〃Oh。　This　is　my　second　husband。　I　only　wanted　you　to　understand。〃
　　〃I'll　try。　Let's　have　him　now。〃
　　〃Barry　Rackham；〃　she　said；　pronouncing　the　name　as　if　she　held　the　copyright　on　it；　or　at　least　a　lease　on　subsidiary　rights。　〃He　played　football　at　Yale　and　then　had　a　job　in　Wall　Street　until　the　war　came。　At　the　end　of　the　war　he　was　a　major；　which　wasn't　very　far　to　get　in　nearly　four　years。　We　we're　married　in　1946…three　years　and　seven　months　ago。　He　is　ten　years　younger　than　I　am。〃
　　Mrs。　Barry　Rackham　paused；　her　eyes　fixed　on　Wolfe's　face　as　if　challenging　it　for　ment；　but　the　challenge　was　declined。　Wolfe　merely　prodded　her　with　a　murmur。
　　〃And？〃
　　〃I　suppose；〃　she　said　as　if　conceding　a　point；　〃there　is　no　one　in　New　York　who　does　not　take　it　for　granted　that　he　married　me　simply　for　my　money。　They　all　know　more　about　it　than　I　do；　because　I　have　never　asked　him；　and　he　is　the　only　one　that　knows　for　sure。　I　know　one　thing：　it　does　not　make　him　unfortable　to　look　at　me。　I　know　that　for　sure　because　I'm　very　sensitive　about　it；　I'm　neurotic　about　it；　and　I　would　know　it　the　first　second　he　felt　that　way。
　　Of　course　he　knows　what　I　look　like；　he　knows　how　ugly　I　am；　he　can't　help　that；　but　it　doesn't　annoy　him　a　particle；　not　evenShe　stopped　and　was　blushing。　Calvin　Leeds　coughed　and　shifted　in　his　chair。　Wolfe　closed　his　eyes　and　after　a　moment　opened　them　again。　I　didn't　look　away　from　her　because　when　she　blushed　I　began　to　feel　a　little　unfortable　myself；　and　I　wanted　to　see　if　I　could　keep　her　from　knowing　it。
　　But　she　wasn't　interested　in　me。　〃Anyway；〃　she　went　on　as　the　color　began　to　leave；　〃I　have　kept　things　in　my　own　hands。　We　live　in　my　house；　of　course；　town　and　country；　and　I　pay　everything；　and　there　are　the　cars　and　so　on；　but　I　made　no　settlement　and　arranged　no　allowance　for　him。　That　didn't　seem　to　me　to　be　the　way　to　handle　it。　When　he　needed　cash　for　anything　he　asked　for　it　and　I　gave　it　to　him　freely；　without　asking　questions。〃　She　made　a　little　gesture；　a　flip　of　a　hand。　〃Not　always；　but　nearly　always。　The　second　year　it　was　more　than　the　first；　and　the　third　year　more　again；　and　I　felt　he　was　getting　unreasonable。　Three　times　I　gave　him　less　than　he　asked　for；　quite　a　l