rs.inthebestfamelies-第2章

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ite　a　lot　less；　and　once　I　refused　altogether…I　still　asked　no　questions；　but　he　told　me　why　he　needed　it　and　tried　to　persuade　me；　he　was　very　nice　about　it；　and　I　refused。　I　felt　that　I　must　draw　the　line　somewhere。　Do　you　want　to　know　the　amounts？〃
　　〃Not　urgently；〃　Wolfe　muttered。
　　〃The　last　time；　the　time　I　refused；　it　was　fifteen　thousand　dollars。〃　She　leaned　forward。　〃And　that　was　the　last　time。　It　was　seven　months　ago；　October　second；　and　he　has　not　asked　for　money　since；　not　once！　But　he　spends　a　great　deal；　more　than　formerly。　For　all　sorts　of　things…just　last　week　he　gave　a　dinner；　quite　expensive；　for　thirty…eight　men　at　the　University　Club。　I　have　to　know　where　he　gets　it。　I　decided　that　some　time　ago…two　months　ago…and　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　I　didn't　want　to　speak　to　my　lawyer　or　banker　about　a　thing　like　this；　or　in　fact　anybody；　and　I　couldn't　do　it　myself；　so　I　asked　my　cousin；　Calvin　Leeds。〃　She　sent　him　a　glance。
　　〃He　said　he　would　try　to　find　out　something；　but　he　hasn't。〃
　　We　looked　at　Leeds。　He　upturned　a　palm。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　half　apology　and　half　protest；　〃I'm　no　trained　detective。　I　asked　him　straight；　and　he　just　laughed　at　me。　You　didn't　want　anyone　else　to　get　a　hint　of　it；　that　you　were　curious　about　money　he　wasn't　getting　from　you；　so　I　was　pretty　limited　in　my　asking　around。　I　did　my　best；　Sarah；　you　know　I　did。〃
　　〃It　seems　to　me；〃　Wolfe　told　her；　〃that　Mr。　Leeds　had　one　good　ideaasking　him。　Have　you　tried　that　yourself？〃
　　〃Certainly。　Long　ago。　He　told　me　that　an　investment　he　had　made　was　doing　well。〃
　　〃Maybe　it　was。　Why　not？〃
　　〃Not　with　my　husband。〃　She　was　positive。　〃I　know　how　he　is　with　money。　It　isn't　in　him　to　make　an　investment。　Another　thing：　he　is　away　more　now。　I　don't　know　where　he　is　as　much　as　I　used　to。　I　don't　mean　weeks　or　even　days；　just　an　afternoon　or　evening…and　several　times　he　has　had　an　appointment　that　he　couldn't　break　when　I　wanted　him　to…〃
　　Wolfe　grunted；　and　she　was　at　him。　〃I　know！　You　think　I　feel　that　I've　bought　him　and　I　own　him！　That's　not　it　at　all！　All　I　really　want　is　to　be　like　a　wife；　just　any　wife…not　beautiful　and　not　ugly；　not　rich　and　not　poorjust　a　wife！　And　hasn't　a　wife　a　right　to　know　the　source　of　her　husband's　ine…isn't　it　her　duty　to　know？　If　you　had　a　wife　wouldn't　you　want　her　to　know？〃
　　Wolfe　made　a　face。　〃I　can　tell　you；　madam；　what　I　don't　want。　I　don't　want　this　job。　I　think　you're　gulling　me。　You　suspect　that　your　husband　is　swindling　you；　either　emotionally　or　financially；　and　you　want　me　to　catch　him　at　it〃
　　He　turned　to　me；　〃Archie。　You'll　have　to　change　that　formula。　Hereafter；　when　a　request　es　for　an　appointment；　do　not　say　merely　that　we　will　not　undertake　to　get　divorce　or　separation　evidence。　Make　it　clear　that　we　will　not　engage　to　expose　a　husband　for　a　wife；　or　a　wife　for　a　husband；　under　any　camouflage。　May　I　ask　what　you　are　doing；　Mrs。　Rackham？〃
　　She　had　opened　her　brown　leather　handbag　and　taken　out　a　checktold　and　a　little　gold　fountain　pen。　Resting　the　checkfold　on　the　bag；　she　was　writing　in　it　with　the　pen。　Wolfe's　question　got　no　reply　until　she　had　Brushed　writing；　torn　out　the　check；　returned　the　fold　and　pen　to　the　bag；　and　snapped　the　bag　shut。　Then　she　looked　at　him。
　　〃I　don't　want　you　to　expose　my　husband；　Mr。　Wolfe。〃　She　was　holding　the　check　with　her　thumb　and　fingertip。　〃God　knows　I　don't！　I　just　want　to　know。　You're　not　ugly　and　afraid　and　neurotic　like　me；　you're　big　and　handsome　and　successful　and　not　afraid　of　anything。　When　I　knew　I　had　to　have　help　and　my　cousin　couldn't　do　it；　and　I　wouldn't　go　to　anyone　I　knew；　I　went　about　it　very　carefully。　I　found　out　all　about　you；　and　no　one　knows　I　did；　or　at　least　why　I　did。　If　my　husband　is　doing　something　that　will　hurt　me　that　will　be　the　end；　but　I　don't　want　to　expose　him；　I　just　have　to　know。　You　are　the　greatest　detective　on　earth；　and　you're　an　honest　man。　I　just　want　to　pay　you　for　finding　out　where　and　how　my　husband　is　getting　money；　that's　all。　You　can't　possibly　say　you　won't　do　it。　Not　possibly！〃
　　She　left　her　chair　and　went　to　put　the　check　on　his　desk　in　front　of　him。
　　〃It's　for　ten　thousand　dollars；　but　that　doesn't　mean　I　think　that's　enough。　Whatever　you　say。　But　don't　you　dare　say　I　want　to　expose　him！　My　God　expose　him？〃
　　She　had　my　sympathy　up　to　a　point；　but　what　stuck　out　was　her　basic　assumption　that　rich　people　can　always　get　anything　they　want　just　by　putting　up　the　dough。　That's　enough　to　give　an　honest　workingman；　like　a　private　detective　for　instance；　a　pain　in　three　places。　The　assumption　is　of　course　sound　in　some　cases；　but　what　rich　people　are　apt　not　to　understand　is　that　there　are　important　exceptions。
　　This；　however；　was　not　one　of　them；　and　I　hoped　Wolfe　would　see　that　it　wasn't。　He　did。　He　didn't　want　to；　but　the　bank　account　had　by　no　means　fully　recovered　from　the　awful　blow　of　March　fifteenth；　only　three　weeks　back；　and　he　knew　it。　He　came　forward　in　his　chair　for　a　glance　at　the　check；　caught　my　eye　and　saw　how　I　felt　about　it；　heaved　a　sigh；　and　spoke。
　　〃Your　notebook；　Archie。　Confound　it。〃
　　
　　2
　　THE　following　morning；　Saturday；　I　was　in　the　office　typing　the　final　report　on　a　case　which　I　will　not　identify　by　name　because　it　was　never　allowed　to　get　within　a　mile　of　a　newspaper　or　a　microphone。　We　were　mitted　on　Mrs。　Rackham's　job；　since　I　had　deposited　her　check　Friday　afternoon；　but　no　move　had　been　made　yet；　not　even　a　phone　call　to　any　of　the　names　she　had　given　us；　because　it　was　Wolfe's　idea　that　first　of　all　we　must　have　a　look　at　him。　With　Wolfe's　settled　policy　of　never　leaving　his　house　on　business；　and　with　no　plausible　excuse　for　getting　Barry　Rackham　to　the　office；　I　would　have　to　do　the　looking；　and　that　had　been　arranged　for。
　　Mrs。　Rackham　had　insisted　that　her　husband　must　positively　not　know　or　even　suspect　that　he　was　being　investigated；　and　neither　must　anyone　else；　so　the　arrangements　for　the　look　were　a　little　plicated。　She　vetoed　my　suggestion　that　I　should　be　invited　to　join　a　small　week…end　gathering　at　her　country　home　in　Westchester；　on　the　ground　that　someone　would　probably　recognize　the　Archie　Goodwin　who　worked　for　Nero　Wolfe。　It　was　Calvin　Leeds　who　offered　an　amendment　that　was　adopted。　He　had　a　little　place　of　his　own　at　the　edge　of　her　estate；　where　he　raised　dogs；　called　Hillside　Kennels。　A　month　ago　one　of　his　valuable　dogs　had　been　poisoned；　and　I　was　to　go　there　Saturday　afternoon　as　myself；　a　detective　named　Archie　Goodwin；　to　investigate　the　poisoning。　His　cousin　would　invite　him　to　her　place；　Birchvale；　for　dinner；　and　I　would　go　along。
　　It　was　a　quiet　Saturday　morning　in　the　office；　with　Wolfe　up　in　the　plant　rooms　as　usual　from　nine　to　eleven；　and　I　finished　typing　the　report　of　a　certain　case　with　no　interruptions　except　a　couple　of　phone　calls　which　I　handled　myself；　and　one　for　which　I　had　to　give　Wolfe　a　buzz…from　somebody　at　Mummiani's　on　Fulton　Street　to　say　that　they　had　just　got　eight　pounds　of　fresh　sausage　from　Bill　Darst　at　Hackettstown；　and　Wolfe　could　have　half　of　it。　Since　Wolfe　regards　Darst　as　the　best　sausage　maker　west　of　Cherbourg；　he　asked　that　it　be　sent　immediately　by　messenger；　and　for　heaven's　sake　not　with　dry　ice。
　　When；　at　11：　o　i；　the　sound　of　Wolfe's　elevator　came；　I　got　the　big　dictionary　in　front　of　me　on　my　desk；　opened　to　H；　and　was　bent　over　it　as　he　entered　the　office；　crossed　to　his　oversized　custom…built　chair；　and　sat。　He　didn't　bite　at　once　because　his　mind　was　elsewhere。　Even　before　he　rang　for　beer　he　asked；　〃Has　the　sausage　e？〃
　　Without　looking　up　I　told　him　no。
　　He　pressed　the　button　twice…the　beer　signal…leaned　back；　and　frowned　at　me。　I　didn't　see　the　frown；　absorbed　as　I　was　in　the　dictionary；　but　it　was　in　his　tone　of　voice。
　　〃What　are　you　looking　up？〃　he　demanded。
　　〃Oh；　just　a　word；〃　I　said　casually。　〃Checking　up　on　our　client。　I　thought　she　was　illiterate；　her　calling　you　handsome…remember？　But；　by　gum；　it　was　merely　an　understatement。　Here　it　is；　absolutely　kosher：　'Handsome：　moderately　large。'　For　an　example　it　gives　'a　handsome　sum　of　money。'　So　she　was　dead　right；　you're　a　handsome　detective；　meaning　a　moderately　large　detective。〃　I　closed　the　dictionary　and　returned　it　to　its　place；　remarking　cheerfully；　〃Live　and　learn！〃
　　It　was　a　dud。　Ordinarily　that　would　have　started　him　tossing　phrases　and　adjectives；　but　he　was　occupied。　Maybe　he　didn't　even　hear　me。　When　Fritz　came　from　the　kitchen　with　the　beer；　Wolfe；　taking　from　a　drawer　the　gold　bottle　opener　that　a　pleased　client　had　given　him；　spoke。
　　〃Fritz；　good　news。　We're　getting　some　of　Mr。　Darst's　sausage…four　pounds。〃
　　Fritz　let　his　eyes　gleam。　〃Ha！　Today？〃
　　〃Any　moment。〃　Wolfe　poured　beer。　〃That　raises　the　question　of　cloves　again。　What　do　you　think？〃
　　〃I'm　against　it；〃　Fritz　said　firmly。
　　Wolfe　nodded。　〃I　think　I　agree。　I　think　I　do。　You　may　remember　what　Marko　Vukcic　said　last　year…and　by　the　way；　he　must　be　invited　for　a　taste　of　this。　For　Monday　luncheon？〃
　　〃That　would　be　possible；〃　Fritz　conceded；　〃but　we　have　arranged　for　shad　with　roe…〃
　　〃Of　course。〃　Wolfe　lifted　his　glass　and　drank；　put　it　down　empty；　and　used　his　handkerchief　on　his　lips。　That；　he　thought；　was　the　only　way　for　a　man　to　scent　a　handkerchief。　〃We'll　have　Marko　for　the　sausage　at　Monday　dinner；　followed　by　duck　Mondor。〃　He　leaned　forward　and　wiggled　a　finger。
　　〃Now　about　the　shallots　and　fresh　thyme：　there's　no　use　depending　on　Mr。　Colson。　We　might　get　diddled　again。　Archie　will　have　to　go…〃
　　At　that　point　Archie　had　to　go　answer　the　doorbell；　which　I　was　glad　to　do。
　　I　fully　appreciate；　mosdy　anyhow；　the　results　of　Wolfe's　and　Fritz's　powwows　on　grub　when　it　arrives　at　the　table；　but　the　gab　often　strikes　me　as　overdone。　So　I　didn't　mind　the　call　to　the　hall　and　the　front　door。　There　I　found　a　young　man　with　a　pug　nose　and　a　package；　wearing　a　cap　that　said　〃Fleet　Messenger　Service。〃　I　signed　the　slip；　shut　the　door；　started　back　down　the　hall；　and　was　met　not　only　by　Fritz　but　by　Wolfe　too；　who　can　move　well　enough　when　there's　something　he　thinks　is　worth　moving　for。
　　He　took　the　package　from　me　and　headed　for　the　kitchen；　followed　by　Fritz　and　me。
　　The　small　carton　was　sealed　with　tape。　In　the　kitchen　Wolfe　put　it　on　the　long　table；　reached　to　the　rack　for　a　knife；　cut　the　tape；　and　pulled　the　Baps　up。　My　reflexes　are　quick；　and　the　instant　the　hissing　noise　started　I　grabbed　Wolfe's　arm　to　haul　him　back；　yelling　at　Fritz；　〃Watch　out！　Drop！〃
　　Wolfe　can　move　all　right；　considering　what　he　has　to　move。　He　and　I　went　through　the　open　door　into　the　hall　before　the　explosion　came；　and　Fritz　came　bounding　after；　pulling　the　door　with　him。　We　all　kept　going；　along　the　short　stretch　of　hall　to　the　office　door；　and　into　the　office。　There　we　stopped　dead。　No　explosion　yet。
　　〃It's　still　hissing；〃　I　said；　and　moved。
　　〃e　back　here'〃　Wolfe　manded。
　　〃Be　quiet；〃　I　manded　back；　and　dropped　to　my　hands　and　knees　and　made　it　into　the　hall。　There　I　stopped　to　sniff；　crawled　to　within　a　yard　of　the　crack　under　the　kitchen　door；　and　sniffed　again。
　　I　arose；　returned　to　the　office　on　my　feet；　and　told　them。　〃Gas。　Tear　gas；　I　think。　The　hissing　ha