rs.inthebestfamelies-第8章

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　　〃I'll　do　the　talking；〃　Archer　stated；　and　led　the　way　to　the　hall　and　along　to　the　smaller　room　where　Noonan　was　still　seated　at　the　table；　conferring　with　a　colleague…the　one　who　had　brought　me　from　Hillside　Kennels。　The　colleague　moved　to　stand　against　the　wall。　Noonan　arose；　but　sat　down　again　when　Archer　and　Dykes　and　I　had　pulled　chairs　up。
　　Archer；　slighdy　plumper　than　he　had　been　a　year　ago；　with　his　round　red　face　saggy　and　careworn　by　the　stress　of　an　extremely　bad　night　for　him；　put　his　forearms　on　the　table　and　leaned　at　me。
　　〃Goodwin；〃　he　said　earnestly　but　not　offensively；　〃I　want　to　put　something　up　to　you。〃
　　〃Suits　me；　Mr。　Archer；〃　I　assured　him。　〃I've　never　been　ignored　more。〃
　　〃We've　been　busy。　Lieutenant　Noonan　has　of　course　reported　what　you　told　him。　Frankly；　I　find　it　hard　to　believe。　Almost　impossible　to　believe。　It　is　well　known　that　Nero　Wolfe　refuses　dozens　of　jobs　every　month；　that　he　confines　himself　to　cases　that　interest　him；　and　that　the　easiest　and　quickest　way　to　interest　him　is　to　offer　him　a　large　fee。　Now　I…〃
　　〃Not　the　only　way；〃　I　objected。
　　〃I　didn't　say　it　was。　I　know　he　has　standards…even　scruples。　Now　I　can't　believe　that　he　found　anything　interesting　in　the　poisoning　of　a　dog…certainly　not　interesting　enough　for　him　to　send　you　up　here　over　a　weekend。　And　I　doubt　very　much　if　Calvin　Leeds；　from　what　I　know　of　him；　is　in　a　position　to　offer　Wolfe　a　fee　that　would　attract　him。　His　cousin；　Mrs。Rackham；　might　have；　but　she　did　not　have　the　reputation　of　throwing　money　around　carelessly…rather　the　contrary。　We're　going　to　ask　Wolfe　about　this；　naturally；　but　I　thought　I　might　save　time　by　putting　it　up　to　you。　I　appeal　to　you　to　cooperate　with　us　in　solving　this　dastardly　and　cowardly　murder。　As　you　know；　I　have　a　right　to　insist　on　it；　knowing　you　and　Wolfe　as　I　do；　I　prefer　to　appeal　to　you　as　to　a　responsible　citizen　and　a　man　who　carries　a　license　to　work　in　this　state　as　a　private　detective。　I　simply　do　not　believe　that　you　were　sent　up　here　merely　to　investigate　the　poisoning　of　a　dog。〃
　　They　were　all　glaring　at　me。
　　〃I　wasn't；〃　I　said　mildly。
　　〃Ha；　you　weren't！〃
　　〃Hell　no。　As　you　say；　Mr。　Wolfe　wouldn't　be　interested。〃
　　〃So　you　lied；　you　punk；〃　Noonan　gloated。
　　〃Wrong；　as　usual。〃　I　grinned　at　him。　〃You　didn't　ask　me　what　I　was　sent　here　for　or　even　hint　that　you　would　like　to　know。　You　asked　if　I　was　investigating　the　dog　poisoning；　and　I　told　you　I　spent　an　hour　at　it；　which　I　did。　You　asked　if　I　had　made　any　progress；　and　I　told　you　nothing　remarkable。　Then　you　wanted　to　know　what　I　had　seen　and　heard　here；　and　I　told　you；　in　full。　It　was　one　of　the　bummest　and　dumbest　jobs　of　questioning　I　have　ever　run　across；　but　you　may　learn　in　time。　The　first…〃
　　Noonan　blurted；　'Why；　you　goddam…〃　〃I'll　handle　it；〃　Archer　snapped　at　him。　Back　to　me：　〃You　might　have　supplied　it；　Goodwin。〃
　　〃Not　to　him；〃　I　said　firmly；　〃I　tried　supplying　him　once　and　he　was　displeased。　Anyway；　I　doubt　if　he　would　have　understood　it。〃
　　〃See　if　I　can　understand　it。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　Mrs。　Rackham　phoned　Thursday　afternoon　and　made　an　appointment　to　see　Mr。　Wolfe。　She　came　yesterday　morning…Friday…at　eleven　o'clock；　and　had　Leeds　with　her。　She　said　that　it　had　been　her　custom；　since　marrying　Rackham　three　years　and　seven　months　ago；　to　give　him　money　for　his　personal　use　when　he　asked　for　it；　but　that　he　kept　asking　for　bigger　amounts；　and　she　began　giving　him　less　than　he　asked　for；　and　last　October　second　he　wanted　fifteen　grand；　and　she　refused。　Gave　him　zero。　Since　then；　the　past　seven　months；　he　had　asked　for　none　and　got　none；　but　in　spite　of　that　he　had　gone　on　spending　plenty；　and　that　was　what　was　biting　her。　She　hired　Mr。　Wolfe　to　find　out　where　and　how　he　was　getting　dough；　and　I　was　sent　up　here　to　look　him　over　and　possibly　get　hold　of　an　idea。　I　needed　an　excuse　for　ing　here；　and　the　dog　poisoning　was　better　than　average。〃　I　fluttered　a　hand。　〃That's　all。〃
　　〃You　say　Leeds　was　with　her？〃　Noonan　demanded。
　　〃That's　partly　what　I　mean；〃　I　told　Ben　Dykes；　〃about　Noonan's　notion　of　how　to　ask　questions。　He　must　have　heard　me　say　she　had　Leeds　along。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　Dykes　said　dryly。　〃But　don't　be　so　damn　cute。　This　is　not　exactly　a　picnic。〃　He　spoke　to　Noonan。　〃Leeds　didn't　make　any　mention　of　this？〃
　　〃He　did　not。　Of　course　I　didn't　ask　him。〃
　　Dykes　stood　up　and　asked　Archer；　〃Hadn't　I　better　send　for　him？　He　went　home。〃
　　Archer　nodded；　and　Dykes　went。　〃Good　God；〃　Archer　said　with　feeling；　not　to　Noonan　or　me；　so　probably　to　the　People　of　the　State　of　New　York。
　　He　sat　biting　his　lip　a　while　and　then　asked　me；　〃Was　that　all　Mrs。　Rackham　wanted？〃
　　〃That's　all　she　asked　for。〃
　　〃Had　she　quarreled　with　her　husband？　Had　he　threatened　her？〃
　　〃She　didn't　say　so。〃
　　〃Exactly　what　did　she　say？〃
　　That　took　half　an　hour。　For　me　it　was　simple；　since　all　I　had　to　use　was　my　memory；　in　view　of　the　instructions　from　Wolfe　to　give　them　everything　but　the　sausage。　Archer　didn't　know　what　my　memory　is　capable　of；　so　I　didn't　repeat　any　of　Mrs。　Rackham's　speeches　verbatim；　though　I　could　have；　because　he　would　have　thought　I　was　dressing　it　up。　But　when　I　was　through　he　had　it　all。
　　Then　I　was　permitted　to　stay　for　the　session　with　Leeds；　who　had　arrived　early　in　my　recital　but　had　been　held　outside　until　I　was　done。　At　last　I　was　one　of　the　party；　but　too　late　to　hear　anything　that　I　didn't　already　know。　With　Leeds；　who　was　practically　one　of　the　family；　they　had　to　cover　not　only　his　visit　with　his　cousin　to　Wolfe's　office；　but　also　the　preliminaries　to　it；　so　he　took　another　half…hour　and　more。　He　himself　had　no　idea；　he　said；　where　Rackham　had　been　getting　money。　He　had　learned　nothing　from　the　personal　inquiry　he　had　undertaken　at　his　cousin's　request。
　　He　had　never　heard；　or　heard　of；　any　serious　quarrel　between　his　cousin　and　her　husband。　And　so　on。　As　for　his　failure　to　tell　Noonan　of　the　visit　to　Wolfe's　office　and　the　real　reason　for　my　presence　at　Birchvale；　he　merely　said　calmly　that　Noonan　hadn't　asked　and　he　preferred　to　wait　until　he　was　asked。
　　District　Attorney　Archer　finally　called　it　a　night；　got　up　and　stretched；　rubbed　his　eyes　with　his　fingertips；　asked　Dykes　and　Noonan　some　questions　and　issued　some　orders；　and　addressed　me。　〃You're　staying　at　Leed's　place？〃
　　I　said　I　hadn't　stayed　there　much　so　far；　but　my　bag　was　there。
　　〃All　right。　I'll　want　you　tomorrow…today。〃
　　I　said　of　course　and　went　out　with　Leeds。　Ben　Dykes　offered　to　give　us　a　lift；　but　we　declined。
　　Together；　without　conversation；　Leeds　and　I　made　for　the　head　of　the　trail　at　the　edge　of　the　woods；　giving　the　curving　paths　a　miss。　Dawn　had　e　and　was　going；　it　was　getting　close　to　sunrise。　The　breeze　was　down　and　the　birds　were　up；　telling　about　it。　The　pace　Leeds　set；　up　the　long　easy　slope　and　down　the　level　stretch；　was　not　quite　up　to　his　previous　performances；　which　suited　me　fine。　I　was　not　in　a　racing　mood；　even　to　get　to　a　bed。
　　Suddenly　Leeds　halted；　and　I　came　abreast　of　him。　In　the　trail；　thirty　paces　ahead；　a　man　was　getting　up　from　his　hands　and　knees　to　face　us。
　　He　called；　〃Hold　it！　Who　are　you？〃
　　We　told　him。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you'll　have　to　keep　off　this　section　of　trail。　Go　around。　We're　just　starting　on　it。　Bright　and　early！〃
　　We　asked　how　far；　and　he　said　about　three　hundred　yards；　to　where　a　man　had　started　at　the　other　end。　We　stepped　off　the　trail；　to　the　right　into　the　rough；　and　got　slowed　down；　though　the　woods　were　fairly　clean。　After　a　couple　of　minutes　of　that　I　asked　Leeds　if　he　would　know　the　spot；　and　he　said　he　would。
　　Soon　he　stopped；　and　I　joined　him。　I　would　have　known　it　myself；　with　the　help　of　a　rope　they　had　stretched　from　tree　to　tree；　making　a　large　semicircle。　We　went　up　to　the　rope　and　stood　looking。
　　〃Where's　Hebe？〃　I　asked。
　　〃They　had　to　e　for　me　to　get　her。　She's　in　Nobby's　kennel。　He　won't　be　needing　it。　They　took　him　away。〃
　　We　agreed；　without　putting　it　in　words；　that　there　was　nothing　there　we　wanted；　and　resumed　our　way　through　the　woods；　keeping　off　the　trail　undl　we　reached　the　scientist　at　the　tar　end　of　the　forbidden　section；　who　not　only　challenged　us　but　had　to　be　persuaded　that　we　weren't　a　pair　of　bloodthirsty　liars。　Finally　he　was　bighearted　enough　to　let　us　go　on。
　　I　was　glad　they　had　taken　Nobby　away；　not　caring　much　for　another　view　or　the　little　hall　with　that　canine　corpse　on　the　bench。　Otherwise　the　house　was　as　before。　Leeds　had　stopped　at　the　kennels。　I　went　up　to　my　room　and　was　peeling　off　the　pants　I　had　pulled　on　over　my　pajamas　when　I　was　startled　by　a　sudden　dazzling　blaze　at　the　window。　I　crossed　to　it　and　stuck　my　head　out：　it　was　the　sun　showing　off；　trying　to　scare　somebody。
　　I　glanced　at　my　wrist　and　saw　5：39；　but　as　I　said；　maybe　it　wasn't　a　true　horizon。　Not　lowering　the　window　shade；　I　went　and　stretched　out　on　the　bed　and　yawned　as　far　down　as　it　could　go。
　　The　door　downstairs　opened　and　shut；　and　there　were　steps　on　the　stairs。
　　Leeds　appeared　at　my　open　door；　stepped　inside；　and　said；　〃I'll　have　to　be　up　and　around　in　an　hour；　so　I'll　close　your　door。〃
　　I　thanked　him。　He　didn't　move。
　　〃My　cousin　paid　Mr。　Wolfe　ten　thousand　dollars。　What　will　he　do　now？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　I　haven't　asked　him。　Why？〃
　　〃It　occurred　to　me　that　he　might　want　to　spend　it；　or　part　of　it；　in　her　interest。　In　case　the　police　don't　make　any　headway。〃
　　〃He　might；〃　I　agreed。　〃I'll　suggest　it　to　him。〃
　　He　still　stood；　as　if　there　was　something　else　on　his　mind。　There　was；　and　he　unloaded　it。
　　〃It　happens　in　the　best　families；〃　he　stated　distinctly　and　backed　out；　taking　the　door　with　him。
　　I　closed　my　eyes　but　made　no　effort　to　empty　my　head。　If　I　went　to　sleep　there　was　no　telling　when　I　would　wake　up；　and　I　intended　to　phone　Wolfe　at　eight；　fifteen　minutes　before　the　scheduled　hour　for　Fritz　to　get　to　his　room　with　his　breakfast　tray。　Meanwhile　I　would　think　of　something　brilliant　to　do　or　to　suggest。　The　trouble　with　that；　I　discovered　after　some　poking　around；　was　that　I　had　no　in。　Nobody　would　speak　to　me　except　Leeds；　and　he　was　far　from　loquacious。
　　I　have　a　way　of　realizing　all　of　a　sudden；　as　1　suppose　a　lot　of　people　do；　that　I　made　a　decision　some　time　back　without　knowing　it。　It　happened　that　morning　at　6：25。　Looking　at　my　watch　and　seeing　that　that　was　where　it　had　got　to；　I　was　suddenly　aware　that　I　was　staying　awake；　not　so　I　could　phone　Wolfe　at　eight　o'clock；　but　so　I　could　beat　it　the　hell　out　of　there　as　soon　as　I　was　sure　Leeds　was　asleep；　and　I　was　now　as　sure　as　I　would　ever　be。
　　I　got　up　and　shed　my　pajamas　and　dressed；　not　trying　to　set　a　record　but　wasting　no　time；　and；　with　my　bag　in　one　hand　and　my　shoes　in　the　other；　tiptoed　to　the　hall；　down　the　stairs；　and　out　to　the　stone　slab。　While　it　wasn't　Calvin　Leeds　I　was　escaping　from；　I　thought　it　desirable　to　get　out　of　Westchester　County　before　anyone　knew　I　wasn't　upstairs　asleep。　Not　a　chance。
　　I　was　seated　on　the　stone　slab　tying　the　lace　of　the　second　shoe　when　a　dog　barked；　and　that　was　a　signal　for　all　the　others。　I　scrambled　up；　grabbed　the　bag；　ran　to　the　car　and　unlocked　it　and　climbed　in；　started　the　en