erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第36章

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　　　　　　〃I　did；　sir；　yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃And　from　that　position；　by　craning　your　neck；　you　could　see　the　study　windows　in　Edward　Norton's　house？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃But　because　the　top　of　the　automobile　was　so　low　as　to　interfere　with　your　vision；　you　could　only　see　those　windows　by　craning　your　neck；　is　that　right？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact；　Judge　Purley；　that　while　you　were　seated　there　in　that　automobile；　in　exactly　the　same　position　that　it　occupied　on　the　night　of　the　murder；　Don　Graves　came　to　the　window　of　the　study　and　called　down　to　you；　or　to　Claude　Drumm；　who　was　with　you　in　the　car？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Judge　Purley；　taking　a　deep　breath。
　　　　　　〃And　isn't　it　a　fact；〃　thundered　Perry　Mason；　extending　his　rigid　forefinger；　so　that　it　pointed　directly　at　Judge　Purley；　〃that　now　the　matter　has　been　called　to　your　attention；　and　your　recollection　has　had　an　opportunity　to　check　over　the　circumstances　of　what　happened　upon　that　fateful　night　of　the　murder；　that　you　now　realize　that　the　voice　which　called　down　to　you　from　that　second　story　window　on　the　night　of　the　test；　was　the　same　voice　which　had　called　down　from　that　window　on　the　night　of　the　murder？〃
　　　　　　Tense；　dramatic　silence　gripped　the　courtroom。
　　　　　　Judge　Purley's　hands　tugged　at　the　arm　of　the　witness　chair；　and　his　face　writhed　in　agony。
　　　　　　〃My　God！〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know！　I　have　been　asking　myself　that　question　for　the　last　ten　minutes；　and　I　cannot　answer　it　satisfactorily　to　my　conscience。　All　I　know　is　that　it　may　have　been！〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　turned　half　around　and　faced　the　jury。　His　steady；　unwavering　eyes　surveyed　the　faces　of　the　nine　men　and　the　three　women。
　　　　　　〃That；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　finality；　〃is　all。〃
　　　　　　For　a　long　moment　the　courtroom　remained　silent；　then　there　were　rustlings；　whispering；　half…gasps。　Somewhere　in　the　background　a　woman　tittered　hysterically。
　　　　　　Judge　Markham　banged　his　gavel　down　on　the　desk。
　　　　　　〃Order！〃　he　said。
　　　　　　Claude　Drumm　bit　his　lip　in　an　agony　of　indecision。　Dare　he　go　into　the　matter　on　redirect　examination；　or　dare　he　wait　until　he　could　talk　privately　with　the　Municipal　Judge？
　　　　　　And；　in　that　moment　of　indecision；　in　that　moment　when　the　attention　of　every　human　being　in　the　courtroom　was　fastened　upon　him；　Claude　Drumm　hesitated　for　one　second　too　long。
　　　　　　The　attention　of　the　crowd　shifted。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　his　eyes　placidly　surveying　the　sea　of　faces；　saw　it　shift。　Judge　Markham；　sitting　on　the　bench；　wise　in　the　ways　of　the　courtroom；　veteran　of　a　hundred　murder　trials；　saw　it　shift。
　　　　　　As　with　one　motion；　as　though　actuated　by　some　subtle；　psychic　mand；　the　eyes　of　the　jurors；　the　eyes　of　the　spectators；　turned　away　from　Claude　Drumm；　and　fastened　themselves　upon　the　agonized　face　of　Arthur　Crinston。
　　　　　　It　was　the　silent　verdict　of　the　courtroom；　and　that　verdict　exonerated　the　two　defendants；　and　fixed　the　guilt　of　Edward　Norton's　murder　squarely　upon　Arthur　Crinston　and　his　acplice。
　
　
　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　
　　　　　　PERRY　MASON　sat　in　his　office。　The　light　from　the　window　streaming　in　upon　his　rugged；　virile　features　made　him　seem　somehow　older；　brought　out　the　strong　lines　of　his　face。
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　sat　in　the　big　black　leather　chair；　her　forefinger　poking　and　twisting　as　she　slid　it　along　the　smooth　arm　of　the　chair。　Her　eyes　were　dark　and　filled　with　emotion。
　　　　　　Robert　Gleason　stood　leaning　against　the　book　case；　his　heavy；　dark　face　twisted　into　that　agony　of　silence　which　es　to　those　inarticulate　men　who　have　much　to　say；　yet　cannot　find　a　means　of　expression。
　　　　　　Through　the　open　windows；　from　the　street　below；　came　the　cries　of　the　newsboys；　shouting　their　extra　edition　of　the　STAR。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　tapped　the　newspaper　on　his　desk；　a　paper　which　was　still　damp　from　the　presses。
　　　　　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃is　clever　journalism。　Nevers　had　that　paper　on　the　street　before　you　had　gone　from　the　courthouse　to　my　office。　He　had　the　thing　all　figured　out　and　blocked　out。　All　he　needed　to　do　was　to　add　a　brief　summary　of　the　testimony　of　Judge　Purley；　and　the　headlines。〃
　　　　　　He　slid　his　forefinger　along　the　headlines　which　streamed　blackly　across　the　top　of　the　newspaper：　〃MURDER　CASE　DISMISSED。〃
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　said　softly：　〃It　wasn't　the　journalism　in　this　case　that　was　so　remarkable；　Mr。　Mason；　it　was　your　wonderful　analysis　of　what　must　have　happened；　and　the　steps　you　took　to　reconstruct　the　scene　so　that　Judge　Purley　would　be　convinced。　I　watched　him　when　he　was　on　the　witness　stand　the　first　time；　and　I　could　see　the　problem　that　you　had　with　him。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　smiled。
　　　　　　〃Judge　Purley；〃　he　said；　〃is　rather　opinionated；　and　he　would　very　much　have　disliked　having　to　confess　himself　in　error。　In　fact；　if　I　had　asked　him　that　question　the　first　time　he　was　on　the　witness　stand；　he　would　have　indignantly　denied　that　such　could　have　been　the　case；　and　the　denial　would　have　so　impressed　itself　upon　his　own　mind；　that　no　amount　of　subsequent　testimony　could　ever　have　caused　him　even　to　entertain　the　faintest　notion　that　he　might　have　been　mistaken。
　　　　　　〃But　the　fact　that　I　managed　to　duplicate　the　conditions　in　such　a　manner　that　his　mind　was　totally　unprepared　for　what　was　taking　place；　gave　me　the　opportunity　to　approach　him　on　a　blind　side；　so　to　speak。
　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　went　on　Perry　Mason；　〃I　had　all　of　the　facts　in　hand　at　the　moment　that　Arthur　Crinston；　in　telling　me　about　the　murder；　discussed　the　telephone　call　to　the　police　as　though　he　had　no　knowledge　of　it；　except　what　he　had　learned　through　the　police。
　　　　　　〃That　was　the　slip　that　Crinston　made；　and　the　fatal　slip；　that；　and　failing　to　report　that　telephone　conversation　in　his　testimony　to　the　jury。
　　　　　　〃You　see；　he　was　so　obsessed　with　the　idea　that　he　must　keep　the　authorities　from　knowing　what　had　transpired　in　that　room　when　Norton　was　murdered；　that　he　made　up　a　story　out　of　whole　cloth；　and　stuck　to　it。
　　　　　　〃That　is　not　skillful　lying。　It　is　not　the　proper　way　to　mit　perjury。　The　skillful　perjurer　is　he　who　sticks　to　so　much　of　the　truth　as　is　possible；　and　only　departs　from　it　when　it　bees　absolutely　necessary。　These　men　who　make　up　stories　out　of　whole　cloth　usually　leave　a　few　loose　threads　somewhere。
　　　　　　〃Yet　it　is　a　strange　thing　about　the　human　mind：　It　has　many　facts　constantly　thrust　upon　it；　and　it　doesn't　properly　correlate　those　facts。　I　had　the　facts　at　my　mand　for　some　time　before　I　knew　what　must　have　happened。
　　　　　　〃You　see；　Crinston　had　borrowed　heavily　on　the　partnership　credit。　The　partnership　was；　of　course；　solvent；　but　Crinston's　credit　as　an　individual　was　all　shot　to　pieces。　He　had　made　Graves　an　acplice；　and；　together；　they　were　deceiving　your　uncle；　but　when　the　bank　sent　the　notice　to　your　uncle；　then　Edward　Norton　learned　for　the　first　time　what　had　happened。
　　　　　　〃We　can　imagine　what　happened　next。　He　gave　Mr。　Crinston　a　definite　deadline；　at　which　time　Crinston　was　to　have　returned　the　money；　or　else　be　reported　to　the　police。　When　Crinston　failed　to　make　the　payment；　your　uncle；　acting　with　that　cold…blooded　efficiency　which　is　so　absolutely　merciless；　picked　up　the　telephone　and　called　Police　Headquarters。
　　　　　　〃Crinston　sat　there　behind　him；　watching　dumbly；　knowing　that　the　words　which　Norton　was　to　say　next　would　lead　to　his　confinement　in　a　penal　institution。　He　heard　Norton　say：　'Police　Headquarters；　I　have　a　criminal　matter　to　report；'　and　then　Crinston　acted　upon　a　blind；　murderous　impulse。　He　struck　Norton　down　without　warning　and　probably　without　any　great　amount　of　premeditation。
　　　　　　〃When　he　had　done　that　and　hung　up　the　receiver；　he　suddenly　realized　that　the　police　must　have　a　record　of　that　call　which　Norton　had　sent　in；　and　that　this　would　lead　to　his　detection。　So　he　did　a　very　clever　thing。　He　called　Police　Headquarters　right　back；　and　pretended　that　he　was　Norton。　He　had　to　have　something　to　report　in　the　nature　of　a　criminal　matter；　because　your　uncle　had　already　said　that　he　had　such　a　report　to　make。
　　　　　　〃The　policy　of　automobile　insurance　was　lying　on　the　desk；　and　Arthur　Crinston　plunged　blindly　into　that　lead。　Then；　when　you　heard　of　your　uncle's　murder；　and　knowing　that　Rob　Gleason　had　been　in　the　house　with　you；　and　that　there　might　be　some　possibility　you　would　either　be　implicated；　or　have　to　explain　what　Gleason　was　doing　there；　you　seized　at　what　seemed　to　be　the　best　opportunity　to　establish　an　alibi　for　yourself；　by　stating　that　you　had　been　driving　the　Buick　automobile　at　the　time　that　your　uncle　reported　it　lost。
　　　　　　〃On　the　face　of　it；　it　was　almost　mathematical。　In　other　words；　a　man　with　a　trained　mind；　sitting　down　and　concentrating　upon　the　evidence；　should　have　been　able　to　point　his　finger　to　the　murderer　at　once。　Yet　I　confess　that　the　circumstances　were　so　romantic　and　so　unusual　that　I　was　confused　for　some　little　time；　and　failed　to　realize　what　must　have　happened。
　　　　　　〃When　I　did　realize　it；　I　knew　that　I　was　up　against　a　most　serious　problem。　I　felt　certain　that　I　could　explain　my　theory　well　enough　to　raise　a　reasonable　doubt　in　the　minds　of　the　jury；　and　get　either　an　acquittal　or　a　hung　jury；　but　I　realized　also　that　unless　I　could　trap　the　murderers　into　betraying　themselves；　I　could　never　entirely　remove　the　stigma　of　doubt　from　your　names。
　　　　　　〃I　recognized　at　once　that　Judge　Purley　was　the　key　witness；　and　knew　that　the　man's　conceit　and　love　of　posture；　would　render　any　ordinary　cross…examination　futile。　Therefore；　I　had　to　devise　some　means　by　which　a　doubt　would　be　raised　in　his　own　mind　before　he　knew　that　the　doubt　was　there；　and　then　crash　it　home　to　him　with　dramatic　force。〃
　　　　　　Fran　Celane　got　to　her　feet　with　tears　showing　in　her　eyes。
　　　　　　〃I　can't　begin　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃what　it　has　meant　to　me。　It's　been　an　experience　that　will　always　leave　its　imprint。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason's　eyes　narrowed。　〃You're　lucky；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　of　tolerant　patience；　〃to　have　escaped　with　nothing　but　an　unpleasant　experience。〃
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　smiled　and　blinked　tears　back　as　she　smiled。　〃I　didn't　mean　it　that　way；　Mr。　Mason。　I　meant　that　it　has　been　an　experience　I　wouldn't　have　missed　for　anything！〃
　　　　　　He　stared　at　her。
　　　　　　〃I　mean　it；〃　she　said。　〃Not　the　murder　trial；　but　the　being　in　jail；　getting　a　glimpse　of　the　sufferings　of　other　people。　It　gave　me　a　chance　to　see　things　in　a　different　light。　I　think　it's　helped　cure　my　fiendish　temper。
　　　　　　〃And　then　it　brought　out　the　loyalty　in　Rob。　He　knew　that　I　couldn't　be　guilty；　but　he　knew　that　the　evidence　was　against　me；　and　that　I　stood　a　chance　of　being　convicted。　In　those　dark　hours　when　you　didn't　take　us　into　your　confidence　and　things　seemed　to　be　stacking　up　so　much　against　us；　he　came　forward　and　was　willing　to　give　his　life　to　save　mine。〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　looking　thoughtfully　at　Rob　Gleason；　〃it　was　a　noble　and　magnanimous　thing　to　do；　but　if　I　hadn't　been　sure　of　my　theory　of　the　case；　he　would　have　thrown　me　entirely　off　my　stride。　His　confession　was　most　convincing；　save　for　the　fact　that　he　claimed　he　had　taken　the　thousand　dollar