erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第12章

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　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　that's　what　you've　done；　that's　what　you've　done。　Give　me　your　night　number。　I'll　drop　these　things　at　the　laboratory　and　ask　for　an　immediate　check。　。　。　。　Now；　what　do　you　propose　to　do　if　the　tests　are　positive　and　show　the　presence　of　arsenic？〃
　This　time　Dr。　Alton　met　Mason's　eyes　firmly。　〃I　intend　to　go　to　the　patient　and　tell　her　that　she　has　been　suffering　from　arsenic　poisoning　rather　than　from　allergies　or　a　digestive　upset。　I　intend　to　tell　her　that　we're　going　to　have　to　take　extraordinary　safeguards　and　that；　from　the　manner　in　which　the　symptoms　developed；　I　have　very　strong　suspicions　that　there　was　an　attempt　at　homicide。〃
　Mason　said；　〃And　I　suppose　you　have　taken　into　consideration　that　this　will　start　a　three…ring　circus　among　relatives；　authorities　and　people　in　the　household。　They'll　call　you　a　quack；　an　alarmist　and　accuse　you　of　trying　to　alienate　Lauretta　Trent's　affections。〃
　〃I　can't　help　it。　I　have　my　duty　as　a　doctor。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said。　〃We　should　have　that　report　no　later　than　nine…thirty。　The　only　thing　that　I　don't　agree　with　you　on　is　safeguarding　your　patient　in　the　meantime。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I've　debated　the　pros　and　cons　with　myself　and　I　have　cqme　to　the　conclusion　that　this　is　the　best　way　to　handle　it。　I'll　accept　responsibility　for　the　decision。　After　all；　you　know；　it　is　my　responsibility。〃
　Mason　nodded　to　Della　Street。　〃All　right；　Della；　we'll　go　to　the　laboratory；　start　them　working　on　these　things；　and　get　a　preliminary　report　at　the　earliest　possible　moment。　You　get　Dr。　Alton's　night　number　and　we'll　call　him　just　as　soon　as　we　have　a　report。〃
　〃And；　of　course；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃you'll　keep　things　entirely　confidential？　You　know；　the　police　and；　of　course；　the　press。　These　things　have　a　way　of　leaking　out　once　they　get　into　the　hands　of　the　police；　and　I　know　that　Lauretta　Trent　would　consider　publicity…well；　she'd　simply　hit　the　ceiling。　It　would　mean　the　end　of　our　professional　relationship。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　in　somewhat　the　position　of　being　a　public　servant　in　this　case；　Doctor。　Actually；　I　haven't　a　client。　The　logical　client　would　probably　be　Lauretta　Trent；　but　I　certainly　don't　want　to　approach　her　in　any　way。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃The　minute　you　find　anything　positive　in　the　hair　and　the　nails；　I'm　going　to　go　to　her　myself　and　I'm　going　to　explain　to　her　just　what　you　have　done　in　the　case　and　how　valuable　your　assistance　has　been。
　〃In　the　meantime；　I　can　assure　you；　on　my　own　responsibility；　that　any　amounts　within　reason　you　may　be　called　upon　to　pay　will　be　promptly　remitted　by　Mrs。　Trent。
　〃But　。　。　。〃　Dr。　Alton　cleared　his　throat；　〃in　the　event　your　suspicions　should　turn　out　to　be　groundless；　Mr。　Mason；　you　are…Well；　I　。　。　。　I　mean　to　say…〃
　Mason　grinned　and　interrupted　him。　〃You　mean　that　in　the　event　I'm　barking　up　the　wrong　tree；　my　costs　are　going　to　be　borne　exclusively　by　me；　that　I　will　have　lost　a　lot　of　face　with　you。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃You've　expressed　it　more　forcefully　than　I　would；　but　very　well。〃
　Mason　said；　〃You'll　hear　from　me　about　nine　or　ninethirty　and　then　you　can　take　it　from　there。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　He　gripped　the　lawyer's　hand　and　went　out。
　Della　Street　looked　at　Mason　speculatively；　〃Do　you　have　some　mental　reservations　about　Dr。　Alton？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃Do　you　know；　Della；　I　can't　help　feeling　what　a　mess　it　would　be　if　Dr。　Alton　should　be　one　of　the　beneficiaries　in　Lauretta　Trent's　will。〃
　Della　Street's　eyes　widened　with　consternation。　〃Good　heavens；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　suppose　。　。　。　？〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said　as　her　voice　trailed　away　into　silence。　〃And　now；　let's　go　to　dinner；　after　stopping　by　the　laboratory　and　asking　for　a　quick　preliminary　report。〃
　〃And　you're　going　to　tell　Dr。　Alton　what　you　find？　If　he's　one　of　the　beneficiaries　under　the　will…Well；　of　course；　under　the　circumstances…〃
　〃I　know；〃　Mason　said；　〃I'm　going　to　tell　him　and　then　I'nj　going　to　make　absolutely　certain　that　Lauretta　Trent　is　protected　against　any　further　so…called　gastroenteric　disturbances。〃
　〃That；〃　Della　Street　said；　〃should　make　quite　a　situation。〃
　〃It　will；〃　Mason　told　her。
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
　Mason　and　Della　Street　had　a　leisurely；　relaxing　dinner。
　Della　Street　had　left　word　with　the　laboratory　to　call　them　at　the　café；　and　the　headwaiter；　knowing　that　an　important　call　was　expected；　was　bustling　about　keeping　an　eye　on　Mason's　table。
　Della　Street　had　contented　herself　with　a　small　steak　and　baked　potato；　but　Mason　had　ordered　an　extra…thick　cut　of　rare　prime　ribs　of　beef；　a　large　bottle　of　Guinness　Stout；　tossed　salad　and　stuffed　baked　potato。
　At　length；　the　lawyer　pushed　back　his　plate；　finished　the　last　of　his　Stout；　smiled　across　the　glass　atDella　Street　and　said；　〃It's　a　real　pleasure　to　be　able　to　dine；　to　feel　that　we're　not　wasting　time　and　yet　be　able　to　take　all　the　time　we　want。
　〃We　have　the　laboratory　doing　our　analysis　for　us；　we　have　Paul　Drake　all　ready　to…Oh…oh；〃　the　lawyer　interrupted　himself；　〃here　es　Pierre　with　a　telephone。〃
　The　headwaiter　bustled　importantly　to　the　table；　conscious　of　the　fact　that　many　eyes　were　on　him　as　he　plugged　in　the　telephone　for　his　distinguished　guest。
　〃Your　call；　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said。
　Mason　picked　up　the　telephone；　said；　〃Mason　talking。〃
　The　operator　said；　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Mason。〃　And　then　Mason　heard　a　quick；　〃On　the　line。〃
　〃Mason　talking；〃　the　lawyer　said。
　The　voice　of　the　laboratory　technician　was　almost　mechanical　as　he　rasped　out　a　report。
　〃You　wanted　an　analysis　of　nails　and　hair　for　arsenic。　Both　reactions　were　positive。〃
　〃Quantity？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃It　was　not　a　quantitative　analysis。　I　simply　ran　tests。　However；　I　can　state　this：　There　are　two　bands　of　arsenic　in　the　hair　indicating　a　recurrent　poisoning　with　a　lapse　of　about　four　weeks　in　between　the　attacks。　The　nails　do　not　give　that　long　a　sequence　but　do　indicate　the　presence　of　arsenic。〃
　〃Can　you　make　an　analysis　which　would　give　me　an　idea　of　the　quantity？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Not　with　the　material　which　I　have　at　present。　I　gathered　that　haste　was　imperative　and　I　used　up　the　material　in　making　tests　simply　for　the　purpose　of　getting　a　reaction　to　the　poison。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said；　〃thanks　a　lot；　just　keep　it　under　your　hat。〃
　〃Anything　to　report　to　the　authorities？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Mason　said　positively。　〃Absolutely　nothing。〃
　The　lawyer　hung　up　the　phone；　scribbled　the　amount　of　a　tip　on　a　check　which　the　headwaiter　had　brought　him；　signed　his　name　and　handed　the　headwaiter　ten　dollars。
　〃This　is　for　you；　Pierre。　Thanks。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you　so　much；〃　Pierre　said。　〃The　call　it　was　all　right？　It　came　through　nicely？〃
　〃It　came　through　fine；〃　Mason　said。
　The　lawyer　nodded　to　Della　Street。　They　walked　out　of　the　restaurant；　and　Mason　stopped　at　the　telephone　booth　to　deposit　a　coin　and　dial　Dr。　Alton's　night　number。
　Mason　heard　the　phone　start　ringing；　and　almost　instantly　Dr。　Alton's　voice　said；　〃Yes；　yes。　Hello。　Hello；〃　indicating　that　the　physician　had　been　anxiously　waiting　by　the　telephone。
　〃Perry　Mason　talking；　Doctor；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃The　tests　were　both　positive。　The　hair　test　indicated　there　had　been　two　periods　of　poison　ingestion　about　four　weeks　apart。〃
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　stunned　silence　at　the　other　end　of　the　telephone；　then　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Good　God！〃
　Mason　said；　〃She's　your　patient；　Doctor。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Look；　Mason；　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　I　am　named　as　one　of　the　beneficiaries　in　Lauretta　Trent's　will。
　〃This　whole　business　is　going　to　put　me　in　a　very　embarrassing　position。　As　soon　as　I　make　a　report　to　Lauretta　Trent；　I　will　be　castigated　by　the　family　who　will　insist　on　calling　in　another　physician　to　check　my　diagnosis　and　then　when　that　physician　confirms　our　suspicions；　the　family　will　at　least　intimate　that　I　have　been　trying　to　hurry　up　my　inheritance。〃
　Mason　said；　〃You　might　also　give　a　little　thought　to　what　will　happen　if　you　don't　report　what　you　have　found　out　and　if　there　should　be　a　fourth　attack　during　which　Mrs。　Trent　should　die。〃
　〃I've　been　pacing　the　floor　thinking　of　that　for　the　last　hour；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　knew　that　you　disapproved　of　the　extent　of　the　precautionary　measures　I　had　taken。　You　thought　that　I　should　at　least　have　confided　my　suspicions　to　the　nurse　in　charge　and　seen　that…Oh；　well；　that's　all　water　under　the　bridge　now。
　〃Mason；　I'm　going　out　there。　I'd　like　very；　very　much　to　have　you　along　with　me　when　I　talk　with　my　patient。　I　think　I'm　going　to　need　professional　reinforcements　and　before　I　get　done；　I　may　need　an　attorney。　I　want　to　have　you　there　to　substantiate　the　facts。　I'll　see　that　you're　amply　paid　by　Mrs。　Trent。　I'll　make　that　my　responsibility。〃
　〃What's　the　address？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃An　imposing　mansion　on　Alicia　Drive；　the　number　is　twenty…one　twelve。　I'm　going　right　out　there。　If　I　should　get　there　first；　I'll　wait　for　you。　If　you　get　there；　just　park　your　car　at　the　curb　on　the　street　and　wait　for　me。
　〃Actually；　there's　a　curved　driveway　going　up　to　the　front　entrance；　but　the　only　place　you　could　wait　without　attracting　attention　would　be　at　the　curb。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃Della　Street；　my　secretary；　and　I　are　on　the　way　out　right　now。〃
　〃I'll　probably　beat　you　there；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I'll　be　parked　at　the　curb。〃
　〃Any　idea　of　just　how　you　are　going　about　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I've　been　overly　optimistic　long　enough。　Perhaps　I　should　say；　I've　been　a　coward。〃
　〃You're　going　to　tell　her　the　whole　thing？〃
　〃Tell　her　the　whole　thing。　Tell　her　that　her　life　is　in　danger。　Tell　her　that　I　have　made　a　mistake　in　diagnosis。　In　short；　I'm　going　to　set　off　the　whole　chain　reaction。〃
　〃You　know　her；〃　Mason　asked；　〃how　will　she　take　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know　her　that　well；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃Haven't　you　been　treating　her　for　quite　a　while？〃
　〃I've　been　her　physician　for　years；〃　Dr　Alton　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　her　well　enough　to　know　how　she'll　take　anything　like　this。　No　one　does。　She　is　very　much　of　a　law　unto　herself。〃
　〃Sounds　interesting；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Probably　interesting　to　you；〃　Dr。　Alton　told　him；　〃but　it's　disastrous　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Now；　don't　be　too　hard　on　yourself；〃　Mason　said。　〃Physicians　don't　ordinarily　expect　homicidal　poisoning；　and　the　records　show　that　virtually　every　case　of　arsenical　poisoning　was　originally　diagnosed　by　the　physician　in　charge　as　a　gastroenteric　disturbance　of　considerable　magnitude。〃
　〃I　know。　I　know；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃You　can　make　it　easy　on　me；　but　I'm　not　going　to。　I'm　going　to　face　the　music。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃I'll　meet　you　there。〃
　The　lawyer　hung　up；　nodded　to　Della　Street。
　〃Report　to　Paul　Drake；　Della。　We're　going　out　there。　We　can't　let　Dr。　Alton　face　the　music　alone。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　Mason　found　Alicia　Drive　without　difficulty；　drove　slowly　along　until　the　street　lights　showed　an　imposing　white　mansion　on　high　ground　to　the　right　with　a　curved　driveway　leading　up　to　the　front。
　A　car　was　parked　at　the　curb　just　before　the　entrance　to　the　driveway　and　the　parking　lights　were　on。　A　figure　could　be　seen　silhouetted　in　the　driver's　seat。
　Mason　said；　〃Unle