erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第13章

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tted　in　the　driver's　seat。
　Mason　said；　〃Unless　I'm　mistaken；　that　will　be　Dr。　Alton。〃
　The　lawyer　eased　his　car　into　the　curb　behind　the　other　machine；　and　Dr。　Alton　almost　instantly　opened　the　door　of　his　car　and　came　walking　back　to　Mason's　side　of　the　car。
　〃Well；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃you　made　good　time。　Let's　go。〃
　〃Take　both　cars　in　the　driveway？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　think　so。　I'll　lead　the　way；　you　follow　me。　There's　a　parking　place　in　front。　That　is；　it's　wide　enough　for　three　cars　and　you　just　leave　your　car　behind　mine。〃
　〃Let's　go；〃　Mason　told　him。
　Dr。　Alton　hesitated　a　moment；　squared　his　shoulders；　marched　grimly　over　to　his　automobile；　started　the　motor；　switched　on　the　headlights　and　led　the　way　up　the　curving　drive。
　Mason　followed　behind　him；　parked　his　car；　walked　around　to　help　Della　out；　then　led　her　up　the　steps　to　the　spacious　stone　landing。
　Dr。　Alton　pressed　the　bell　button。
　Apparently　Alton　had　expected　a　servant　to　open　the　door。　He　recoiled　noticeably　when　a　chunky；　blue…eyed　man　in　his　middle　fifties　stood　in　the　doorway。
　〃Why；　hello；　Doc；〃　the　man　said。　And　then　added　almost　instantly；　〃What's　the　matter？　Anything　wrong？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said　with　dignity；　〃I　happened　to　be　driving　by　。　。　。　I　decided　to　drop　in　to　see　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　The　man　turned　speculative　blue　eyes　on　Perry　Mason　and　Della　Street。
　〃And　these　people？〃　he　asked。
　Dr。　Alton；　evidently　upset　by　the　meeting；　apparently　did　not　intend　to　perform　introductions。
　〃They　are　with　me；〃　he　said　shortly；　and　started　through　the　door。
　Mason　took　Della　Street's　arm；　guided　her　into　the　reception　hallway；　smiled　affably　but　impersonally　and　started　to　follow　Dr。　Alton　up　a　sweeping　staircase。
　〃Hey；　wait　a　minute！〃　the　man　said。　〃Hey；　what　is　this？〃
　Dr。　Alton　turned；　frowned；　reached　a　decision。　〃I　have　asked　these　people…〃
　〃Why；　this　is　Perry　Mason；　the　lawyer！〃　the　man　interrupted。　〃I've　seen　his　picture　dozens　of　times。〃
　Dr。　Alton；　with　close…clipped　professional　efficiency；　said；　〃Quite　right。　That　is　Mr。　Perry　Mason　and；　in　case　you're　interested；　the　young　woman　with　him　is　Miss　Della　Street；　his　secretary。　I　want　Mr。　Mason　to　talk　with　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　Then；　after　a　barely　perceptible　hesitation；　he　said；　〃This　is　Mr。　Boring　Briggs；　a　brother…in…law　of　my　patient。〃
　Briggs　didn't　even　acknowledge　the　introduction。
　〃Say；　what　is　this？〃　he　asked。　〃You　folks　making　out　a　will　or　something？　What's　happened？　Lauretta　hasn't　had　another　one　of　her　spells；　has　she？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I　would　prefer　to　let　Mrs。　Trent　give　you　the　information；　but　if　it　will　relieve　your　mind　any；　Mr。　Mason　is　with　me。　Mrs。　Trent　didn't　send　for　him。〃
　〃Well；　don't　be　so　crusty　about　it；〃　Briggs　said。　〃I　naturally　felt　a　little　alarm。　I've　been　out。　Just　got　back　a　few　minutes　ago；　and　when　I　find　a　doctor　and　a　lawyer　ing　out　to　the　house　at　this　hour　of　the　night…well；　I　felt　I　was　entitled　to　a　little　information；　that's　all。〃
　〃We'll　go　on　up；〃　Dr。　Alton　said　with　formal　dignity。　〃Right　this　way；　please。〃
　The　physician　indicated　the　stairway　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm　and　climbed　the　stairs。
　Mason　and　Della　Street　followed　a　tread　behind。
　Briggs　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs　and　watched　them　go　up；　his　expression　one　of　frowning　contemplation。
　Dr。　Alton　reached　the　head　of　the　stairs；　started　down　the　corridor　with　long　strides。　Then　slowed　perceptibly　for　a　moment　just　before　ing　to　a　door　where　he　knocked。
　A　woman　opened　the　door。
　This　time　Dr。　Alton　performed　the　introductions。　〃Miss　Anna　Fritch；〃　he　said。　〃Trained　nurse。
　〃Miss　Fritch；　this　is　Miss　Della　Street；　Perry　Mason's　secretary　and　Mr。　Perry　Mason；　the　attorney。〃
　Her　eyes　widened。　〃Why；　how　do　you　do？　How　do　you　do？〃　she　said。
　Dr。　Alton　pushed　his　way　into　the　room；　held　the　door　open　for　Della　Street　and　Perry　Mason。　〃How's　the　patient？〃　he　asked。
　The　nurse's　eyes　met　his。　She　lowered　her　voice　and　said；　〃She's　gone。〃
　Dr。　Alton's　face　was　apprehensive。　〃You　mean　she's…〃
　〃No；　no；〃　the　nurse　hastened　to　explain；　〃she　is　out　somewhere。〃
　Dr。　Alton　frowned。　〃I　told　you　to　take　precautions　about　her　diet　and…〃
　〃Why；　certainly；〃　the　nurse　said；　〃I　put　it　on　the　chart。　She　had　dry　toast　which　I　fixed　myself　on　an　electric　toaster　and　two　soft…boiled　eggs　which　I　cracked　myself。　There　was　no　seasoning　at　all。　I'm　afraid　I　may　have　gone　to　extremes。　I　insisted　she　eat　the　eggs　without　salt　and　I　told　her　that　you　didn't　want　her　to　have　any　seasoning　tonight。〃
　〃But　you　didn't　tell　her　to　stay　in？〃
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　to　tell　her　that。〃
　〃Is　she　driving？〃
　〃I　think　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur；　is　driving　her。〃
　〃How　long　has　she　been　gone？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　didn't　even　know　she　was　going。　She　didn't　e　out　through　here。　There's　an　exit　door　from　her　bedroom　to　the　corridor。　You　can　see　for　yourself。〃
　The　nurse　crossed　the　bedroom　to　an　adjoining　bedroom　and　opened　the　door。
　It　was　a　huge　bedroom　with　rose　tapestry；　indirect　lighting；　a　king…sized　bed　with　a　telephone　beside　it；　half　a　dozen　fortable　chairs；　an　open　door　to　a　bathroom　and　another　door　leading　to　the　corridor。
　〃She　didn't　tell　you　she　was　going　out？〃
　〃I　had　no　idea　of　it。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　give　her　the　toast　and　eggs？〃
　〃About　seven　o'clock；　and　I　impressed　on　her　that　you　didn't　want　her　to　have　anything　else。〃
　〃What　did　she　say　when　you　told　her　I　suspected　an　allergy　and　wanted　samples　of　her　hair　and　her　nails？〃
　〃She　was　most　co…operative。　She　said　she　certainly　would　like　to　find　out　what　was　causing　the　trouble；　that　somehow　she　didn't　think　her　troubles　were　due　to　what　she　had　eaten。　She　suspected　some　sort　of　an　allergy。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃It's　important；　very　important　that　I　see　her…You　don't　know　when　she'll　be　back？〃
　The　nurse　shook　her　head。
　〃Nor　when　she　went　out？〃
　〃No；　Doctor；　it's　just　as　I　told　you。　I　looked　in　on　her　after　she　had　had　her　supper　and　she　was　gone。〃
　〃She　isn't　in　the　house？〃
　〃No；　I　asked　and　someone　said　she　had　taken　the　car　and　gone　out。〃
　Dr。　Alton　walked　over　to　the　bedroom　and　closed　the　door。　Then　he　closed　the　corridor　door　and　turned　to　Anna　Fritch。
　〃Did　you　have　any　clue　as　to　why　I　wanted　hair　and　nail　scrapings？〃　he　asked。
　Her　eyes　avoided　his。
　〃Did　you？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked。
　〃I　wondered。〃
　〃Did　you　suspect？〃
　〃The　request；　coupled　with　your　instructions　about　diet…Well；　I　prepared　the　food　myself　and　didn't　let　anyone　else　near　it。〃
　〃Then　you　did　suspect？〃
　〃Frankly；　yes。〃
　The　door　from　the　corridor　opened；　and　Boring　Briggs；　acpanied　by　another　man；　entered　the　room。
　〃I　demand　to　know　what's　going　on！〃　Briggs　said。
　Dr。　Alton　regarded　the　two　men　with　cold　disdain。　〃I　am　giving　instructions　to　the　nurse。〃
　〃And　you　need　a　lawyer　with　you　for　that？〃　Briggs　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said　to　Mason；　〃Mr。　Mason；　meet　the　other　brother…in…law；　Gordon　Kelvin。〃
　Kelvin；　a　tall；　distinguished…looking　man　in　his　late　fifties；　who　gave　the　impression　of　being　a　frustrated　actor；　advanced　a　step；　bowed　slightly　from　the　waist　and　extended　a　hand　with　great　dignity。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said；　and　then　added　after　a　moment；　〃and　may　I　ask　what　you're　doing　here？〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　came　to　see　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　〃This　is　rather　an　unusual　hour　for　a　call；〃　Kelvin　said。
　Mason's　smile　was　disarming。　He　said；　〃I　have　been　able　to　order　my　life　along　unconventional　patterns　and　no　longer　refrain　from　doing　what　I　want　to　do　simply　because　it　is　odd；　unusual；　distinctive　or　unconventional。〃
　The　lawyer　beamed　at　the　two　irate　brothers…in…law。
　The　men　exchanged　glances。
　〃This　is　no　occasion　for　levity；〃　Kelvin　said。
　〃I　am　not　being　facetious。　I　am　being　accurate；〃　Mason　said。
　Briggs　faced　Dr。　Alton；　〃Will　you；〃　he　asked；　〃once　and　for　all；　tell　us　the　reason　for　this？〃
　Dr。　Alton　hesitated　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　then　said；　〃Yes；　I'll　tell　you　the　reason　for　it。　I　made　a　wrong　diagnosis　on　Lauretta　Trent's　illness。〃
　〃You　did！〃　Briggs　exclaimed　in　surprise。
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃A　mistaken　diagnosis？〃　Kelvin　asked。
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃And　you　admit　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Again；　the　men　exchanged　glances。
　〃Would　you　kindly　tell　us　the　real　nature　of　the　illness？〃　Briggs　asked。
　〃We　want　to　know　if　it's　。　。　。　serious；〃　Kelvin　supplemented。
　〃I　dare　say　you　do；〃　Dr。　Alton　said　dryly。
　Briggs　said；　〃Our　wives　have　been　out；　but　are　expected　back　at　any　moment。　They　will　perhaps　be　in　a　little　more　favorable　position　when　it　es　to　。　。　。　well　。　。　。　to　getting　information　from　you。〃
　〃Demanding　an　explanation；〃　Kelvin　supplemented。
　〃All　right；〃　Dr。　Alton　said　angrily；　〃I'll　give　it　to　you。　I　made　a　mistake　in　diagnosis。　I　thought　your　sister…in…law　was　suffering　from　a　gastroenteric　disturbance　induced　by　eating　food　that　was　tainted。〃
　〃And　now　you　say　that　was　not　the　correct　diagnosis？〃　Briggs　asked。
　〃No；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃It　was　not。〃
　〃What　was　the　correct　diagnosis？〃　Gordon　Kelvin　asked。
　〃Someone　had　deliberately　given　her　arsenic　trying　to　poison　her；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　In　the　shocked　silence　that　followed；　two　women　came　bustling　into　the　room；　two　women　who　looked　very　much　alike；　women　who　spent　much　time　and　money　in　beauty　shops　and　had　evidently　just　been　at　one　that　day。
　They　were　girdled　so　heavily　they　had　an　awkward　stiffness　of　motion；　their　chins　were　held　high　and　their　hair　was　beautiful。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Mrs。　Briggs　and　Mrs。　Kelvin；　Mr。　Mason；　and　Miss　Street；　Mr。　Mason's　secretary。〃
　Mrs。　Kelvin；　perhaps　a　few　years　older　than　her　sister；　but　with　keen　inquisitive　eyes；　immediately　took　the　initiative。　〃What's　all　this　about？〃　she　asked。
　Boring　Briggs　said；　〃Dr。　Alton　has　just　told　us　he　made　a　mistake　in　diagnosing　Lauretta's　illness；　that　it　wasn't　food　poisoning　at　all；　it　was　arsenic　poisoning。〃
　〃Arsenic！〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　exclaimed。
　〃Bosh　and　nonsense！〃　Mrs。　Briggs　snapped。
　〃He　seems　certain；〃　Gordon　Kelvin　said；　〃apparently〃
　〃Bosh　and　nonsense！　If　the　man's　made　one　mistake；　he　could　make　two。　Personally；　I　think　Lauretta　needs　another　doctor。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said　dryly；　〃You　might　speak　to　Lauretta　about　it。〃
　Boring　Briggs　said。　〃Now；　look　here；　is　all　this　going　to　get　into　the　newspapers？〃
　〃Not　unless　you　let　it　get　into　the　papers；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃You're　municating　with　the　police？〃
　〃Not　as　yet；〃　Mason　said。
　There　was　a　moment's　silence。
　Mason　went　on　calmly；　〃To　a　large　extent；　it's　up　to　you　folks。　I　take　it　this　is　a　situation　you　wouldn't　want　to　have　publicized。　I　can　also　well　realize　that　you　have　received　the　information　with　feelings　of　mingled　emotion；　but　we　are　now　facing　facts；　and　one　doesn't　argue　with　facts。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　they　are　facts？〃　Briggs　demanded。
　Mason　met　his　eyes　and　said　coldly；　〃Laboratory　facts。　Positive　evidence。〃
　〃You　can't　get　evidence　of　something　that's　past　that　way；〃　Briggs　said。
　Mason　said；　〃Something　that　isn't　generally　known　is　that　arsenic　has　an　affinity　for　fingernails　and　hair。　Once　it　gets　in　the　system；　it　reaches　the　nails　and　the　hair　and　lasts　for　a　long；　long　time。　Late　this　afternoon；　Dr。　Alton　had　samples　taken　of　Lauretta　Trent's　hair　and　her　fingernails。　I；　personally；　had　an　analysis　made　by　a　laboratory　that　is　highly　petent。
　〃The　answer　was　arsenic　poisoning。　In　the　hair；　they　were　able　to　trace　th