erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第14章

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　that　is　highly　petent。
　〃The　answer　was　arsenic　poisoning。　In　the　hair；　they　were　able　to　trace　the　intervals　of　arsenic　poisoning。
　〃Now　then；　Dr。　Alton　is　Lauretta　Trent's　personal　physician。　He's　seen　fit　to　disclose　this　information。〃
　〃Because；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I'm　trying　to　save　the　life　of　my　patient。　I　think　I　have　treated　her　long　enough　to　understand　something　of　her　temperament。　The　minute　I　tell　her　that　she　has　been　a　victim　of　arsenic　poisoning；　things　are　going　to　start　happening　around　here。〃
　〃I'll　say　they　are；〃　Mrs。　Briggs　said。　〃Lauretta　will　hit　the　ceiling。〃
　〃One　dose　of　arsenic　poisoning；〃　Dr。　Alton　went　on；　〃may　be　more　or　less　accidental；　two　doses　indicate　a　deliberate　attempt　at　homicide。　Apparently；　there　have　been　three。〃
　His　announcement　was　greeted　with　silence。
　After　a　moment；　Mrs。　Kelvin　said；　〃These　tests；　are　they　absolute…that　is；　could　there　be　any　mistake？〃
　〃They're　absolute；〃　Mason　said。　〃There　can　be　no　mistake。〃
　Mrs。　Briggs　said；　〃That　first　time　she　got　sick　was　after　she　ate　all　that　Spanish　food。　George　cooked　up　the　food　on　the　grill　in　the　patio。〃
　〃We　all　had　it；〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　said。　〃That　is；　the　first　time。〃
　〃And　only　Lauretta　got　sick；〃　her　husband　pointed　out。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Spanish　food　would　be　an　ideal　means　of　concealing　an　attempt　at　arsenic　poisoning。〃
　〃That　second　time　she　got　sick；〃　Mrs。　Briggs　went　on；　〃George　had　been　doing　some　more　outdoor　cooking。〃
　〃Who　is　George？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur；〃　Gordon　Kelvin　said。
　〃And　he　doubles　as　a　cook？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃He　doubles　in　almost　anything　and　everything。　He's　with　Lauretta　most　of　the　time。〃
　〃Too　much　of　the　time；　if　you　ask　me；〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　snapped。　〃The　man　is　positively　trying　to　dominate　her　thinking。〃
　Mason　said；　〃Would　you；　by　any　chance；　know　whether　he　is　remembered　in　her　will？〃
　They　exchanged　shocked　glances。
　〃Does　anyone　know　the　terms　of　her　will？〃　Mason　asked。
　Again　there　were　glances　and　a　significant　silence。
　〃Apparently；〃　Mason　said；　〃Delano　Bannock　was　Lauretta　Trent's　attorney　during　his　lifetime。　Does　anyone　know　if　she　has　a　will　which　was　drawn　in　his　office；　or　whether　she　went　to　some　other　attorney　after　Bannock's　death？〃
　Kelvin　said；　〃Lauretta　jealously　guards　her　private　affairs。　Perhaps　she　feels　there　is　too　much　of　her　family　living　with　her。　She　has　bee　very　secretive　about　all　of　her　personal　affairs。〃
　〃Financial　affairs；〃　Mrs。　Briggs　said。
　〃Both　personal　and　financial；〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　added。
　Mason　said；　〃I　have　reason　to　believe　that　the　situation　at　the　present　time　may　be　somewhat　crucial。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　a　sample　of　her　hair　and　fingernails？〃　Kelvin　asked。
　〃I　instructed　the　nurse；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　Kelvin　turned　to　Anna　Fritch。　〃Did　George　Eagan　know　that　you　were　taking　samples　of　hair　and　nails？〃
　〃She　told　him；〃　Anna　Fritch　said。　〃She　was　bubbling　over　with　enthusiasm　that　her　illnesses　might　have　been　the　result　of　an　allergy。　She　seemed　in　very　high　spirits。〃
　〃An　allergy？〃　Kelvin　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I　explained　to　Nurse　Fritch　here　that　I　wanted　some　tests　made　for　an　allergy；　that　there　was　a　possibility　the　patient's　symptoms　might　have　been　a　violent　and　acute　reaction　to　an　allergy。　I　asked　her　to　get　samples　of　hair　and　nails　and　to　explain　to　the　patient　that　I　was　taking　the　nails　because　I　was　going　to　give　her　some　medicine　that　would　cause　a　skin　irritation　and　I　didn't　want　her　to　scratch。　I　also　said　that　I　thought　the　digestive　upset　she　had　had　might　have　been　due　to　an　allergic　reaction　to　a　certain　type　of　hairdressing…those　things　do　happen；　you　know。〃
　Kelvin　said　with　dignity；　〃I　think　instead　of　standing　here　and　being　angry　at　Dr。　Alton；　we　should　give　him　our　thanks　and　start　doing　something。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃　Mrs。　Briggs　asked。
　〃Trying　to　locate　Lauretta　for　one　thing。〃
　Mrs。　Kelvin　said；　〃She's　out　with　that　chauffeur　of　hers。　Heaven　knows　where　they've　gone　or　when　they'll　be　back。　What　are　we　going　to　do　about　trying　to　locate　her？　Call　the　police？〃
　Gordon　Kelvin　said；　〃Of　course　not。　However；　we　know　certain　places　where　she　might　be。　There　are　several　restaurants　that　she　frequents。　There　are　a　few　friends　on　whom　she　might　be　calling。　I　would　suggest　that　we　get　on　the　telephone　and　start　calling；　being　very；　very　careful　not　to　do　anything　which　would　indicate　there　might　be　any　urgency　in　what　we　are　trying　to　do。〃
　〃You　two　girls　are　probably　the　ones　to　do　it。　Start　ringing　her　friends　on　the　phone；　say　casually　it's　a　little　late　to　be　calling；　but　that　you　want　to　speak　with　Lauretta。
　〃If　it　turns　out　Lauretta　is　there；　take　it　in　stride。　Tell　her　that　she's　wanted　home　at　once；　that　。　。　。　that　her　sister　isn't　feeling　at　all　well。
　〃Whichever　sister　happens　to　locate　her　can　say　it's　the　other　sister　who　has　been　taken　ill；　and　ask　Lauretta　to　e　home　at　once。
　〃In　that　way　the　chauffeur　won't　feel　that　we're　suspicious　of　him　and　won't　try　to…well；　won't　try　anything。〃
　〃Such　as　what？〃　Briggs　asked。
　〃There　are　lots　of　things　he　could　try；〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　snapped。
　〃Well；　we　don't　want　him　to　get　suspicious；　we　want　him　to　walk　right　into　our　trap；〃　Kelvin　said。
　〃What　trap？〃　Mason　asked。
　They　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　Kelvin　said；　〃He's　the　only　one　who　could　have　poisoned　her；　don't　you　see？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　see；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　can　see　grounds　for　suspicion　but　it's　a　long　way　from　suspicion　to　actual　proof。　I　would　suggest　that　you　be　rather　careful　before　you　start　talking　about　traps。〃
　〃I　see　your　point；〃　Kelvin　said。　〃However；　let's　start　trying　to　locate　her　and　get　her　home。　At　least　she'll　be　safe　here。〃
　〃She　hasn't　been；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Well；　she's　going　to　be　now！〃　Kelvin　snapped。
　〃I　agree　with　you；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　am　going　to　explain　to　her　exactly　what　has　happened；　I　am　going　to　put　my　cards　on　the　table；　and　I　am　going　to　see　that　she　has　private　nurses　around　the　clock；　and　that　all　food　which　she　ingests　is　taken　under　the　supervision　of　those　nurses。〃
　〃Fair　enough；〃　Kelvin　agreed。　〃I　don't　think　anyone　will　object　to　that。〃
　He　turned　to　the　others。
　〃Will　they？〃　he　asked。
　Mrs。　Briggs　said；　〃Oh；　stuff　and　nonsense！　You　can't　put　her　in　a　virtual　prison　that　way；　or　an　isolation　ward　or　something；　once　Dr。　Alton　tells　her；　she　can　be　on　her　guard。　After　all；　she's　old　enough　to　live　her　own　life。　She　doesn't　need　to　be　isolated　from　all　her　pleasures　simply　because　Dr。　Alton　said　someone　has　tried　to　poison　her。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said　angrily；　〃You　can　shorten　that　sentence　by　leaving　out　the　words　'because　Dr。　Alton　said'　and　have　the　sentence　stand　'_simply　because　someone　tried　to　poison　her_。'〃
　Mrs。　Briggs　said；　〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　shortening　my　sentences。〃
　Mason　caught　Dr。　Alton's　angry　expression。　〃I　think　we'll　be　going；　Doctor；〃　he　said。
　〃Well；　I'm　going　to　wait　and　see　if　they　can　get　in　touch　with　my　patient；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　The　telephone　rang　sharply。
　〃That's　Lauretta　calling　now；〃　Mrs。　Kelvin　said。　〃Answer　it；　Nurse；　and　then　let　me　talk　with　her。〃
　The　nurse　answered　the　phone。
　〃It's　for　Mr。　Perry　Mason；〃　she　said。
　〃Excuse　me；〃　Mason　said　to　the　others　and　took　the　phone。　〃Yes；　hello；〃　he　said。
　Virginia　Baxter's　voice　came　over　the　wire。　〃Mr。　Mason；　is　it　all　right　for　me　to　see　Lauretta　Trent？〃　she　asked。
　Mason's　eyes　made　a　quick　survey　of　the　curious　faces　in　the　room。
　〃Where？〃　he　asked。
　〃Up　at　a　motel　above　Malibu。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃She's　overdue　now。　At　first　I　thought　it　would　be　the　thing　to　do；　but　after　I　got　here　I　wasn't　so　certain。〃
　〃Where's　here？〃
　〃The　motel。〃
　〃Where？〃
　〃Here…Oh；　I　see　what　you　mean。　It's　the　Saint's　Rest；　and　I'm　in　Unit　Fourteen。〃
　〃Telephone　there？〃
　〃Yes。　In　each　of　the　units。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Mason　said；　〃I'll　call　back。　Wait。〃
　The　lawyer　hung　up。
　Mason　nodded　to　Della　Street；　bowed　to　the　gathering；　said；　〃If　you'll　excuse　us；　please；　we'll　be　going。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I　may　want　to　reach　you　later；　Mr。　Mason。〃
　〃Call　the　Drake　Detective　Agency；〃　Mason　said。　〃They're　open　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　They'll　relay　messages。〃
　Mason　started　for　the　door。
　Mrs。　Briggs　said；　〃Before　you　leave；　Mr。　Mason；　I　want　you　to　know　that　we　are　absolutely　horrified　by　what　Dr。　Alton　has　told　us…and　we　are　very　much　inclined　to　think　there　is　more　to　it　than　appears　on　the　surface。〃
　Mason　bowed。　〃You　are；　of　course；　entitled　to　your　opinion。　My　only　answer　is　to　wish　you　a　very　good　night。〃
　The　lawyer　stood　aside　for　Della　to　precede　him　through　the　door。
　
　CHAPTER　FIFTEEN
　Della　Street　said；　〃I　take　it　that　call　must　have　been　important　since　it　caused　you　to　leave　the　scene　of　conflict。〃
　〃That　call；〃　Mason　said；　〃was　from　Virginia　Baxter。　Evidently；　Lauretta　Trent　has　been　in　touch　with　her　and　has　arranged　a　meeting　at　a　motel　called　the　Saint's　Rest；　up　in　the　Malibu　country　somewhere。
　〃The　motel　has　a　telephone　and　our　client　is　in　Unit　Fourteen。
　〃So　we　call　her　back　at　the　first　available　opportunity；〃　Mason　went　on。　〃I'm　looking　for　a　booth　now；　but　I　want　to　get　far　enough　away　from　Lauretta　Trent's　house　so　that　some　of　the　crusading　brothers…in…law　won't　notice　me　in　case　they　should　start　out　on　a　search　for　Lauretta。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　is　going　on？〃　Della　asked。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　quite　obviously　there's　a　tie…in　between　the　wills　that　were　prepared　in　Bannock's　office　and　the　attitude　of　the　various　potential　heirs。〃
　Della　said；　〃It's　pretty　convenient　for　the　chauffeur。　He　inherits　under　the　will。　He　does　all　the　outdoor　cooking。　Lauretta　Trent　likes　highly　spiced　foods　and　every　once　in　a　while　she　has　a　violent　digestive　disturbance。　Perhaps　nothing　which　would　be　fatal　in　itself；　but　。　。　。　well；　a　violent　nausea　may　bring　on　a　fatal　heart　attack。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　mented。
　〃There's　a　service　station　and　a　phone　booth　down　that　side　Street；〃　Della　Street　exclaimed。　〃I　just　had　a　glimpse　of　it　as　we　drove　by。〃
　〃That's　for　us；〃　Mason　said。
　They　made　a　U…turn；　drove　down　the　side　street　and　into　the　service　station。
　Della　entered　the　booth；　called　Information　and　got　the　number　of　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel　while　Mason　was　giving　instructions　to　the　attendant　to　fill　the　car　with　gasoline。
　Mason　was　just　entering　the　phone　booth　when　Della　made　the　connection　and　asked　for　Unit　14。
　She　eased　out　of　the　booth　while　Mason　stepped　in　past　her　and　took　the　telephone　from　Della's　hand。
　〃Hello。　Virginia？〃　he　asked　when　he　heard　his　client's　voice。
　〃Yes。　Is　this　Mr。　Mason？〃
　〃Yes。　Tell　me　what　happened。〃
　Virginia　Baxter　said；　〃I　know　that　you　told　me　to　stay　home；　but　the　phone　rang　and　it　was　Lauretta　Trent。　She　asked　me　if　I　would　mind　meeting　with　her　tonight　to　discuss　a　very　important　and　very　confidential　matter。　I　told　her　that　it　would　be　inconvenient　and　that　I　was　supposed　to　stay　home。
　〃So　she　told　me　that　she'd　make　it　well　worth　my　while。　That　she　would　pay　all　my　expenses　and　give　me　five　hundred　dollars。　But　the　understanding　was　I　must　refrain　from　municating　with　anyone。　Just　go　up　there　and　wait　for　her。〃
　〃And　you　did？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　did。　That　five　hundred　dollars　and　all　expenses　looked　as　big　to　me　as　a　mountain　of　pure　gold。
　〃I　realized　I　should　have　telephoned　you　but　she　specifically