erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第9章

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　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said；　〃it's　a　bundle　of　papers　probably　twenty　inches　thick。　But　one　man　can　lift　them。〃
　〃Let's　go；〃　Drake　said。
　〃There's　one　more　thing　I　wanted　to　tell　you；　Mr。　Mason；〃　Virginia　said。　〃While　I　was　away　from　Julian　Bannock's　ranch；　or　farm；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　and　telephoning　you　and　getting　ready　to　go　back　and　get　those　papers；　this　man　showed　up　at　the　ranch。〃
　〃What　man？〃
　〃The　one　who　called　on　me。　Eagan；　you　say　he　is；　the　chauffeur　for　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　〃And　what　did　he　want？〃
　〃He　wanted　to　look　at　some　of　the　old　files　of　Delano　Bannock。　Julian…that's　the　brother…told　him　to　wait；　that　I　was　going　to　be　back　there　within　a　few　minutes。〃
　〃And　what　happened？〃
　〃The　man　jumped　in　his　car　and　drove　off；　going　fast。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mason　said；　and　nodded　to　Drake。　〃Let's　get　those　papers；　Paul。〃
　Drake　acpanied　Virginia　to　the　parking　lot。　She　unlocked　her　car。　Drake　picked　up　the　files　in　the　card…　board　carton；　hoisted　the　carton　to　his　shoulder　and　they　returned　to　Mason's　office。
　Mason　said；　〃Let's　look　at　the　file　listed　under　'T'　and　see　what　you　have。　Let's　see；　you　have　'T…1；'　'T…2；'　'T…3；'　'T…4；'　'T…5'；　just　what　do　those　mean？〃
　〃That's　the　way　I　kept　the　wills　under　'T。'　'T…1'　would　be　the　first　five　letters　of　the　alphabet。　In　other　words；　'TA；'　'T…B；'　'T…C；'　'T…D；'　'T…E'；　then；　'T…2'　would　be　the　next　five　letters。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mason　said。　〃Well；　let's　look　under　the　'T…4'　and　see　if　we　can　find　any　papers　relating　to　Lauretta　Trent。〃
　Mason　spread　the　files　out　on　the　desk　and　Mason；　Della　Street；　Paul　Drake　and　Virginia　Baxter　started　rapidly　going　through　the　files。
　〃Well；〃　Mason　said；　after　a　few　minutes'　search；　〃apparently　we　have　a　lot　of　copies　of　wills　here；　but　no　copy　of　a　will　made　for　Lauretta　Trent。〃
　〃But　we　did　her　work；　we　made　at　least　one　will　for　her；〃　Virginia　said。
　〃And；〃　Mason　said；　〃George　Eagan　was　making　inquiries　as　to　the　location　of　the　carbon　copies　of　Delano　Bannock's　files；　and　George　Eagan　is　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur。〃
　Mason　turned　to　Paul　Drake；　〃What　hospital　was　Lauretta　Trent　in　when　she　had　her　so…called　digestive　upsets？〃
　〃Phillips　Memorial　Hospital；〃　Drake　said。
　Mason　nodded　to　the　phone；　〃Get　them　on　the　line；　please；　Della。〃
　Della　Street　asked　for　an　outside　line；　got　a　number　and　whirled　the　dial。　A　moment　later　she　nodded　to　Mason。
　Mason　picked　up　the　phone；　〃Phillips　Memorial　Hospital？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃This　is　Perry　Mason；　the　attorney；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃I　would　like　to　get　some　information　on　one　of　your　patients。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　we　can't　give　information　about　our　patients。〃
　〃Well；　this　is　just　a　routine　matter　of　record；〃　Mason　said　casually。　〃The　patient　is　Lauretta　Trent。　You　had　her　in　the　hospital　on　three　occasions　within　the　last　several　months　and　all　I'm　interested　in　is　finding　out　the　name　of　her　physician。〃
　〃Just　a　moment；　we　can　give　you　that　information。〃
　〃I'll　hold　the　phone；　if　I　may；〃　Mason　said。
　A　moment　later　the　voice　said；　〃The　physician　was　Dr。　Ferris　Alton。　He's　in　the　Randwell　Building。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Mason　said。
　The　lawyer　hung　up；　turned　to　Della　Street；　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　get　Dr。　Alton's　nurse。〃
　〃His　nurse？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said；　〃I'd　like　to　talk　with　Dr。　Alton；　but　I　think　I'll　have　to　speak　with　his　nurse；　personally；　before　we　can　get　him　on　the　line。　After　all；　this　is　probably　the　beginning　of　a　busy　afternoon　for　a　doctor。　He　probably　sees　a　lot　of　office　patients　in　the　afternoon；　does　operating　in　the　morning　and　makes　hospital　visits　after　that。〃
　Della　Street　got　the　number；　asked　Gertie　in　the　outer　office　for　an　outside　line；　dialed　the　number　and　again　nodded　to　Perry　Mason。
　Mason　picked　up　the　telephone；　said；　〃How　do　you　do？　This　is　Perry　Mason；　an　attorney。　I　know　that　Dr。　Alton　is　very　busy　and　that　this　is　just　before　the　busiest　time　of　the　afternoon；　but　it　is　quite　important　that　I　speak　with　him　briefly　concerning　a　matter　which　may　affect　a　patient　of　his。〃
　〃_Perry_　Mason；　the　lawyer？〃　the　feminine　voice　asked。
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　quite　sure　he'd　want　to　talk　with　you　personally。　He's　busy　at　the　moment；　but　I'll　interrupt　him　and…Can　you　hang　on　to　the　line　for　a　few　moments？〃
　〃I'll　be　glad　to；〃　Mason　said。
　There　was　a　period　of　silence。　Then　a　tired；　slightly　impatient　voice　said；　〃Yes；　this　is　Dr。　Ferris　Alton　talking。〃
　〃Perry　Mason；　the　attorney；〃　the　lawyer　told　him。　〃I　wanted　to　ask　you　a　few　questions　about　a　patient　of　yours。〃
　〃What　sort　of　questions；　and　who　is　the　patient？〃
　〃Lauretta　Trent；〃　Mason　said。　〃You've　had　her　hospi~　talized　several　times　within　the　last　few　months。〃
　〃Well？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked；　and　this　time　the　note　of　impatience　was　quite　apparent　in　his　voice。
　〃Can　you　tell　me　the　nature　of　the　malady？〃
　〃I　can　not！〃　Dr。　Alton　snapped。
　〃Very　well；　then；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　can　perhaps　tell　you　something　which　will　be　of　interest。　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　Lauretta　Trent　made　a　will；　that　this　will　was　executed　in　the　office　of　an　attorney　by　the　name　of　Delano　Bannock；　that　the　attorney　is　now　deceased；　that　persons　are　interested　in　surreptitiously　obtaining　a　copy　of　that　will；　that　some　of　the　persons　associated　with　Lauretta　Trent　may　be　taking　an　active　interest　in　a　search　of　this　kind。
　〃Now　then；　I　am　asking　you　this。　Are　you　pletely　satisfied　with　your　diagnosis　in　the　case　of　Lauretta　Trent？〃
　〃Certainly。　Otherwise　I　wouldn't　have　discharged　her。〃
　〃I　understand；　generally；〃　Mason　said；　〃that　she　had　a　gastroenteric　disturbance。〃
　〃Well；　what　of　it？〃
　〃And；〃　Mason　said；　〃I　have　before　me　several　of　the　authorities　on　forensic　medicine　and　toxicology。　I　find　that　it　is　generally　agreed　that　cases　of　arsenic　poisoning　are　seldom　diagnosed　by　the　attending　physician；　since　the　symptoms　are　those　of　a　gastroenteric　disturbance。
　〃You're　crazy；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃Therefore；〃　Mason　went　on；　〃I　think　you　will　understand　my　position　when　I　ask　you　if　there　were　abdominal　cramps；　cramps　in　the　calves　of　the　legs；　a　burning　sensation　in　the　stomach　and…〃
　〃Good　God！〃　Dr。　Alton　interrupted。
　Mason　ceased　talking；　waiting　for　the　doctor　to　say　something。
　There　was　a　long　period　of　silence　over　the　phone。
　〃No　one　would　possibly　want　to　poison　Lauretta　Trent；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　Mason　asked。
　There　was　another　period　of　silence。
　〃What's　your　interest　in　this　matter？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked　at　length。
　〃My　interest　is　purely　incidental；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　can　assure　you　that　while　I　am　representing　a　client；　that　client　has　no　interests　adverse　to　those　of　Lauretta　Trent　and　there　is　no　reason　why　you　could　not　make　any　statement　to　me　that　you　can　make　without　disclosing　a　privileged　professional　confidence。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃You've　given　me　something　to　think　about；　all　right；　Mason。　Her　symptoms　had　a　great　deal　in　mon　with　those　of　arsenic　poisoning。　You're　so　right；　physicians　who　are　called　in　on　cases　of　this　sort　almost　never　suspect　the　possibilities　of　homicidal　poisoning。　The　cases　are　almost　invariably　given　a　diagnosis　of　enteric　disturbance。〃
　〃That；〃　the　lawyer　told　him；　〃is　why　I'm　calling　you。〃
　〃Do　you　have　some　suggestions？〃　Dr。　Alton　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　would　suggest　that　you　get　a　sample　of　her　hair　pulled　out　by　the　roots；　if　possible。　And；　if　possible；　some　cuttings　of　the　fingernails。　Let's　have　them　analyzed　for　arsenic　and　see　if　we　get　a　positive　reaction。
　〃In　the　meantime；　I　would　suggest　that　you　try　not　to　alarm　your　patient；　but　take　steps　to　see　that　she　is　put　upon　a　restricted　diet　which　is　enforced　by　special　roundthe…clock　nurses…in　other　words；　a　rigid　dietary　supervision。
　〃I　take　it　the　patient　is　in　such　a　financial　position　that　the　expense　can　be　justified？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃。　。　。　My　Lord；　she　has　a　heart　condition　which　can't　stand　too　many　of　these　upsets。　I　warned　her；　the　last　one。　I　thought　it　was　dietary　indiscretion。　She　has　a　weakness　for　highly　spiced　Mexican　food　with　considerable　garlic…That　would　be　almost　a　perfect　disguise　for　a　dose　of　arsenic…Mason；　how　long　are　you　going　to　be　in　your　office？〃
　〃I'll　be　here　all　afternoon；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　if　you　need　me　after　office　hours；　you　can　get　me　through　the　Drake　Detective　Agency。　Ask　for　Paul　Drake。　The　offices　are　in　the　same　building　where　I　have　my　offices　and　are　on　the　same　floor。〃
　〃You'll　be　hearing　from　me；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃In　the　meantime；　I'm　going　to　make　arrangements　right　away　to　insure　that　nothing　else　questionable　will　happen。〃
　〃Please　bear　in　mind　that　we　must　try　to　keep　from　making　any　accusations　or　any　statements　which　will　alarm　your　patient　until　we're　certain；〃　Mason　said。
　〃I　understand；　I　understand；〃　Alton　said　sharply。　〃Damn　it；　Mason；　I've　been　practicing　medicine　for　thirtyfive　years…My　God；　man；　you've　given　me　a　jolt。　。　。　Classic　symptoms　of　arsenic　poisoning　and　I　never　suspected　a　thing…you'll　be　hearing　from　me。　Goodbye。〃
　The　connection　was　sharply　terminated。
　Mason　said　to　Virginia；　〃I　don't　like　to　restrict　your　liberties；　Virginia；　but　I　want　you　to　be　where　I　can　reach　you。　Go　to　your　apartment　and　stay　there。　Report　every　single　thing　out　of　the　ordinary。　I'll　have　my　phone　so　you　can　get　to　me　at　any　time。〃
　Drake　frowned　and　said；　〃But　they　couldn't　prove　a　will　by　using　a　copy；　could　they；　Perry？〃
　〃Under　certain　limited　circumstances；　yes；〃　Mason　said。　〃If　a　will　is　missing；　the　general　presumption　is　that　it　was　destroyed　by　the　testator；　which　is　equivalent　to　a　revocation。　But　if；　for　instance；　a　house　should　catch　on　fire　and　the　testator　should　perish　in　the　flames；　it　would　be　generally　presumed　that　the　will　was　burned　up　at　the　same　time　and；　if　there　could　be　proof　that　it　was　still　in　effect　at　the　time　of　the　fire　and　the　testator's　death；　then　the　contents　could　be　established　by　secondary　evidence。
　〃However；　that's　not　what　I'm　thinking　of。〃
　〃What　are　you　thinking　of？〃　Drake　asked。
　Mason　glanced　at　Virginia　and　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　not　prepared　to　say　at　the　moment。
　〃Virginia；　I　want　you　to　go　on　home。　You　may　receive　a　call　from　this　man　you　now　know　is　George　Eagan；　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur。
　〃You'll　remember　this　man　told　you　he　was　George　Menard。
　〃Now；　if　he　calls　on　you；　be　very　careful　not　to　let　on　that　you　know　who　he　really　is。　Be　na？ve；　gullible　and　perhaps　a　little　greedy。　If　he　acts　as　if　he　wanted　to　make　you　any　sort　of　a　proposition；　let　him　feel　you　are　willing　to　listen。　Then　stall　for　time。
　〃Call　me…or　if　I'm　not　available；　Paul　Drake…as　soon　as　you　can　get　to　a　phone。　Let　us　know　what　the　man　wants。〃
　〃I'm　to　let　him　think　I'm　willing　to　play　along？〃
　〃That's　right。　And　if　you　are　asked　to　do　any　typing；　use　new　carbons　with　each　sheet　of　paper。〃
　〃It　won't　be　dangerous？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so　at　the　moment。　Not　if　you　don't　let　on　you　know　who　lie　really　is；　and　if　you　manage　to　stall　him　long　enough　to　get　to　a　phone。　Later　on　we　may　have　to　take　precautions。〃
　〃All　right；〃　she　promised；　〃I'll　try。〃
　〃Good　girl；〃　Mason　said。　〃Go　on　home　now　and　phone　me　if　anything　happens。〃
　Her　laugh　was　nervous。　〃Don't　worry；〃　she　said；　〃the　very　first　thing　that　occurs　out　of　the　or