esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第32章

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　for　the　daughter；　she　did　it。　Then；　when　she　realized　that　Griffin　was　in　a　trap　and　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　gained　by　sticking　up　for　him；　and　that　the　daughter　might　go　to　jail　as　an　accessory　if　she　kept　on　Iying；　the　woman　turned　her　testimony　against　Griffin。　After　all；　she　was　the　one　that　knew　the　facts。〃
　　〃How　about　Eva　Belter？〃　asked　Mason。　〃I've　got　a　writ　of　habeas　corpus　out　for　her。〃
　　〃You　won't　need　it。　I　think　they　turned　her　loose　about　seven　o'clock。　Do　you　suppose　she'll　e　here？〃
　　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Perhaps　she'll　be　grateful；〃　he　said；　〃perhaps　not。　The　last　time　I　saw　her　she　was　cursing　me。〃
　　The　door　in　the　outer　office　made　a　sound　as　it　opened；　then　clicked　back　into　place。
　　〃Thought　that　door　was　locked；〃　said　Paul　Drake。
　　〃Maybe　it's　the　janitor；〃　said　Mason。
　　Drake　got　to　his　feet；　gained　the　door　of　the　private　office　in　three　swift　strides；　jerked　the　door　open；　looked　out；　and　grinned。　〃Hello；　Miss　Street；〃　he　said。
　　Della　Street's　voice　came　through　from　the　outer　office。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Drake。　Is　Mr。　Mason　in　there？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Drake；　and　closed　the　door。
　　He　looked　at　his　wristwatch　and　then　at　the　lawyer。　〃Your　secretary　es　to　work　early；〃　he　said。
　　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　　〃Not　eight　o'clock　yet。〃
　　〃She's　not　due　until　nine；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　didn't　want　to　bother　her。　She's　had　so　much　work　piled　on　her　in　this　case。　So　I　worked　out　the　application　for　a　writ　of　habeas　corpus　on　the　typewriter　myself。　I　got　a　judge　to　sign　it　about　midnight；　and　had　it　served。〃
　　〃Well；　they　turned　her　loose；〃　the　detective　said。　〃You　wouldn't　have　needed　the　writ。〃
　　〃It's　better　to　have　them　when　you　don't　need　them　than　to　need　them　when　you　haven't　got　them；〃　Perry　Mason　said　grimly。
　　Once　more　the　outer　door　opened　and　closed。　In　the　quiet　of　the　building　the　sound　came　through　to　the　inner　office　They　heard　a　masculine　voice；　then　the　telephone　on　Mason's　desk　rang。　Mason　scooped　the　receiver　to　his　ear；　and　Della　Street's　voice　said；　〃Mr。　Harrison　Burke　is　out　here　and　wants　to　see　you　at　once。　He　says　it's　important。〃
　　The　business　street　below　the　office　had　not　yet　taken　on　its　rumble　of　sounds；　and　the　words　were　audible　to　the　detective。　He　got　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　on　my　way；　Perry；〃　he　said。　〃Just　dropped　in　to　tell　you　that　Griffin　has　confessed　and　that　they've　turned　your　client　loose。〃
　　〃Thanks　for　the　information；　Paul；〃　the　lawyer　remarked；　then　indicated　a　door　which　led　to　the　corridor。　〃You　can　go　out　that　way；　Paul。〃
　　The　detective　went　through　the　door　as　Perry　Mason　said　to　the　telephone；　〃Send　him　in；　Della。　Drake　is　leaving。〃
　　A　moment　after　Mason　had　hung　up　the　telephone　the　door　opened；　and　Harrison　Burke　came　into　the　room。　His　face　was　wreathed　in　smiles。
　　〃Wonderful　detective　work；　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said。　〃Simply　wonderful。　The　papers　are　full　of　it。　They　predicted　that　Griffin　would　confess　before　noon　today。〃
　　〃He　confessed　early　this　morning；〃　Mason　said。　〃Sit　down。〃
　　Harrison　Burke　fidgeted；　moved　over　to　a　chair；　and　sat　down。
　　〃The　District　Attorney；〃　he　said；　〃is　very　friendly　to　me。　My　name　is　not　being　released　to　the　press。　The　only　newspaper　which　knows　the　facts　is　that　scandal　sheet。〃
　　〃You　mean　Spicy　Bits？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃All　right；　what　about　it？〃
　　〃I　want　you　to　be　sure　that　my　name　is　kept　out　of　that　paper。〃
　　〃You'd　better　see　Eva　Belter；〃　the　lawyer　told　him。　〃She's　going　to　be　handling　the　estate。〃
　　〃How　about　the　will？〃
　　〃The　will　doesn't　make　any　difference。　Under　the　laws　of　this　state　a　person　can't　inherit；　under　a　will　or　otherwise；　from　one　who　has　been　murdered　by　his　own　hand。　Eva　Belter　might　not　have　been　able　to　make　her　claim　to　the　estate　stand　up。　She　was　disinherited　under　George　Belter's　will。　But　because　Griffin　can't　take　under　that　will；　the　property　will　be　returned　to　the　estate；　and　Eva　Belter　will　take；　not　under　the　will；　but　as　a　wife；　being　the　sole　surviving　heir　at　law。〃
　　〃Then　she　will　be　in　control　of　the　paper？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I　see；〃　said　Harrison　Burke；　putting　his　fingertips　together。　〃Do　you　know　what　the　police　are　doing　about　her？　I　understood　she　was　in　custody。〃
　　〃She　was　released　almost　an　hour　ago；〃　the　lawyer　said。
　　Harrison　Burke　looked　at　the　telephone。　〃May　I　use　your　telephone；　counselor？〃
　　Mason　shoved　it　across　the　desk　to　him。
　　〃Just　tell　my　secretary　what　number　you　want；〃　said　the　attorney。
　　Harrison　Burke　nodded；　held　the　receiver　with　that　air　of　calm　dignity　which　made　it　seem　that　he　was　posing　for　a　photograph。　He　gave　Della　Street　a　number；　then　waited　patiently。　After　a　moment　the　receiver　made　squawking　sounds；　and　Harrison　Burke　said；　〃Is　Mrs。　Belter　there？〃
　　The　receiver　made　noise　again。
　　Harrison　Burke's　voice　was　oily　in　its　unctuous　modulations。　〃When　she　es　in；〃　he　said；　〃would　you　mind　telling　her　that　the　person　who　was　to　let　her　know　when　the　shoes　that　she　ordered　came　in；　telephoned；　and　said　that　he　had　her　size　in　stock　now；　and　that　she　could　get　them　whenever　she　was　ready。〃
　　He　smiled　into　the　transmitter；　nodded　his　head　once　or　twice　as　though　he　had　been　addressing　an　invisible　audience；　replaced　the　receiver　with　meticulous　precision；　and　pushed　the　telephone　back　across　the　desk。
　　〃Thank　you；　counselor；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　more　deeply　grateful　to　you　than　I　can　well　express。　My　entire　career　was　in　jeopardy；　and　I　feel　that　it　was　through　your　efforts　that　a　very　grave　wrong　was　averted。〃
　　Perry　Mason　grunted　an　inarticulate　ment。
　　Harrison　Burke　stood　to　his　full　height；　smoothed　down　his　vest；　and　thrust　out　his　chin。
　　〃When　one　is　devoting　one's　life　to　public　work；〃　he　said　in　his　booming　voice；　〃one　naturally　makes　political　enemies　who　will　stoop　to　any　form　of　trickery　in　order　to　achieve　their　ends。　Under　the　circumstances；　any　little　innocent　indiscretion　is　magnified　and　held　up　in　the　press　in　a　distorted　light。　I　have　served　the　public　well　and　faithfully。。。〃
　　Perry　Mason　got　to　his　feet　so　abruptly　that　the　swivel　chair　was　pushed　back　until　it　slammed　against　the　wall。
　　〃You　can　save　that；〃　he　said；　〃for　somebody　that　wants　to　hear　it。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned　Eva　Belter　is　going　to　pay　me　five　thousand　dollars。　I　am　going　to　suggest　to　her　that　about　half　of　this　amount　should　e　from　you。〃
　　Harrison　Burke　recoiled　before　the　grim　savagery　of　the　attorney's　tone。
　　〃But；　my　dear　sir；〃　he　protested；　〃My　dear　sir！　You　weren't　representing　me。　You　were　merely　representing　her　upon　a　murder　charge；　a　misunderstanding　which　might　have　had　the　most　serious　consequences　to　her。　I　was　involved　only　incidentally；　and　as　a　friend。。。〃
　　〃I'm　just　telling　you；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃what　my　advice　is　going　to　be　to　my　client。　And；　as　you　may　remember；　she　is　now　the　owner　of　Spicy　Bits。　Whatever　Spicy　Bits　publishes　or　doesn't　publish　is　going　to　be　up　to　her。　I　don't　think　that　I　need　to　detain　you　any　longer；　Mr。　Burke。〃
　　Harrison　Burke　gulped　unfortably；　started　to　say　something；　thought　better　of　it；　started　to　hold　out　his　right　hand；　caught　the　glint　in　Perry　Mason's　eyes；　brought　the　hand　to　his　side；　and　said；　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course。　Thank　you；　counselor。　I　wanted　to　drop　in　and　express　my　appreciation。〃
　　〃Not　a　bit；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Don't　mention　it；　and　you　can　get　out　to　the　corridor　through　that　door。〃
　　He　stood　still　at　his　desk；　watching　the　back　of　the　politician　as　it　passed　through　the　door　and　into　the　corridor。　Then；　as　the　door　shut；　he　stood　grimly　staring　at　it；　his　eyes　coldly　antagonistic。
　　The　door　from　the　inner　office　opened　softly。　Della　Street　paused　in　the　doorway；　watching　his　profile。　Then　as　she　saw　that　he　did　not　see　her；　did　not　even　know　that　she　had　entered　the　room；　she　moved　silently　across　the　carpet　to　his　side。　There　were　tears　in　her　eyes　as　her　hands　touched　his　shoulders。
　　〃Please；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　so　sorry。〃
　　He　started　at　the　sound　of　her　voice；　turned；　and　looked　down　into　the　moist　eyes。　For　several　seconds　they　looked　at　each　other；　saying　nothing。　Her　hands　clung　to　his　shoulders　frantically；　as　though　she　were　clinging　to　something　that　was　being　pulled　from　her　grasp。
　　〃I　should　have　known　better；　chief。　I　read　the　papers　this　morning；　and　felt　so　low　that。。。〃
　　His　long　arm　circled　her　shoulders；　and　scooped　her　to　him。　His　lips　pressed　down　to　hers。
　　〃Forget　it；　kid；〃　he　said　in　gruff　tenderness。
　　〃Why　didn't　you　explain？〃　she　asked　chokingly。
　　〃It　wasn't　that；〃　he　said　slowly；　choosing　the　words；　〃it　was　the　fact　that　it　needed　an　explanation　that　hurt。〃
　　〃Never；　never；　never；　so　long　as　I　live；　will　I　ever　doubt　you　again。〃
　　There　was　a　cough　in　the　doorway。　Unnoticed；　Eva　Belter　had　entered　from　the　outer　office。
　　〃Pardon　me；〃　she　said　in　icy　tones；　〃if　I　seem　to　intrude　but　I　am　very　anxious　to　see　Mr。　Mason。〃
　　Della　Street　flung　herself　away　from　Perry　Mason　with　flaming　cheeks；　and　surveyed　Eva　Belter　with　eyes　that　had　lost　their　tenderness　and　flashed　with　rage。
　　Perry　Mason　looked　at　the　woman　steadily。　He　seemed　not　in　the　least　disturbed。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　told　her；　〃e　in　and　sit　down。〃
　　〃You　might；〃　she　said；　in　acid　tones；　〃wipe　the　lipstick　off　your　mouth。〃
　　Perry　Mason　stared　steadily　at　her。
　　〃That　lipstick；〃　he　said；　〃can　stay　there。　What　is　it　you　want？〃
　　Her　eyes　softened；　and　she　moved　toward　him。
　　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you；〃　she　said；　〃how　much　I　misunderstood　you；　how　much　it　meant　to　me。。。〃
　　Perry　Mason　turned　to　Della　Street。
　　〃Della；〃　he　said；　〃open　the　drawers　in　those　filing　cases。〃
　　His　secretary　looked　at　him　with　unprehending　eyes。
　　Perry　Mason　pointed　to　the　steel　filing　cabinets。　〃Pull　open　a　couple　of　drawers；〃　he　said。
　　The　girl　opened　the　drawers；　which　were　packed　with　pasteboard　jackets　that；　in　turn；　were　filled　with　papers。
　　〃Do　you　see　those？〃　he　asked　Eva　Belter。
　　Eva　Belter　looked　at　him；　frowned；　and　nodded　her　head。
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Those　are　cases。　Every　one　of　them　is　a　case；　and　all　the　other　drawers　are　filled　with　cases　just　the　same　way。　They　represent　cases　that　I've　handled。　Most　of　them　are　murder　cases。
　　〃When　I　get　all　done　with　your　case　you're　going　to　have　a　jacket　in　there；　just　about　the　same　size　as　all　of　the　other　jackets；　and　it's　going　to　be　of　just　about　the　same　importance。　Miss　Street　is　going　to　give　you　a　number。　Then　if　anything　es　up；　and　I　want　to　look　back　at　the　case　to　find　out　what　was　done　I'll　give　her　that　number；　and　she'll　get　me　the　jacket　with　the　papers　in　it。〃
　　Eva　Belter　frowned。
　　〃What's　the　matter；〃　she　asked；　〃don't　you　feel　well？　What　are　you　trying　to　do？　What　do　you　want　to　say？〃
　　Della　Street　stepped　from　the　filing　case　to　the　door　which　led　to　the　outer　office。　She　moved　out　and　softly　closed　the　door。　Perry　Mason　stared　steadily　at　Eva　Belter；　and　said；　〃I'm　just　telling　you　where　you　stand　in　this　office。　You're　a　case　and　nothing　but　a　case。　There　are　hundreds　of　cases　in　that　file；　and　there　are　going　to　be　hundreds　of　other　cases。　You've　paid　me　some　money　already；　and　you're　going　to　pay　me　five　thou