cw.imarriedadeadman-第29章

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w　all　her　life；　as　her　due。　Her　mind　rolled　it　around　on　its　tongue；　savoring　it　Yes；　Mrs。　Hazzard。　Position。　Security。　Impregnability。　The　end　of　a　journey。
　Then　she　moved　forward　and；　passing　the　doorway；　saw　them。
　They　were　sitting　in　there；　both　facing　it　Two　men。　The　very　way　they　held　their　heads…they　were　not　apologetic；　they　were　not　disclaiming　enough；　for　such　a　time　and　such　a　place　and　such　a　visit。　Their　faces；　as　she　met　them；　did　not　say：　〃Whenever　you　are　ready。〃　Their　faces　said：　〃We　are　ready　for　you　now。　e　in　to　us。〃
　Fear　put　out　a　long　finger　and　touched　her　heart。　She　had　stopped。
　〃Who　are　those　two　men？〃　she　breathed　to　the　girl　who　had　let　her　in。　〃What　are　they　doing　in　there？〃
　〃Oh；　I　forgot。　They　came　here　about　twenty　minutes　ago；　asking　to　see　Mr。　Hazzard。　I　explained　about　the　funeral；　and　suggested　maybe　they'd　better　e　back　later。　But　they　said　no；　they　said　they'd　wait　I　couldn't　do　anything　with　them。　So　I　just　let　them　be。〃
　She　went　on　past　the　opening。　〃He's　in　no　condition　to　speak　to　anyone　now。　You'll　have　to　go　in　there　and…〃
　〃Oh；　not　old　Mr。　Hazzard。　It's　Mr。　Hazzard　his　son　they　want。〃
　She　knew　then。　Their　faces　had　already　told　her；　the　grim　way　they　had　both　sized　her　up　that　fleeting　second　or　two　she　had　stood　in　the　doorway。　People　didn't　stare　at　you　like　that；　just　ordinary　people。　Punitive　agents　did。　Those　empowered　by　law　to　seek　out；　and　identify；　and　question。
　The　finger　had　bee　a　whole　icy　hand　now；　twisting　and　crushing　her　heart　in　its　grip。
　Detectives。　Already。　So　soon；　so　relentlessly；　so　fatally　soon。　And　today　of　all　days；　on　this　very　day。
　The　copybooks　were　right；　the　texts　that　said　the　police　were　infallible。
　She　turned　and　hurried　up　the　stairs；　to　overtake　Bill　and　his　father；　nearing　the　top　now；　still　linked　in　considerate；　toiling　ascent。
　Bill　turned　his　head　inquiringly　at　sound　of　her　hasty　step　behind　them。　Father　Ha。zzard　didn't　What　was　any　step　to　him　any　more？　The　only　one　he　wanted　to　hear　would　never　sound　again。
　She　made　a　little　sign　to　Bill　behind　his　father's　back。　A　quick　little　quirk　of　the　finger　to　show　that　this　was　something　to　be　kept　between　the　two　of　them　alone。　Then　said；　trying　to　keep　her　voice　casual；　〃Bill；　as　soon　as　you　take　Father　to　his　room；　I　want　to　see　you　for　a　minute。　Will　you　e　out？〃
　He　came　upon　her　in　her　own　room；　in　the　act　of　lowering　an　emptied　brandy…jigger　from　her　lips。　He　looked　at　her　curiously。
　〃What'd　you　do；　get　a　chill　out　there？〃
　〃I　did；〃　she　said。　〃But　not　out　there。　Here。　Just　now。〃
　〃You　seem　to　be　shaking。〃
　〃I　am。　Close　the　door。〃　And　when　he　had；　〃Is　he　sleeping？〃
　〃He　will　be　in　another　minute　or　two。　Aunt　Josie's　giving　him　a　little　more　of　that　sedative　the　doctor　left〃
　She　kneaded　her　hands　together；　as　though　she　were　trying　to　break　each　bone　separately。　〃They're　here；　Bill。　About　the　other　night　They're　here　already。〃
　He　didn't　have　to　ask；　he　knew　what　she　meant　by　〃the　other　night。〃　There　was　only　one　other　night　for　them；　there　would　always　be　only　one；　from　now　on。　As　the　nights　multiplied；　it　would　bee　〃that　night；〃　perhaps；　that　was　the　only　alteration。
　〃How　do　you　know？　Did　they　tell　you？〃
　〃They　don't　have　to。　I　know。〃　She　snatched　at　his　coat…lapels；　as　though　she　were　trying　to　rip　them　off　him。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃We　are　not　going　to　do　anything；〃　he　said　with　meaning。　〃I'll　do　whatever　is　to　be　done　about　it〃
　〃Who's　that？〃　she　shuddered；　and　crushed　herself　close　to　him。　Her　teeth　were　almost　chattering　with　nervous　tension。
　〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked　at　full　voice。
　〃Aunt　Josie；〃　came　through　the　door。
　〃Let　go　of　me；〃　he　cautioned　in　an　undertone。　〃All　right；　Aunt　Josie。〃
　She　put　her　head　in　and　said；　〃Those　two　men　that're　down　there；　they　said　they　can't　wait　for　Mr。　Hazzard　any　more。〃
　For　a　moment　a　little　hope　wormed　its　way　through　her　stricken　heart。
　〃They　said　if　he　don't　e　down；　they'll　have　to　e　up　here。〃
　〃What　do　they　want？　Did　they　tell　you？〃　he　said　to　Aunt　Josie。
　〃I　asked　'em　twice；　and　each　time　they　said　the　same　thing。　'Mr。　Hazzard。'　What　kind　of　an　answer　is　that？　They're　bold　ones。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said　curtly。　〃You've　told　us。〃
　She　closed　the　door　again。
　He　stood　for　awhile　irresolute；　his　hand　curled　around　the　back　of　his　neck。　Then　straightened　with　reluctant　decision；　squared　off　his　shoulders；　hitched　down　his　cuffs；　and　turned　to　face　the　door。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃let's　get　it　over　with。〃
　She　ran　to　join　him。　〃I'll　go　with　you。〃
　〃You　won't！〃　He　took　her　hand　and　put　it　off　his　arm；　in　rough　rejection。　〃Let's　get　that　straight　right　now。　You're　staying　up　here；　and　you're　staying　out　of　it　Do　you　hear　me？　No　matter　what　happens；　you're　staying　out　of　it。〃
　He'd　never　spoken　to　her　like　that　before。
　〃Are　you　taking　me　to　be　your　husband？〃　he　demanded。
　〃Yes；〃　she　murmured。　〃I've　already　told　you　that。〃
　〃Then　that's　an　order。　The　first　and　the　last；　I　hope；　that　I'll　ever　have　to　give　you。　Now　look；　we　can't　tell　two　stories　about　this。　We're　only　telling　one：　mine。　And　it's　one　that　you're　not　supposed　to　know　anything　about。　So　you　can't　help　me；　you　can　only　harm　me。〃
　She　seized　his　hand　and　put　her　lips　to　it；　as　a　sort　of　god…speed。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　tell　them？〃
　〃The　truth。〃　The　look　he　gave　her　was　a　little　odd。　〃What　did　you　expect　me　to　tell　them？　I　have　nothing　to　lie　about；　as　far　as　it　involves　me　alone。〃
　He　closed　the　door　and　he　went　out。
　
　
　46
　
　As　she　found　her　hands　leading　the　way　down　for　her；　one　over　the　other；　along　the　bannister…rail；　while　her　feet　followed　them　more　slowly；　a　step　behind　all　the　way；　she　realized　how　impossible　it　would　have　been　to　follow　his　injunction；　remain　immured　up　there；　without　knowing；　without　listening；　how　futile　of　him　to　expect　it　of　her。　She　couldn't　have　been　involved　as　she　was；　she　couldn't　have　been　a　woman　at　all；　and　obeyed　him。　This　wasn't　prying；　you　didn't　pry　into　something　that　concerned　you　as　closely　as　this　did　her。　It　was　your　right　to　know。
　Hand　over　hand　down　the　bannister；　the　rest　of　her　creeping　after；　body　held　at　a　broken　crouch。　Like　a　cripple　struggling　down　a　staircase。
　A　quarter　of　the　way　down；　the　murmur　became　separate　voices。　Halfway　down；　the　voices　became　words。　She　didn't　go　beyond　there。
　Their　voices　weren't　raised。　There　was　no　blustering　or　angry　contradiction。　They　were　just　men　talking　quietly；　politely　together。　Somehow；　it　struck　more　fear　into　her　that　way。
　They　were　repeating　after　him　something　he　must　have　just　now　said。
　〃Then　you　do　know　someone　named　Harry　Carter；　Mr。　Hazzard。〃
　She　didn't　hear　him　say　anything。　As　though　he　considered　one　affirmation　on　that　point　enough。
　〃Would　you　care　to　tell　us　what　relationship…what　connection…　there　is　between　you　and　this　man　Carter？〃
　He　sounded　slightly　ironical；　when　he　answered　that。　She　had　never　heard　him　that　way　toward　herself；　but　she　caught　a　new　inflection　to　his　voice；　and　recognized　it　for　irony。　〃Look；　gentlemen；　you　already　know。　You　must；　or　why　would　you　be　here？　You　want　me　to　repeat　it　for　you；　is　that　it？〃
　〃What　we　want　is　to　hear　it　from　you　yourself；　Mr。　Hazzard。〃
　〃Very　well；　then。　He　is　a　private　detective。　As　you　already　know。　I　selected　and　hired　him。　As　you　already　know。　And　he　was　being　paid　a　fee；　he　was　being　retained；　to　watch；　to　keep　his　eye　on；　this　man　Georgesson　whom　you're　concerned　with。　As　you　already　know。〃
　〃Very　well；　we　do　already　know；　Mr。　Hazzard。　But　what　we　don't　already　know；　what　he　couldn't　tell　us；　because　he　didn't　know　himself；　was　what　was　the　nature　of　your　interest　in　Georgesson；　why　you　were　having　him　watched。〃
　And　the　other　one　took　up　where　the　first　had　left　off：　〃Would　you　care　to　tell　us　that；　Mr。　Hazzard？　Why　were　you　having　him　watched？　What　was　your　reason　for　doing　that？〃
　Out　on　the　stairs；　her　heart　seemed　to　turn　over　and　lie　down　flat　on　its　face。　〃My　God；〃　went　echoing　sickly　through　her　mind。　〃Now　I　e　into　it！〃
　〃That's　an　extremely　private　matter；〃　he　said　sturdily。
　〃I　see；　you　don't　care　to　tell　us。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　that〃
　〃But　still；　you'd　rather　not　tell　us。〃
　〃You're　putting　words　into　my　mouth。〃
　〃Because　you　don't　seem　to　supply　us　with　any　of　your　own。〃
　〃It's　essential　for　you　to　know　this？〃
　〃We　wouldn't　be　here　if　it　weren't；　I　can　assure　you。　This　man　of　yours；　Carter；　was　the　one　who　reported　Georgesson's　death　to　us。〃
　〃I　see。〃　She　heard　him　take　a　deep　breath。　And　she　took　one　with　him。　Two　breaths；　one　and　the　same　fear。
　〃Georgesson　was　a　gambler；〃　he　said。
　〃We　know　that。〃
　〃A　crook；　a　confidence　man；　an　all…around　shady　operator。〃
　〃We　know　that。〃
　〃Then　here's　the　part　you　don't。　Back　about…it　must　be　four　years　ago…three；　anyway…my　older　brother　Hugh　was　a　senior　at　Dartmouth　College。　He　started　down　here　to　spend　the　Christmas　holidays　at　home；　with　us。　He　got　as　far　as　New　York；　and　then　he　never　got　any　further。　He　never　showed　up。　He　wasn't　on　the　train　that　was　to　have　brought　him　in　the　next　day。　We　got　a　long…distance　phone…call　from　him；　and　he　was　in　trouble。　He　was　practically　being　held　there　against　his　will。　He'd　gotten　into　a　card…game；　it　seems；　the　night　before　with　this　Georgesson　and　a　few　of　his　friends…setup；　of　course…and　they'd　taken　him　for　I　don't　know　how　many　thousands；　which　he　didn't　have；　and　they　wanted　a　settlement　before　they'd　let　him　go。　They　had　him　good；　it　had　the　makings　of　a　first…class　mess　in　it　Hugh　was　just　a　high…spirited　kid；　used　to　associating　with　decent　people；　gentlemen；　not　that　kind　of　vermin；　and　he　hadn't　known　how　to　handle　himself。　They'd　built　him　up　for　it　all　evening　long；　liquored　him　up；　thrown　a　couple　of　mangy　chorusgirls　at　him　in　the　various　spots　they'd　dragged　him　around　to　first…well；　anyway；　because　of　my　mother's　health　and　the　family's　good　name；　there　could　be　no　question　of　calling　the　police　into　it；　it　would　have　been　altogether　too　smelly。　So　my　father　went　up　there　in　person…I　went　along　with　him；　incidentally…and　squared　the　thing　off　for　him。　At　about　fifty　cents　to　the　dollar；　or　something　like　that。　Got　back　the　I。O。U。's　they'd　extorted　from　the　kid。　And　brought　him　home　with　us。
　〃That's　about　all　there　was　to　it。　Not　a　very　new　story；　it's　happened　over　and　over。　But　naturally；　I　wasn't　likely　to　forget　this　Georgesson　in　a　hurry。　Well；　when　I　learned　he　was　down　here　in　Caulfield　a　few　weeks　ago；　showing　his　face　around；　I　didn't　know　if　it　was　a　coincidence　or　not；　but　I　wasn't　taking　any　chances。　I　got　in　touch　with　a　detective　agency　in　New　York　and　had　them　send　Carter　down　here；　just　to　try　to　find　out　what　he　was　up　to。
　〃And　there　you　have　it。　Now　does　that　answer　your　question？　Is　that　satisfactory？〃
　They　didn't　say　it　was；　she　noticed。　She　waited；　but　she　didn't　hear　them　say　it　was。
　〃He　didn't　approach　you　or　your　family　in　any　way？　He　didn't　molest　you？〃
　〃He　didn't　e　near　us。〃
　（Which　was　technically　correct；　she　agreed　wryly；　she'd　had　to　go　to　him　each　time。）
　〃You　would　have　heard　about　it　before　now；　if　he　had；〃　he　assured　them。　〃I　wouldn't　have　waited　for　you　to　look　me　up；　I　would　have　looked　you　up。〃
　With　catastro