rs.toomanywomen-第11章

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things　about　him　that　were　news　to　me；　but　none　of　them　had　turned　on　a　light　they　could　see　by。　It　was　now；　for　them；　past　history；　and　they　had　other　things　to　do；　except　that　a　hit…and…run　manslaughter　was　never　finished　business　until　they　collared　him。
　　〃One　little　thing；〃　said　Saul；　who　wasn't　pleased　with　himself。　〃The　body　was　found　at　one…ten　in　the　morning。　An　M。E。　arrived　at　one…forty…two。　His　quick　guess　was　that　Moore　had　been　dead　about　two　hours；　and　the　final　report　more　or　less　agreed　with　him。　So　we　have　these　alternatives：　first；　the　body　was　there　on　the　street；　from　around　midnight　until　ten　after　one；　with　nobody　seeing　it。　Second；　the　M。E。　report　is　a　bad　guess　and　he　hadn't　been　dead　so　long。　Third；　the　body　wasn't　there　all　that　time　but　was　somewhere　else。　I　mentioned　it　downtown；　and　they　don't　think　it's　a　thing　at　all；　not　even　a　little　one。　They　have　settled　for　either　number　one　or　number　two；　or　a　bination。　They　say　Thirty…ninth　Street　between　Tenth　and　Eleventh　might　easily　be　that　empty　from　midnight　on。〃
　　Saul　turned　his　palms　up。　〃You　can　pay　me　expenses　and　forget　it。〃
　　〃Nonsense；〃　Wolfe　said。　〃I'm　not　paying　you；　the　client　is。　A　tiger's　eyes　can't　make　light；　Saul；　they　can　only　reflect　it。　You've　spent　the　day　in　the　dark。　e　back　in　the　morning。　I　may　have　some　suggestions。〃
　　Saul　went。
　　I　yawned。　Or　rather；　I　started　to；　and　stopped。　It　is　true　that　wine　always　makes　me　yawn；　but　it　is　also　true　that　the　after…effect　of　a　series　of　socks　on　my　jaw　and　the　side　of　my　neck　makes　me　stop　yawning。　I　swiveled　my　chair　around　with　a　swing　of　my　body；　not　bothering　to　put　my　hand　on　the　edge　of　my　desk　for　an　assist。　A　simultaneous　protest　came　from　at　least　forty　muscles；　and；　since　Harry　was　no　longer　there；　I　groaned　without　restraint。
　　〃I　guess　I'll　go　to　bed；〃　I　stated。
　　〃Not　yet；〃　Wolfe　objected。　〃It's　only　half…past　ten。　You　have　to　go　to　your　job　in　the　morning　and　I　haven't　heard　your　report。〃　He　leaned　back　and　closed　his　eyes。　〃Go　ahead。〃
　　And　three　hours　later；　at　half…past　one　in　the　morning；　we　were　still　there　and　I　was　still　reporting。　I　have　never　known　him　to　be　more　thorough；　wanting　every　detail　and　every　little　word。　My　face　felt　stiff　as　a　board；　and　I　hurt　further　down；　especially　my　left　side；　but　I　wasn't　going　to　give　him　the　satisfaction　and　pleasure　of　hearing　me　groan　again；　and　I　didn't。　After　I　had　given　him　everything　he　kept　ing　back　for　more；　and　when　it　was　no　longer　possible　to　continue　that　without　making　it　perfectly　plain　that　he　was　merely　trying　to　see　how　long　it　would　take　me　to　collapse　on　the　floor　there　in　front　of　him；　he　asked：
　　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　　I　tried　to　grin　at　him；　but　I　doubt　if　I　put　it　over。
　　〃I　think；〃　I　said；　〃that　the　crucial　point　in　this　case　will　e　in　about　a　month　or　six　weeks；　when　we'll　have　to　decide　whether　to　stop　and　send　in　our　bill　or　go　on　a　while　longer。　It　will　depend　on　two　things…how　much　we　need　the　money；　and　how　much　Naylor…Kerr　will　pay　for　nothing。　That's　the　problem　that　confronts　us　and　we　must　somehow　solve　it。〃
　　〃Then　you　don't　think　Mr。　Moore　was　murdered。〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　There　are　at　least　two　hundred　people　who　might　have　murdered　him。　If　one　of　them　did；　and　if　there　were　any　possible　way　of　finding　out　which　one；　naturally　I　have　my　favorites。　I　have　mentioned　Pine。　I　like　the　idea　of　him　because　it　is　always　gratifying　to　call　a　bullheaded　bluff；　and　if　it　was　him　he　certainly　tried　one　when　he　hired　you。　But　if　he's　the　sort　of　bird　who　takes　it　in　his　stride　when　his　wife　keeps　two…legged　pets　on　account　of　her　owning　stock　in　the　pany　that　pays　his　salary；　what　would　ever　work　him　up　to　murder？　Anyhow；　she　had　given　Moore　the　boot。　My　real　favorite　is　Kerr　Naylor。〃
　　〃Indeed。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　On　account　of　psychology。　Wait　till　you　see　him　Monday。　His　last　ten　incarnations　he　was　a　cat；　and　he　always　held　the　world's　record　for　mouse…playing。　Add　that　to　the　well…known　impulse　of　a　murderer　to　confess；　and　what　have　you　got？　Although　it　has　all　been　filed　away　as　a　hit…and…run；　with　the　hit…runner　not　found　and　not　likely　to　be　at　this　late　day；　he　has　got　that　impulse；　so　he　tells　the　world；　including　a　Deputy　missioner　of　Police；　that　it　was　murder。　That　satisfies　the　impulse　without　costing　him　anything；　and　also　it　carries　on　the　tradition　of　his　cat　ancestry。　Baby；　what　fun！　In　this　case　the　mouse　is　the　people　in　his　department；　the　president　of　the　firm　and　the　Board　of　Directors；　the　cops…everybody　but　him。　〃Yep；　he's　my　favorite。〃
　　〃Any　others？〃
　　I　started　to　wave　a　hand　but　called　it　back　on　a　word　from　my　shoulder。　〃Plenty。　Dickerson；　for　the　honor　of　the　Section。　Rosenbaum；　hipped　on　Miss　Livsey　and　wanting　to　save　her　from　a　two…bit　Casanova。　And　so　on。　But　this　is　all　academic。　We　might　reach　some　kind　of　a　conclusion；　but　what　if　we　do？　The　waves　have　washed　all　the　foot…prints　away；　and　as　I　said　before；　all　we'll　be　able　to　solve　is　the　question　when　to　quit　and　render　a　bill。　The　only　consolation　is　that　I'll　get　a　wife　out　of　it。　I'm　going　to　make　Miss　Livsey　forget　Waldo。〃
　　〃Confound　it。〃　Wolfe　reached　for　his　beer　glass　and　saw　that　it　was　empty；　lifted　the　bottle　and　found　it　empty　too；　and　glared　at　both　of　them。　〃I　suppose　we'd　better　go　to　bed。　Are　you　in　pain？〃
　　〃Pain？　Why？　I　thought　we　might　sit　and　talk　a　while。　This　is　a　very　difficult　case。〃
　　〃It　may　be。　Tomorrow　I'd　like　to　see　Mrs。　Pine。　She　can　e　at　eleven　in　the　morning；　or　right　after　lunch。　You　can　arrange　it　through　Mr。　Pine。〃　He　gripped　the　edge　of　his　desk　with　both　hands；　the　customary　preliminary　to　getting　to　his　feet。
　　The　phone　rang。　I　swiveled　my　chair；　not　groaning；　and　lifted　the　instrument。
　　〃Nero　Wolfe's　office；　Archie　Goodwin　speaking。〃
　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Goodwin？　My　husband　has　told　me　about　you。　This　is　Cecily　Pine；　Mrs。　Jasper　Pine。〃
　　〃Yes；　Mrs。　Pine。〃
　　〃I　just　got　home　from　a　theater　supper；　and　my　husband　told　me　about　your　inquiry　regarding　Waldo　Moore。　I　would　like　to　help；　if　I　can　in　any　way；　and　I　don't　think　these　things　should　be　put　off；　so　I'll　drive　down　there　now。　I　have　the　address。〃
　　I　tried　to　keep　my　voice　friendly　and　sociable。　〃I'm　afraid　it　would　be　better　to　make　it　tomorrow；　Mrs。　Pine。　It's　pretty　late；　and　Mr。　Wolfe…〃
　　But　he　ruined　it。　He　had　got　on　his　extension；　and　broke　in；　〃This　is　Mr。　Wolfe；　Mrs。　Pine。　I　think　it　would　be　better　to　e　now。　An　excellent　idea。　You　have　the　address？〃
　　She　said　she　had　and　would　leave　right　away；　and　only　had　to　e　from　Sixty…seventh　Street。　Wolfe　and　I　hung　up。
　　〃It's　unfortunate；〃　Wolfe　said。　〃You　should　be　in　bed；　but　it　may　be　necessary　for　you　to　take　notes。〃
　　〃I'm　not　sleepy；〃　I　said　through　my　teeth。　〃I　was　hoping　she　would　call。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Fourteen
　　Considering　what　I　knew　of　her；　I　could　hardly　believe　my　eyes　when　I　opened　the　door　and　let　her　in。　Probably　I　had　unconsciously　been　expecting　something　on　the　order　of　Hedy　Lamarr　as　she　would　be　with　the　wrinkles　of　age；　and　therefore　the　sight　of　her　pink　smooth…skinned　wholesome　face　and　her　medium…sized　housewife's　chassis；　a　little　plump　maybe；　but　certainly　not　fat；　gave　me　a　shock。
　　〃You're　Archie　Goodwin；〃　she　said　in　a　low…pitched　educated　voice。
　　I　admitted　it。
　　She　was　openly　staring　at　me；　and　advanced　a　step　to　see　better。　〃What　on　earth；〃　she　asked；　〃has　happened　to　your　face？　It's　all　red　and　bruised！〃
　　〃Yeah。　I　got　in　a　fight　with　a　man　and　he　hit　me　with　his　fist。　Both　fists。〃
　　〃Good　heavens！　It　looks　simply　awful。　Have　you　got　any　beefsteak？〃
　　I　did　not　believe；　considering　everything；　that　she　was　speaking　from　experience。　She　had　simply　read　about　it。　I　told　her　that　it　wasn't　bad　enough　to　rate　beefsteak　at　ninety　cents　a　pound；　adding　pointedly　that　all　I　needed　was　a　good　long　night's　sleep；　and　ushered　her　into　the　office。
　　Wolfe　was　on　his　feet；　having　probably　got　up　to　stretch。　Mrs。　Pine　crossed　to　him　to　shake　hands；　declined　the　red　leather　chair　because　she　preferred　straight　ones；　accepted　the　one　I　placed　for　her；　let　me　take　her　coat　of　platinum　mink　or　aluminum　sable　or　whatever　it　was；　and　sat　down。
　　〃You　really　ought　to　do　something　for　your　face；〃　she　told　me。
　　The　funny　thing　was　that　her　harping　on　it　didn't　irritate　me。　She　gave　me　the　distinct　impression　that　it　really　made　her　feel　unfortable　for　me　to　be　unfortable；　and　how　could　I　resent　that？　So　we　discussed　my　face　until　Wolfe　finally　dived　into　an　opening。
　　〃You　wanted　to　see　me；　madam；　did　you？〃
　　She　turned　to　him；　and　her　manner　changed　pletely；　possibly　because　he　didn't　have　bruises　and　red　spots。
　　〃Yes；　I　did；〃　she　said　crisply。　〃I　thoroughly　disapprove　of　what　my　husband　has　done；　engaging　you　to　investigate　the　death　of　Waldo　Moore。　What　good　can　it　possibly　do？〃
　　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know。〃　Wolfe　was　leaning　back；　with　his　forearms　paralleled　on　the　arms　of　his　chair。　〃That's　a　question　for　your　husband。　If　you　don't　like　his　engaging　me　you　should　persuade　him　to　disengage　me。〃
　　〃I　can't。　I've　been　trying　to。　He's　being　extremely　stubborn　about　it；　and　that's　why　I　came　to　see　you。〃
　　Good　for　Jasper；　I　thought；　but　who　the　hell　stuck　a　ramrod　down　his　spine？
　　Mrs。　Pine　went　on。　〃I　suppose；　of　course；　my　husband　has　mitted　himself…or　rather；　the　firm。　If　you　withdraw　from　it；　now；　there'll　be　no　difficulty　about　that。　I'll　pay　whatever　it　es　to。〃
　　〃What　good　would　that　do　you？〃　Wolfe　inquired　testily。　I　won't　go　so　far　as　to　say　that　he　never　liked　women；　but　he　sure　didn't　like　women　who　picked　up　the　ball　and　started　off　with　it。　〃Your　husband　would　hire　someone　else。　Besides；　madam；　while　I　like　to　charge　high　prices　for　doing　something；　I　haven't　formed　the　habit　of　charging　for　doing　nothing；　and　I　won't　start　with　you。　No。　Obviously　you're　accustomed　to　getting　what　you　want；　but　there　must　be　some　other　way　of　doing　it。　What　is　it　you　want？〃
　　Mrs。　Pine　turned　to　me。　For　a　second　I　thought　she　was　going　to　revert　to　my　face；　but　instead　she　asked；　〃What's　he　like；　Archie？　Is　he　as　stubborn　as　he　sounds？〃
　　The　Archie　from　her　came　perfectly　natural。　〃From　him；〃　I　told　her；　〃I　would　call　that　almost　flabby。〃
　　〃Good　heavens。〃　She　regarded　Wolfe　with　interest　but　with　no　sign　of　dismay。　〃I　presume；〃　she　said　abruptly；　〃you　know　that　Waldo　Moore　was　at　one　time　a　close　friend　of　mine？〃
　　Wolfe　nodded。　〃I　have　been　told　so。　By　Mr。　Goodwin。　He　got　his　information　from　a　newspaperman。　Apparently　it　is　known。〃
　　〃Yes；　of　course。　That's　the　advantage　of　not　trying　to　hide　things；　things　that　people　know　about　are　taken　for　granted。　But　permitting　people　to　know　about　them；　and　permitting　them　to　be　publicly　discussed　in　newspapers…that's　a　very　different　thing。　Do　you　suppose　for　a　moment；　Mr。　Wolfe；　that　I　am　going　to　sit　and　do　nothing　while　you　make　pictures　for　tabloids　out　of　my　private　life？　While　you　make　a　public　sensation　out　of　the　death　of　Waldo　Moore？〃
　　〃Certainly　not；　madam。〃　Wolfe　was　still　testy。　〃It's　quite　plain　that　you　aren't　going　to　sit　and　do　nothing。　You　aren't　now。　You've　e　here　to　see　me　at　half…past　two　in　the　morning。　By　the　way；　you　must　have　asked　that　same　question　of