rs.toomanywomen-第12章

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re　to　see　me　at　half…past　two　in　the　morning。　By　the　way；　you　must　have　asked　that　same　question　of　your　husband。　What　did　he　say？〃
　　〃He　says　it　will　not　bee　a　public　sensation。　He　says　that　all　he　is　after　is　to　stop　the　gossip　at　the　office　and　make　it　impossible　for　my　brother　to　start　it　again。　But　I　don't　care　to　run　that　risk　and　I　don't　intend　to。〃
　　〃What　does　your　brother　say？　Have　you　discussed　it　with　him？〃
　　That　pricked　her　skin。　Since　I　had　not　yet　been　told　to　take　notes　I　was　able　to　give　her　face　my　full　attention；　and　that　was　the　first　sign　it　showed　of　needing　to　go　into　conference。　She　pressed　her　lips　together　and　said　nothing。　It　occurred　to　me　that　it　seemed　to　run　in　the　family；　since　at　my　so…called　lunch　with　Kerr　Naylor　the　first　and　only　time　he　had　paused　to　think　had　been　when　his　sister　had　been　inserted　into　the　conversation。
　　She　finally　spoke。　〃I　don't　know　what　is　in　my　brother's　mind…not　exactly。　He　won't　tell　me；　though　he　usually　does。　He　is　a…very　peculiar　man。　He　dislikes　my　husband　and　all　of　the　other　top　men　in　the　pany　…all　except　one　or　two。〃
　　Wolfe　grunted。　〃Does　he　dislike　you？〃
　　〃Why；　no。　No！〃
　　〃Then　why　doesn't　he　stop　his　flummery　about　murder　when　you　ask　him　to？〃
　　〃He　doesn't…〃　She　stopped；　then　went　on；　〃That's　interesting；　I　hadn't　thought　of　it　that　way；　but　my　brother　says　exactly　what　my　husband　says；　that　there's　no　danger　of　it's　being　public。　But　I　don't　care　what　they　say；　there's　still　a　risk；　and　I　have　always　believed　in　doing　anything　within　reason　to　avoid　unnecessary　risks。　If　my　husband　and　my　brother　are　both　going　to　act　like　spoiled　brats…actually　making　idiots　of　themselves　in　my　opinion…then　I'll　have　to　take　things　into　my　own　hands。〃
　　She　looked　at　me；　and　immediately　became　a　different　woman。　〃It　seems　a　little　chilly　in　here；　Archie。　May　I　have　my　coat？〃
　　I　thought　no　wonder；　since　she　was　still　dressed　for　the　theater；　with　nothing　above　the　bra　line　but　skin。　For　her　age；　which　must　surely　have　been　mine　plus　ten；　the　skin　was　absolutely　acceptable。　I　got　the　coat　and　draped　it　over　her　shoulders；　and　she　smiled　up　at　me　for　thanks；　and　I　went　and　upped　the　thermostat　a　notch。
　　She　resumed　on　Wolfe。　〃The　best　way；　I　thought；　would　be　to　deal　directly　with　you。　Perhaps　you're　quite　right…if　you　simply　quit；　as　I　asked；　my　husband　would　engage　someone　else。　Then　why　not　let　him　have　what　he　wants？　Apparently　he　wants　you　to　investigate；　and　my　brother　does　too；　so　why　not？　You　will　be　paid　whatever　has　been　agreed　on；　and　in　addition　I　will　give　you　my　personal　check；　and　you　can't　possibly　object　that　I　am　paying　you　for　nothing；　because　you　will　give　me　your　guarantee　that　the　investigation　will　not…let's　see…that　no　publicity　will　result。　It　doesn't　matter　how　we　put　it　so　long　as　we　understand　what　we　mean。　The　check　could　be　for…ten　thousand　dollars？〃
　　Wolfe　was　shaking　his　head　at　her。　〃For　heaven's　sake；〃　he　muttered　incredulously。　〃Do　you　realize　you're　offering　to　pay　me　to　keep　a　secret？〃
　　Her　eyes　widened。　〃I　am　not！　What　secret？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Yet。　But　your　husband…or　his　firm；　in　which　you　are　the　largest　stockholder…is　paying　me　to　discover　something；　and　you　want　to　pay　me　to　conceal　it　if　and　when　I　discover　it。　You　called　your　husband　and　brother　idiots；　but　what　do　you　call　yourself？　You　offer　ten　thousand　dollars。　You　assume　that　I　am　capable　of　double…dealing。　If　I　am；　why　should　I　stop　there？　Why　not　a　hundred　thousand；　a　million？　Madam；　you're　an　imbecile。〃
　　She　ignored　the　pliment　and　was　concentrating　on　the　logic。　〃That's　silly；〃　she　said　scornfully。　〃Would　I　have　e　to　you　like　this　if　I　hadn't　known　your　reputation？　That　would　be　blackmailing；　and　you're　not　a　crook！〃
　　Wolfe　was　speechless；　which　was　one　more　piece　of　evidence　that　he　didn't　understand　women　half　as　well　as　he　did　men。　I　got　her　with　no　trouble　at　all。　Her　position　was　simply　that　if　he　double…crossed　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　there　would　be　nothing　crooked　about　it　because　that　was　what　she　wanted；　whereas　if　he　double…crossed　or　blackmailed　her　he　would　be　a　snide；　a　louse；　and　a　blackguard；　and　she　knew　his　reputation；　and　he　wasn't。
　　Seeing　there　was　no　meeting　of　minds　and　one　wasn't　likely；　I　put　in；　〃Look；　Mrs。　Pine；　it　won't　work　that　way；　really　it　won't。　You　can't　bribe　him　or　threaten　him。〃
　　She　gazed　at　me；　and　evidently　I　wasn't　Archie　any　more；　at　least　not　at　the　moment。
　　〃I　haven't　tried　to　threaten　him；〃　she　stated。
　　〃I　know　you　haven't。　I　just　put　that　in。〃
　　She　looked　at　Wolfe；　and　then　back　at　me。　〃But…〃　She　was　inspecting　an　idea。　〃It　should　be　possible　to　have　his　license　revoked。　With　the　taxes　I　pay　and　the　people　I　know；　I　should　be　able　to　do　that。　Doesn't　a　detective　have　to　have　a　license？〃
　　That　nearly　made　me　speechless　too；　but　somebody　had　to　keep　up　our　end。　〃He　sure　does；〃　I　told　her；　〃and　I'm　one　too。　You　might　try　that；　Alice；　but　I　doubt　if　you'll　get　anywhere。〃
　　〃My　name　is　Cecily。〃
　　〃I　know　it　is。　I　meant　Alice　in　Wonderland。　You　remind　me　of　her。〃
　　〃That's　a　wonderful　book；〃　she　declared。　〃I　read　it　over　again　just　recently。　Are　you　men　partners？〃
　　〃No；　I　work　for　him。〃
　　〃I　don't　see　why。　I　don't　see　how　you　can　stand　him。　How　much　would　it　take　for　you　to　go　into　business　for　yourself？〃
　　〃Pfui；〃　Wolfe　interposed。　〃This　is　tommy…rot。　You　would　find；　madam；　if　you　made　the　slightest　effort；　that　I　am　a　reasonable　man。　Do　you　want　a　suggestion　from　me？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said　reasonably。　〃Tell　me　what　it　is　first。〃
　　〃It's　this。　You'll　never　acplish　anything　with　this　sort　of　cackle…not　with　Mr。　Goodwin　or　me。　Anyway；　even　if　I　accepted　your　ridiculous　offer；　you　might　be　wasting　your　money。　Your　assumptions　may　not　be　sound。　Evidently　you　assume　that　if　we　do　a　petent　job　of　investigating　Mr。　Moore's　death　it　is　certain；　or　at　least　highly　probable；　that　a　public　scandal　will　result。　What　makes　you　so　sure　of　that？〃
　　She　looked　at　him　appreciatively。　〃That's　quite　clever；〃　she　said　generously。　〃If　I　really　were　sure　and　told　you　why；　it　would　be　a　great　help　to　you。　But　I'm　not　sure　at　all。　I　just　don't　want　to　run　the　risk。〃
　　〃Do　you　share　your　brother's　opinion　that　Mr。　Moore　was　murdered？〃
　　〃Certainly　not。　It　was　an　accident。〃
　　〃Had　you　seen　Mr。　Moore　that　day？　The　day　he　was　killed？〃
　　〃No。　I　hadn't　seen　him　for　months。〃　She　laughed。　It　came　from　her　throat　on　out；　as　if　something　had　really　struck　her　as　funny。　〃He　was　going　to　get　married！　To　a　girl　at　the　office　named　Livsey；　Hester　Livsey。　He　phoned　me　one　day　to　tell　me　about　it。　Of　course　you　can't　realize　how　grotesque　that　was　because　you　didn't　know　him。〃
　　〃Did　you　advise　him　not　to　marry？〃
　　〃Heavens；　no。　It　wouldn't　have　done　any　good。　If　I　had　known　the　girl　I　might　have　given　her　some　advice；　but　not　Waldo。〃　Mrs。　Pine　turned　to　me。　〃Is　this　a　habit　of　his；　Archie？　He　said　he　had　a　suggestion　for　me；　and　instead　he　cross…examines　me。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　I　agreed。　〃He　doesn't　do　it　deliberately。　His　mind　jumps　the　track。〃
　　〃The　suggestion；〃　Wolfe　told　her；　ignoring　me；　〃is　a　contingent　one。　It's　no　good　unless　you've　been　telling　the　truth。　If　you　have　no　knowledge　of　facts　the　disclosure　of　which　would　cause　a　sensation；　and　all　you're　after　is　insurance　against　a　risk；　why　not　trust　to　my　discretion？　I　have　some；　and　I　would　gain　neither　pleasure　nor　profit　from　starting　a　public　uproar　unnecessarily。　Why　not　help　me　get　it　over　with？　Its　kernel　is　your　brother's　tenacity；　his　fondness　for　the　notion　of　murder…or　at　least　for　the　word。　I　suppose　you　know　your　brother　better　than　anyone　else　does。　Why　not　help　with　him？　Why　not　start　now　by　telling　us　about　him？　For　instance；　I　understand　that　you　asked　him　to　give　Mr。　Moore　a　job。　Did　he　have　any　objection　to　that？〃
　　It　was　a　fair　try；　but　it　didn't　work。　Apparently　Wolfe　hadn't　noticed　that　she　was　allergic　to　talk　of　her　brother；　but　that　doesn't　seem　likely；　since　he　notices　everything。　At　any　rate；　it　was　no　go。　She　didn't　abruptly　end　the　interview…on　the　contrary；　she　seemed　quite　willing　to　sit　and　chat　all　night　…but　she　was　utterly　disinclined　to　furnish　us　with　a　biography　of　her　brother。　The　most　specific　statement　Wolfe　could　drag　out　of　her　was　that　her　brother　was　peculiar；　and　she　had　already　told　us　that；　and　we　knew　it　anyway。
　　Finally　Wolfe　got　hold　of　the　edge　of　his　desk；　pushed　his　chair　back；　and　stood　up。　Mrs。　Pine　arose　too；　and　I　went　and　helped　her　on　with　her　coat。
　　In　the　hall；　with　my　hand　on　the　knob　of　the　front　door；　she　stood　where　I　couldn't　open　it　without　banging　her　toe；　and　told　me　sympathetically；　〃I　hope　your　face　is　better　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Thanks。　So　do　I。〃
　　〃And　you　didn't　answer　my　question　about　how　much　it　would　take　for　you　to　start　your　own　business。〃
　　〃That's　right；　I　didn't。　I'll　figure　it　up。〃
　　〃Do　you　like　symphony　concerts？〃
　　〃Yes；　some；　when　I'm　lying　down。　I　mean　on　the　radio。〃
　　She　laughed。　〃Anyway；　it's　nearly　April。　Boating？　Golf？　Baseball？〃
　　〃Baseball。　I　go　as　often　as　I　can　get　away。〃
　　〃It's　a　wonderful　game；　isn't　it？　Yankees　or　Giants？〃
　　〃Both。　Either　one；　whichever's　in　town。〃
　　〃I'll　send　you　season　tickets。　Frankly；　Archie；　I　think　my　brother　is　crazy。　Don't　tell　Mr。　Wolfe　I　said　that。〃
　　〃I　never　tell　him　anything。〃
　　〃Then　that's　our　first　secret。　Good　night。〃
　　I　escorted　her　out；　down　the　stoop　and　to　the　curb；　but　didn't　get　to　open　the　car　door　for　her　because　her　chauffeur　was　already　attending　to　that。　As　I　descended　the　steps　I　was　telling　myself　that　I　mustn't　forget　to　phone　Lon　Cohen　in　the　morning　and　inform　him　that　the　job　was　practically　mine　but　nothing　doing　on　his　ten　per　cent　because　I　was　landing　it　strictly　on　merit。
　　Back　in　the　house　I　made　a　beeline　for　the　stairs；　taking　no　chances；　but　found　it　desirable　to　mount　one　step　at　a　time。　My　room　was　two　flights　up。　On　the　first　landing　I　turned　and　yelled　back　down；　〃I'm　going　up　and　figure　how　much　it　will　set　her　back　to　furnish　my　office！　Good　night！〃
　　
　　Chapter　Fifteen
　　The　next　morning；　Thursday；　the　arena　of　the　stock　department　was　a　different　place　as　far　as　I　was　concerned。　Whenever　I　showed　my　face；　ing　and　going；　the　change　could　be　seen；　felt；　and　tasted。　Wednesday　morning　I　had　been　a　bination　of　a　new　male；　to　be　given　the　once　over　and　labeled；　and　an　intruder　from　outside　who　could　be　expected　to　regard　the　lovely　little　darlings　merely　as　units　of　personnel。　Thursday　morning　I　was　a　detective　after　a　murderer。　That's　what　they　all　thought；　and　they　all　showed　it。　Whether　Kerr　Naylor　had　started　another　ball　rolling；　or　whether　it　was　just　seepage　from　various　leaks；　I　didn't　know；　but　the　reaction　that　greeted　me　wherever　I　went　left　no　doubt　of　the　fact。
　　The　bits　of　tobacco　in　the　folder　had　not　been　disturbed。　That　was　no　great　disappointment；　since　I　had　no　good　reason　to　suppose　that　anyone　in　the　place　was　sitting　on　tacks；　and　I　left　the　set…up　intact。　At　ten　o'clock　I　got　Jasper　Pine　on　the　phone　and　gave　him　a　report　of　the　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Harold　Anthony　episode。
　　I　also　said；　〃Your　wife　came　to　see　us　last　night。〃
　　〃I　know　she　did；〃　he　replied；　a