rs.toomanywomen-第17章

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　　I　took　the　carton　home　with　me；　not　caring　to　leave　its　contents　there　even　with　the　cabinet　locked。
　　
　　Chapter　Nineteen
　　That　evening　after　dinner　Wolfe　was　going　on　with　his　three　books。　Since　there　was　wide　variation　in　the　number　of　pages　it　looked　to　me　as　if　he　was　going　to　run　into　trouble　when　the　shortest　one　suddenly　petered　out　on　him；　unless　he　had　foreseen　the　difficulty　and　was　adjusting　his　installments　accordingly。
　　After　I　had　given　him　the　day's　report；　to　which　he　reacted　the　same　as　he　had　the　day　before；　namely　not　at　all；　and　after　getting　nothing　but　a　grunt　of　indifference　when　I　volunteered　the　opinion　that　Kerr　Naylor　had　been　read　the　riot　act　by　his　sister　and　as　a　result　was　crawling　from　under；　I　decided　to　take　in　a　flat…face　opera。
　　Ordinarily　I　let　the　movies　wait　when　we're　busy　on　a　case；　but　I　broke　precedent　that　Friday　evening　because　（a）　we　weren't　busy…at　least　God　knows　Wolfe　wasn't…　and　（b）　I　strongly　doubted　if　it　was　a　case。　I　would　have　been　willing　to　settle　for　nothing　more　homicidal　than　a　mess　of　dirty　internal　politics　on　the　higher　levels　at　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　and　while　that　may　have　seemed　important　and　even　exciting　to　the　Board　of　Directors　and　hostile　camps　of　executives；　I　had　to　confess　that　I　couldn't　blame　Wolfe　for　going　aloof　on　it；　since　I　was　inclined　to　feel　the　same　way。　So　I　let　my　mind　go　blank　and　enjoyed　the　movie　up　to　a　certain　point；　staying　nearly　to　the　end。　When　it　came　to　where　they　were　preparing　to　wind　it　up　right　and　let　it　out　that　the　hero　really　had　not　put　over　the　fake　contract　and　cleaned　up；　I　left　in　a　hurry；　because　I　had　formed　my　own　opinion　of　the　hero　from　where　I　sat　and　chose　to　think　otherwise。
　　Then；　when　I　got　home　at　half…past　eleven；　I　found　Inspector　Cramer　there　in　the　office；　seated　in　the　red　leather　chair；　talking　to　Wolfe。　Evidently　it　wasn't　a　very　amiable　conversation；　for　Cramer's　look　at　me　as　I　entered　was　an　unfriendly　glare；　and；　since　I　had　done　nothing　to　earn　it；　it　must　have　been　the　state　of　his　feelings　toward　Wolfe。
　　〃Where　the　hell　have　you　been？〃　he　demanded；　as　if　he　had　me　under　contract　or　I　was　on　the　parole　list。
　　〃It　was　a　wonderful　movie；〃　I　informed　them；　sitting　down　at　my　desk。　〃Only　two　people　in　it　have　amnesia；　this　incredibly　beautiful　girl　with…〃
　　〃Archie；〃　Wolfe　snapped。　He　was　out　of　humor　too。　〃Mr。　Cramer　wants　to　ask　you　something。　I　suppose　you　have　seen　the　piece　about　us　in　this　evening's　Gazetee？〃
　　〃Sure。　It's　a　bum　picture　of　you；　but…〃
　　〃You　didn't　mention　it　to　me。〃
　　〃Yeah；　you　were　busy　reading　and　anyway　it　wasn't　worth　wasting　breath　on。〃
　　〃It's　an　outrage！〃　Cramer　rasped。　〃It's　a　flagrant　betrayal　of　a　client's　confidence！〃
　　〃Nuts。〃　I　had　to　keep　my　eyes　on　the　go　to　meet　the　two　glares　alternately。　〃It　doesn't　quote　me　and　it　doesn't　even　say　I　was　interviewed。　It　merely　says　that　Archie　Goodwin；　Nero　Wolfe's　brilliant　lieutenant；　is　investigating　the　death　of　Waldo　Wilmot　Moore；　and　therefore　it　may　be　conjectured　that　somebody　smells　murder。　Except　for　those　it　mentions　no　names。　Since　about　a　thousand　people　down　at　Naylor…Kerr　know　about　it　and　at　least　one　of　them　knows　who　I　am　and　probably　a　lot　more；　you　can　have　that　word　betrayal　back　and　use　it　somewhere　else。　Even　so；　Lon　Cohen　wouldn't　have　done　it　without　getting　my　okay。　It　was　that　damn　Whosis；　the　city　editor。　Whose　belly　aches；　the　client's？　Have　you　been　promoted　from　homicide　to　patting　the　kittens？〃
　　Wolfe　and　Cramer　started　to　speak　both　at　once；　and　Wolfe　won。　〃The　piece；〃　he　said；　〃does　indeed　apply　that　word；　brilliant；　to　you；　and　that's　all　I　find　in　it　to　object　to。　But　jVlr。　Cramer　is　seriously　annoyed。　It　seems　that　Mr。　O'Hara；　the　Deputy　missioner；　is　also　annoyed。　They　want　us　to　quit　the　job。〃
　　〃They've　got　a　hell　of　a　nerve；〃　I　asserted。　〃Will　they　feed　us？〃
　　Cramer　started　again　to　speak；　but　Wolfe　pushed　a　palm　at　him。
　　〃Nothing　edible；〃　Wolfe　said　with　a　grimace。　There　was　no　joking　about　food　with　him。　〃They　say　the　piece　in　the　Gazetee　is　the　opening　of　another　campaign　of　criticism　of　the　police　for　an　unsolved　murder；　and　that　it　is　irresponsible　because　there　isn't　the　slightest　evidence　that　Mr。　Moore's　death　was　anything　but　a　hit…and…run　accident。　They　say　that　our　undertaking　an　investigation　is　the　only　valid　excuse　the　Gazetee　can　have　for　starting　such　a　campaign　or　continuing　it。　They　say　that　either　we　have　been　gulled　by　the　whimsicality　of　an　eccentric　man；　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor；　or　that；　not　gulled；　we　are　exploiting　it　in　order　to　build　up　for　a　fee。　They　say　that　you　have　even　gone　so　far　as　to　report　that　Mr。　Naylor　said　something　to　you…that　he　knows　who　killed　Mr。　Moore…which　he　never　said；　in　the　necessity　to　invent　something　that　would　justify　our　continued　employment。　Does　that　cover　it；　Mr。　Cramer？〃
　　〃It'll　do　for　an　outline；〃　Cramer　rasped。　〃I　want　to　ask　Goodwin…〃
　　〃If　you　please。〃　Wolfe　was　brusque。　He　turned　to　me。　〃Archie。　If　I　need　to　tell　you；　I　do；　that　I　have　unqualified　confidence　in　you　and　am　pletely　satisfied　with　your　performance　in　this　case；　as　I　have　been　in　all　past　cases　and　expect　to　be　in　all　future　ones。　Of　course　you　tell　lies　and　so　do　I；　even　to　clients　when　it　seems　advisable；　but　you　would　never　lie　to　me　nor　I　to　you　in　a　matter　where　mutual　trust　and　respect　are　involved。　Your　lack　of　brilliance　may　be　regrettable　but　is　really　a　triviality；　and　in　any　event　two　brilliant　men　under　one　roof　would　be　intolerable。　Your　senseless　peccadilloes；　such　as　your　refusal　to　use　a　noiseless　typewriter；　are　a　confounded　nuisance；　but　this　idiotic　accusation　that　you　lied　in　that　report　to　Mr。　Pine　has　put　me　in　a　different　frame　of　mind　about　it。　Keep　your　typewriter；　but　for　heaven's　sake　oil　it。〃　〃Good　God；〃　I　protested；　〃I　oil　it　every…〃　Cramer　exploded　with　a　word　which　the　printer　would　not　approve　of。　〃Your　goddam　household　squabbles　will　keep；〃　he　said　rudely。　He　was　at　me。　〃Do　you　stick　to　it　that　Naylor　told　you　he　knew　who　killed　Moore？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't；〃　I　told　him；　〃not　to　you。　To　you　I　don't　stick　to　anything。　This　is　a　private　investigation　about　a　guy　shooting　off　his　mouth；　and　I　do　my　reporting　to　Mr。　Wolfe　and　to　our　client。　Where　do　you　e　in？　You're　the　head　of　the　Homicide　Squad；　but　you　say　yourself　that　Moore's　death　was　an　accident；　so　it's　none　of　your　business　what　I　stick　to　and　what　I　let　go　of。　I　don't　blame　you　for　not　wanting　the　Gazetee　to　start　a　howl；　but　if　you　expect　any　cooperation　from　me　you're　not　going　to　get　it　by　asking　me　whether　I　stick　to　it　that　I'm　not　a　liar。　I　suppose　O'Hara　has　been　on　the　phone　and　given　you　a　pain　in　the　sitdown；　a　substitute　I　use　out　of　respect　for　your　age；　but　you　don't　need　to　take　it　out　on　me。〃
　　I　spread　out　my　palms。　〃Take　it　this　way。　Let's　suppose　you're　a　reasonable　man　instead　of　a　hothead；　and　you　e　here　to　ask　me　something　in　that　spirit；　suppose　you　even　call　me　Archie。　And　you　tell　me　what　you　want　in　a　friendly　well…modulated　tone。　What　would　it　be？〃
　　〃I've　already　told　Wolfe；　and　he　has　told　you。〃　Cramer　was　no　longer　bellicose；　merely　firm。　〃I　want　you　to　quit　stirring　up　a　murder　stink　where　there's　no　evidence　and　peddling　stale　rumors　to　the　papers。〃
　　〃I　didn't　peddle。　I　went　to　the　Gazetee　boys　for　information；　and　I　got　it。　As　for　stink…stirring；　do　you　mean　you　want　me　to　quit　my　job　at　Naylor…Kerr？〃
　　〃Yes。　You　don't　need　money　that　bad。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　know；　I'm　only　the　bookkeeper。　That's　up　to　Mr。　Wolfe。　He　employs　me　and　I　follow　orders。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　Wolfe　put　in；　〃am　in　turn　employed　by　Naylor…Kerr；　Inc。；　through　its　president；　Mr。　Pine。　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　in　hiring　me　he　and　his　fellow　executives　had　certain　special　undeclared　purposes　in　mind。　Their　nature　is　not　known　to　me；　but　I　have　no　reason　to　suppose　them　to　be　criminal　or　unethical；　and　they　may　even　be　praiseworthy。　Why　don't　you　ask　Mr。　Pine　about　it？　Have　you　talked　to　him？〃
　　〃The　Deputy　missioner　has。〃　Cramer　had　got　out　a　cigar　and　was　threatening　his　teeth　with　it。　〃This　afternoon。　I　understand　it　was　mostly　about　Goodwin　lying　about　what　Naylor　had　said　to　him。　I　don't　suppose　the　Deputy　missioner　asked　him　specifically　to　call　you　off。　That　part　of　it　was　left　to　me。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　feel　justified；〃　Wolfe　said　virtuously；　〃in　quitting　the　case　without　the　approval　of　the　client。〃
　　〃Okay；　then　get　it。　Call　him　up　now。　We'll　both　talk　to　him；　and　me　first。〃
　　Wolfe　nodded　at　me。　〃Get　Mr。　Pine；　Archie。　But　not　you　first；　Mr。　Cramer。　You　second。〃
　　I　got　the　number　from　the　book　and　dialed　it。　When；　after　a　short　wait；　there　was　a　voice　in　my　ear　that　I　recognized；　I　was　surprised　that　a　woman　with　enough　money　to　keep　pets　answered　the　phone　herself；　but　it　was　midnight　and　the　servants　probably　didn't　get　to　sleep　as　late　in　the　morning　as　she　did。　I　told　her　who　I　was　and　she　reacted　instantly。
　　〃Of　course；　I　knew　your　voice　at　once！　How　is　your　face；　Archie？〃
　　She　sounded　as　if　she　had　really　had　it　on　her　mind　and　wanted　to　know。　〃Better；　thanks；〃　I　told　her。　〃I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you　so　late　at　night；　but…〃
　　〃Oh；　it's　not　late　for　me！　I'm　never　in　bed　before　three　or　four。　The　season　tickets　aren't　available　yet；　but　they　will　be　next　week；　and　yours　will　be　sent　at　once。〃
　　〃Much　obliged。　Is　your　husband　there？　Mr。　Wolfe　would　like　to　speak　to　him。〃
　　〃Yes　he's　here　but　he　may　be　asleep。　He　goes　to　bed　much　earlier　than　I　do。　Hold　the　wire　and　I'll　find　out。　Is　it　important？〃
　　〃Not　important　enough　to　wake　him　up　if　he　hates　it　as　much　as　I　do。〃
　　〃All　right；　hold　the　wire。　I'll　see。〃
　　It　took　her　long　enough。　I　sat　and　held　it；　reflecting　that　considering　the　state　of　their　romance　her　husband's　bed　was　probably　not　just　the　other　side　of　a　door。　Finally　she　was　back。
　　〃No。；　I'm　sorry；　he's　sound　asleep。　I　thought　he　might　be　reading。　Is　it　about　what　I　came　to　see　you　about？〃
　　〃Yes；　it's　connected　with　that。　We'll　get　him　in　the　morning。　Many　thanks。〃
　　〃Maybe　I　could　help。　What　is　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；　it's　just　a　detail。　Hold　it　a　second。〃　I　covered　the　transmitter　and　announced；　〃He's　asleep　and　she　wants　to　know　if　she　can　help。　She　would　like　very　much　to　help。〃
　　〃No；〃　Wolfe　said　positively。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　Cramer　began；　but　I　ignored　him　and　told　the　phone；　〃Mr。　Wolfe　thanks　you　for　your　offer；　Mrs。　Pine；　but　he　will　call　your　husband　tomorrow。〃
　　〃Then　just　tell　me　what　it　is；　Archie；　and　I　can　discuss　it　with　him　before　Mr。　Wolfe　calls。〃
　　It　took　me　a　good　three　minutes　to　get　it　concluded　without　being　impolite。
　　A　childish　wrangle　started。　Cramer　adopted　the　position　that　I　should　have　persuaded　her　to　wake　Pine　up；　and　Wolfe；　who　hates　having　his　sleep　interrupted　even　more　than　I　do；　violently　disagreed。　They　kept　at　it　as　if　it　had　been　one　of　the　world's　major　problems；　like　what　to　do　with　the　Ruhr。　Neither　of　them　budged　an　inch；　so　they　ended　where　they　began；　stalemated。
　　〃Very　well；〃　Cramer　said　finally；　still　belligerent。　〃So　I　get　nothing　for　losing　two　hours　of　my　own　sleep　and　ing　clear　over　here　to　ask　you　a　favor。〃
　　〃Nonsense。〃　Wolfe　was　belligerent　too。　〃You　haven't　asked　a　f