rs.toomanywomen-第24章

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　　Chapter　Twenty…Five
　　I　missed　Sunday　dinner　but　not　supper。
　　It　was　no　wonder　that　under　the　circumstances　Cramer　thought　he　had　hooked　a　real　fish　and　had　also　made　a　monkey　out　of　Wolfe。　But　after　half　an　hour　with　Rosa　and　me　in　his　office；　beginning　to　suspect　that　he　had　merely　got　caught　on　a　snag；　he　left　us　to　Lieutenant　Rowcliff　and　beat　it　for　Centre　Street。　Rowcliff　didn't　care　much　for　the　assignment；　since　his　opinion　of　me　is　a　perfect　match　for　mine　of　him。　He　shot　questions　at　Rosa　for　an　hour　or　so　in　his　correspondence…school　grammar；　meanwhile　trying　to　keep　me　from　contributing　any　kind　of　sound；　let　alone　a　word；　and　halted　only　when　he　was　interrupted　by　the　return　of　a　squad　man　who　had　been　sent　to　Washington　Heights　to　check　with　the　in…laws。
　　Not　only　had　father…in…law　and　mother…in…law　verified　Rosa's　story；　but　husband…in…law　came　back　with　the　squad　man　to　try　to　raise　some　hell。　He　wasn't　going　to　let　his　wife　be　abused　and　would　see　to　it　personally　that　she　wasn't。　Knowing　what　had　led　up　to　his　wife's　departure　from　his　parental　apartment　in　the　Sunday　dawn；　I　regarded　him　with　awe。　I　had　noticed　on　the　Naylor…Kerr　stationery　that　the　motto　of　the　firm　was　ANYTHING　IN　THE　WORLD；　ANYWHERE　IN　THE　WORLD。　It　struck　me　that　the　motto　of　the　male　personnel　of　the　stock　department　appeared　to　be　PROTECT　THE　WOMAN。　Or　if　they　wanted　it　to　have　eight　words　like　the　firm's　it　could　be　PROTECT　YOUR　WOMAN　NO　MATTER　WHOSE　SHE　IS。
　　That　left　Rowcliff　with　nothing　to　discuss　with　Rosa　except　the　time　she　had　spent　in　bed　Friday　night；　especially　the　hours　from　ten　to　twelve；　which　gave　him　limited　space　to　turn　around　in。　He　sent　a　man　down　to　Bank　Street　to　see　the　janitor　and　the　other　tenants；　but　all　they　could　say　was　that　they　hadn't　happened　to　see　Miss　Bendini　e　home　Friday　evening。　Finally；　around　seven　o'clock；　he　adjourned　sine　die；　and　I　drove　Rosa；　with　her　luggage；　to　her　home　address；　having　phoned　Wolfe　and　been　told　that　there　was　no　reason　to　suppose　she　had　saved　anything　for　him。　The　husband　went　with　us　and　then　came　away　with　me；　and　I　let　him　out　at　a　subway　station。　Knowing　by　now　that　his　wife's　relations　with　me　were　purely　on　a　business　basis；　he　even　wanted　to　buy　me　a　drink。
　　I　spent　Sunday　evening　in　the　office　with　my　typewriter。　Wolfe　was　there　too；　but　sight　was　the　only　one　of　my　five　senses　that　knew　about　it。　When　Saul　Panzer　phoned　to　make　another　classified　report　to　Wolfe　I　arranged　for　him　to　meet　me　downtown　in　the　morning　instead　of　ing　to　Wolfe's　place。　The　authorities；　looking　for　him；　had　phoned　his　home　a　few　times；　and　he　was　going　to　spend　the　night　at　a　friend's　apartment。　It　was　just　possible　that　they　were　eager　enough　about　it　to　keep　an　eye　on　our　address；　and　I　still　thought　it　would　be　polite　to　give　Hester　Livsey　a　chance　to　do　some　explaining　in　a　congenial　atmosphere。
　　I　fully　expected　Saul's　check　on　her　to　be　nothing　more　than　a　formality；　and　so　it　was。　Monday　morning　I　met　him　and　took　him　with　me　to　the　lobby　of　the　building　on　William　Street；　and　chose　a　strategic　point　for　overlooking　the　arriving　throng　and　the　stampede　for　the　elevators。　I　recognized　a　few　of　the　faces　as　the　feet　trotted；　walked；　marched；　and　click…clicked　on　the　way　to　another　week's　paycheck。　At　two　minutes　to　nine　I　was　thinking　we　had　missed　her　and　would　have　to　proceed　upstairs；　where　it　would　be　more　awkward　and　would　require　arranging；　when　Saul　suddenly　pinched　me　and　muttered　at　me：
　　〃To　the　right；　thirty　feet；　turning　now；　same　hat　and　coat；　behind　the　tall　man　with　glasses；　going　on　the　elevator…〃
　　〃Okay；〃　I　said　as　she　was　swallowed　up　in　the　elevator　and　its　door　started　to　close。　〃How　many　coats　do　you　think　she　has？　She's　an　honest　working　girl。〃
　　〃It's　none　of　my　business；〃　Saul　said。
　　〃Meaning；　not　her　honesty；　but　her　name。　Yes；　you　have　heard　the　name。　If　you　happen　to　be　phoning　Wolfe　and　he　happens　to　ask；　you　can　tell　him　yes；　and　also　tell　him　I'll　bring　her　to　see　him　but　I　don't　know　when。　I　have　to　find　out　whether　I'm　still　working　here　or　not。　There's　to　be　a　directors'　meeting…you're　not　listening。〃
　　〃I'm　looking。　Do　you　know　that　man〃…　his　eyes　were　pointing…〃gray　coat　and　hat；　big　and　broad；　fleshy　face；　now　his　back　is　to　us…he's　stepping　on　the　elevator…〃
　　〃Yeah；　I　know　him。　Why？〃
　　〃I've　seen　him。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　doubt　it。〃　The　bination　of　Saul's　eyes　and　the　filing　equipment　in　his　skull　is　the　equal　of　any　card　system　yet　invented。　〃You　probably　saw　him　August　seventeenth；　nineteen　hundred　and　thirty…eight；　crossing　Madison　Avenue　against　a　light…〃
　　〃No。　I　saw　him　Friday；　twice。　When　Naylor　met　the　woman　at　First　Avenue　and　Fifty…second　Street　that　man　was　standing　across　the　street　in　a　doorway　looking　at　them。　An　hour　later；　when　they　parted　at　Second　Avenue　and　Fifty…seventh　Street；　he　was　standing　forty　feet　away；　again　in　a　doorway；　and　when　the　woman　walked　downtown　on　Second　Avenue　he　started　after　her。　That's　all　I　saw　because　Naylor　was　on　his　way　and　I　was　tailing　him。〃
　　〃Is　this　certified？〃
　　〃For　me　it　is。〃
　　〃Then　me　too。　In　case　this　head…flattener　is　going　on　with　his　career　and　picks　me　next；　the　man's　name　is　Sumner　Hoff。　He　works　for　Naylor…Kerr　and　his　office　is　in　the　stock　department。　File　it。〃
　　〃I　will。　Is　that　all　here？〃
　　I　said　it　was；　and　Saul　went。
　　I　took　an　elevator　to　the　thirty…fourth　floor；　not　knowing　what　to　expect。　It　was　quite　possible　that　a　delegation　of　executives　would　be　waiting　for　me；　to　tell　me　to　get　the　hell　out　and　stay　out。　But　nobody　at　all　was　waiting　for　me。　It　is　true　that　when　I　got　to　the　arena；　skirted　it；　and　started　down　the　long　aisle；　I　was　on　the　receiving　end　of　plenty　of　assorted　glances；　but　that　was　only　more　of　the　same　as　last　week。　I　left　my　coat　and　hat　in　my　room；　emerged　immediately；　crossed　to　the　other　side　of　the　arena；　opened　the　door　of　Hester　Livsey's　room；　entered；　and　shut　the　door　behind　me。
　　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　demanded。
　　She　had　straightened　up　from　dusting　off　her　desk。　She　looked　nervous；　unhappy；　and　annoyed。　Fritz　would　have　said　that　she　did　not　have　the　appearance　of　a　good　eater。　I　did　not　entirely　lose　the　impression　that　she　was　in　some　kind　of　trouble　that　no　one　but　me　could　understand　and　no　one　but　me　could　help　her　out　of；　but　the　most　vulgar　eye　could　have　seen　at　a　glance　that　she　was　in　trouble。　That　much　of　it　I　would　have　to　share。
　　My　name；〃　I　said；　〃is　Archie　Goodwin　and　I　work　for　Nero　Wolfe。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　What　do　you　want？〃
　　Evidently　everybody　in　the　stock　department　knew　everything。　〃I'm　afraid；〃　I　told　her；　〃that　I　can't　make　my　answer　quite　as　direct　and　to　the　point　as　your　question。　I　can　tell　you　what　I　want；　but　I'll　have　to　leave　it　more　or　less　blank　why　I　want　it。　I　want　to　date　you　up…to　meet　me　at　five　o'clock　this　afternoon　and　go　to　Nero　Wolfe's　office　with　me。　He　wants　to　have　a　talk　with　you…〃
　　〃What　about？〃
　　〃You're　so　damn　gruff；〃　I　plained。　〃I　can't　tell　you　what　about　except　that　it's　connected　with　the　murder　of　Kerr　Naylor；　and　you　could　guess　that　with　both　eyes　shut。　Let　me　try　it　that　way　first；　just　ask　you；　will　you　do　it？〃
　　〃Certainly　not。　Why　should　I？〃
　　〃In　that　case　that　es　next；　why　you　should。　I　would　have　liked　it　much　better　without　that；　but　I　can't　have　everything。　Mr。　Wolfe　has　learned　a　certain　fact　which　has　to　do　with　you　and　Kerr　Naylor；　and　he　wants　to　ask　you　about　it。　The　nature　of　the　fact　is　such…〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃Its　nature　is　such　that　if　you　don't　go　and　let　him　ask　you　about　it　he　will　be　obliged　to　give　the　fact　to　the　police　and　then　there　will　be　no　question　of　letting。　You　won't　go；　you'll　be　taken；　and　the　asking　atmosphere　will　be　different。〃
　　〃My　God；〃　she　said　in　a　tone　with　no　expression　at　all；　as　if　she　were　too　stunned　to　feel　anything。
　　It　irritated　me。　〃It's　a　good　thing　for　you　I'm　not　a　policeman；〃　I　declared。　〃You'd　better　think　up　a　better　entrance　than　that　for　them　if　it　goes　that　far。　Your　chin's　sagging。〃
　　She　came　to　me；　abruptly　and　swiftly；　put　her　hands　on　me；　her　open　palms　flat　against　my　chest　so　I　had　to　brace　myself；　raised　her　face　to　me；　and　half　manded；　half　implored；　〃What…is…the…fact？〃
　　She　nearly　got　the　desired　result　at　that。　But　I　stopped　it　before　it　reached　my　tongue　and　shook　my　head　firmly。　〃Nope。　You'll　get　it　from　Mr。　Wolfe。〃
　　〃You　won't　tell　me？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃There　isn't　any。　I　don't　believe　it。　There　isn't　any　fact。〃
　　〃The　hell　there　isn't。〃　I　was　disgusted　with　her　for　not　doing　better。　〃You're　just　like　glass　to　look　through。　You　have　just　told　me　that　there's　not　one　fact；　but　two　and　maybe　more；　and　you've　got　to　know　which　one　Wolfe　has。〃
　　She　had　certainly　uncovered　herself；　but　she　was　not　floored；　and　she　now　showed　that　she　could　grab　a　nettle。　She　went　to　the　rack　in　the　corner　and　got　her　coat　and　stuck　an　arm　in　it。
　　〃I'll　go　now；〃　she　said。
　　〃You　can't。〃　I　went　to　relieve　her　of　the　coat。　〃The　one　appointment　Mr。　Wolfe　wouldn't　break　is　the　one　with　the　orchids　from　nine　to　eleven　in　the　morning。〃　I　glanced　at　my　wrist。　〃We　can　leave　in　an　hour　and　a　quarter。　I'll　meet　you　in　the　lobby　at　a　quarter　to　eleven。〃
　　But　she　knew　what　she　wanted。　〃I'm　not　going　to　just　sit　here；〃　she　said；　〃and　if　I　tried　to　take　dictation…I　couldn't。　We　can　go　now　and　wait　for　him。　Wait　here　a　minute　while　I　tell　Mr。　Rosenbaum。〃
　　Having　her　coat；　I　hung　it　up；　and　explained　that　anyway　I　had　an　errand　in　the　building　that　had　to　be　attended　to　before　I　could　leave。　She　gave　in；　but　only　because　she　couldn't　help　it。　I　got　out　of　there；　not　being　absolutely　sure　how　I　would　react　if　she　snapped　out　of　it　and　started　to　work　on　me　in　earnest。　She　agreed　to　meet　me　in　the　lobby　at　10：45；　and　I　returned　to　my　room；　picked　up　the　phone；　and　called　Wolfe　and　told　him　to　expect　us　at　eleven。　I　also　told　him　of　Saul's　recognition　of　Sumner　Hoff。　Then　I　got　the　Naylor…Kerr　switchboard　and　gave　the　extension　number　of　the　office　of　the　president。
　　I　had　to　fight　for　him　that　time。　He　was　in　an　important　meeting　and　couldn't　be　disturbed；　but　I　finally　persuaded　his　secretary　that　no　meeting　was　more　important　than　me　that　morning　and　was　told　to　hold　the　wire。　It　was　a　long　hold。　After　five　minutes　I　wondered　who　was　kissing　her　now；　and　after　three　more　I　suspected　I　had　been　left　to　starve。　I　had　my　finger　poised　ready　to　start　jiggling　when　the　secretary's　voice　came。
　　〃Mr。　Goodwin？〃
　　〃Still　here　and　still　hoping。〃
　　〃Please　e　up　to　the　Board　Room　on　the　thirty…sixth　floor。　You　will　be　admitted。〃
　　Her　tone　implied　that　that　was　a　break　in　a　thousand；　so　I　thanked　her　warmly。
　　On　the　thirty…sixth　floor　the　executive　receptionist　told　me　where　the　Board　Room　was；　and　when　I　reached　it　an　executive　sentinel；　outside　the　door；　made　sure　my　name　was　mine　and　then　opened　for　me。　I　walked　in　looking　dignified。
　　It　was　up　to　snuff。　The　room　was　big；　high…ceilinged；　well　lighted；　and　impressive　to　a　rank…and…filer　like　me；　who　had　only　been　on　the　payroll　three…fifths　of　a　week。　An　enormous　rug　nearly　covered　the　floor。　The　table；　of　bleached　walnut；　was　ab