rs.toomanywomen-第25章

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d　walnut；　was　about　the　size　of　my　bedroom　though　not　the　same　shape。　All　around　it　were　roomy　armchairs；　upholstered　in　brown　leather；　twenty　or　more；　with　all　but　four　or　five　of　them　occupied。　There　were　two　chairs　at　each　end　of　the　table　and　the　others　were　along　the　sides。
　　In　one　of　the　chairs　at　the　far　end　sat　Jasper　Pine。　In　the　other　one　was　a　man　of　whose　bulk　there　was　so　little　left　that　most　of　the　chair　was　being　wasted。　Age　had　certainly　withered　him。　At　the　first　glance　I　recognized　him；　from　a　portrait　of　him　on　the　wall　of　the　president's　office；　as　old　George　Naylor；　one　of　the　founders　of　the　firm　and　the　father　of　Mrs。　Jasper　Pine；　Cecily　to　me；　and　of　Kerr　Naylor；　deceased。
　　Pine　said；　not　getting　up；　〃Gentlemen；　this　is　Mr。　Archie　Goodwin。　Goodwin；　this　is　a　joint　meeting　of　the　Board　of　Directors　and　some　of　the　executive　staff。　It　is　a　special　meeting；　called　to　consider　the　matter　of　the　death　of　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor。　We　have　discussed　it　at　some　length　in　all　its　aspects。　The　suggestion　has　been　made　that　we　instruct　Nero　Wolfe；　your　employer；　to　continue　his　investigation　and　extend　it　to　include　Mr。　Naylor's　death。　Some　of　those　present　think　that　before　deciding　that　point　we　should…〃
　　He　stopped　because　old　George　Naylor　uttered　an　emphatic　word。　It　was　a　word　often　heard　among　engineers　doing　field　work；　truck　drivers；　and　detectives　when　working　under　strain；　but　I　wouldn't　have　expected　it　to　be　used　at　a　directors'　meeting。
　　The　founder　added　to　it；　〃It's　already　decided！　Certainly　Wolfe　continues！〃　It　wasn't　from　him；　I　noted；　that　his　son　had　got　a　tenor　voice。　His　was　baritone　and　still　had　volume　and　force；　though　his　age　was　in　it　too。
　　There　were　murmurs。　Pine　told　him　with　courteous　deference　but　with　not　quite　all　the　impatience　filtered　out；　〃It　was　agreed；　I　thought；　Mr。　Naylor；　that　we　should　hear　from　Goodwin　first。　Goodwin；　tell　us　what　you　have　done　since　you　came　here　last　Wednesday。〃
　　Nothing　was　said　about　sitting　down；　in　spite　of　five　empty　chairs；　so；　seeing　that　one　there　at　my　end　was　vacant；　I　got　into　it　and　adjusted　myself　fortably。
　　〃Do　you　want　the　high　spots；〃　I　asked；　〃or　all　the　trimmings？〃
　　Pine　said　to　go　ahead　and　they　would　stop　me　if　it　was　too　detailed。　I　did　so。　I　gave　them　what　I　thought　should　be　enough　to　satisfy；　but　nothing　to　pare　with　one　of　my　all…out　performances　with　Wolfe；　and　skipping　a　few　items　entirely；　as　for　instance　my　first　encounter　with　Gwynne　Ferris　when　she　put　on　her　non…spelling　act。　They　interrupted　me　whenever　they　felt　like　it；　to　ask　questions　or　make　critical　ments；　and　when　I　got　to　the　scene　at　the　door　of　Sumner　Hoff's　office；　where　Kerr　Naylor　told　me　he　knew　who　killed　Waldo　Moore；　they　came　at　me　in　pairs　and　threes。　Evidently　there　were　two　schools　of　thought　and　maybe　more。
　　One　bird　told　me　to　my　teeth；　〃I　knew　Kerr　Naylor　twenty　years；　Goodwin；　and　I　never　knew　him　to　tell　a　lie。　I　don't　know　you　at　all！〃
　　That　specimen　had　been　riding　me　from　the　start　and　I　was　developing　an　attitude　toward　him。　His　age　was　about　halfway　between　mine　and　the　founders；　he　was　by　far　the　best…dressed　man　in　the　room；　he　had　a　wide　mouth　with　full　lips；　and　he　loved　to　interrupt　people。　I　had　a　retort　on　its　way　to　the　tongue；　but　old　George　Naylor　got　in　ahead。
　　〃Nonsense！　Kerr　was　an　inveterate　liar　from　the　time　he　was　a　baby！〃
　　That　didn't　set　the　best…dressed　man　back　any。　〃Of　course；〃　he　told　me；　〃Kerr　Naylor　is　dead。　But　you're　not！〃
　　His　tone　implied　that　that　was　regrettable。
　　〃I　keep　a　list；〃　I　said；　〃of　the　people　who　call　me　a　liar。　What's　your　name？〃
　　He　smiled　at　me　condescendingly　with　his　wide　mouth。
　　〃You're　too　old　to　hit；〃　I　conceded；　standing　up。　〃But　I　know　a　trick　that's　supposed　to　make　dumb　animals　talk；　and　it　would　be　fun　to　try…〃
　　〃His　name's　Ferguson；〃　a　wiry　little　guy　with　a　mustache　tossed　in。　He　had　a　dry　look　and　a　dry　voice　and　was　as　crisp　as　Melba　toast。　〃Sit　down；　Goodwin。　Emmet　Ferguson。　He's　a　lawyer　and　owns　most　of　a　bank　and　has　been　trying　for　ten　years　to　have　Kerr　Naylor　made　president　of　this　pany。　The　last　time　the　vote　went　against　him　nine　to　five；　and…〃
　　〃Is　this　proper？〃　an　indignant　voice　demanded。　〃With　an　outsider…〃
　　〃If　you　had　made　Kerr　president；〃　old　George　Naylor　declared；　〃I　would　have　e　down　here　and　kicked　him　out　myself！　He　was　my　son；　but　he　couldn't　have　run　this　business！〃
　　〃He　wanted　to　bad　enough；〃　the　wiry　little　guy　muttered。
　　I　had　sunk　back　into　my　chair　and　was　trying　to　convey　the　impression　that　I　wasn't　present；　hoping　they　would　go　on　with　the　family　quarrel；　which　seemed　interesting。　They　did；　long　enough　for　me　to　infer　that　the　reason　Kerr　Naylor　had　refused　to　be　an　officer　of　the　pany　was　because　he　was　holding　out　for　top　billing；　namely　president。　Apparently　the　Board；　which　of　course　had　the　say　formally；　had　been　a　solid　two　to　one　for　Pine；　but　at　that　Kerr　Naylor　had　had　five　votes。　I　wondered　which　side　Cecily　had　been　on　and　how　much　weight　old　George　Naylor　had　been　able　to　pull。　About　all　I　got　was　the　general　idea；　for　Pine；　presiding；　stopped　it　before　long　and　told　me　to　proceed。
　　With　the　question　of　who　was　a　liar；　Kerr　Naylor　or　me；　out　of　the　way；　or　anyhow　tabled；　I　was　permitted　to　continue　without　many　interruptions。　I　covered　the　ground　adequately；　right　up　to　the　end；　but　still　omitting　details　which　I　thought　they　could　get　along　without；　such　as　the　recent　developments　concerning　Hester　Livsey。　When　I　was　through　they　asked　questions；　with　the　best…dressed　man　furnishing　more　than　his　share；　until　Pine　put　in：
　　〃We've　been　at　this　over　two　hours；　gentlemen；　and　it's　time　we　reached　some　decisions。　The　first　question　is　what　to　do　about　Nero　Wolfe。　Goodwin；　if　we　instruct　Wolfe　to　continue　the　investigation；　and　extend　it　to　include　the　death　of　Mr。　Naylor；　what　could　he　do？〃
　　Half　of　them　started　to　talk。　Pine　tapped　with　his　gavel　and　asserted　the　authority　of　the　chair：
　　〃Let　Goodwin　tell　us。〃
　　I　looked　around　at　them；　giving　an　extra　half　a　second　to　Emmet　Ferguson。　〃Mr。　Wolfe　could　catch　the　murderer；〃　I　stated；　〃if　that's　what　you　want。　He…〃
　　〃Why　not　the　police？〃　Ferguson　asked　offensively。　〃That's　their　job。〃
　　〃I　am　not；〃　I　told　the　table；　〃going　to　argue　with　Babblemouth　Ferguson。　Shall　I　go　on？〃
　　The　wiry　little　guy　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　Someone　said；　〃Shut　up。　Emmet；　or　we'll　be　here　all　day。〃
　　〃It　all　depends；〃　I　said。　〃If　you　think　something　about　it　is　hotter　than　you　like　it；　call　Mr。　Wolfe　off　immediately。　If　you　would　just　as　soon　have　the　murderer　caught　but　don't　really　give　a　damn；　let　the　cops　do　it；　you　would　be　wasting　your　money　on　Mr。　Wolfe　and　he　es　high。　If　you　feel　that　you　owe　it　to　yourselves　or　to　anyone　else　to　make　sure　that　the　job　isn't　muffed；　and　if　you　suspect　that　it　may　require　something　more　than　good　standard　detective　work；　you　need　Mr。　Wolfe　no　matter　what　it　costs。　As　to…〃
　　〃You　weren't　asked　for　a　sales　talk；〃　Ferguson　sneered。　〃You　were　asked…〃
　　I　merely　lifted　my　voice。　〃As　to　what　Mr。　Wolfe　could　do；　I　don't　know。　Nobody　ever　knows　what　Mr。　Wolfe　can　do　on　a　case　until　after　he　has　done　it。　I　could　tell　you　what　he　has　done；　but　it　would　take　a　week；　and　anyhow　most　of　you　have　probably　already　heard　some　of　it。〃
　　〃I　move；〃　the　wiry　little　guy　said；　〃that　we
　　authorize　the　president　to　engage　Nero　Wolfe…〃
　　The　gavel　sounded。　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　Pine　addressed　me；　〃Goodwin；　will　you　step　out　to　the　reception　room　and　wait　there？〃
　　I　glanced　at　my　wrist。　〃I'm　late　for　an　appointment。〃
　　〃We　all　are；〃　someone　growled。
　　Pine　said　it　wouldn't　take　long；　and　I　left。
　　Judging　from　the　customers　distributed　around　on　the　chairs　in　the　reception　room；　some　of　them　looking　as　if　they　were　running　short　on　patience；　the　appointments　were　piling　up。　One　of　them　I　recognized；　an　Assistant　District　Attorney；　and　I　wondered　which　one　of　the　gang　in　the　Board　Room　he　was　waiting　for。　I　fully　expected　to　be　kept　there　on　my　fundament　for　half　an　hour　or　more；　and　was　debating　whether　to　drop　down　to　the　lobby　and　tell　Hester　Livsey　I　was　held　up；　when　the　executive　sentinel　arrived　with　word　that　I　was　wanted。　Evidently　they　had　agreed　with　Pine　that　it　was　time　to　can　the　talk　and　make　some　decisions。　Unless　what　they　had　decided　was　to　ask　me　more　questions。
　　But　no；　they　had　executed。　As　I　approached　the　table　Pine　spoke　to　me。
　　〃Goodwin；　we　wish　to　instruct　Nero　Wolfe　to　extend　his　investigation　to　include　the　death　of　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor。　Do　you　need　a　letter？〃
　　〃No；　not　with　all　these　witnesses。　Then　it's　a　straight　murder　job；　and　you　might　as　well　take　me　off　the　pany　payroll；　with　the　understanding　that　I　can　e　and　go　in　the　stock　department。　I　assume　we　get　cooperation？〃
　　〃Certainly。〃
　　〃Okay。　Mr。　Ferguson；　Mr。　Wolfe　will　be　expecting　you　at　his　office　at　six　o'clock　today。〃
　　The　best…dressed　man　goggled　at　me　and　his　mouth　came　open。　He　was　speechless。　The　wiry　little　guy　threw　his　head　back　and　laughed。
　　〃What　for？〃　Pine　asked。
　　〃Skip　it；〃　I　said　graciously。　〃Mr。　Wolfe　can　get　in　touch　with　him。　How　did　the　vote　go？〃
　　〃The　vote？〃
　　〃On　hiring　Mr。　Wolfe。〃
　　〃That's　an　improper　question；　Goodwin；　and　you　know　it。　I've　told…〃
　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Pine；　it's　far　from　improper。〃　I　sent　my　eyes　around　the　table。　〃In　a　murder　investigation；　gentlemen；　nothing　is　improper；　and　that's　the　hell　of　it　for　everybody　concerned。　I　told　you　that　I　don't　know　what　Mr。　Wolfe　will　do；　but　I　know　what　he'll　ask　me；　and　one　of　his　first　questions　will　be　who　voted　not　to　hire　him。　If　you　had　let　me　stay　in　the　room…〃
　　〃The　vote；〃　the　wiry　little　guy　said；　〃was　eleven　to　four。　Those　voting　no　were　Fergus　on；　Wyatt；　Volk；　and　Thomas。　The　chair　of　course　did　not　vote；　but　his　remarks　indicated　that　he　was　for　it。　My　name　is　Armstrong。〃
　　〃Much　obliged。　Now　I'll　keep　that　appointment。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Twenty…Six
　　At　the　far　side　of　the　executive　reception　room　were　a　couple　of　phone　booths；　and　I　dived　into　one　of　them　on　my　way　through　and　dialed　a　number。　Ordinarily　when　I'm　not　there　Fritz　answers；　but　that　time　it　was　Wolfe　himself。
　　〃Where　the　devil　are　you？〃　he　demanded。　〃It's　eight　minutes　past　eleven！〃
　　I　didn't　resent　it　because　I　knew　he　wasn't　being　critical。　He　regards　going　from　one　place　to　another　place　in　New　York　City　as　being　one　of　the　most　hazardous　feats　a　man　can　undertake；　and　he　was　worried　about　me。
　　〃I　have；〃　I　declared　importantly；　〃just　left　a　directors'　meeting。　You　were　hired　to　investigate　Naylor's　death　by　a　vote　of　eleven　to　four；　and　I　would　greatly　appreciate　it　as　a　personal　favor　if　you　will　manage　to　frame　a　heel　named　Emmet　Ferguson　for　it。　When　you　see　him　you'll　agree　with　me。　I'll　be　there　with　Miss　Livsey　in　fifteen　minutes。〃
　　Late　as　I　was；　I　had　no　fear　that　Hester　would　have　got　tired　waiting　for　me。　She　wanted　that　fact。　And　I　was　right。　She　was　standing；　looking　uneasy；　patient；　and　beautiful；　by　the　mailbox　on　the　William　Street　side　of　the　lobby。　But　as　I　approached　she　turned　her　head　to　say　something　to　a　man　there　at　her　elbow；　and　I　was　thrown　off　my　strid