rs.toomanywomen-第30章

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f　the　reserve　pool　in　the　stock　department；　and　said　I　wanted　to　speak　to　Gwynne　Ferris。　I　was　told　she　was　busy。　So；　I　said；　was　I。　In　a　couple　of　minutes　I　heard　her　voice。
　　〃Listen；　darling；〃　I　beseeched　her。　〃I'm　up　at　Thirty…fifth　Street；　had　to　e　to　see　Mr。　Wolfe。　But　I'll　be　through　here　in　about　an　hour；　and　there's　something　I　want　to　ask　you　about；　and　I'll　even　go　so　far　as　to　buy　you　a　lunch。　Meet　me　at　the　corner　of　William　and　Wall　at　twelve…thirty？〃
　　〃You　bum；〃　she　said　resentfully。　〃Letting　that　Hoff　chase　you　clear　off　the　floor　and　me　not　getting　to　see　it　because　I　was　in　Mr。　Henderson's　office　working。　What　do　you　want　to　ask　me　about？〃
　　〃Something　special。　The　next　to　last　step　in　that　rumba。　Twelve…thirty？〃
　　She　said　all　right。
　　I　was　sitting　with　my　legs　extended　and　my　hands　pushed　into　my　pants　pockets；　frowning　at　the　knob　of　the　bination　on　the　safe；　when　Wolfe　came　down　from　the　plant　rooms。　After　he　got　in　his　chair　and　had　his　center　of　gravity　adjusted　I　transferred　the　frown　to　him　and　asked：
　　〃Did　the　boys　e？〃
　　He　nodded。
　　〃All　four　of　them？〃
　　He　nodded。
　　〃You　gave　them　the　set…up？〃
　　He　nodded。
　　I　shook　my　head。　〃Okay。　If　this　thing　really　works；　which　I　admit　is　one　chance　in　a　hundred　and　so　do　you；　I　only　hope　to　God　they　don't　lose　her　and　I　have　to　do　some　more　identifying。〃
　　〃Nonsense。〃　Wolfe　pushed　the　button　for　beer。　〃As　I　told　you；　I　expect　nothing　as　conclusive　as　that。　But　there　may　be　some　word；　some　gesture；　some　cautious　countermove；　and　you；　I　trust；　will　not　miss　it。〃
　　〃Yeah。〃　My　frown　remained。　〃Some　trust。　I　have　dated　Gwynne　for　lunch　and　have　reserved　a　booth　at　Frisbie's；　where　shad　roe　is　three　bucks。　Have　you　any　further　suggestions？〃
　　He　said　no；　and　Fritz　entered　with　the　beer。
　　
　　Chapter　Thirty
　　〃Yes；　turtledove；〃　I　said；　〃you　may　have　another　Martini　if　it's　okay　with　Emily　Post　in　the　middle　of　a　meal；　and　further　if　you　don't　get　dizzy。　I　need　your　head　clear。〃
　　I　had　been　with　Gwynne　enough　to　know　that　with　the　third　or　fourth　drink　her　lovely　eyes　had　a　slight　tendency　to　protrude　and　also　to　acquire　a　film　of　excess　moisture。　Also　she　was　inclined　to　start　cussing。　I　preferred　her　pure　and　angelic　and　had　told　her　so　frankly。
　　We　were　eating　shad　roe　and　avocado　salad　in　a　corner　booth　at　Frisbie's。
　　〃I　don't　get　dizzy；〃　she　pouted。　〃A　girl　like　me　can't　afford　to。　My　head　is　always　clear；　and　what　do　you　want　it　clear　for？　Some　more　crap　about　that　awful　night；　that　Friday　night　I'll　never　forget？　Out　of　bed　to　police　headquarters！　I　never　thought　I'd　e　to　that；　I　can　tell　you！〃
　　〃Neither　did　I；〃　I　said　earnestly。　〃No；　it's　not　about　that　awful　night；　or　at　least　not　about　your　part　of　it。〃　I　took　time　out　to　tell　the　waiter　to　bring　the　Martini；　and；　to　be　sociable；　more　bourbon　for　me。
　　〃The　reason　I've　been　hesitating；〃　I　said；　〃is　that　it's　extremely　confidential。　On　the　other　hand；　I　badly　need　your　advice。　I　have　a　fair　idea　of　what　your　opinion　of　Hester　Livsey　is；　but…well；　is　she　actually　a　little　batty？　What　do　you　think？〃
　　Gwynne　snorted。　I　had　told　her　she　should　give　up　snorting。　〃That　girl　batty？　I　should　say　not！　What's　she　trying　to　put　over　on　you？〃
　　〃That's　just　it；〃　I　said　in　a　puzzled　tone。　〃I　can't　figure　it　that　she's　trying　to　put　anything　over。　I　can't　figure　it　at　all。〃
　　〃I　bet　she　is。　What's　she　done？〃
　　I　hesitated。　I　gazed　seriously　at　the　lovely　blue　eves。　〃This　is　very　confidential；　Gwynne　darling。〃
　　〃Sure。〃
　　〃I've　told　Mr。　Wolfe；　and　he　has　given　me　permission　to　consult　you。〃
　　〃For　God's　sake　go　on　and　spill　it！〃
　　〃Well…I　suppose…Hester　Livsey　told　me　this　morning　that　she　knows　who　killed　Waldo　Moore。　She　said　she　has　known　for　a　long　time。〃
　　Gwynne's　fork；　with　a　hunk　of　avocado；　stopped　halfway　to　her　mouth。　〃She　told　you　she　knows？〃
　　〃Yep。〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃So　she　told　me。〃
　　〃Jesus！〃
　　The　fork　with　the　avocado　slowly　descended　to　the　plate　and　rested　there。
　　〃I　don't　wonder　you're　impressed；　darling；〃　I　said　sympathetically。　〃So　am　I。　She　was　telling　me　when　Hoff　butted　in　and　chased　me。　I　went　to　tell　Mr。　Wolfe　about　it；　and　we're　up　a　stump　because　we　don't　know　her　well　enough。　He　thought　I　should　consult　someone　who　is　well　informed　and　trustworthy　and　who　knows　all　about　her。　Obviously　that　meant　you。　Is　she　batty　or　what？〃
　　The　waiter　came　with　the　drinks。　Gwynne　looked　at　her　Martini　as　if　it　were　a　plication　she　was　not　prepared　for；　then　picked　it　up　and　downed　it　in　two　gulps。
　　〃Is　she　batty？〃　I　persisted。
　　〃She　is　certainly　not。〃　Gwynne　used　her　napkin。　〃My　God；　how　awfully　audacious！　Did　she　say　who　it　was？〃
　　〃No。　She　might　have；　I　don't　know；　if　Hoff　hadn't　interrupted　us。　What　do　you…〃
　　〃Did　she　say　the…the　same　one　killed　Naylor　too？〃
　　〃Not　in　so　many　words；　but　it　amounted　to　that。〃
　　〃Did　she　say　how　she　knows？〃
　　〃No；　but　I　think　she　will。　That's　what　I　want　to　ask　you　about；　how　to　handle　her。　If　she's　not　merely　off　her　nut　she　must　have…〃
　　〃I'm　late；〃　Gwynne　declared。　She　pushed　her　plate　away；　upsetting　the　salt　shaker。　〃I　only　have　an　hour　and　I've　got　to　get…〃
　　〃No　you　don't；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃I　need　help。　I　need　advice；　and　I'm　depending　on　you。〃　I　glanced　at　my　wrist。　〃You've　got　a　good　ten　minutes。　What　about　her？　Would　she　say　a　thing　like　that　just　to　get　even　with　someone？　What's　she　like？〃
　　〃She's　a　snooty　conceited　bitch。〃
　　I　kept　her　there　the　full　ten　minutes；　but　got　no　further　useful　information　regarding　Hester　Livsey　or　anyone　or　anything　else。　Gwynne　didn't　really　put　her　mind　on　it。　She　was　too　anxious　to　get　back　to　her　work。
　　
　　Chapter　Thirty…One
　　It　wasn't　essential　to　the　build…up；　I　thought；　for　me　to　be　seen　upstairs　returning　from　lunch　with　Gwynne；　so　I　parted　from　her　down　in　the　lobby　of　the　building。　After　the　elevator　door　had　closed　on　her　I　walked　past　the　cigar　stand；　gave　a　sign　en　route　to　a　broad…shouldered　man　who　was　standing　near　by；　and　continued　on　out　to　the　sidewalk　and　around　the　corner。　The　broad…shouldered　man　caught　up　with　me　and　I　greeted　him。
　　〃How's　it　going；　Orrie？〃
　　〃Tedious　as　hell；〃　he　grumbled。　〃She　had　lunch　in　an　orangeade　tavern　and　then　back　to　work。　Trade　jobs　with　me？〃
　　〃Next　week　maybe。　It　may　not　be　so　tedious　starting　at　five　o'clock。　You're　not　sleepy？〃
　　〃I　could　follow　her　with　my　eyes　shut。　Anything　new？〃
　　〃Nothing；　except　that　tonight's　the　night；　or　maybe　tomorrow。　If　you　trip　and　hurt　a　finger…〃
　　〃I　know；　I　know。　The　name　is　Gather。　Orrie。〃
　　〃Okay；　my　brave　fellow。〃
　　I　returned　to　the　building　lobby；　went　to　a　phone　booth；　called　Wolfe；　and　told　him　that　the　ball　was　rolling。　He　had　no　new　suggestions；　nothing　in　fact　but　a　grunt。　I　took　an　elevator　to　the　thirty…fourth　floor；　went　to　my　little　room…noting　that　the　units　of　personnel　had　decided　I　was　worth　looking　at　again…sat　at　my　desk；　and　inserted　paper　and　carbons　in　the　typewriter。
　　The　headings　were　of　course　routine。　I　got　them　down；　then　considered　how　to　word　it。　That　might　or　might　not　be　important；　depending　on　whether　the　hoped…for　reaction　would　e　from　the　thirty…fourth　floor　or　the　thirty…sixth。　It　should；　I　thought；　be　purely　factual；　without　any　suggestion　of　fireworks；　to　conform　to　the　style　of　my　other　reports；　but　that　could　be　overdone。　Finally　I　tapped　the　keys：　
　　There　is　a　development　that　looks　promising。　At　9：40　this　morning　I　called　on　Hester　Livsey　in　her　room。　As　explained　previously；　she　had　refused　to　go　to　see　Mr。　Wolfe　again；　and　he　wished　to　talk　with　her　at　length；　as　he　has　with　others。　That　has　been　reported。　Miss　Livsey　was　extremely　nervous。　At　first　she　refused　to　speak　with　me；　and　when　I　persisted　she　suddenly　blurted　out　that　she　didn't　dare　to　go　to　talk　with　Wolfe　again　because　she　knows　who　murdered　Waldo　Moore。　She　assumed；　I　believe；　that　she　was　telling　me　that　in　confidence；　but　there　was　no　stated　arrangement　to　that　effect。　The　implication　was　that　she　also　knows　that　the　same　person　murdered　Naylor。　I　think　I　would　have　got　more　from　her；　perhaps　much　more；　if　Mr。　Sumner　Hoff　had　not　suddenly　entered　the　room　and　ordered　me　out。　There　is　no　reason　to　think　that　he　knew　what　she　was　saying　to　me；　as　our　voices　were　not　raised　and　the　door　was　closed。
　　I　went　immediately　to　Mr。　Wolfe's　office　to　report　the　incident　to　him。　It　is　his　opinion　that　for　the　time　being　this　matter　should　be　left　entirely　to　me；　but　that　it　would　be　improper　to　withhold　the　information　from　the　client。　Any　further　developments　will　be　reported　without　delay。　
　　That　was　the　way　it　finally　came　out。　There　were　a　couple　of　things　about　the　first　draft　I　didn't　like；　so　I　did　some　editing　and　then　typed　it　over。　I　was　still　setting　my　trap　in　the　cabinet　with　a　second　carbon　of　my　reports；　wiping　the　folder　covers　and　deploying　the　tobacco　crumbs；　not　with　any　strong　hope　of　making　a　catch　but　to　maintain　the　tradition。　After　attending　to　that　and　putting　the　original　and　first　carbon　in　my　pocket；　I　opened　my　door　wide；　placed　a　chair　so　as　to　have　a　view　of　the　door　of　Hester's　room　across　the　arena；　and　sat。
　　Her　door　was　closed。
　　Within　a　minute　the　several　dozen　females　inhabiting　the　segment　of　the　arena　overlooked　from　my　post　were　aware　of　my　open　door　and　of　me　sitting　there。　Eyes　were　ing　at　me；　all　the　way　from　hasty　quickly　averted　glances　to　marathon　stares。　It　was　an　interesting　experience；　or　would　have　been　if　I　had　been　in　a　frame　of　mind　to　explore　all　the　possibilities。　Under　the　circumstances　nothing　came　of　it。　I　did　not　actually　expect　someone　to　e　rolling　down　the　aisle　in　a　stolen　sedan；　swerve　and　head　for　Hester's　room　and　run　the　sedan　over　her。　I　would　have　been　surprised　if　anything　at　all　had　happened；　but　even　so；　during　all　the　time　that　I　sat　there　I　did　not　yawn　once；　and　there　was　no　interval　of　more　than　three　seconds　when　Hester's　door　could　have　opened　without　me　seeing　it。
　　It　did　in　fact　open；　seven　times。　At　2：35　she　emerged；　went　to　Rosenbaum's　room；　and　returned　to　her　own　at　2：48。　At　3：02　she　emerged　again；　went　to　the　end　of　the　arena　where　the　women's　room　was；　and　returned　at　3：19。　At　3：41　Sumner　Hoff　came　marching　down　the　far　aisle　and　opened　her　door　and　went　in；　closing　it　behind　him。　At　3：55　he　came　out　again　and　headed　straight　for　me…more　about　that　later。　At　4：12　Hester　came　out…more　about　that　later　too。　That　made　the　seven。
　　The　first　proof　that　I　had　used　good　judgment　in　picking　Gwynne　as　a　repository　of　confidential　information　came　around　three　o'clock；　when　my　view　of　the　arena　was　suddenly　obstructed　by　an　object　appearing　in　my　door。　The　object　was　Rosa　Bendini。　Her　black　eyes　were　shining　with　excitement；　but　as　she　entered　and　approached　all　she　said　was：
　　〃This　is　Monday；　Archie。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃March　thirty…first。　Six　days　till　Easter。〃
　　〃Do　you　remember　last　Monday？〃
　　〃I'll　never　forget　it。　I　remember　Thursday　even　better。〃
　　〃So　do　I。　What　are　you　doing；　sitting　here？〃
　　〃Remembering　Monday　and　Thursday。　Excuse　me。　Down　in　front。〃　I　stretched　my　neck　to　see。　Hester　had　emerged　from　her　room。　When　I　was　satisfied　that　she　was　bound