rs.toomanywomen-第33章

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　　She　stopped　because　I　suddenly　stood　up。　〃Excuse　me？〃　I　apologized；　〃I　forgot　something；　I　have　to　make　a　phone　call。　I　forgot　all　about　it。〃
　　〃I'll　wait　here。〃
　　I　told　her　not　to　bother；　I　was　through　with　dictation　for　the　day；　went　out　and　down　the　aisle　to　the　phone　booths；　and　dialed　Wolfe's　number。　Fritz　answered　and　switched　me　to　Wolfe。
　　〃You　said；〃　I　told　him；　〃that　you　wanted　them　as　they　left　the　griddle。　You　may　consider　this　garbage；　but　it's　the　first　one　for　hours　and　I　was　afraid　you　might　starve。　This　morning　Pine　had　his　secretary　phone　Miss　Livsey　to　e　to　see　him…to　see　Pine…and　she　refused。　Then　Pine　phoned　her　himself　to　e　to　his　office　to　see　him；　and　still　she　refused。　That's　all。　Apparently　she's　upset　and　is　not　accepting　invitations；　no　matter　who。　What　seems　strange；　she　says　she　has　to　have　a　job；　and　she　likes　it　here；　or　she　did。〃
　　〃Have　you　seen　her？　Talked　with　her？〃
　　〃No。　If　I　had　you　would　have　heard　of　it。〃
　　Silence。　It　kept　on　being　silence；　through　a　minute　and　a　second　and　a　third；　until　I　asked：
　　〃Hello；　you　there？〃
　　〃Yes。　How　did　you　learn　this？〃
　　〃One　of　my　girl　friends；　Gwynne　Ferris；　who　got　it　from　a　girl　on　the　switchboard。　It　wouldn't　be　invented。　I'd　pay　for　it　myself。〃
　　〃Where　are　you　phoning　from？〃
　　〃A　booth。〃
　　〃Good。　Here　are　your　instructions。〃
　　He　gave　them　to　me。　It　wasn't　hard　to　see　what　was　in　his　mind；　and　since　the　three　or　four　lies　I　would　have　to　tell　wouldn't　make　it　any　riskier　than　it　already　was；　I　offered　no　objections。　It　was　fairly　plicated；　with　several　contingencies　involved；　and　I　had　him　repeat　it　to　be　sure　I　had　it　straight。
　　Leaving　the　booth；　thinking　I　might　as　well　have　one　of　the　contingencies　provided　for；　I　went　first　to　my　room　for　my　hat　and　coat；　and　then　crossed　the　arena　to　Hester's　room。　Her　door　was　closed。　I　went　in；　shut　the　door　behind　me；　sat　on　a　chair；　and　kept　my　hat　and　coat　on　my　lap。
　　Hester　stopped　banging　the　typewriter　and　looked　at　me。　She　was　not　the　same　woman　I　had　met　there　two　weeks　previously。　Then　she　had　been　a　thousand　miles　away。　Now　she　was　right　there　with　me；　all　of　her。　I　meant　something　to　her；　I　did　indeed；　and　she　was　searching　my　face　to　see　what　it　was　I　meant；　ing　to　her。　She　didn't　ask　what　I　wanted。　She　didn't　ask　anything。
　　〃I'm　in　a　difficult　position；〃　I　said　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。　〃There　are　people　that　want　to　know　who's　lying；　you　or　me。　That's　all　right；　I　have　no　kick　ing　on　that；　but　they　have　a　nerve　to　ask　me　to　act　as　a　messenger　boy。　However…〃　I　shrugged。　〃I　understand　Mr。　Pine；　the　president　of　the　pany；　sent　for　you　this　morning　and　you　refused　to　go　to　see　him。〃
　　She　didn't　move　a　muscle。
　　〃That's　correct；　isn't　it？〃　I　inquired。
　　She　spoke。　〃Yes。　I…yes。〃
　　〃Will　you　go　to　see　him　now？　With　me　or　without　me？〃
　　She　didn't　hesitate。　〃No。〃
　　I　frowned　at　her。　〃One　thing　I'm　not　pletely　satisfied　about。　Has　anyone　tried　to　put　any　pressure　on　you？　Since　you　refused　to　go　to　see　Pine？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Then　they　gave　me　that　straight。　Okay。　Their　position　is　this；　and　you　must　admit　they've　got　a　point。　I　have　told　them　that　you　told　me　that　you　know　who　killed　Waldo　Moore。　They　have　been　informed　that　you　deny　you　told　me　that。　They　have　had　a　talk　with　me；　and　they　want　to　have　a　talk　with　you。　That　seems　reasonable。　I　don't　see　how　you　can　escape　it。　If　you　prefer　not　to　talk　with　Pine；　it　can　be　someone　else。　When　I　say　'they；'　I　don't　mean　they　want　to　gang　up　on　you。　Just　one　of　them…any　of　the　three　vice…presidents　will　do。　Will　you　go　to　see　one　of　the　vice…presidents？〃
　　I　suppose　she　was　blinking　now　and　then；　since　it　is　supposed　to　be　impossible　not　to；　but　I　could　have　sworn　she　wasn't。
　　〃I　don't　want　to；〃　she　said；　her　voice　so　thin　that　it　was　nearly　a　squeak。
　　〃Of　course　you　don't。　I　can　understand　that；　but　will　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Now？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Which　one？　Who？〃
　　〃Any…I　don't　care。〃
　　〃But　you　just　refused　to　go　to　see　Pine。〃
　　〃I　mean…any　other。〃
　　〃Okay。　Now　it's　like　this。　Their　idea　is　that　you　should　be　willing　to　discuss　this　with　a　representative　of　the　Board　of　Directors；　and　they　would　prefer　to　have　you　do　it　with　the　man　they　have　hired　to　work　for　them　and　represent　them　regarding　these　murders。　That　man　is　Nero　Wolfe。　Will　you　e　with　me　to　see　him？〃
　　She　didn't　reply。
　　〃I'm　not　urging　you；〃　I　declared。　〃Yesterday　I　asked　you　to　e　and　tell　him　the　truth。　Now　you　can　tell　him　anything　you　want　to。　They　would　prefer　to　have　you　see　Mr。　Wolfe；　but　if　you　don't　like　the　idea；　take　a　vice…president。　Suit　yourself。　Why　don't　you　go　ask　Hoff　about　it？〃
　　She　flushed；　and　I　was　glad　to　see　that　her　blood　was　still　on　the　job。　〃I　don't　have　to　ask　him；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　not　so　thin。　〃I　don't　have　to　ask　anybody。〃　Abruptly　she　pushed　her　chair　back　and　was　on　her　feet。　〃All　right；　I'll　go。　Wait　till　I　tell　Mr。　Rosenbaum。〃
　　She　left　the　room；　in　a　minute　returned　and　put　on　her　hat　and　coat；　and　we　departed。　If　I　had　known　then　that　that　was　the　last　I　would　ever　see　of　the　Naylor…Kerr　stock　department　I　would　have　given　it　some　kind　of　parting　gesture；　but　even　so　I　was　leaving　in　a　blaze　of　glory；　with　Hester　Livsey　just　in　front　of　my　elbow　and　not　an　eye　in　the　place　anywhere　except　on　us。
　　In　the　lobby　downstairs；　as　we　passed　Bill　Gore；　I　gave　him　a　sign　to　stay　put。　It　was　quite　possible　that　Hester　would　be　back　before　long；　and　it　was　far　from　certain；　anything　but；　that　Wolfe　was　set　for　a　clean…up。
　　In　the　taxi　we　were　strangers。　Not　a　word。
　　Our　wele　from　Nero　Wolfe　was　not；　I　must　admit；　calculated　to　make　us　glow　with　pleasure。　When　I　escorted　her　into　the　office　and　we　approached　his　desk　he　growled　at　me：
　　〃What　the　devil　did　you　bring　her　here　for？〃
　　She　goggled　at　him　and　then　at　me。
　　〃That；〃　I　told　him；　〃was　my　own　idea。　Everything　went　according　to　plan。　She　was　willing　to　talk　with　anybody　except　Pine；　which　was　what　you　wanted　to　know；　and　it　occurred　to　me　why　not　you？　So　I　brought　her　where　I'd　know　where　she　was。　I　told　the　lie　that　put　the　bee　on　her；　and　I　didn't　intend　to　spend　the　rest　of　the　day　and　night　wondering　whether　she　was　alive　or　dead。　It's　the　humanitarian　in　me。〃
　　Wolfe　looked　at　her。　〃I　have　work　to　do；　Miss　Livsey；〃　he　said　in　a　fairly　decent　tone；　〃and　I　don't　need　you。　But　Mr。　Goodwin　is　correct。　Your　life　is　in　danger　or　it　may　be。　You　may　know　more　about　that　than　I　do；　but　in　any　case　you　ought　to　stay　here。　In　the　south　room；　Archie？〃
　　Hester　looked　as　if　she　thought　we　had　a　screw　loose；　and　I　didn't　blame　her。　She　took　it　up　with　me。
　　〃You　said　they　wanted　me　to　talk　to　him！〃
　　I　took　hold　of　her　arm　without　either　of　us　realizing　that　I　was　doing　so。　〃Just　another　lie；〃　I　said。　〃You　and　I　are　doing　swell　on　lies。　Mr。　Wolfe　is　ready　to　close　in；　or　thinks　he　is；　and　you　heard　him　say　he　doesn't　need　you。　Unless　you're　ready　to　start　from　scratch　and　tell　us　all　about　it？〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃I　thought　not。　You're　very　tough；　dearie。　I　also　think　you'll　be　a　damn　fool　if　you　go　back　downtown　or　anywhere　else。〃
　　〃I　have　decided；〃　Wolfe　said　curtly；　〃that　she　is　not　to　leave　here　under　any　circumstances；　now　that　she　knows　I　am　ready　to　act。〃
　　I　still　had　her　arm。　〃See？　I　don't　want　to　stuff　you　in　a　closet。　Upstairs　is　a　nice　sunny　guest　room…〃
　　I　stopped　because　she　pulled　her　arm　free。　She　walked　across　to　the　corner　where　the　big　globe　was；　with　one　of　the　yellow　chairs　beside　it；　and　sat　down　in　the　chair。
　　〃I'll　stay　here；〃　she　said。
　　I　told　Wolfe；　〃She's　as　stubborn　as　you　are。　The　only　way　would　be　to　carry　her；　and　she'd　scream　and　try　to　kick。〃
　　〃Let　her　alone；〃　he　said。　〃Get　Mrs。　Pine　on　the　phone。〃
　　I　went　to　my　desk　and　dialed　the　number。
　　
　　Chapter　Thirty…Three
　　I　didn't　like　it。　I　thought　he　was　dead　wrong　and　I　still　think　so；　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　he　got　away　with　it。　He　had　got　the　giveaway　gesture　he　was　after；　no　doubt　of　that；　but　the　thing　to　do　now；　since　at　last　he　had　found　the　trail；　was　to　deploy　forces　on　all　sides　and　make　the　main　advance　slow　and　careful　but　sure。　No；　not　for　him。　He　was　going　to　bull　it　through　with　only　one　shot　in　his　gun；　and　that　one　possibly　a　blank。　If　Hester　hadn't　been　sitting　there　I　would　have　put　up　an　argument；　and　a　hot　one；　but　she　had　already　heard　more　than　was　good　for　her。　So　I　dialed　the　number。
　　I　have　since　wondered　what　he　would　have　done　if　Mrs。　Pine　had　been　out　shopping　or　looking　over　the　pet　situation　on　Fifth　Avenue；　but　that　was　a　contingency　he　did　not　have　to　meet。　An　impersonal　male　voice　answered　the　phone。　I　told　it　that　Mr。　Wolfe　wished　to　speak　with　Mrs。　Pine；　and　in　a　moment　she　was　on　and　I　signaled　to　Wolfe。
　　〃Good　afternoon；　Mrs。　Pine。〃　Wolfe　was　making　it　bland。　〃I　find　myself　in　a　disagreeable　position。　Certain　information　has　e　to　me；　and　the　proper　thing　for　me　to　do　would　be　to　municate　with　Mr。　Cramer　…you　know；　the　Police　Inspector…and　suggest　that　he　should　send　immediately　for　your　personal　staff　of　servants；　and　also　for　all　members　of　the　staff　of　the　apartment　building　where　you　live　who　were　on　duty　Friday　evening；　March　twenty…first…the　evening　your　brother　was　killed。…Please　let　me　finish。　I　realize　that　would　be　a　frightful　annoyance　for　you。　So　there　is　this　alternative。　Why　don't　you　bring　them；　yourself；　to　me？　At　my　office。　Your　own　servants；　all　of　them；　and　also　those　of　the　apartment…〃
　　Her　voice；　incisive；　pushed　in。　〃What　for？　What　on　earth　are　you　talking　about？〃
　　〃Don't　you　know？〃
　　〃No！〃
　　〃Nonsense。　Certainly　you　know。　Unless　I've　underrated　you；　and　I　don't　think　I　have。　Doesn't　my　request　make　it　plain　that　I　have　everything　I　need　but　a　few　details？　I　intend　to　get　them　without　delay；　and　I'm　giving　you　this　chance　to　furnish　them。〃　Wolfe's　voice　suddenly　went　sharp　and　started　to　cut。　〃Either　that　or　Mr。　Cramer　gets　them；　and　that　will　be　a　different　matter。　You　know　what　that　would　mean。　Your　husband　lost　his　head。　He　sent　for　Miss　Livsey；　twice；　and　she　refused　to　go。　She　came　here　instead。　She　is　sitting　here　now　under　my　eyes。　Mr。　Cramer's　first　step；　of　course；　would　be　to　get　your　husband；　after　I　turned　Miss　Livsey　over　to　him。　I　prefer　to　be　more　direct　about　it。　I　e　straight　to　you。〃
　　〃Where　is　my　husband？〃
　　〃At　his　office。　He　hasn't　been　disturbed　yet。〃
　　〃And　Miss　Livsey　is　there　with　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　　〃Very　well；　madam。　Good…by。　I　thought　it　fair　to　give　you　this　opportunity；　since　you　own　a　large　share　of　the　corporation　I'm　working　for…〃
　　〃Wait。　Will　you　wait？〃
　　〃Not　long。　If　you　want　a　minute　to　decide；　take　it。〃
　　She　took　more　than　a　minute；　at　least　three。　Wolfe　and　I　sat　with　the　receivers　to　our　ears。　I　had　my　chair　turned　so　as　to　have　an　eye　on　Hester；　in　case　she　took　a　notion　to　bounce　over　and　do　some　yelling　loud　enough　for　the　transmitter　to　pick　it　up。　I　still　thought　Wolfe　was　wrong；　and　I　was　pressing　the　receiver　against　my　ear　so　hard　it　was　a　wonder　I　didn't　crush　a　cartilage。　Finally　Cecily's　voice　came：
　　〃I'll　be　there　in　half　an　hour。〃
　　Wolfe；　having　her；　pressed；　〃With　the　others？　The　s