rs.toomanywomen-第34章

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　　〃I'll　be　there　in　half　an　hour。〃
　　Wolfe；　having　her；　pressed；　〃With　the　others？　The　servants？〃
　　〃No。　You　won't　need　them。〃
　　〃It　shouldn't　take　you　half　an　hour。〃
　　〃I　have　to　dress。　I'll　get　there　as　soon　as　I　can。　You　won't　do　anything？〃
　　〃Not　until　you　get　here；　no。〃
　　Wolfe　hung　up　and　turned　to　Hester。　〃Mrs。　Pine　is　going　to　e　and　tell　me　all　about　it。　Do　you　want　to　go　upstairs？〃
　　Hester　didn't　speak。　Nor　did　she　move；　not　even　her　eyes。　She　was　inspecting　a　rug。　She　was　sitting　straight；　her　coat　still　on；　her　hands　grasping　the　ends　of　her　leather　bag。　and　the　rug　was　evidently　the　most　enthralling　object　she　had　ever　gazed　at　in　her　life。
　　What　I　wanted　to　say　to　Wolfe　would　not　have　been　fitting　with　a　guest　present；　so　I　didn't　say　it。
　　I　still　hadn't　said　it　thirty　minutes　later；　when　Mrs。　Pine　arrived。
　　
　　Chapter　Thirty…Four
　　She　sat　in　the　red　leather　chair。　That　day　her　coat　was　mink　and　her　dress　was　tightly　woven　brown　wool　with　an　elegant　black　check。　She　had　never　met　Miss　Livsey；　she　had　said；　and　had　offered　a　hand　which　Hester　had　not　taken。　That　had　not　disconcerted　her。　Nothing；　as　far　as　could　be　told　from　her　appearance；　had　disconcerted　her；　though　her　mind　was　sufficiently　occupied　to　keep　her　from　making　any　personal　remarks　to　me。　She　sat　in　the　red　leather　chair　and　told　Wolfe：
　　〃This　would　not　have　happened　if　you　had　done　what　I　asked　you　to。　My　brother　would　not　have　been　killed。　He　would　have　stopped　his　foolishness。　Everything　would　have　been　all　right。〃
　　〃No；〃　Wolfe　said；　〃it　wouldn't。　It　seems　clear　that　your　brother　would　never　have　abandoned　his　determination　to　bee　president　of　the　firm。　Nor　would　the　death　of　Mr。　Moore　have　been　cleared　up；　but　that　didn't　interest　you。　I　wish　you　would　start　with　that　Friday　evening。　Why　did　you　tell　me　your　husband　was　home　in　bed　when　he　wasn't？〃
　　〃Because　I　saw　no…what　are　you　doing　there；　Archie？〃
　　〃Shorthand；〃　I　told　her。　〃I'm　good　at　it。〃
　　〃Then　stop　it。　I　won't　have　any　record　of　this。〃
　　〃I　will；〃　Wolfe　said　curtly。　He　wiggled　a　finger　at　her。　〃I　intend；　madam；　to　be　in　a　position　to　satisfy　your　Board　of　Directors　that　I　have　done　the　job　they　hired　me　for。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned　that's　all　the　record　will　be　used　for；　but　I'm　going　to　have　it。　And　I　don't　need　to　make　any　pretenses　to　you。　At　this　moment　I　know　barely　what　I　need　to　know　and　that's　all。　For　example；　I　had　nothing　but　a　surmise；　a　mere　assumption；　that　your　husband　was　not　in　bed　asleep　when　you　said　he　was；　until　you　reacted　as　you　did　to　my　request　to　speak　with　your　servants。　That　of　course　made　the　surmise　a　certainty。　Why　did　you　lie　about　it？〃
　　〃I　didn't。〃
　　〃Pah。　You　didn't？〃
　　〃I　didn't　intend　to。〃　Cecily　kept　glancing　in　my　direction；　but　at　the　notebook；　not　at　me。　〃When　you　phoned　I　was　in　my　sitting…room。　My　husband's　room　is　some　distance　away；　and　I　thought　he　had　gone　to　bed。　When　I　went　to　see；　he　wasn't　there。　I　didn't　know　he　had　gone　out。　I　merely　didn't　care　to　tell　you　that；　not　that　it　mattered；　not　at　the　time；　so　I　said　he　was　asleep。　He　came　in　a　little　while　after　you　phoned…〃
　　〃How　long　after？〃
　　〃I　don't　know…twenty　minutes　or　half　an　hour。　Then；　later；　when　the　news　came　that　my　brother　had　been　killed；　I　knew　that　my　husband　had　killed　him。〃
　　〃How　did　you　know？　Did　he　tell　you？〃
　　〃Not　that　night。　But　I　knew；　and　the　next　day　I　talked　with　him　and　he　told　me。〃　Her　hand　fluttered。　〃My　husband　told　me　everything　sooner　or　later；　after　he　learned　that　that　was　the　best　way。〃
　　〃When　did　he　tell　you　that　he　killed　Mr。　Moore？〃
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　not　going　to　talk　about　that。　I　have　decided　that　I　don't　have　to。〃　She　had　stopped　glancing　at　my　notebook　and　was　sticking　to　Wolfe。　〃I　know　what　this　is　for　and　I'm　willing　to　say　enough　to　satisfy　you。　I　realize　there　are　some　things　I　have　to　tell　you　or　you　will　turn　it　over　to　the　police；　but　I　don't　have　to　go　beyond　that。　It　is　true　that　my　husband　killed　Waldo；　but　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　me。　He　killed　him　because　Miss　Livsey　had　fallen　in　love　with　him　and　was　going　to　marry　him。〃
　　I　wasn't　as　good　as　Wolfe　was。　I　jerked　my　head　up　at　her。　Wolfe　merely　murmured　at　her；　〃Jealousy。〃
　　She　nodded。　〃My　husband　had　pletely　lost　his　head　about　her…but　I　suppose　she　has　told　you　all　about　that？〃
　　〃Not　all。　I　need　your　version。　Go　ahead。〃
　　〃He　met　her　at　the　pany's　annual　dinner　and　dance　for　employees　over　a　year　ago　now；　and　he　was　a　very　passionate　man。　He　told　me　about　it；　and　he　wanted　to　get　a　divorce。　As　time　went　on　it　got　worse　with　him。　She　wouldn't　let　him　see　her　much；　and　not　at　all　openly。　She　was　extremely　clever　about　it；　she　wouldn't　let　him　give　her　a　better　position　at　the　office；　and　when　I　insisted　that　the　only　thing　to　do　was　to　make　her　his　mistress；　he　said　she　wouldn't。〃
　　Cecily　twisted　around　in　her　chair　to　look　at　Hester。　〃That　was　very　clever　of　you；　Miss　Livsey；〃　she　said　without　resentment；　〃but　it　made　it　very　difficult　for　me。〃
　　Hester　stayed　motionless　and　had　nothing　to　say。
　　〃He　wanted　a　divorce；〃　Wolfe　prompted。
　　〃Yes；　and　I　wouldn't　give　him　one。　It　would　have　upset　all　my　life's　arrangements…among　other　things；　I　had　made　him　president　of　the　firm。　He　was　even　willing　to　forfeit　his　career　for　her。　So　I　persuaded　Waldo　Moore　to　take　a　job　there。〃
　　She　nodded；　to　herself。　〃You　didn't　know　Waldo。　He　was　the　most　charming　person　I　have　ever　known；　until　he　got　tiresome；　which　of　course　everyone　does　in　time。　I　doubt　if　there　was　a　woman　on　earth　who　could　have　resisted　him。　So　I　got　him　to　take　a　job　in　the　stock　department；　where　Miss　Livsey　worked；　and　to…well；　to　divert　her。　It　worked　splendidly；　as　I　was　sure　it　would。　He　had　her　pletely　in　hand　within…I　forget；　but　it　couldn't　have　been…〃
　　〃You're　lying！〃
　　Hester　had　spoken。
　　Cecily　twisted　to　her。　〃Oh；　you　have　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of；　Miss　Livsey！　No；　indeed！　You're　the　only　woman　he　ever　asked　to　marry　him。〃　She　went　back　to　Wolfe。　〃So　there　was　no　longer　any　reason　for　my　husband　to　want　a　divorce；　or　so　I　thought；　but　I　might　have　known；　with　the　drive　he　had　to　get　anything　he　wanted　enough；　that　he　wouldn't　accept　defeat　as　easily　as　that。　What　happened　was　that　Waldo　Moore　was　killed。　I'm　not　going　to　talk　about　that。　It　wouldn't　do　you　any　good；　and　I　don't　have　to。　Anyway；　the　blame　was　not　mine；　it　didn't　happen　because　of　any　mistake　of　mine。〃
　　〃Merely　bad　luck；〃　Wolfe　murmured。
　　She　nodded。　〃But　I　had　made　a　mistake；　a　very　bad　one。　I　had　confided　in　my　brother。　He　was　older　than　me；　and　I　had　formed　the　habit　in　childhood；　and　I　kept　it　even　after　we　had　grown　up　and　I　had　bee　aware　that　he　was　a　peculiar　man　and　not　to　be　taken　seriously。　That　was　a　mistake　too；　to　think　he　was　not　to　be　taken　seriously。　I　didn't　realize　how　much；　clear　to　the　bottom　of　his　soul；　he　wanted　to　be　the　head　of　the　business　our　father　had　founded。　I　was　shocked　when　I　learned　he　was　using　things；　things　I　had　told　him　in　confidence　from　a　sister　to　a　brother；　to　put　pressure　on　my　husband　to　let　him　bee　president。　I　had　taken　possession　of　some　letters　my　husband　had　received　from　Miss　Livsey；　and　my　brother　stole　them　from　me。〃
　　〃Did　you　tell　him　your　husband　had　killed　Mr。　Moore？〃
　　Cecily　looked　annoyed。　〃I　said　I　wouldn't　talk　about　that；〃　she　declared　to　settle　it。　〃But　my　brother…he　thought　that；　yes。　He　threatened　my　husband　with　it；　and　me　too。　That　was　another　mistake；　or　part　of　the　same　one…thinking　my　brother　was　not　to　be　taken　seriously。　I　told　him　he　didn't　have　the　ability　to　direct　the　affairs　of　the　business　and　he　should　abandon　the　idea　forever。　Then　he…you　know　about　the　report　he　sent　in；　stating　that　Waldo　had　been　murdered。〃
　　Wolfe　nodded。
　　Cecily　fluttered　a　hand。　〃It　couldn't　be　simply　ignored；　because　my　brother　had　let　it　bee　known　and　gossiped　about　by　the　employees。　My　husband　didn't　dare　to　keep　it　from　the　executives；　and　when　most　of　them　were　in　favor　of　hiring　an　investigator　he　didn't　dare　oppose　it。　I　think　that　was　extremely　clever　of　my　brother；　I　had　never　thought　he　was　as　intelligent　as　that。　Wasn't　that　really　clever？〃
　　〃Very；〃　Wolfe　agreed。　〃It　got　him　killed。〃
　　〃But　he　didn't　know　that；〃　she　protested。　〃It　was　clever　to　think　of　that　way　to　bring　pressure　on　my　husband。　I　was　determined；　of　course；　to　stop　it；　and　I　still　think　I　would　have　succeeded　if　you　had　done　what　I　asked…if　you　had　stopped　the　investigation。　It　only　stimulated　my　brother　to　go　on。　If　you　had　quit　I　still　think　I　could　have　persuaded　my　brother　to　give　it　up。　But　then　he　told　Archie　that　he　knew　who　had　killed　Waldo；　and　he　saw　he　had　gone　too　far；　because　what　he　wanted　wasn't　to　have　my　husband　arrested　for　murder　but　to　get　his　job。　If　Archie　hadn't　been　there　he　certainly　wouldn't　have　told　him　that；　and　he　wouldn't　have　told　anybody　that。　I　saw　him　that　day　and　made　him　understand　what　he　was　doing；　and　he　denied　he　had　said　it。　But　it　may　have　been　too　late。　My　husband　thought　it　was。　He　knew　then　that　my　brother　had　the　letters　he　had　received　from　Miss　Livsey；　and　he　thought　it　had　gone　so　far　that　my　brother　couldn't　draw　back　even　if　he　wanted　to；　and　anyway　he　didn't　trust　my　brother　and　didn't　think　he　wanted　to。　So…that　night…〃
　　She　turned　her　palms　up　and　lifted　her　shoulders。
　　〃Yes；〃　Wolfe　agreed；　〃that　night。　When　your　husband　was　not　home　in　bed；　and　when　you　learned　that　your　brother　had　been　killed；　there　was　only　one　assumption　for　you。　How　did　he　do　it？　Where　was　your　brother　killed　and　with　what？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃Nonsense。　Certainly　you　know。　Your　husband　told　you　everything。〃　Wolfe　wiggled　a　finger　at　her。　〃e；　madam。　You　know　what　this　is　for。〃
　　〃Does　it　matter？〃
　　〃Not　to　you。　To　you　nothing　matters。　But　I'm　going　to　earn　my　fee；　and　you　know　what　the　alternative　is。〃
　　〃My　brother　and　my　husband　were　much　alike　in　one　way；〃　Cecily　said。　〃They　were　both　excessively　conceited。　When　my　brother　met　him　that　evening；　to　talk　things　over；　and　rode　in　his　car　with　him；　I　doubt　if　he　was　at　all　alarmed　even　when　my　husband　stopped　the　car　in　a　secluded　street。　He　was　too　conceited。　He　thought　he　could　take　care　of　himself。　Probably　he　never　thought　otherwise；　for　when　my　husband　reached　over　the　back　of　the　seat　to　the　tonneau　to　get　his　brief　case；　what　he　really　got　was　a　chunk　of　petrified　wood　he　had　put　there；　and　my　brother　was　stunned　by　the　first　blow；　or　possibly　killed…my　husband　wasn't　sure；　but　he　made　sure。〃
　　Cecily's　hand　fluttered。　〃Of　course；〃　she　conceded；　〃something　had　to　be　done；　since　it　was　my　husband's　own　car；　but　only　a　supremely　confident　and　conceited　man　would　have　proceeded　as　he　did。　He　actually　kept　the　piece　of　petrified　wood　and　later　brought　it　home　and　cleaned　it　and　put　it　back　on　the　desk　in　his　study。　Just　ahead　of　my　husband's　car　where　he　had　stopped　it　at　the　curb　another　car　was　parked…it　was　the　one　he　had　stolen　and　put　there。　He　transferred　the　body　to　it。　His　reason　for　driving　to　Thirty…ninth　Street　and　repeating；　exactly　repeating；　his　performance　with　Waldo's　body　last　December；　every　detail　of　it…his　reason　was　that　it　would　be　suppose