rs.toomanywomen-第6章

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it…now　old　are　you；　thirty？　Just　about　right　for　her！　You　have　the　looks；　and　you　could　brush　up　on　manners…〃
　　〃Yeah。　You'll　get　ten　per　cent。　I　don't　suppose　you　could　get　hold　of　a　list　of　my　predecessors　she　has　befriended？〃
　　〃Well；　we　wouldn't　have　one；　we're　not　that　thorough。　Do　you　think　this　paper　would　nose　into　people's　private　af…　Say！　Wait　a　minute！　You　and　Nero　Wolfe　and　your　homicides。　I'll　try　word　association　on　you…damn　it；　what　was　that　name？　Murray。　No。　Moore？〃
　　〃Mr。　Cohen；〃　I　said　in　awe；　〃you　have　nailed　the　head　on　the　hit　as　usual。　pared　to　you　John　Kieran　is　a　blank　page。　Moore　was　killed　by　a　hit…and…run　on　Thirty…ninth　Street　the　night　of　December　fourth。　Do　tell　me　he　was　being　or　had　been　befriended。〃
　　〃I　do。〃
　　〃By　Mrs。　Pine？〃
　　〃Restate　the　question。　Even　from　a　booth　I　don't　like　names　on　anything　as　fragile　as　this。〃
　　〃By　the　subject　of　my　inquiry？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Would　you　mind　spreading　it　out？〃
　　〃Sure；　it　looked　as　if　the　meat　might　be　on　its　way　to　the　table；　that　was　all。　With　him　mowed　down　like　that　in　the　dead　of　night；　and　with　that　connection　he　had；　we　felt　we　owed　it　to　the　munity　to　cover　all　angles　in　an　effort　to　prevent　any　breath　of　scandal…〃
　　〃My　God。　Go　on。〃
　　〃So　we　did；　and　I　suppose　the　cops　did　too；　but　it　was　a　washout。　The　details　are　hazy　by　now；　but　it　was　definitely　nothing　doing　for　the　presses。　I　remember　this；　the　most　obvious　line　only　got　us　to　a　starve…out。　The　husband　had　certainly　not　done　a　desperate　deed　to　retrieve　his　honor；　or　for　vengeance。　Moore　was　nothing　but　number　…I　don't　know…seven　or　eight…and　besides；　he　had　been　ditched　months　before　and　the　current　befriendee　was…I　forget　his　name；　it　doesn't　matter。　And　the　husband　had　known　all　about　it　for　years。　That　was　absolutely　established　by　our　research　department。　You　must　be　smothering　in　that　booth。　I've　got　to　go　to　work。　I　do　so　by　demanding　that　you　e　clean；　for　the　record　if　possible。　Who　has　hired　Wolfe？〃
　　〃Not　yet；〃　I　told　him。　〃You'll　get　it　as　soon　as　it's　ripe　if　it　hasn't　got　worms。　You　know　us；　we　return　favors　with　interest。　If　I　Pay　you　a　visit　could　I　talk　with　whoever　forked　on　it？〃
　　〃You'd　better　phone　ahead。〃
　　〃I　will。　Thanks　and　love　from　all　of　us。〃
　　I　ducked　out　through　the　lobby　to　the　street；　down　the　block　to　a　place　I　had　spotted；　bought　three　ham　sandwiches　and　a　quart　of　milk；　and　transported　them　to　the　building　and　up　to　my　place　of　employment　on　the　thirty…fourth　floor。　There　in　my　room　I　ate　my　lunch　without　being　disturbed。　By　the　time　it　was　all　down　I　had　arrived　at　a　couple　of　decisions；　the　first　one　being　that　it　was　just　as　well　I　hadn't　obeyed　my　impulse　to　walk　out　of　the　Fountain　of　Health　with　nothing　to　show　for　my　trouble　but　an　apple。
　　
　　Chapter　Ten
　　Having　two　things　to　do；　it　would　have　been　in　character　for　me　to　save　the　best　till　the　last；　and　I　had　it　programmed　that　way；　but　it　didn't　work。　The　idea　was　to　phone　Jasper　Pine　to　arrange　to　run　up　to　see　him　at　three　o'clock；　but　when　I　tried　it　all　I　got　was　the　word　from　a　Mr。　Stapleton　that　Mr。　Pine　would　not　be　available　until　four…fifteen。　That　pelled　me　to　shift。　But　before　making　a　call　on　Miss　Livsey　I　thought　it　would　be　well　to　get　in　a　piece　of　equipment　I　needed；　so　I　did　what　I　had　been　told　to　do　when　the　occasion　arose；　called　Extension　637　and　said　I　needed　a　stenographer。　In　two　minutes；　not　more；　one　entered　with　a　notebook。　She　was　nothing　like　my　non…speller；　but　neither　was　she　any　evidence　against　my　theory　that　there　was　a　strong　preference　at　Naylor…Kerr　for　females　who　were　easy　to　look　at。
　　After　I　had　got　her　name　I　told　her；　〃I　have　nothing　against　you；　quite　the　contrary。　The　trouble　is　I　don't　want　you；　just　your　typewriter。　Could　you　bring　it　in　here　and　let　me　use　it？〃
　　From　the　look　on　her　face　it　might　have　been　thought　I　had　asked　her　to　bring　Mr。　Kerr　Naylor　in　handcuffs　and　set　him　on　my　lap。　She　tried　to　be　nice　about　it；　but　what　I　had　asked　for　was　not　done　and　could　not　be　done。　I　let　her　go　and　went　to　work　on　the　phone；　and　it　wasn't　too　long　before　I　had　a　typewriter；　with　paper　and　other　accessories。　Then　I　emerged　to　the　arena；　crossed　to　the　other　side；　found　the　door　next　to　Rosenbaum's　on　the　left　standing　open；　and　entered。
　　I　pushed　the　door　shut；　crossed　to　a　chair　near　the　end　of　her　desk；　and　sat　down。　Her　room　was　twice　as　big　as　mine；　but　there　was　just　as　little　free　space　in　it　on　account　of　the　rows　of　files。　The　light　from　the　window　filtering　through　the　top　layer　of　her　fine　brown　hair　made　it　look　as　if　someone　had　crowned　her　with　a　wreath　of　shiny　silk　mesh。　She　gave　the　typewriter　a　rest　and　let　me　have　her　full　face。
　　〃It　was　simply　stinking；〃　I　said。　〃Mr。　Naylor　eats　oats　and　shredded　bark。〃
　　No　smile　for　that；　but　she　nodded。　〃Yes；　he's　famous　for　that。　Someone　should　have　warned　you。〃
　　〃But　they　didn't；　including　you。　Are　you　crowded　for　time？〃
　　〃No；　I　only　have　eight　or　nine　more　letters。〃　She　glanced　at　her　wrist。　〃It's　only　three　o'clock。〃
　　〃Good。〃　I　tipped　my　chair　back；　with　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　to　show　how　informal　I　was。　〃I　guess　the　best　way　to　start　is　just　to　follow　the　routine。　How　long　have　you　been　working　here？〃
　　〃Three　years。　Well…two　years　and　eight　months。　I'm　twenty…four　years　old；　nearly　twenty…five；　I　get　fifty　dollars　a　week；　and　I　can　do　over　a　hundred　words　a　minute。〃
　　〃That's　wonderful。　What　are　the　three　things　you　dislike　most；　or　like　least；　about　your　job？〃
　　〃Oh；　now；　really。〃　Still　no　smile；　but　there　was　a　little　curving　twist　to　her　lips。　〃May　I　ask　one？〃
　　〃Go　ahead。〃
　　〃Why　did　you　invite　me　to　lunch？〃
　　〃Well…what　do　you　want；　candor？〃
　　〃I　like　it。〃
　　〃I　do　too。　One　look　at　you；　and　I　seemed　to　be　paralyzed　all　over；　as　in　a　dream。　The　two　sides　of　my　nature　there　fighting　for　control。　One；　the　base　and　evil　side；　wanted　to　be　alone　with　you　on　an　island。　The　other　side　wanted　to　write　a　poem。　The　lunch　thing　was　a　promise。〃
　　〃That's　pretty　good；〃　she　said；　with　some　sign　of　appreciation　but　not　enthusiastically。　〃If　that's　candor；　let's　have　some　double　talk。　Why？　You　wanted　to　ask　me　about　Waldo　Moore；　didn't　you？〃
　　〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃
　　〃Why；　my　lord。　You　practically　broadcast　it！　Asking　that　girl　about　him…it　was　all　over　the　place　in　no　time。〃
　　〃Okay；　say　I　did。　What　did　I　want　to　ask　you　about　him？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　but　here　I　am；　ask　me。〃
　　〃You　shouldn't　be　a　stenographer；〃　I　said　admiringly。　〃You　should　be　a　personnel　expert　or　a　college　president　or　a　detective's　wife。　You're　perfectly　correct；　it　would　be　difficult　for　me　to　question　you　about　Moore　without　giving　you　a　hint　of　where　I　got　on　and　what　my　ticket　says。　So　I　won't　try。　You　and　Moore　were　engaged　to　marry；　weren't　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃A　long　time？〃
　　〃No；　just　about　a　month；　a　little　less。〃
　　〃And　of　course　his　death　was　an　awful　blow。〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Would　you　mind　telling　me　in　a　general　way　what　kind　of　a　guy　he　was？〃
　　〃Why…〃　She　hesitated。　〃That's　a　strange　question。　He　was　the　kind　of　guy　I　wanted　to　marry。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃That　settles　it　for　you；〃　I　agreed；　〃but　I've　only　known　you　about　twenty　minutes　altogether；　so　it　leaves　me　hazy。　You　understand；　of　course；　that　this　is　just　you　and　me　talking。　I　represent　no　authority　of　any　kind　and　your　tongue　is　yours。　Had　he　been　married　before？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃How　long　had　you　known　him？〃
　　〃I　met　him　soon　after　he　came　to　work　here。〃
　　〃What　was　he…tall；　short；　handsome；　ugly；　fat；　thin…〃
　　She　opened　a　drawer　of　her　desk　and　got　her　handbag；　took　a　leather　fold　out　of　it；　and　opened　the　fold　and　handed　it　over。
　　So　she　was　still　carrying　his　photograph。　I　gave　it　a　good　look。　To　my　eyes　he　was　nothing　remarkable　one　way　or　another…　about　my　age　and　build；　high　forehead；　lots　of　hair　worn　smooth　over　his　dome。　He　could　have　been　catalogued　as　the　kind　of　specimen　seen　buying　motorboats　in　ads　if　it　hadn't　been　for　the　chin；　which　started　back　for　his　throat　too　soon。
　　〃Thanks；〃　I　said；　handing　it　back　to　her。　〃That　clinches　it　that　he　didn't　make　a　play　for　you　as　a　last　resort。　First；　you　are　not　a　last　resort。　Second；　he　was　apparently　nice　to　look　at。　I　suppose　that　was　the　opinion　of　those　who　knew　him？〃
　　〃Yes。　Every　woman　who　saw　him　was　attracted　to　him。　There　wasn't　a　girl　in　the　place　who　wouldn't　have　been　glad　to　get　him。〃
　　I　frowned　at　her。　That　didn't　sound　like　my　Miss　Livsey；　that　vulgar　boasting；　but　I　had　never　assumed　that　she　was　without　any　defect　at　all。　I　followed　it　up。
　　〃Then　a　lot　of　them　must　have　been　after　him。　Unless　you　reject　the　theory　that　girls　have　been　known　to　chase…〃
　　〃Of　course　they　do。　They　did。〃
　　〃Did　it　make　him　very　mad？〃
　　〃No；　he　loved　it。〃
　　〃Did　it　make　you　mad？〃
　　She　smiled。　However；　it　was　not　precisely　the　sort　of　smile　Rosenbaum　had　had　in　mind。　I　smiled　back　at　her。
　　She　asked；　〃Now　we're　getting　down　to　it；　aren't　we？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃Are　we？〃　As　soon　as　her　words　were　out　she　had　caught　her　lower　lip　with　her　teeth。　After　holding　on　for　a　moment；　not　long；　the　teeth　let　go。　〃That　was　silly；〃　she　declared。　〃No；　I　don't　think　it　made　me　mad。　In　a　way　I　enjoyed　it　and　in　a　way　I　didn't。　Go　ahead。〃
　　I　took　my　hands　from　my　pockets　and　clasped　them　back　of　my　head　and　regarded　her。　〃I　would　like　very　much　to　go　ahead；　Miss　Livsey；　if　I　only　knew　which　way。　Say　we　try　another　door。　Have　you　ever　had　any　reason　to　suppose　or　suspect　that　Moore's　death　was　anything　but　a　hit…and…run　accident？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　bluntly。
　　〃But　there's　been　gossip　about　it；　hasn't　there？〃
　　〃There　certainly　has。〃
　　〃What　started　the　gossip？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　started　it　back　in　December；　when　it　happened…I　guess　it　just　started　itself；　the　way　gossip　does。　Then　it　died　down；　it　stopped　entirely　as　far　as　I　know；　that　was　quite　a　while　ago；　and　just　last　week　it　started　up　again。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　what　started　it　again？〃
　　She　looked　at　me；　made　sure　she　had　her　eyes　into　mine；　and　asked；　〃Do　you？〃
　　〃I'll　say　yes　if　you　will。〃
　　〃It's　a　go。　Yes。〃
　　〃Same　here。　Have　you　any　idea　why　he　put　that　word　on　that　report？〃
　　〃No。　I　don't　know　and　I　can't　imagine。　I　know　I'd　like　to…〃　She　bit　it　off。
　　〃What？〃
　　She　didn't　say　what。　She　didn't　say　anything。　She　was　visibly；　for　the　first　time　in　niy　three　encounters　with　her；　having　feelings　about　something。　I　wouldn't　have　called　her　cold；　that　word　simply　didn't　fit　her　and　never　would；　but　even　the　name　of　Moore　and　talking　of　him　had　put　nothing　you　could　call　emotion　into　her　face　or　voice。　Now　she　was　letting　something　show。　She　didn't　exhibit　anything　as　trite　as　quivering　lips　or　eyes　blinking　to　keep　tears　back；　but　a　sort　of　loosening　of　her　face　muscles　indicated　that　some　strict　discipline　had　met　more　than　it　could　handle。
　　Suddenly　and　abruptly　she　got　up；　crossed　to　me；　and　put　her　hand；　her　open　palm；　on　top　of　my　head　and　patted　it　several　times。　I　got　more　the　impression　of　a　melon　being　tested　to　see　if　it　was　firm　than　of　a　woman　caressing　a　man；　but　that　might　have　been　only　my　modesty。　I　didn't　budge。
　　She　backed　up