rs.toomanywomen-第7章

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　woman　caressing　a　man；　but　that　might　have　been　only　my　modesty。　I　didn't　budge。
　　She　backed　up　a　step　and　stood　looking　down　at　me；　and　my　clasped　hands　let　my　head　go　back　so　as　to　meet　her　look。
　　〃It's　a　funny　thing；〃　she　said；　half　puzzled　and　half　irritated。　〃I　used　to　be　able　to　handle　men　any　way　I　wanted　to。　I'm　not　bragging；　but　I　really　could；　I　knew　how　to　get　anything　I　wanted　from　men；　you　know；　little　things；　you　know　how　girls　are…and　now　I　want　something　from　you；　and　look　at　me！　It　isn't　you　either…I　mean　there's　nothing　wrong　with　you；　you're　quite　good…looking　and　there's　nothing　wrong　with　you　at　all。　I　don't　know　whether　you're　a　policeman　or　what　you　are；　but　whatever　you　are　you're　a　man。〃
　　She　stopped。
　　〃Every　inch；〃　I　agreed　warmly。　〃I　could　suggest　better　how　you　ought　to　go　about　it　if　I　knew　what　you　want。　First　tell　me　that。〃
　　〃Well；　for　one　thing；　I　want　to　keep　my　job　here。〃
　　〃Done。　I'll　attend　to　that　in　my　report。　Next？〃
　　Her　voice　muscles　were　loose　too　now。　〃That's　ridiculous；〃　she　stated；　not　offensively。　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are　or　what　you　are；　but　I　do　know　you're　trying　to　find　out　something　about　the　death　of　the　man　I　was　going　to　marry；　and　it's　getting　to　be　more　than　I　can　stand。　I　want　to　forget　all　about　it；　I　want　to　forget　about　him…I　do；　I　really　do！　You　don't　know　what　hundreds　of　girls　together　in　a　place　like　this…you　don't　know　what　they　can　be　like　when　they　get　started　talking…it's　horrible；　just　horrible！　Why　Mr。　Naylor　started　it　going　again…I　don't　know。　I　can't　stand　it　much　longer　and　I'm　not　going　to；　but　I　like　it　here　and　I　have　to　have　a　job…I　like　my　work　and　I　like　my　boss；　Mr。　Rosenbaum…〃
　　She　went　to　her　chair　and　sat　down；　with　her　two　fists　resting　on　the　desk　in　front　of　her；　and　addressed　not　me　but　the　world：
　　〃Oh；　damn　it！〃
　　〃I　still　don't　know；〃　I　protested；　〃what　you　want　from　me。〃
　　〃Certainly　you　know。〃　She　almost　glared　at　me。　〃You　can　stop　the　talk。　You　can　show　that　Mr。　Naylor　is　nothing　but　a　silly　old　fool。　You　can　settle　it；　once　and　for　all；　that　Waldo　was　killed　by　a　hit…and…run　driver　and　that's　all　there　is　to　it！〃
　　〃I　see。　That's　what　you　want。〃
　　Her　eyes　had　e　back　to　me；　and　mine　were　at　a　slant　to　meet　them。　We　went　on　looking　at　each　other；　and　I　had　a　distinct　feeling；　whether　shared　by　her　or　not　I　didn't　know；　that　we　were　beginning　to　get　acquainted。　When　a　girl　has　patted　a　man's　head；　and　sat　and　let　him　look　for　ten　seconds　or　more；　and　looked　back　at　him；　with　no　words　exchanged；　she　can　no　longer　maintain　the　attitude　that　he　is　a　plete　stranger。
　　〃I'm　not　a　policeman；〃　I　said。　〃Whatever　I　am；　I　can't　settle　it　how　and　why　he　got　killed；　because　that　was　settled　nearly　four　months　ago；　the　night　of　December　fourth。　It's　all　down　somewhere；　all　settled；　and　all　I　can　do　is　try　to　dig　up　enough　of　it　to　satisfy　everybody　concerned。　It　helps　to　know　that　you're　already　satisfied。〃
　　〃You're　working　for　Mr。　Naylor；〃　she　declared；　her　tone　and　look　indicating　that　in　all　her　long　association　with　me　she　would　never　have　supposed　me　capable　of　sinking　so　low。
　　〃No。〃　I　was　emphatic。　〃I'm　not。〃
　　〃You're　really　not？〃
　　〃Really　and　positively。〃
　　〃But　then…〃　She　stopped；　frowning　at　me　but　not　for　me。　〃But　he　has　talked　to　you　about　Waldo；　hasn't　he？〃
　　〃He　has　indeed。　He's　a　great　talker。〃
　　〃What　did　he　say？〃
　　〃That　Moore　was　murdered。〃
　　〃Oh；　I　know　that。〃　The　frown　was　still　there。　〃He　put　that　on　the　report。　The　whole　floor　knows　about　it；　which　was　what　he　wanted；　that　was　why　he　had　a　floor　girl　type　the　reports　instead　of　his　secretary。　What　else　did　he　say？〃
　　〃About　Moore；　nothing　of　any　importance。　He　just　says　murdered。　It's　an　eeday　feex。〃
　　〃What　else　did　he　say　about　anything？〃
　　〃Oh；　my　God。　That　eating　cooked　vegetables　brought　on　the　war。　That　a　man　who　eats　meat…〃
　　〃You　know　perfectly　well　what　I　mean！〃　she　was　actually　scolding　me。　〃What　did　he　say　about　me？〃
　　〃Not　a　peep。　Not　a　single　word。　He　made　only　one　remark　that　could　possibly　be　construed　as　a　reference　to　you。　This　morning；　standing　out　there　at　the　end　of　the　arena；　he　said　he　doubted　if　there　was　a　virgin　in　the　room；　but　since　you　have　your　own　office　it　probably　didn't　apply　to　you。〃
　　The　question　of　virginity　apparently　wasn't　troubling　her。　She　insisted；　〃He　really　hasn't　mentioned　me？〃
　　〃Not　yet。〃　I　looked　at　my　wrist；　let　the　front　legs　of　my　chair　e　down　to　the　floor；　and　stood　up。　〃You　have　your　letters　to　do；　and　I　have　some　chores　myself。　I'm　sorry　it　can't　all　be　settled　the　way　you　want　it　right　now；　I　honestly　am　sorry。　You　say　you　really　want　to　forget　all　about　Moore？〃
　　〃Yes！　I　do！〃
　　〃Okay；　we'll　keep　that　on　the　agenda。〃
　　
　　Chapter　Eleven
　　The　first　chore　on　my　list　consisted　of　manual　labor；　with　the　typewriter　in　my　room　as　the　tool　for　it；　so　I　went　there　and　started　to　work。
　　I　had　asked；　among　other　items；　for　some　coated　stock；　letter　size；　and　while　the　stuff　they　had　sent　was　nothing　to　brag　about；　I　inspected　it　again　and　decided　it　would　serve。　It　was　a　quarter　to　four；　only　half　an　hour　till　my　date　with　Jasper　Pine；　and　therefore　I　had　to　step　on　it。　Making　a　club　sandwich　of　three　sheets　of　the　coated　stock　and　two　of　carbon　paper；　I　inserted　them　in　the　machine　and　typed　in　the　upper　right…hand　corner　in　caps：　
　　》REPORT　FROM　THEOFFICE　OF　NERO　WOLFE　March　19　1947
　　Four　spaces　down；　in　the　middle；　I　put：　
　　CONFIDENTIAL　TONAYLOR…KERR；　INC。914　William　Street　New　York　City　
　　There　wasn't　time　to　do　it　up　brown；　giving　all　the　little　details；　the　way　it　should　be　done　for　most　clients　to　make　them　feel　they're　getting　something　for　their　dough；　but　I　made　it　fairly　prehensive　and　in　my　opinion　adequate。　It　conveyed　the　information　that　Kerr　Naylor　had　introduced　Moore's　name　in　the　first　three　minutes；　that　he　had　invited　me　to　lunch　and　flushed　me　by　calling　me　by　my　right　name；　that　he　insisted　Moore　had　been　murdered　but　refused　to　furnish　an　specifications　of　anything；　that　he　had　agreed　to　go　to　see　Wolfe；　that　he　said　he　had　told　Deputy　Police　missioner　O'Hara　that　Moore　had　been　murdered；　and　that　he　also　said　that　Moore　had　been　remended　for　employment　by　his　sister。　In　addition　to　all　that　on　Naylor　my　report　had　a　summary　of　my　talk　with　Dickerson；　the　head　of　the　Correspondence　Checkers　Section；　a　statement　that　word　had　got　around　in　the　department　that　I　was　investigating　Moore's　death；　and　a　one…sentence　paragraph　to　the　effect　that　I　had　talked　with　one　Hester　Livsey；　who　had　been　engaged　to　Moore；　without　any　result　worth　mentioning。　The　only　incident　the　report　passed　up　entirely　was　my　brief　interview　with　the　non…speller；　which　didn't　seem　to　me　to　be　relevant…and　of　course　the　phone　call　to　Lon　Cohen　at　the　Gazetee；　which　seemed　to　be　a　little　too　relevant。
　　Through　at　the　typewriter；　I　signed　the　original；　folded　it　and　stuck　it　in　my　pocket；　and　did　likewise　with　one　of　the　carbons。　The　other　carbon　I　didn't　fold。　I　went　and　unlocked　the　filing　cabinet；　opened　the　drawer　I　was　using；　removed　all　the　folders；　and　with　my　handkerchief　gave　a　good　wipe　to　the　inside　of　the　metal　drawer；　sides　and　ends　and　bottoms。　As　I　replaced　the　folders；　which　were　made　of　green　slick…surfaced　cardboard；　I　wiped　each　one；　all　four　surfaces。　Inside　the　third　folder　from　the　top；　on　top　of　the　papers　that　were　already　in　it；　I　placed　the　second　carbon　of　the　report　I　had　just　typed；　and　on　top　of　the　report　I　carefully　deposited　four　grains　of　tobacco　which　I　had　removed　from　the　end　of　a　cigarette。　I　put　them　in　four　selected　spots　and　gently　lowered　the　cardboard　of　the　folder　onto　them。　Closing　the　drawer；　I　wiped　the　whole　front　of　the　cabinet；　and　then　I　was　confronted　with　a　question　which　I　would　have　liked　to　consider　a　little　if　it　hadn't　been　twelve　minutes　past　four　and　me　due　upstairs　in　three　minutes。　Should　I　just　leave　it　unlocked；　or　leave　the　key　there　in　the　lock？　I　voted　for　the　former　and　stuck　the　key　in　my　pocket。
　　I　hotfooted　it　to　the　outside　hall　and　the　elevators；　and；　as　I　got　off　at　the　thirty…sixth　floor；　found　myself　faced　by　another　question　which　I　should　have　had　an　answer　all　ready　for　but　had　overlooked　in　the　rush。　For　the　veteran　receptionist　in　the　lobby　of　the　executive　offices；　who　was　I？　The　day　before；　calling　on　Pine；　I　had　been　Goodwin。　Was　I　now　to　be　Truett　and　expect　her　to　look　straight　at　my　intelligent　face　and　think　it　credible　that　I　didn't　know　my　own　name？　Impossible。　I　walked　up　to　her　desk　and　told　her　that　Mr。　Goodwin　had　an　appointment　with　Mr。　Pine　for　four…fifteen。
　　Then　I　had　to　sit　and　wait　over　ten　minutes。　Usually　I　am　a　good　waiter；　unruffled　and　relaxed；　but　that　time　it　irritated　me　because　I　could　have　done　a　much　better　job　of　wiping　if　I　hadn't　hurried。　However；　it　couldn't　be　helped；　and　I　sat　till　I　was　summoned。
　　Pine　looked　tired；　busy；　and　harassed。　He　stayed　behind　his　desk　and　started　talking　before　I　got　across　to　him。
　　〃I　can　only　give　you　a　few　minutes；〃　he　said　brusquely。　〃I　already　had　a　full　schedule　and　things　are　piled　up。　What　is　it？〃
　　I　handed　him　the　original　of　the　report　and　stayed　on　my　feet。　〃Of　course　you　could　take　it　and　read　it　later；　but　I　thought　maybe…〃
　　I　chopped　it　off　because　he　had　started　reading。　He　raced　through　it；　three　times　as　fast　as　Wolfe　ever　reads；　and　then　went　back　and　gave　some　of　the　paragraphs　a　second　look。　A　sharp　glance　came　at　me。　〃I　knew　Mr。　Naylor　had　called　on　the　Deputy　missioner　of　Police。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　I　conceded　heartily。　〃You　didn't　mention　it；　but　a　man　can't　mention　everything。　Which　reminds　me；　I've　got　a　little　problem。　When　Mr。　Wolfe　reads　a　copy　of　this；　you　see　I　know　him　pretty　well；　the　first　thing　he'll　ask　will　be　whether　you　knew　Mr。　Naylor's　sister　had　asked　him　to　give　Moore　a　job；　and　if　so　why　you　didn't　tell　me。〃　I　thought　it　was　more　diplomatic　to　say　〃Mr。　Naylor's　sister〃　than　to　say　〃your　wife。〃　I　was　going　on；　〃Of　course　if　you　don't…〃
　　〃Certainly　I　knew；〃　he　snapped。　〃What　has　that　got　to　do　with　it？〃
　　〃Nothing；　so　far　as　I　know。〃　I　was　conceding　everything。　〃But　I　need　your　advice。　AS　I　say；　I　know　Mr。　Wolfe。　He'll　tell　me　to　get　Mr。　Naylor's　sister　on　the　phone；　and　ask　her　to　e　to　his　office　to　see　him；　and　when　she　won't　e　he'll　tell　me　to　go　to　see　her；　and　I'll　have　to　go。　What　would　you　advise　me　to　do？〃
　　〃You　work　for　Wolfe；　don't　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Then　do　what　he　tells　you　to。〃
　　〃Okay；　thanks。　You　have　no　suggestions　or　instructions？〃
　　〃No。〃　Pine　made　his　little　gesture　of　impatience。　〃If　you　mean　I　might　want　to　protect　my　wife　from　annoyance；　you　will　learn　why　it　is　unnecessary　when　you　meet　her。　What　I　want　to　know　is　how　did　Mr。　Naylor　learn　your　identity？　Can　you　tell　me？〃
　　〃If　I　could；〃　I　said；　〃it　would　be　in　that　report。　I'd　like　to　know　too。　There　are　two　possible　ways。　My　picture　has　been　in　the　paper　a　couple　of　times。　It　could　be　that　he…or　someone　else　and　told　him…remembered　it　well　enough　to　recognize　me；　but　the　odds　against　it　would　go　up　into　six　figures。　I　like　the　other　way　better。　How　many　people　around　here　know　about　me？　The　receptionist　outside；　and　who　else