rc.theladyinthelake-第26部分

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e　that　I　washed　my　hands　and　bathed　my　face　in　cold　water　and　looked　at　it。　The　flush　was　gone　from　the　left　cheek；　but　it　looked　a　little　swollen。　Not　very　much；　but　enough　to　make　me　tighten　up　again。　I　brushed　my　hair　and　looked　at　the　gray　in　it。　There　was　getting　to　be　plenty　of　gray　in　it。　The　face　under　the　hair　had　a　sick　look。　I　didn't　like　the　face　at　alL　I　went　back　to　the　desk　and　read　Miss　Fromsett's　note　again。　I　smoothed　it　out　on　the　glass　and　sniffed　it　and　smoothed　it　out　some　more　and　folded　it　and　put　it　in　my　coat　pocket。
　　I　sat　very　still　and　listened　to　the　evening　grow　quiet　outside　the　open　windows。　And　very　slowly　I　grew　quiet　with　it。
　　
　　
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　　The　Rossmore　Arms　was　a　gloomy　pile　of　dark　red　brick　built　around　a　huge　forecourt。　It　had　a　plushlined　lobby　containing　silence；　tubbed　plants；　a　bored　canary　in　a　cage　as　big　as　a　dog…house；　a　smell　of　old　carpet　dust　and　the　cloying　fragranct　of　gardenias　long　ago。
　　The　Graysons　were　on　the　fifth　floor　in　front；　in　the　north　wing。　They　were　sitting　together　in　a　room　which　seemed　to　be　deliberately　twenty　years　out　of　date。　It　had　fat　over…stuffed　furniture　and　brass　doorknobs；　shaped　like　eggs；　a　huge　wall　mirror　in　a　gilt　frame；　a　marble…topped　table　in　the　window　and　dark　red　plush　side　drapes　by　the　windows。　It　smelled　of　tobacco　smoke　and　behind　that　the　air　was　telling　me　they　had　had　lamb　chops　and　broccoli　for　dinner。
　　Grayson's　wife　was　a　plump　woman　who　might　once　have　had　big　baby…blue　eyes。　They　were　faded　out　now　and　dimmed　by　glasses　and　slightly　protuberant。　She　had　kinky　white　hair。　She　sat　darning　socks　with　her　thick　ankles　crossed；　her　feet　just　reaching　the　floor；　and　a　big　wicker　sewing　basket　in　her　lap。
　　Grayson　was　a　long　stooped　yellow…faced　man　with　high　shoulders；　bristly　eyebrows　and　almost　no　chin。　The　upper　part　of　his　face　meant　business。　The　lower　part　was　just　saying　goodby。　He　wore　bifocals　and　he　had　been　gnawing　fretfully　at　the　evening　paper。　I　had　looked　him　up　in　the　city　directory。　He　was　a　C。P。A。　and　looked　it　very　inch。　He　even　had　ink　on　his　fingers　and　there　were　four　pencils　in　the　pocket　of　his　open　vest。
　　He　read　my　card　carefully　for　the　seventh　time　and　looked　me　up　and　down　and　said　slowly：　〃What　is　it　yOu　want　to　see　us　about；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃
　　〃I'm　interested　in　a　man　named　Lavery。　He　lives　across　the　street　from　Dr。　Almore。　Your　daughter　was　the　wife　of　Dr。　Almore。　Lavery　is　the　man　who　found　your　daughter　the　night　she…died。〃　They　both　pointed　like　bird　dogs　when　I　deliberately　hesitated　on　；the　last　word。　Grayson　looked　at　his　wife　and　she　shook　her　head。
　　〃We　don't　care　to　talk　about　that；〃　Grayson　said　promptly。　〃It　is　much　too　painful　to　us。〃　I　waited　a　moment　and　looked　gloomy　with　them。　Then　I　said：　〃I　don't　blame　you。　I　don't　want　to　make　you。　I'd　like　to　get　in　touch　with　the　man　you　hired　to　look　into　it；　though。〃　They　looked　at　each　other　again。　Mrs。　Grayson　didn't　shake　her　head　this　time。
　　Grayson　asked：　〃Why？〃
　　〃I'd　better　tell　you　a　little　of　my　story。〃　I　told　them　what　I　had　been　hired　to　do；　not　mentioning　Kingsley　by　name。　I　told　them　the　incident　with　Degarmo　outside　Almore's　house　the　day　before。　They　pointed　again　on　that。
　　Grayson　said　sharply：　〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　were　unknown　to　Dr。　Almore；　had　not　approached　him　in　any　way；　and　that　he　nevertheless　called　a　police　officer　because　you　were　outside　his　house？'　I　said：　〃That's　right。　Had　been　outside　for　at　least　an　hour　though。　That　is；　my　car　had。〃
　　〃That's　very　queer；〃　Grayson　said。
　　〃I'd　say　that　was　one　very　nervous　man；〃　I　said。　〃And　Degarmo　asked　me　if　her　folks…meaning　your　daughter's　folks…had　hired　me。　Looks　as　if　he　didn't　feel　safe　yet；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　　〃Safe　about　what？〃　He　didn't　look　at　me　saying　this。　He　re…lit　his　pipe；　slowly；　then　tamped　the　tobacco　down　with　the　end　of　a　big　metal　pencil　and　lit　it　again。
　　I　shrugged　and　didn't；　answer。　He　looked　at　me　quickly　and　looked　away。　Mrs。　Grayson　didn't　look　at　me；　but　her　nostrils　quivered。
　　〃How　did　he　know　who　you　were？〃　Grayson　asked　suddenly。
　　〃Made　a　note　of　the　car　license；　called　the　Auto　Club；　looked　up　the　name　in　the　directory。　At　least　that's　what　I'd　have　done　and　I　saw　him　through　his　window　making　some　of　the　motions。〃
　　〃So　he　has　the　police　working　for　him；〃　Grayson　said。
　　〃Not　necessarily。　If　they　made　a　mistake　that　time；　they　wouldn't　want　it　found　out　now。〃
　　〃Mistake！〃　He　laughed　almost　shrilly。
　　〃Okay；〃　I　said。　〃The　subject　is　painful　but　a　little　fresh　air　won't　hurt　it。　You've　always　thought　he　murdered　her；　haven't　you？　That's　why　you　hired　this　dick…detective。〃　Mrs。　Grayson　looked　up　with　quick　eyes　and　ducked　her　head　down　and　rolled　up　another　pair　of　mended　socks。
　　Grayson　said　nothing。
　　I　said：　〃Was　there　any　evidence；　or　was　it　just　that　you　didn't　like　him？〃
　　〃There　was　evidence；〃　Grayson　said　bitterly；　and　with　a　sudden　clearness　of　voice；　as　if　he　had　decided　to　talk　about　it　after　all。　〃There　must　have　been。　We　were　told　there　was。　But　we　never　got　it。　The　police　took　care　of　that。〃
　　〃I　heard　they　had　this　fellow　arrested　and　sent　up　for　drunk　driving。〃
　　〃You　heard　right。〃
　　〃But　he　never　told　you　what　he　had　to　go　on。〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃I　don't　like　that；〃　I　said。　〃That　sounds　a　little　as　if　this　fellow　hadn't　made　up　his　mind　whether　to　use　his　information　for　your　benefit　or　keep　it　and　put　a　squeeze　on　the　doctor。〃　Grayson　looked　at　his　wife　again。　She　said　quietly：　〃Mr。　Talley　didn't　impress　me　that　way。　He　was　a　quiet　unassuming　little　man。　But　you　can't　always　judge；　I　know。〃　I　said：　〃So　Talley　was　his　name。　That　was　one　of　the　things　I　hoped　you　would　tell　me。〃
　　〃And　what　were　the　others？〃　Grayson　asked。
　　〃How　can　I　find　Talley…and　what　it　was　that　laid　the　groundwork　of　suspicion　in　your　minds。　It　must　have　been　there；　or　you　wouldn't　have　hired　Talley　without　a　better　showing　from　him　that　he　had　grounds。〃　Grayson　smiled　very　thinly　and　primly。　He　reached　for　his　little　chin　and　rubbed　it　with　one　long　yellow　finger。
　　Mrs。　Grayson　said：　〃Dope。〃
　　〃She　means　that　literally；〃　Grayson　said　at　once；　as　if　the　single　word　had　been　a　green　light。　〃Almore　was；　and　no　doubt　is；　a　dope　doctOr。　Our　daughter　made　that　clear　to　us。　In　his　hearing　too。　He　didn't　like　it。〃
　　〃Just　what　do　you　mean　by　a　dope　doctor；　Mr。　Grayson？〃
　　〃I　mean　a　doctor　whose　practice　is　largely　with　people　who　are　living　on　the　raw　edge　of　nervous　collapse；　from　drink　and　dissipation。　People　who　have　to　be　given　sedatives　and　narcotics　all　the　time。　The　stage　es　when　an　ethical　physician　refuses　to　treat　them　any　more；　outside　a　sanatorium。　But　not　the　Dr。　Almores。　They　will　keep　on　as　long　as　the　money　es　in；　as　long　as　the　patient　remains　alive　and　reasonably　sane；　even　if　he　or　she　bees　a　hopeless　addict　in　the　process。　A　lucrative　practice；〃　he　said　primly；　〃and　I　imagine　a　dangerous　one　to　the　doctor。〃
　　〃No　doubt　of　that；〃　I　said。　〃But　there's　a　lot　of　money　in　it。　Did　you　know　a　man　named　Condy？〃
　　〃No。　We　know　who　he　was。　Florence　suspected　he　was　a　source　of　Almore's　narcotic　supply。〃　I　said：　〃Could　be。　He　probably　wouldn't　want　to　write　himself　too　many　prescriptions。　Did　you　know　Lavery？〃
　　〃We　never　saw　him。　We　knew　who　he　was。〃
　　〃Ever　occur　to　you　that　Lavery　might　have　been　blackmailing　Almore？〃　It　was　a　new　idea　to　him。　He　ran　his　hand　over　the　top　of　his　head　and　brought　it　down　over　his　face　and　dropped　it　to　his　bony　knee。　He　shook　his　head。
　　〃No。　Why　should　I？〃
　　〃He　was　first　to　the　body；〃　I　said。　〃Whatever　looked　wrong　to　Talley　must　have　been　equally　visible　to　Lavery。〃
　　〃Is　Lavery　that　kind　of　man？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　He　has　no　visible　means　of　support；　no　job。　He　gets　around　a　lot；　especially　with　women。〃
　　〃It's　an　idea；〃　Grayson　said。　〃And　those　things　can　be　handled　very　discreetly。〃　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　have　e　across　traces　of　them　in　my　work。　Unsecured　loans；　long　outstanding。　Investments　on　the　face　of　them　worthless；　made　by　men　who　would　not　be　likely　to　make　worthless　investments。　Bad　debts　that　should　obviously　be　charged　off　and　have　not　been；　for　fear　of　inviting　scrutiny　from　the　ine　tax　people。　Oh　yes；　those　things　can　easily　be　arranged。〃　I　looked　at　Mrs。　Grayson。　Her　hands　had　never　stopped　working。　She　had　a　dozen　pairs　of　darned　socks　finished。　Grayson's　long　bony　feet　would　be　hard　on　socks。
　　〃What's　happened　to　Tailey？　Was　he　framed？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　there's　any　doubt　about　it。　His　wife　was　very　bitter。　She　said　he　had　been　given　a'　doped　drink　in　a　bar　and　he　had　been　drinking　with　a　policeman。　'She　said　a　police　car　was　waiting　across　the　street　for　him　to　start　driving　and　that　he　was　picked　up　at　once。　Also　that　he　was　given　only　the　most　perfunctory　examination　at　the　jail。〃
　　〃That　doesn't　mean　too　much。　That's　what　he　told　her　after　he　was　arrested。　He'd　tell　her　something　like　that　automatically。〃
　　〃Well；　I　hate　to　think　the　police　are　not　honest；〃　Grayson　said。　〃But　these　things　are　done；　and　everybody　knows　it。〃　I　said：　〃If　they　made　an　honest　mistake　about　your　daughter's　death；　they　would　hate　to　have　Talley　show　them　up。　It　mig