erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第14部分

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chauffeur；　did　the　cooking。　Apparently　no　one　else　besides　Lauretta　Trent　had　any　symptoms。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mason　said。
　〃If　it　was　poisoning；　and　I　am　now　satisfied　it　was；　it　was　done　very　expertly。　。　。　。　Now　then；　Mr。　Mason；　I　have　a　responsibility　to　my　patient。　I　want　to　keep　from　having　any　recurrence。〃
　〃I　told　you　what　to　do；〃　Mason　said　sharply。　〃Get　three　nurses；　put　them　on　the　job　around　the　clock。〃
　Dr。　Alton　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　afraid　that　won't　work。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Mason　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃We're　not　dealing　with　a　child；　Mr。　Mason。　We're　dealing　with　a　mature　woman　who　likes　to　have　her　own　way；　who　is　rather　arbitrary　and…damn　it；　I've　got　to　have　some　sort　of　an　excuse　to　put　out　special　dishes　for　her。〃
　Mason's　mouth　tightened。　〃How　many　nurses　are　on　the　job　now？〃
　〃Just　one　。　。　。　a　nurse　she　has　from　time　to　time。〃
　〃And　how　did　you　get　the　fingernails　and　the　hair？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　unfortably；　〃I　had　to　use　a　little　subterfuge。　I　rang　up　the　nurse　and　told　her　that　I　was　going　to　give　Mrs。　Trent　some　medicine　which　might　cause　a　temporary　itching　of　the　skin；　that　it　was　highly　important　that　she　not　do　any　scratching　and　that　I　would　like　to　have　her　nails　trimmed　down；　that　I　wished　she'd　explain　to　the　patient　what　I　had　in　mind　and　what　I　was　trying　to　acplish。　I　also　told　her　that　I'd　like　to　test　the　hair　to　see　whether　her　digestive　upsets　had　been　due　to　an　allergy　caused　by　either　a　shampoo　or　a　hair　dye。　I　explained　to　the　nurse　that　I　didn't　want　to　suggest　that　Mrs。　Trent　was　coloring　her　hair；　but　that　I　felt　there　might　be　an　allergy；　particularly　if　she　had　had　any　itching　or　sore　spots　in　her　scalp　and　had　scratched　and　had　thereby　caused　an　abrasion　in　the　skin　that　would　enable　the　dye　materials　to　penetrate　the　bloodstream。　I　told　the　nurse　to　put　the　nail　clippings　and　the　hair　in　sterile　phials。〃
　Mason　said；　〃Nurses　take　courses　in　poisons　and　their　treatment。　Do　you　think　your　nurse　suspected　anything？〃
　〃Oh　no；　not　a　thing；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　told　the　nurse　I'd　been　puzzled　about　Mrs。　Trent's　case；　that　I　couldn't　believe　that　the　disturbance　resulted　entirely　from　food　poisoning　but　that　I　thought　perhaps　it　might　be　a　bination　of　things。〃
　〃She　didn't　give　any　indication　that　she　thought　your　requests　were　unusual？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃None　whatever。　She　accepted　them　just　as　any　good　nurse　would；　without　any　ment。　I　told　her　to　get　a　taxi　and　send　the　nail　parings　and　the　hair　in　their　sterile　phials　to　my　office　at　once。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　know　a　laboratory　which　specializes　in　forensic　medicine　and　toxicology　that　will　give　us　a　quick　report　on　these；　not　a　quantitative　analysis；　but　it　will　show　whether　any　arsenic　is　present。〃
　〃How　soon　can　you　have　that？〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　think　I　can　have　it　right　after　dinner；　Doctor。〃
　〃I　wish　you'd　telephone　me；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃but　what　have　you　done　about　furnishing　your　patient　with　round…the…clock　protection？〃
　Dr。　Alton's　eyes　shifted。　〃All　right；　Mason；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　put　it　right　on　the　line。　You　almost　convinced　me　when　you　talked　over　the　telephone；　and　then　I　became　more　convinced　when　I　thought　over　the　symptoms。　But　when　I　took　time　to　think　things　over；　I　felt　I　couldn't　justify　taking　really　drastic　steps　pending　a　laboratory　report；　but　I　have　taken　precautionary　steps　which　will　be　ample　for　the　time　being。〃
　〃What　steps？〃　Mason　asked；　his　voice　coldly　disapproving。
　〃I've　decided　that　during　the　next　few　hours　there　won't　be　any　element　of　real　danger；　particularly　in　view　of　the　fact　that　this　nurse；　Anna　Fritch；　is　on　the　job。　However；　I　told　her　to　see　that　Mrs。　Trent　was　on　a　very　bland　diet　tonight；　that　I　intended　to　perform　some　tests　and　I　wanted　her　to　have　nothing　except　soft　boiled　eggs　and　toast　tonight；　that　I　wanted　the　nurse　to　prepare　both　the　eggs　and　the　toast；　and　see　that　the　eggs　were　served　in　the　shell　so　that　there　would　be　no　chance　of　too　many　spices　being　added。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　that's　what　you've　done；　that's　what　you've　done。　Give　me　your　night　number。　I'll　drop　these　things　at　the　laboratory　and　ask　for　an　immediate　check。　。　。　。　Now；　what　do　you　propose　to　do　if　the　tests　are　positive　and　show　the　presence　of　arsenic？〃
　This　time　Dr。　Alton　met　Mason's　eyes　firmly。　〃I　intend　to　go　to　the　patient　and　tell　her　that　she　has　been　suffering　from　arsenic　poisoning　rather　than　from　allergies　or　a　digestive　upset。　I　intend　to　tell　her　that　we're　going　to　have　to　take　extraordinary　safeguards　and　that；　from　the　manner　in　which　the　symptoms　developed；　I　have　very　strong　suspicions　that　there　was　an　attempt　at　homicide。〃
　Mason　said；　〃And　I　suppose　you　have　taken　into　consideration　that　this　will　start　a　three…ring　circus　among　relatives；　authorities　and　people　in　the　household。　They'll　call　you　a　quack；　an　alarmist　and　accuse　you　of　trying　to　alienate　Lauretta　Trent's　affections。〃
　〃I　can't　help　it。　I　have　my　duty　as　a　doctor。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said。　〃We　should　have　that　report　no　later　than　nine…thirty。　The　only　thing　that　I　don't　agree　with　you　on　is　safeguarding　your　patient　in　the　meantime。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I've　debated　the　pros　and　cons　with　myself　and　I　have　cqme　to　the　conclusion　that　this　is　the　best　way　to　handle　it。　I'll　accept　responsibility　for　the　decision。　After　all；　you　know；　it　is　my　responsibility。〃
　Mason　nodded　to　Della　Street。　〃All　right；　Della；　we'll　go　to　the　laboratory；　start　them　working　on　these　things；　and　get　a　preliminary　report　at　the　earliest　possible　moment。　You　get　Dr。　Alton's　night　number　and　we'll　call　him　just　as　soon　as　we　have　a　report。〃
　〃And；　of　course；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃you'll　keep　things　entirely　confidential？　You　know；　the　police　and；　of　course；　the　press。　These　things　have　a　way　of　leaking　out　once　they　get　into　the　hands　of　the　police；　and　I　know　that　Lauretta　Trent　would　consider　publicity…well；　she'd　simply　hit　the　ceiling。　It　would　mean　the　end　of　our　professional　relationship。〃
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　in　somewhat　the　position　of　being　a　public　servant　in　this　case；　Doctor。　Actually；　I　haven't　a　client。　The　logical　client　would　probably　be　Lauretta　Trent；　but　I　certainly　don't　want　to　approach　her　in　any　way。〃
　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃The　minute　you　find　anything　positive　in　the　hair　and　the　nails；　I'm　going　to　go　to　her　myself　and　I'm　going　to　explain　to　her　just　what　you　have　done　in　the　case　and　how　valuable　your　assistance　has　been。
　〃In　the　meantime；　I　can　assure　you；　on　my　own　responsibility；　that　any　amounts　within　reason　you　may　be　called　upon　to　pay　will　be　promptly　remitted　by　Mrs。　Trent。
　〃But　。　。　。〃　Dr。　Alton　cleared　his　throat；　〃in　the　event　your　suspicions　should　turn　out　to　be　groundless；　Mr。　Mason；　you　are…Well；　I　。　。　。　I　mean　to　say…〃
　Mason　grinned　and　interrupted　him。　〃You　mean　that　in　the　event　I'm　barking　up　the　wrong　tree；　my　costs　are　going　to　be　borne　exclusively　by　me；　that　I　will　have　lost　a　lot　of　face　with　you。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃You've　expressed　it　more　forcefully　than　I　would；　but　very　well。〃
　Mason　said；　〃You'll　hear　from　me　about　nine　or　ninethirty　and　then　you　can　take　it　from　there。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　He　gripped　the　lawyer's　hand　and　went　out。
　Della　Street　looked　at　Mason　speculatively；　〃Do　you　have　some　mental　reservations　about　Dr。　Alton？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃Do　you　know；　Della；　I　can't　help　feeling　what　a　mess　it　would　be　if　Dr。　Alton　should　be　one　of　the　beneficiaries　in　Lauretta　Trent's　will。〃
　Della　Street's　eyes　widened　with　consternation。　〃Good　heavens；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　suppose　。　。　。　？〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said　as　her　voice　trailed　away　into　silence。　〃And　now；　let's　go　to　dinner；　after　stopping　by　the　laboratory　and　asking　for　a　quick　preliminary　report。〃
　〃And　you're　going　to　tell　Dr。　Alton　what　you　find？　If　he's　one　of　the　beneficiaries　under　the　will…Well；　of　course；　under　the　circumstances…〃
　〃I　know；〃　Mason　said；　〃I'm　going　to　tell　him　and　then　I'nj　going　to　make　absolutely　certain　that　Lauretta　Trent　is　protected　against　any　further　so…called　gastroenteric　disturbances。〃
　〃That；〃　Della　Street　said；　〃should　make　quite　a　situation。〃
　〃It　will；〃　Mason　told　her。
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
　Mason　and　Della　Street　had　a　leisurely；　relaxing　dinner。
　Della　Street　had　left　word　with　the　laboratory　to　call　them　at　the　café；　and　the　headwaiter；　knowing　that　an　important　call　was　expected；　was　bustling　about　keeping　an　eye　on　Mason's　table。
　Della　Street　had　contented　herself　with　a　small　steak　and　baked　potato；　but　Mason　had　ordered　an　extra…thick　cut　of　rare　prime　ribs　of　beef；　a　large　bottle　of　Guinness　Stout；　tossed　salad　and　stuffed　baked　potato。
　At　length；　the　lawyer　pushed　back　his　plate；　finished　the　last　of　his　Stout；　smiled　across　the　glass　atDella　Street　and　said；　〃It's　a　real　pleasure　to　be　able　to　dine；　to　feel　that　we're　not　wasting　time　and　yet　be　able　to　take　all　the　time　we　want。
　〃We　have　the　laboratory　doing　our　analysis　for　us；　we　have　Paul　Drake　all　ready　to…Oh…oh；〃　the　lawyer　interrupted　himself；　〃here　es　Pierre　with　a　telephone。〃
　The　headwaiter　bustled　importantly　to　the　table；　conscious　of　the　fact　that　many　eyes　were