erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第21部分

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　〃Yes。　I　told　them　everything；　Mr。　Mason。　I　realize　now　that　I　shouldn't　have；　but　once　I　started　talking…well；　I　was　just　。　。　。　I　was　just　scared　stiff。　I　wanted　so　desperately　to　convince　them　and　have　them　turn　me　loose。〃
　Abruptly；　the　door　opened。　District　Attorney　Hamilton　Burger；　acpanied　by　Lieutenant　Tragg；　entered　the　room。
　〃Good　morning；　Virginia；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。
　He　turned　to　Perry　Mason。　〃Hi；　Perry。　How's　everything　this　morning？〃
　〃How　are　you；　Hamilton？〃　Mason　said。　〃You　going　to　turn　my　client　loose？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　Burger　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃She　told　us　quite　a　story　about　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur　for　Lauretta　Trent；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。　〃It　was　a　nice　story；　but　we　don't　believe　it。
　〃Lauretta　Trent's　relatives　told　us　quite　a　story　about　the　chauffeur。　It's　a　plausible　story　but　it　doesn't　check　out　in　some　details。　We're　beginning　to　think　that　your　client　may　be　tied　in　with　Lauretta　Trent's　relatives；　trying　to　discredit　Eagan　and　obscure　the　issues；　incidentally；　covering　up　attempts　they　have　made　at　mitting　murder…a　murder　which　was　actually　consummated　by　your　client。〃
　〃Why；　that's　absurd；〃　Virginia　exclaimed。　〃I　never　met　Lauretta　Trent's　relatives　in　my　life。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　you　wouldn't　be　so　hypnotized　by　an　act　put　on　by　that　chauffeur；　you　might　have　a　clearer　understanding　of　the　situation。〃
　〃Well；　we'll　see　about　that；〃　Burger　said。
　He　stepped　to　the　door；　opened　it　and　said　to　someone　outside；　〃e　in。〃
　The　man　who　entered　was　in　his　forties。　He　had　a　shock　of　coal…black　hair；　dark　plexion；　high　cheekbones；　and　intense　black　eyes。
　He　shifted　his　eyes　from　Hamilton　Burger　to　look　directly　at　Virginia　Baxter；　then　shook　his　head　emphatically。
　〃Have　you　ever　seen　this　young　woman　before？〃　Burger　asked　the　man。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　shortly。
　〃There　you　are；〃　Burger　said；　turning　to　Virginia。
　〃Well；　that's　nothing；〃　she　said。　〃I've　never　seen　him　before　either。　He　looks　in　a　general　way　like　the　Trent　chauffeur；　but　he's　not　the　man　who　called　on　me。〃
　〃This；〃　Lieutenant　Tragg　announced　dryly；　〃is　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur　for　Lauretta　Trent。　。　。　。　That's　all；　George；　you　may　go　now。〃
　He　turned　to　Mason　and　said；　〃George　hit　his　head　when　he　tumbled　out　of　that　automobile。　He　was　unconscious　for　an　undetermined　length　of　time。〃
　〃Now；　just　a　minute；〃　Mason　said。　〃Just　a　minute。　Don't　pull　that　stuff　with　me。　If　he's　able　to　be　out　walking　around　and　e　here　to　identify；　or　fail　to　identify；　my　client；　he　can　answer　a　question。〃
　〃He　doesn't　have　to；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。
　Mason　ignored　the　district　attorney's　ment；　said　to　the　chauffeur；　〃You　have　a　private　automobile。　It's　an　Olds　and　the　license　number　is　ODT062。〃
　Eagan　looked　at　Mason　with　surprise。　〃That's　my　license　number；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　isn't　an　Olds；　it's　a　Cadillac。〃
　〃You　were　driving　your　automobile　day　before　yesterday？〃　Mason　asked。
　Eagan　looked　at　him　with　a　puzzled　expression　on　his　face；　then　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　was　chauffeuring　Mrs。　Trent。　We　drove　up　to　Fresno。〃
　Burger　said；　〃That's　all；　George。　You　don't　need　to　answer　any　more　questions。〃
　The　chauffeur　walked　out。
　Hamilton　Burger　turned　to　Mason　and　gave　an　expressive　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃If　any　attempt　has　been　made　to　frame　anyone；　it's　an　attempt　to　frame　this　chauffeur。　You'd　better　check　the　story　of　your　client　a　little　bit　yourself。
　〃We'll　arraign　her　at　eleven　o'clock　this　morning　if　that　meets　with　your　convenience；　and　we'll　have　her　preliminary　hearing　at　any　time　you　suggest。　We　want　to　give　you　ample　opportunity　to　prepare。〃
　〃That's　very　nice　of　you；〃　Mason　said；　〃under　the　circumstances。　We'll　have　a　preliminary　just　as　soon　as　the　judge　can　get　it　on　the　calendar…tomorrow　morning；　if　possible。〃
　Burger's　smile　was　frosty。　〃You　may　catch　us　unprepared　on　some　points；　Perry；　but　you　won't　catch　us　with　our　wearing　apparel　disarranged。　This　is　one　case　where　you're　on　the　wrong　end。　Your　client　is　a　shrewd；　scheming　opportunist。
　〃I　don't　know　yet　who　she's　teamed　up　with。　I　don't　know　who　administered　the　poison　to　Lauretta　Trent；　but　I　do　know　that　it　was　your　client's　car　that　crowded　her　off　the　road；　and　your　client　has　told　enough　lies　to　make　her　exceedingly　vulnerable。
　〃At　least　we'll　get　her　bound　over　while　we're　looking　for　the　other　conspirator。
　〃And　now；　we'll　leave　you　alone　with　your　client。〃
　Burger　nodded　to　Lieutenant　Tragg；　and　the　pair　walked　out；　closing　the　door　behind　them。
　Mason　turned　to　Virginia　Baxter。
　She　said；　〃There's　been　a　horrible　mistake　somewhere；　Mr。　Mason。　That　man　has　the　general　physical　characteristics　of　the　chauffeur…I　mean；　the　man　I　talked　with；　the　one　who　gave　me　the　name　of　Menard。　。　。　。　Of　course；　you　were　the　one　who　told　me　he　was　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur。〃
　〃That；〃　Mason　said；　〃was　on　the　strength　of　the　physical　description　plus　the　license　number　of　the　automobile　he　was　driving。　You're　sure　it　was　an　Oldsmobile？〃
　〃Yes。　It　wasn't　a　new　Olds　but　I　certainly　thought　that's　what　it　was。　。　。　。　Of　course；　I　could　have　made　a　mistake　in　the　license　number；　that　is；　I　could　have　been　wrong　on　the　last　or　something　like　that；　but　the　first　figure　was　a　zero。〃
　Mason　shook　his　head；　〃No；　Virginia；　that　would　be　too　much　of　a　coincidence。　But　you　could　have　been　victimized　by　someone　who　inveigled　you　into　doing　his　dirty　work　for　him。　Suppose　you　try　telling　me　the　truth　for　a　change。〃
　〃But　I　have　told　you　the　truth。〃
　〃_I'll_　tell　you　something；〃　Mason　said。　〃If　you　insist　on　telling　that　story；　you're　going　to　be　bound　over　for　trial　on　a　charge　of　murder；　and　if　someone　is　using　you　as　a　cat'spaw　and　you　don't　give　me　an　opportunity　to　get　you　into　the　clear　by　telling　me　exactly　what　happened；　you're　in　very；　very　serious　trouble。〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Well？〃　Mason　asked。
　She　hesitated　a　moment。
　〃I've　told　you　the　truth；〃　she　said　at　length。
　Mason　said；　〃If　it's　the　truth；　someone　with　a　diabolically　clever　mind　has　carefully　inveigled　you　into　a　trap。〃
　〃It's　。　。　。　it's　the　truth；〃　she　said。
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　your　attorney。　If　you　nsist　that　a　story　is　the　truth；　no　matter　how　weird　or　bizarre　it　sounds；　I　have　to　believe　you　and　not　show　the　slightest　doubt　when　we　get　to　court。〃
　〃But　you　don't　really　believe　me？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　regarded　her　thoughtfully。　〃If　you　were　on　a　jury　and　a　defendant　told　a　story　like　that；　would　you　believe　her？〃
　Virginia　Baxter　started　to　cry。
　〃Would　you？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃No；〃　she　sobbed；　〃it　sounds　too　。　。　。　too…just　too　much　of　a　series　of　improbable　things。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。　〃Now　then；　you　have　one　defense　and　only　one　defense。　Either　tell　me　the　absolute　truth　and　let　me　take　it　from　there；　or　stay　with　this　improbable　story。　If　you　do　that；　I'm　going　to　have　to　adopt　the　position　that　some　shrewd；　diabolically　clever　individual　is　deliberately　framing　you　for　murder。　And　the　way　events　have　been　taking　place；　he's　very　apt　indeed　to　have　you　convicted。〃
　She　looked　at　him　with　tearstained　eyes。
　〃Of　course；　you　realize　my　predicament；〃　Mason　said。　〃Once　I　adopt　the　position　that　you're　being　framed；　if　even　the　slightest　part　of　your　story　turns　out　to　be　false；　you'll　be　swept　along　into　the　penitentiary　on　a　tide　of　adverse　public　opinion。　The　slightest　falsehood　will　pletely　ruin　your　chances。〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　can　see　that。〃
　〃Now　then；〃　Mason　said；　〃in　view　of　that　situation　and　in　view　of　that　statement；　do　you　want　to　change　your　story？〃
　〃I　can't　change　it；〃　she　said。
　〃You　mean　because　you're　stuck　with　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　just　can't　change　it；　Mr。　Mason；　because　it's　the　truth。　That's　all。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃I'll　take　it　from　there　and　do　the　best　I　can　with　it。　Sit　tight。〃
　The　lawyer　walked　out。
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　Jerry　Caswell；　the　deputy　district　attorney　who　had　prosecuted　Virginia　on　the　charge　of　possessing　narcotics　and　apparently　firmly　believed　that　there　had　been　a　miscarriage　of　justice　in　that　case；　had　requested　the　district　attorney's　office　to　be　permitted　to　present　the　People's　case　against　Virginia　Baxter　at　the　preliminary　hearing。
　Now　he　entered　upon　his　duties　with　a　personalized　zest　and　a　grim　determination　that　Perry　Mason　was　not　going　to　get　any　advantage　because　of　ingenuity　or　quick　thinking。
　As　his　first　witness；　he　called　George　Eagan。
　The　chauffeur　took　the　stand；　testified　as　to　his　name；　address　and　occupation。
　〃Could　you　tell　us　what　you　were　doing　on　Wednesday　night？〃　Caswell　asked。
　〃I　was　driving　Lauretta　Trent　in　her　automobile。　We　had　been　to　Ventura　and　were　returning　along　the　coast　highway。〃
　〃Did　you　have　any　fixed　destination　in　mind？〃
　〃Mrs。　Trent　told　me　that　she　intended　to　turn　off　to　go　up　to　a　motel　that　was　up　in　the　hills　near　a　lake。　She　said　she　would　tell　me　what　road　to　take。〃
　〃She　didn't　tell　you　what　road　she　intended　to　take？〃
　〃No；　just　that　she　would　tell　me　when　to　make　the　turn。〃
　〃Now　then；　are　you　familiar　with　the　motel　known　as　the　Saint's　Rest　and　the　road　leading　to　it？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　turnoff　is　approximately　three　hundred　yards　to　the　north　of　the　Sea　Crest　Café。〃
　〃When　you　approached　that　turnoff　on　Wednesday