rs.inthebestfamelies-第26部分

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ved　six　weeks　ago。　I　managed　to　get　informed　about　it。　Of　course　I　had　to　be　extremely　careful；　new　as　I　was；　but　on　the　other　hand　my　being　a　newer　was　an　advantage。　In　preparing　a　list　of　prospects　for　the　device　I　had　conceived；　a　man　in　Rackham's　position　was　an　eminently　suitable　candidate；　and　naturally　I　had　to　know　all　about　him。　That　placed　me　favorably　for　starting；　with　the　greatest　caution；　certain　speculations　and　suspicions；　and　I　got　it　to　the　point　where　it　seemed　desirable　to　put　him　under　surveillance。　Luckily　I　didn't　have　to　introduce　your　name；　your　enlistment　had　previously　been　considered；　on　a　suggestion　by　Max　Christy。　I　was　ready　for　you　anyhow…I　had　gone　as　far　as　I　could　without　you…and　that　made　it　easier。　I　wouldn't　have　dared　to　risk　naming　you　myself；　and　was　planning　accordingly；　but　it's　vastly　better　this　way。〃
　　〃Am　I　to　proceed？　Get　Saul　and　Orrie　and　Fred？　Tail　Rackham？〃
　　Wolfe　looked　at　his　wrist。　His　charade　was　certainly　teaching　him　new　tricks。　In　all　my　years　with　him　he　had　never　sported　a　watch；　and　here　he　was　glancing　at　his　wrist　as　if　born　to　it。　The　way　that　wrist　had　been；　normal；　it　would　have　required　a　custom…made　strap。
　　〃I　told　that　man　an　hour　or　more；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　shouldn't　be　that　long。　A　minim　of　cause　for　suspicion　and　I'm　through。　Nothing　is　too　fantastic　for　them；　they　could　even　learn　if　we've　been　using　the　phone。　Confound　it；　I　must　have　hours　with　you。〃
　　〃Ditch　him　and　we'll　meet　somewhere。〃　〃Impossible。　No　place　would　be　safe…except　one。　There　is　only　one　circumstance　under　which　any　man　is　granted　the　right　to　an　extended　period　of　undisturbed　privacy；　either　by　deliberation　or　on　impulse。　We　need　a　woman。　You　know　all　kinds。〃
　　〃Not　all　kinds；〃　I　objected；　〃I　do　draw　the　line。　What　kind　do　we　need？〃
　　〃Fairly　young；　attractive；　a　little　wanton　in　appearance；　utterly　devoted　to　you　and　utterly　trustworthy；　and　not　a　fool。〃
　　〃My　God；　if　I　knew　where　to　find　one　like　that　I'd　have　been　married　long　ago。　Also　I　would　be　bragging…〃
　　〃Archie；〃　he　snapped。　〃If　after　all　your　promiscuous　philandering　you　can't　produce　a　woman　to　those　specifications；　I've　misjudged　you。　It's　risky　to　trust　anyone　at　all；　but　any　other　way　would　be　still　riskier。〃
　　I　had　my　lips　puckered。　〃Ruth　Brady？〃
　　〃No。　She's　an　operative；　and　known。　Out　of　the　question。〃
　　〃There's　one　who　might　take　this　as　a　substitute　for　a　trip　to　Norway；　which　is　now　out。　I　could　ask　her。〃
　　〃What's　her　name？〃
　　〃You　know。　Lily　Rowan。〃
　　He　made　a　face。　〃She　is　rich；　intemperate；　and　notorious。〃
　　〃Nuts。　She　is　well…heeled　and　playful。　You　remember　the　time　she　helped　out　with　an　upstate　murderer。　I　have　no　further　suggestions。　Do　I　phone　her？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃And　tell　her　what？〃
　　He　explained　in　some　detail。　When　he　had　answered　my　three　or　four　questions；　and　filed　my　objection　by　asking　if　I　had　something　better　to　offer；　I　pulled　the　phone　to　me　and　dialed　a　number。　No　answer。　I　tried　the　Troubadour　Room　of　the　Churchill；　she　wasn't　there。　Next　in　order　of　priority　was　the　Flamingo　Club。　That　found　her。　Asked　my　name；　I　said　to　tell　her　it　was　Escamillo；　though　she　hadn't　called　me　that　for　quite　a　while。
　　After　a　wait　her　voice　came。　〃Archie？　Really？〃
　　〃I　prefer　Escamillo；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃It's　a　question　of　security。　How　high　are　you？〃
　　〃e　and　find　out；　I'm　tired　of　the　people　I'm　with；　anyhow。　Listen；　I'll　wander　out　and　meet　you　in　front　and　we'll　go…〃
　　〃We　will　not。　I'm　working；　and　I'm　on　a　spot；　and　I　need　help。　You're　Just　the　type　for　it；　and　I　pay　a　dollar　an　hour　if　you　give　satisfaction。　I'm　offering　you　a　brand　new　thrill。　You　have　never　earned　a　nickel　in　your　life；　and　here's　your　chance。　What　mood　are　you　in？〃
　　〃I'm　bored　as　the　devil；　but　all　I　need　is　six　dances　with　you　and…〃
　　〃Not　tonight；　my　colleen　donn。　Damn　it；　I'm　working。　Will　you　help？〃
　　〃When？〃
　　〃NOW。〃
　　〃Is　it　any　fun？〃
　　〃So…so。　Nothing　to　brag　of。〃
　　〃Are　you　ing　here　for　me？〃
　　〃No。　I'm　going…you　must　get　this　straight。　Now　listen。〃
　　〃That's　exactly　what　I　had　in　mind。　I　was　just　telling　myself；　Lily；　my　precious；　if　he　starts　talking　you　must　listen；　because　he　is　very　shy　and　sensitive　and　therefore…did　you　say　something？〃
　　〃I　said　shut　up。　I'm　at　my　office。　A　roan　is　here　with　me。　We'll　leave　as　soon　as　I　hang　up。　I'll　go　alone　to　your　place　and　wait　for　you　outside　your　door。　The　man…〃
　　*'You　won't　have　to　wait。　I　can　make　it…〃
　　〃Shut　up；　please。　Your　first　hour　has　started；　so　this　is　on　my　time。　The　man　with　me　has　a　car　with　a　driver　parked　down　in　front。　He　will　be　driven　to　the　Flamingo　Club　and　stop　at　the　curb；　and　you　will　be　waiting　there　in　front；　and　when　he　opens　the　door　you　will　climb　in；　not　waiting　for　him　to　get　out　like　a　gentleman；　because　he　won't。　You　will　not　speak　to　the　driver；　who；　when　you're　inside；　will　proceed　to　your　address；　where　you　and　the　man　will　find　me　waiting　at　your　door。〃
　　〃Unless　I　get　in　the　wrong　car；　and…〃
　　〃I'm　telling　you。　It's　a　dark　gray　forty…eight　Chewy　two…door　sedan。　New　York　license　OA　six；　seven；　one；　one；　three。　Got　that？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I'll　make　it　a　dollar　ten　an　hour。　The　man　will　call　you　Lily；　and　you　will　call　him　Pete。　Joining　him　in　the　car　and　riding　up　to　your　place；　you　need　not　go　to　extremes；　but　it　is　important　for　the　driver　to　get　the　idea　that　you　are　mighty　glad　to　see　Pete　and　that　you　are　looking　forward　with　pleasure　to　the　next　several　hours　with　him。　But…〃
　　〃Is　it　a　reunion　after　a　long　absence？〃
　　〃I'll　make　it　a　dollar　twenty　an　hour。　I　was　about　to　say；　you　can　leave　it　vague　whether　you　last　saw　Pete　a　week　ago　or　two　months　ago。　You're　just　glad　to　be　with　him　because　you're　so　fond　of　him；　but　don't　get　thinking　you're　Paulette　Goddard　and　ham　it。　Do　it　right。　Pretend　it's　roe。　Which　brings　me　to　the　crux。　It's　going　to　be　an　ordeal　for　you。　Wait　till　you　see　Pete。〃
　　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃
　　〃Everything。　He's　old　enough　to　be　your　father　and　then　some。　He　has　whiskers；　turning　gray。　His　face　is　pleated。　You　will　have　to　fight　down　the　feeling　that　you're　having　a　nightmare；　and…〃
　　〃Archie！　It's　Nero　Wolfe！〃
　　Goddam　a　woman　anyhow。　There　was　absolutely　no　sense　or　reason　for　it。　My　brain　buzzed。　〃Sure；〃　I　said　admiringly。　〃You　do　it　with　mirrors。　If　it　was　him；　the　way　I　feel　about　him；　the　first　thing　I　would　do　would　be　to　get　him　a　date　with　you；　huh？　Okay；　then　don't　call　him　Pete；　call　him　Nero。〃
　　〃Then　who　is　it？〃
　　〃It's　a　man　named　Pete　Roeder；　and　I've　got　to　have　a　long　talk　with　him　that　won't　get　in　the　papers。〃
　　〃We　could　take　him　to　Norway。〃
　　〃Maybe。　We　have　to　discuss　Norway。　Give　me　a　ring　later　in　the　week　and　tell　me　how　you　feel　about　this　proposition。〃
　　〃I'll　be　out　on　the　sidewalk　in　ten　minutes；　less　than　that；　waiting　for　my　Pete。〃
　　〃No　public　announcement。〃
　　〃Certainly　not。〃
　　〃I'm　very　pleased　with　your　work　so　far。　We'll　have　to　get　you　a　social　security　number。　I'll　be　waiting　anxiously　at　your　door。〃
　　I　hung　up　and　told　Wolfe；　〃All　set。〃
　　Out　of　his　chair；　he　grunted。　〃You　overdid　it　a　little；　perhaps？　Nightmare；　for　instance？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　get　too　enthusiastic。〃
　　I　glared　at　him；　and　he　glared　back。
　　
　　14
　　SINCE　I　do　not　intend　to　use　up　paper　reporting　the　five…hour　conference　I　had　with　Wolfe　that　night　in　Lily　Rowan's　living　room；　I　could　just　as　well　go　on　to　Wednesday　morning；　except　for　one　thing。　I　have　got　to　tell　about　their　arrival　at　the　door　of　Lily's　penthouse　apartment　on　East　63rd　Street。
　　Wolfe　didn't　speak　and　wouldn't　look　at　me。　Lily　shook　hands　with　me；　a　form　of　greeting　we　hadn't　used　for　I　don't　know　how　long；　then　unlocked　the　door；　and　we　entered。　When　her　wrap　and　Wolfe's　hat　had　been　disposed　of　and　we　passed　to　the　living　room；　she　tossed　her　firecracker。
　　〃Archie；〃　she　said；　〃I　knew　darned　well　that　something　would　happen　some　day　to　make　up　for　all　the　time　I've　wasted　on　you；　I　just　felt　it　would。〃
　　I　nodded。　〃Certainly。　You'll　show　a　profit　on　the　night　even　if　you　feed　us　sandwiches；　especially　since　Pete　is　a　light　eater。　He's　on　a　diet。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　didn't　mean　money；　and　you　can　go　the　limit　on　sandwiches。　I　meant　the　distinction　you've　brought　me。　I'm　the　only　woman　in　America　who　has　necked　with　Nero　Wolfe。　Nightmare；　my　eye。　He　has　a　flair。〃
　　Wolfe；　who　had　seated　himself；　cocked　his　head　to　frown　at　her…a　firstrate　performance。
　　I　smiled　at　her。　〃I　told　Pete　what　you　said　on　the　phone；　and　he　was　flattered。　Okay；　woman　of　distinction。〃
　　She　shook　her　head。　〃Turn　loose；　my　brave　fellow。　I've　got　hold　of　it。〃
　　She　moved　to　Wolfe；　looking　down　at　him。　〃Don't　be　upset；　Pete。　I　wouldn't　have　known　you　from　Adam；　no　one　would；　that　wasn't　it。　It's　my　hero　here。　Archie's　an　awful　prude。　He　has　been　up　against　some　tough　ones；　lots　of　them；　and　not　once　has　he　ever　called　on　me　to　help。　Never！　A　proud　prude。　Suddenly　he　calls　me　away　from　revelry…I　might　have　been　reveling　for　all　he　knew…to　get　into　a　car　and　be　intimate　with　a　stranger。　There's　only　one　person　on　earth　he　would　do　that　for：　you。　So　if　I　was　pretty