esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第20部分

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e　Belter　was　murdered　in　his　house　tonight；　and　that　you　understand　the　number　of　the　gun　that　did　the　job　was　the　same　number　that　was　on　a　gun　which　was　sold　to　this　chap；　Mitchell。　Tell　him　that　you　suppose　he　still　has　the　gun　and　that　there's　some　mistake　in　the　numbers；　but　that　you'd　like　to　know　whether　or　not　he　can　account　for　his　whereabouts　at　about　midnight　or　a　little　later。　Ask　him　if　he　has　the　gun；　or　if　he　remembers　what　he　did　with　it。　But　be　sure　that　you　tell　him　everything　before　you　ask　him　the　questions。〃
　　〃Just　be　a　big；　dumb　boob；　eh？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃Be　a　big；　dumb　boob；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃and　cultivate　a　very　short　memory　afterwards。〃
　　〃I　gotcha；〃　said　Drake。　〃I've　got　to　handle　this　thing　in　such　a　way　that　I'm　in　the　clear；　eh？〃
　　Mason　said；　wearily；　〃You　handle　it　just　the　way　I　told　you；　just　exactly　that　way。〃
　　Mason　slipped　the　phone　back　on　the　receiver。　He　heard　the　click　of　the　doorknob；　and　looked　up。
　　Della　Street　slipped　into　the　office。　Her　face　was　white；　and　her　eyes　wide。　She　pushed　the　door　shut　behind　her；　and　walked　over　to　the　desk。
　　〃There's　a　man　out　in　the　office　that　says　he　knows　you；〃　she　said。　〃His　name　is　Drumm；　and　he's　a　detective　from　Police　Headquarters。〃
　　The　door　pushed　open　behind　her；　and　Sidney　Drumm　thrust　a　grinning　face　in　the　door。　His　washed…out　eyes　seemed　utterly　devoid　of　life；　and　he　looked　more　than　ever　like　a　clerk　who　had　just　climbed　down　from　a　high　stool；　and　was　puttering　about；　searching　for　vouchers。
　　〃Pardon　the　intrusion；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　wanted　to　talk　with　you　before　you　had　time　to　think　up　a　good　one。〃
　　Mason　smiled。　〃We　get　used　to　poor　manners　from　policemen；〃　he　said。
　　〃I'm　not　a　cop；〃　protested　Drumm。　〃I'm　just　a　dick。　The　cops　hate　me。　I'm　a　poor；　underpaid　dick。〃
　　〃e　in　and　sit　down；〃　Mason　invited。
　　〃Wonderful　office　hours　you　guys　keep；〃　Drumm　remarked。　〃I　was　looking　all　over　for　you；　and　saw　a　light　up　here　in　the　office。〃
　　〃No；　you　didn't；〃　Mason　corrected　him；　〃I've　got　the　shades　drawn。〃
　　〃Oh；　well；〃　Drumm　said；　still　grinning；　〃I　had　a　hunch　you　were　here　anyway；　because　I　know　you're　such　a　hard　worker。〃
　　Mason　said；　〃All　right。　Never　mind　the　kidding。　I　presume　this　is　a　professional　call。〃
　　〃Sure　it　is；〃　said　Drumm；　〃I've　got　curiosity。　I'm　a　bird　that　makes　a　living　by　having　curiosity　and　getting　it　gratified。　Right　now　I'm　curious　about　that　telephone　number。　You　e　to　me　and　slip　me　a　bit　of　change　in　order　to　strong…arm　a　private　number　out　of　the　telephone　pany。　I　bust　out　and　get　the　number　for　you；　and　an　address；　and　you　thank　me　for　it　very　politely。　Then　you　show　up　at　that　address；　sitting　around　with　a　murdered　guy　and　a　woman。　The　question　is；　is　it　a　coincidence？〃
　　〃What's　the　answer？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃No；〃　said　Drumm；　〃I　can't　speculate。　I　asked　the　question。　You　have　to　give　me　the　answer。〃
　　〃The　answer；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃is　that　I　was　out　there　at　the　request　of　the　wife。〃
　　〃Funny　you'd　know　the　man's　wife；　and　wouldn't　know　the　man；〃　insisted　Drumm。
　　〃Isn't　it？〃　said　Mason　sarcastically。　〃Of　course　that's　the　worst　part　of　running　a　law　office。　So　many　times　a　woman　will　e　in　and　ask　you　about　something；　particularly　if　it　happens　to　be　a　domestic　problem；　and　won't　bring　her　husband　along　so　that　you　can　see　what　he　looks　like。　In　fact；　I've　even　heard　of　two　or　three　instances　where　women　went　to　law　offices　and　didn't　want　their　husbands　to　know　anything　about　it。　But　of　course　that's　just　a　rumor　and　hearsay；　and　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　take　my　word　for　it。〃
　　Drumm　kept　grinning。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃would　you　say　that　this　was　that　kind　of　a　case？〃
　　〃I　would　say　nothing；〃　Mason　replied。
　　Drumm　quit　grinning；　and　tilted　his　head　back；　his　eyes　became　dreamy　as　they　looked　at　the　ceiling。
　　〃That　gives　it　an　interesting　angle；〃　he　said。　〃Wife　es　to　attorney　who　is　noted　for　his　ability　to　get　people　out　of　trouble。　Attorney　doesn't　know　husband's　private　telephone　number。　Attorney　starts　working　on　case　for　wife。　Attorney　uncovers　telephone　number。　Attorney　traces　telephone　number　to　husband；　and　goes　out　there。　Wife　there；　husband　murdered。〃
　　Mason's　voice　was　impatient。　〃Do　you　think　you're　getting　anywhere；　Sidney？〃
　　Drumm　grinned　once　more。　〃I'll　be　damned　if　I　know；　Perry；〃　he　said。　〃But　I'm　moving　around。〃
　　〃Let　me　know　as　soon　as　you　get　anywhere；　will　you？〃　asked　Mason。
　　Drumm　got　to　his　feet。　〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃you'll　know　it　fast　enough。〃　He　grinned　from　Mason　to　Della　Street。
　　〃I　presume；〃　he　said；　〃that　last　remark　of　yours　was　my　cue　to　get　out。〃
　　〃Oh；　don't　be　in　any　hurry；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃You　know　we　e　down　to　the　office　at　three　and　four　o'clock　in　the　morning　just　to　be　here　to　receive　friends　who　want　to　ask　us　foolish　questions。　We　don't　really　have　any　work　to　do。　It's　just　a　habit　we've　gotten　into；　of　getting　down　here　early。〃
　　Drumm　paused　to　stare　at　the　lawyer。　〃You　know；　Perry；　if　you'd　e　clean　with　me；　I　might　be　able　to　help　you　a　little　bit。　But　if　you're　going　to　stand　off　and　be　snooty；　I've　got　to　go　out　and　pry　around　a　little　bit。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　Mason　admitted；　〃I　understand　that。　That's　your　business。　You've　got　your　profession；　and　I've　got　mine。〃
　　〃That　means；　I　take　it；〃　said　Drumm；　〃that　you're　going　to　be　snooty。〃
　　〃That　means；〃　said　Mason；　〃that　you've　got　to　find　out　your　facts　on　the　outside。〃
　　〃So　long；　Perry。〃
　　〃So　long；　Sidney。　Drop　in　again　some　time。〃
　　〃Don't　worry；　I　will。〃
　　Sidney　Drumm　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　　The　girl　moved　impulsively　toward　Perry　Mason。
　　He　waved　her　back　with　a　motion　of　his　hand；　and　said；　〃Take　a　look　in　that　outer　office　and　make　sure　he's　gone。〃
　　She　moved　toward　the　door；　but；　before　her　hand　touched　the　knob；　it　turned；　and　flung　open。　Sidney　Drumm　thrust　his　head　into　the　room　again。
　　He　surveyed　them　and　grinned。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　didn't　fall　for　that　one。　All　right　Perry；　this　time　I'll　go　out。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃Good…by！〃
　　Drumm　closed　the　door；　and　a　moment　later　slammed　the　door　of　the　outer　office。
　　It　was　then　about　four　o'clock　in　the　morning。
　　
　　
　　　11。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　pulled　his　hat　down　on　his　head　and　slipped　into　his　overcoat　which　was　still　damp　enough　to　give　forth　a　smell　of　wet　wool。
　　〃I'm　going　out　and　chase　down　a　few　clews；〃　he　told　Della　Street。　〃Sooner　or　later　they're　going　to　start　narrowing　the　circle；　and　then　I　won't　be　able　to　move。　I've　got　to　do　everything　while　I　can　still　move　around。　You　stick　right　here　and　hold　the　fort。　I　can't　leave　word　where　you　can　reach　me；　because　I'm　afraid　to　have　you　call　me。　But　I'll　call　you　every　once　in　a　while　and　ask　if　Mr。　Mason　is　in。　I'll　tell　you　my　name　is　Johnson；　that　I'm　an　old　friend　of　his；　and　ask　if　he　left　any　message。　You　can　manage　to　let　me　know　what's　going　on　without　letting　on　who　I　am。〃
　　〃You　think　that　they'll　have　the　telephone　line　tapped？〃
　　〃They　may。　I　don't　know　just　where　this　thing　is　going　to　lead。〃
　　〃And　they'll　have　a　warrant　out　for　you？〃
　　〃Not　a　warrant；　but　they'll　want　to　ask　me　some　more　questions。〃
　　She　looked　at　him　sympathetically；　tenderly；　said　nothing。
　　〃Be　careful；〃　he　said；　and　walked　out　of　the　office。
　　It　was　still　dark　when　he　entered　the　lobby　of　the　Hotel　Ripley；　and　asked　for　a　room　with　bath。　He　registered　under　the　name　of　Fred　B。　Johnson；　of　Detroit；　and　was　given　room　518；　for　which　he　was　required　to　pay　in　advance；　inasmuch　as　he　had　no　baggage。
　　He　went　to　the　room；　pulled　the　curtains；　ordered　four　bottles　of　ginger　ale；　with　plenty　of　ice；　and　got　a　quart　of　whiskey　from　the　bellboy。　Then　he　sat　in　the　overstuffed　chair；　with　his　feet　on　the　bed；　and　smoked。
　　The　door　was　unlocked。
　　He　was　smoking　for　more　than　half　an　hour；　lighting　one　cigarette　from　the　tip　of　the　other；　when　the　door　opened。　Eva　Belter　came　in　without　knocking。
　　She　closed　the　door　behind　her；　locked　it；　and　smiled　at　him。　〃Oh；　I'm　so　glad　that　you　were　here　all　right。〃
　　Perry　Mason　kept　his　seat。　〃You're　sure　you　weren't　followed？〃　he　asked。
　　〃No；　they　didn't　follow　me。　They　told　me　that　I　was　going　to　be　a　material　witness　and　that　I　mustn't　leave　town；　or　do　anything　without　municating　with　the　police。　Tell　me；　do　you　think　they'll　arrest　me？〃
　　〃That　depends；〃　he　said。
　　〃Depends　on　what？〃
　　〃Depends　on　lots　of　things。　I　want　to　talk　with　you。〃
　　〃All　right〃　she　said。　〃I　found　the　will。〃
　　〃Where　did　you　find　it？〃
　　〃In　his　desk。〃
　　〃What　did　you　do　with　it？〃
　　〃Brought　it　with　me。〃
　　〃Let's　see　it。〃
　　〃It's　just　like　I　thought　it　was；〃　she　said；　〃only　I　didn't　e　off　as　well　as　I　had　expected。　I　thought　that　he　would　at　least　leave　me　enough　to　let　me　go　to　Europe　and　look　around；　and。。。　and　sort　of　get　readjusted。〃
　　〃You　mean　and　get　yourself　another　man。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　any　such　thing！〃
　　〃I　didn't　talk　about　what　you　said。　I　was　talking　about　what　you　meant；〃　Mason　told　her；　still　using　that　calmly　detached　tone　of　voice。
　　Her　face　became　dignified。
　　〃Really；　Mr。　Mason；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　the　conversation　is　wandering　rat