esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第24部分

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　　〃Gee；　that's　too　bad；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　have　some　papers　to　dictate　that　I　know　Mr。　Mason　would　want　to　see；　and　probably　he'd　have　to　sign　them。　I　wonder　if　you　could　tell　me　some　one　who　could　take　them　down　in　shorthand？〃
　　〃I　think　I　could；〃　said　Della　Street。
　　〃I　was　just　wondering；〃　said　Mason；　〃whether　you　could　get　away　with　all　of　the　people　that　are　around　there。〃
　　〃Leave　it　to　me；〃　she　said。
　　〃I'm　at　the　Hotel　Ripley；〃　he　told　her。
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said；　and　hung　up。
　　Mason　stared　at　Eva　Belter　moodily。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃since　you're　here；　and　you've　risked　this　much；　you're　going　to　stay　here　for　a　while。〃
　　〃What's　going　to　happen？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　file　a　petition　for　letters　of　administration；〃　he　said。　〃That　will　force　them　to　e　out　and　offer　the　will　for　probate；　and　then　we're　going　to　file　a　contest　to　the　probate　of　the　will；　and　make　an　application　to　have　you　appointed　a　special　administratrix。〃
　　〃What　does　all　that　mean？〃
　　〃That　means；〃　he　told　her；　〃that　you're　going　to　be　in　the　saddle　from　now　on；　and　we're　going　to　keep　you　there　no　matter　what　they　do。〃
　　〃What　good　will　that　do？〃　she　asked。　〃If　I'm　virtually　disinherited　under　the　will；　we've　got　to　prove　it's　a　forgery；　and　I　can't　get　anything　until　after　there's　been　a　trial　and　a　judgment。　Can　I？〃
　　〃I'm　thinking　about　the　management　of　the　properties　of　the　estate；〃　said　Mason；　〃Spicy　Bits　for　instance。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　see。〃
　　Mason　went　on；　〃We're　going　to　dictate　these　papers　all　at　once；　and　leave　them　with　my　secretary　so　that　she　can　file　them；　one　at　a　time。　You've　got　to　take　that　will　and　put　it　back。　They'll　probably　have　a　guard　in　the　room　so　you　can't　return　it　where　you　found　it；　but　you　can　plant　it　some　place　in　the　house。〃
　　She　tittered　once　more。　〃I　can　do　that；　too；〃　she　said。
　　Mason　said：　〃You　do　take　the　damnedest　chances。　Why　you　fished　that　will　out　of　there　is　more　than　I　know。　If　you're　caught　with　it；　it　might　be　serious。〃
　　〃Cheer　up；〃　she　told　him；　〃I　won't　be　caught　with　it。　You　don't　ever　take　a　chance；　do　you？〃
　　〃My　God！〃　he　said。　〃I　took　a　chance　when　I　started　in　mixing　in　your　business。　You're　plain　dynamite。〃
　　She　smiled　seductively　at　him。　〃Do　you　think　so？〃　she　said。　〃I　know　some　men　who　like　women　that　way。〃
　　He　stared　moodily　at　her。
　　〃You're　getting　drunk；〃　he　told　her。　〃Lay　off　that　whiskey。〃
　　〃My；〃　she　said；　〃you　talk　just　like　a　husband。〃
　　He　walked　over；　picked　up　the　whiskey　bottle；　jammed　the　cork　in；　put　the　bottle　in　the　drawer　of　the　bureau；　locked　the　drawer　and　put　the　key　in　his　pocket。
　　〃Was　that　nice？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　　The　telephone　rang。　Mason　answered　it。　The　clerk　advised　him　that　a　messenger　had　just　arrived　with　a　package　for　him。
　　Mason　said　to　have　a　boy　bring　the　package　up；　and　hung　up。
　　When　the　bellboy　knocked　at　the　door；　Mason　was　standing　at　the　knob。　He　opened　the　door；　handed　the　boy　a　tip；　and　took　the　envelope。　It　was　the　report　from　the　Detective　Agency　concerning　the　activities　of　Frank　Locke　on　the　preceding　evening。
　　〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Eva　Belter。
　　He　shook　his　head；　walked　over　to　the　window；　opened　the　envelope；　and　started　reading　the　typewritten　report。
　　It　was　rather　simple。　Locke　had　gone　to　a　speakeasy；　stayed　there　half　an　hour；　gone　to　a　barber　shop；　had　a　shave　and　massage；　gone　to　the　Wheelright　Hotel；　gone　to　room　946；　remained　there　five　or　ten　minutes；　and　then　had　gone　to　dinner　with　Esther　Linten；　the　tenant　of　the　room。
　　They　had　dined　and　danced　until　eleven　o'clock；　and　then　had　gone　back　to　the　room　in　the　Wheelright。　Bellboys　had　brought　up　ginger　ale　and　ice；　and　Locke　had　stayed　in　the　room　until　one…thirty　in　the　morning；　when　he　had　left。
　　Mason　thrust　the　reports　into　his　pocket　and　started　drumming　with　the　tips　of　his　fingers　on　the　sash　of　the　window。
　　〃You　make　me　nervous；〃　said　Eva　Belter。　〃I　wish　you'd　tell　me　what's　going　on。〃
　　〃I've　told　you　what　we're　going　to　do。〃
　　〃What　were　those　papers？〃
　　〃A　business　matter。〃
　　〃What　business？〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。　〃Do　I　have　to　tell　you　the　business　of　all　of　my　clients　just　because　I　happen　to　be　working　for　you？〃
　　She　frowned　at　him。　〃I　think　you're　horrid。〃
　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　continued　drumming　upon　the　sash　of　the　window。
　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。
　　〃e　in；〃　he　called。
　　The　door　opened　and　Della　Street　walked　in。　She　stiffened　as　she　saw　Eva　Belter　on　the　bed。
　　〃Okay；　Della；〃　said　Mason。　〃We've　got　to　have　some　papers　ready　for　an　emergency　that　may　arise。　We've　got　to　figure　on　a　petition　for　letters　of　administration；　on　a　contest　for　the　probate　of　a　will；　and　on　an　application　for　special　letters　of　administration；　an　order　appointing　Mrs。　Belter　as　special　administratrix；　and　a　bond　all　ready　to　submit　for　approval　and　filing。　Then　we've　got　to　have　special　letters　of　administration；　with　copies　to　be　certified　and　served　on　interested　parties。〃
　　Della　Street　asked　coolly；　〃Do　you　wish　to　dictate　them　now？〃
　　〃Yes；　and　I　want　some　breakfast。〃
　　He　went　to　the　telephone；　rang　room　service；　and　ordered　breakfast　sent　up。
　　Della　Street　stared　at　Eva　Belter。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃but　I'll　have　to　have　that　table。〃
　　Eva　Belter　arched　her　eyebrows　and　picked　up　her　glass　from　the　table；　much　with　the　gesture　of　a　woman　gathering　her　skirts　about　her　when　encountering　a　beggar　on　the　street。
　　Mason　lifted　off　the　ginger　ale　bottle　and　the　bowl　of　ice；　polished　the　top　of　the　table　with　the　moist　cover　which　had　been　on　it；　and　set　it　down　in　front　of　a　chair　for　Della　Street。
　　She　pulled　up　the　straight…back　chair；　crossed　her　knees；　put　the　notebook　on　the　table；　and　poised　her　pencil。
　　Perry　Mason　dictated　rapidly　for　twenty　minutes。　At　the　end　of　that　time　breakfast　arrived。　The　three　ate　heartily　and　almost　in　silence。　Eva　Belter　managed　to　give　the　impression　that　she　was　eating　with　the　servants。
　　When　the　breakfast　was　finished；　Mason　had　the　things　taken　away；　and　proceeded　with　his　dictation。　By　nine…thirty　he　had　finished。
　　〃Go　back　to　the　office　and　write　those　up；〃　he　told　Della；　〃and　have　them　all　ready　for　signature。　But　don't　let　anybody　see　what　you're　doing。　You'd　better　keep　the　outer　office　door　locked。　You　can　use　the　printed　forms　for　the　petitions。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃I'd　like　to　see　you　for　a　moment　alone。〃
　　Eva　Belter　sniffed。
　　〃Don't　mind　her；〃　said　Mason；　〃she's　going。〃
　　〃Oh；　no；　I'm　not；〃　Eva　Belter　said。
　　〃Yes；　you　are；〃　Mason　ordered。　〃You're　going　right　now。　I　had　to　have　you　here　while　I　was　dictating　those　papers　in　order　to　get　the　information　that　I　needed。　You're　going　back　and　put　that　will　back　in　the　house。　Then　you're　going　up　to　my　office　this　afternoon　and　sign　all　of　these　papers。　And；　in　the　meantime；　you're　going　to　keep　your　own　counsel。　The　newspaper　reporters　are　going　to　ask　you　questions。　They'll　get　in　touch　with　you　somewhere　along　the　line。　You're　going　to　use　all　of　your　sex　appeal　and　be　shocked　and　crushed　by　the　terrible　misfortune　you've　suffered。　You're　going　to　be　unable　to　give　out　any　kind　of　a　coherent　interview；　and　you're　going　to　sell　them　on　your　grief。　Every　time　they　stick　a　camera　your　way；　show　lots　of　leg　and　turn　on　the　water　works。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃You're　coarse；〃　she　said　coldly。
　　〃I'm　effective；〃　he　told　her。　〃What　the　hell's　the　use　of　you　trying　to　slip　a　lot　of　stuff　over　on　me　when　you　know　it　doesn't　go？〃
　　She　put　on　her　hat　and　coat　with　dignity　and　marched　to　the　door。
　　〃Just　when　I　get　so　I　really　like　you；〃　she　told　him；　〃you　have　to　go　ahead　and　spoil　it　all。〃
　　He　silently　held　the　door　open　for　her；　bowed　her　out　and　then　slammed　it　shut。
　　He　moved　over　close　to　Della　Street；　and　said；　〃What　is　it；　Della？〃
　　She　reached　down　the　front　of　her　dress　and　pulled　out　an　envelope。
　　〃A　messenger　brought　this。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Money。〃
　　He　opened　the　flap　of　the　envelope。　There　were　one　hundred　dollar　traveler　checks　on　the　inside。　Two　books　with　one　thousand　dollars　in　each　book。　All　of　the　checks　were　signed　〃Harrison　Burke〃　and　duly　counter…signed。　The　name　of　the　payee　was　left　blank。
　　There　was　a　note　attached　to　the　checks；　scribbled　hurriedly　in　pencil。
　　Mason　unfolded　the　note；　and　read　it：　〃I　THOUGHT　IT　WOULD　BE　BETTER　FOR　ME　TO　KEEP　OUT　OF　THE　WAY　FOR　A　LITTLE　WHILE。　GO　AHEAD　AND　KEEP　ME　OUT　OF　THIS。　NO　MATTER　WHAT　HAPPENS；　KEEP　ME　OUT　OF　IT。〃　The　note　was　signed　with　the　initials　〃H。B。〃
　　Mason　handed　the　books　over　to　Della　Street。
　　〃Business；〃　he　said；　〃is　looking　up。　Be　careful　where　you　cash　them。〃
　　She　nodded　her　head。
　　〃Tell　me；　what's　happened？　What　has　she　got　you　into？〃
　　〃She　hasn't　got　me　into　anything　except　a　couple　of　good　fees。　And　before　she　gets　done；　she's　going　to　pay　more。〃
　　〃She　has　too；〃　insisted　Della。　〃She's　got　you　mixed　up　in　that　murder　case。　I　heard　some　of　the　reporters　talking　this　morning。　She　got　you　out　there　before　she　notified　the　police；　and　she's　framed　things　so　that　she　can　drag　you　into　it　at　any　time。　What　makes　you　think　she