esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第25部分

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。　What　makes　you　think　she　isn't　going　to　tell　the　police　you　were　the　man　who　was　in　the　room　when　the　shot　was　fired？〃
　　Mason　made　a　weary　gesture。
　　〃I　don't；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　an　idea　that　she's　going　to　do　that　sooner　or　later。〃
　　〃Are　you　going　to　stand　for　it？〃
　　The　lawyer　explained　patiently。
　　〃When　you're　representing　clients；　Della；〃　he　said；　〃you　can't　pick　and　choose　them。　You've　got　to　take　them　as　they　e。　There's　only　one　rule　in　this　game；　and　that　is　that　when　you　do　take　them；　you've　got　to　give　them　all　you've　got。〃
　　She　sniffed。　〃That　doesn't　mean　that　you　have　to　sit　back　and　let　them　accuse　you　of　murder　in　order　to　protect　a　sweetheart。〃
　　〃You're　getting　pretty　wise；〃　Mason　remarked。　〃Who've　you　been　talking　to？〃
　　〃One　of　the　reporters。　Only　I　haven't　been　talking。　I've　been　listening。〃
　　He　smiled　at　her。　〃Skip　along　and　get　these　things　out；　and　don't　worry　about　me。　I've　got　work　to　do。　Whenever　you　e　over　here；　be　careful　that　nobody　shadows　you。〃
　　〃This　is　the　last　time　I　dare　to　try　it；〃　she　said。　〃I　had　an　awful　time　getting　away。　They　tried　to　follow　me。　I　pulled　the　same　stunt　that　Mrs。　Belter　did　the　first　time　she　came　to　the　office；　of　going　through　the　dressing…room。　It　always　bothers　a　man　when　he's　trailing　a　woman；　and　she　walks　into　a　ladies'　room。　They'll　fall　for　it　once；　but　not　twice。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃I've　kept　under　cover　almost　as　long　as　I　can　myself。　They'll　be　picking　me　up　sometime　today。〃
　　〃I　hate　her！〃　Della　Street　said　fervently。　〃I　wish　you'd　never　seen　her。　She　isn't　worth　the　money。　If　we　made　ten　times　as　much　money　out　of　it；　she　still　wouldn't　be　worth　it。　I　told　you　just　what　she　was…all　velvet　and　claws！〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute；　young　lady；〃　Mason　warned。　〃You　haven't　seen　the　blow…off　yet。〃
　　Della　Street　tossed　her　head。　〃I've　seen　enough。　I'll　have　these　things　all　ready　by　this　afternoon。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃Let　her　sign　them；　and　see　that　everything's　in　order。　I　may　have　to　grab　them　and　run；　or　telephone　you　and　have　you　meet　me　some　place。〃
　　She　flashed　him　a　smile　and　went　out；　very　trim；　very　self…possessed；　loyal　and　very　worried。
　　Mason　waited　five　minutes；　and　then　lit　a　cigarette；　and　walked　out　of　the　hotel。
　　
　　
　　　13。
　　
　　Mason　paused　at　the　door　of　room　946　in　the　Wheelright　Hotel　and　tapped　gently　on　the　panels。　There　was　no　sound　from　within。　He　waited　a　moment；　then　knocked　a　little　more　loudly。
　　After　a　few　moments；　he　heard　a　stir　from　the　interior　of　the　room；　the　creak　of　bed　springs；　and　then　a　woman's　voice　saying；　〃Who　is　it？〃
　　〃Telegram；〃　said　Perry　Mason。
　　He　heard　the　door　latch　click　on　the　inside；　and　the　door　open。　Mason　lowered　his　shoulder；　pushed　the　door　back　and　walked　into　the　room。
　　The　girl　had　on　pajamas　of　the　sheerest　silk　which　revealed　the　details　of　her　figure。　She　had　been　sleeping；　and　her　eyes　were　swollen。　Her　face　still　had　traces　of　make…up　but　showed　a　certain　sallow　color　of　skin　beneath　the　cosmetics。
　　Seeing　her　in　the　light　of　the　morning；　Mason　knew　that　she　was　older　than　he　had　at　first　thought。　She　was；　however　beautiful；　and　her　figure　would　have　been　the　delight　of　a　sculptor。　Her　eyes　were　large　and　dark。　There　was　a　sullen　pout　to　the　mouth。
　　She　stood　before　him　without　any　semblance　of　modesty；　but　with　a　certain　air　of　sullen　defiance　about　her。
　　〃What's　the　idea　of　busting　in　here　this　way？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I　wanted　to　talk　with　you。〃
　　〃That's　a　hell　of　a　way　to　do　it；〃　said　the　girl。
　　Mason　nodded。　〃Get　back　into　bed。　You'll　catch　cold。〃
　　〃Just　for　that；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　think　I　will。〃
　　She　crossed　to　the　window；　raised　the　shade；　and　turned　to　face　him。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃spill　it。〃
　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Mason；　〃but　you're　in　a　jam。〃
　　〃Says　you！〃　she　retorted。
　　〃It　happens　that　I'm　telling　you　the　truth。〃
　　〃Who　do　you　think　you　are？〃
　　〃My　name's　Mason。〃
　　〃A　detective？〃
　　〃No；　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Huh。〃
　　〃I　happen　to　represent　Mrs。　Eva　Belter；〃　he　went　on。　〃Does　that　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　　〃Not　a　damn　thing。〃
　　〃Well；〃　he　protested；　〃don't　get　hard　about　it。　You　might　at　least　be　sociable。〃
　　She　made　a　grimace；　spat　forth　a　swift　ment；　〃I　hate　to　have　my　sleep　interrupted　at　this　hour　in　the　morning；　and　I　hate　men　who　e　busting　in　the　way　you　did。〃
　　Mason　ignored　her　statement。　〃Did　you　know　that　Frank　Locke　didn't　own　Spicy　Bits？〃　he　asked　casually。
　　〃Who's　Frank　Locke；　and　what's　Spicy　Bits？〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃Frank　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　man　who's　been　signing　the　checks　on　the　special　account　of　Spicy　Bits；　which　you've　been　cashing　every　two　weeks。〃
　　〃You're　one　of　these　smart　guys；　ain't　you？〃　she　said。
　　〃I　get　around；〃　Mason　admitted。
　　〃Well；　what　about　it？〃
　　〃Locke　was　just　a　figurehead。　A　man　by　the　name　of　Belter　owned　the　paper。　Locke　did　what　Belter　told　him　to。〃
　　She　stretched　up　her　arms　and　yawned。　〃Well；　what's　that　to　me？　Have　you　got　a　cigarette？〃
　　Mason　handed　her　a　cigarette。　She　came　close　to　him　while　he　applied　the　match；　then　strolled　over　and　sat　down　on　the　bed；　tucked　her　feet　up　in　under　her；　and　hugged　her　knees。
　　〃Go　on；〃　she　said；　〃if　it　interests　you。　I　reckon　I　can't　get　to　sleep　until　after　you　leave。〃
　　〃You're　not　going　to　sleep　any　more　today。〃
　　〃No？〃
　　〃No。　There's　a　morning　paper　outside　the　door。　Would　you　like　to　see　it？〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃It　tells　all　about　the　murder　of　George　C。　Belter。〃
　　〃I　hate　murders　before　breakfast。〃
　　〃You　might　like　to　read　about　this　one　anyway。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　〃go　get　me　the　paper。〃
　　He　shook　his　head　at　her。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃you　get　the　paper。　Otherwise；　when　I　open　the　door　something　might　happen；　and　I'd　get　pushed　out。〃
　　She　got　up；　puffing　placidly　at　the　cigarette；　crossed　to　the　door；　opened　it；　reached　out　and　picked　up　the　paper。
　　The　headlines　screamed　the　news　of　the　Belter　murder。　She　walked　back　to　the　bed；　sat　down　with　her　feet　tucked　in　under　her；　legs　crossed；　and　read　through　the　paper；　smoking　as　she　read。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said。　〃I　still　don't　see　that　it's　anything　in　my　young　life。　Some　guy　got　bumped。　It's　too　bad；　but　he　probably　had　it　ing　to　him。〃
　　〃He　did；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃Well；　why　should　that　make　me　lose　my　beauty　sleep？〃
　　〃If　you'll　use　your　noodle；〃　he　explained　patiently；　〃you'll　find　out　that　Mrs。　Belter　has　e　into　a　position　where　she　controls　all　of　the　property　in　the　estate　and　I　happen　to　represent　Mrs。　Belter。〃
　　〃Well？〃
　　〃You've　been　blackmailing　Frank　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃and　Locke　has　been　embezzling　trust　funds　in　order　to　pay　the　blackmail。　That　special　account　of　Spicy　Bits　was　an　account　that　was　given　him　to　use　in　purchasing　information。　He's　been　handing　it　over　to　you。〃
　　〃I'm　in　the　clear；〃　she　said；　tossing　the　paper　to　the　floor；　〃I　didn't　know　anything　at　all　about　it。〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃How　about　the　blackmail？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　do；　Esther。　You　are　shaking　him　down　on　account　of　this　Georgia　business。〃
　　That　remark　registered　with　her。　Her　face　changed　color；　and；　for　the　first　time；　there　was　a　startled　look　in　her　eyes。
　　Mason　went　on　to　press　his　advantage。
　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃wouldn't　look　pretty。　You　may　have　heard　of　pounding　a　felony。　It's　a　crime　in　this　state；　you　know。〃
　　She　appraised　him　watchfully。　〃You're　not　a　dick；　just　a　lawyer？〃
　　〃Just　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃Now　you're　mencing　to　talk　turkey。〃
　　〃I'm　not　talking；　I'm　listening。〃
　　〃You　were　with　Frank　Locke　last　night；〃　he　said。
　　〃Who　says　I　was？〃
　　〃I　do。　You　went　out　with　him；　then　came　back　here；　and　he　stayed　until　long　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃I'm　free；　white；　and　twenty…one；〃　she　said；　〃and　this　is　my　home。　I　guess　I've　got　a　right　to　entertain　men　friends　if　I　want　to。〃
　　〃Sure　you　have；〃　he　said。　〃The　next　question　is；　have　you　got　sense　enough　to　know　which　side　of　your　bread　has　got　the　butter？〃
　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃What　did　you　do　last　night　after　you　got　back　to　the　room？〃
　　〃Talked　about　the　weather；　of　course。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　had　some　drinks　sent　up；　and　sat　and　chatted；　and　then　you　got　sleepy　and　went　to　sleep。〃
　　〃Who　says　that？〃　she　asked。
　　〃That's　what　I　say；〃　he　explained；　〃and　that's　what　you're　going　to　say。　You　got　sleepy　and　passed　out。〃
　　Her　eyes　were　thoughtful。　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　Mason　spoke　as　though　he　had　been　a　teacher　coaching　a　pupil。　〃You　were　tired　and　you'd　been　drinking。　You　got　into　your　pajamas　and　went　to　sleep　about　eleven…forty；　and　you　don't　know　anything　that　happened　after　that。　You　don't　know　when　Frank　Locke　left。〃
　　〃What　good　does　it　do　me　if　I　say　I　went　to　sleep？〃　she　inquired。
　　Mason's　tone　was　casual。　〃I　think　Mrs。　Belter　would　be　very　much　inclined　to　overlook　the　matter　of　the　embezzled　account　if　you　went　to　sleep　as　I　mentioned。〃
　　〃Well；　I　didn't　go　to　sleep。〃
　　〃You'd　better　think　it　over。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　with　her　big；　appraising　eyes　and　said　nothing。
　　Mason　crossed　to　the　telep