raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第25节

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　 〃I　didn't　question　him。　He　questioned　me。　Or　tried　to。〃
　 〃We'll　go　into　that　later；〃　she　said　harshly。　〃What　about　this　man　you　found　shot？　You　are　involved　with　the　police　on　account　of　him？〃
　 〃Naturally。　They　want　to　know　why　he　followed　me；　what　I　was　working　on；　why　he　spoke　to　me；　why　he　asked　me　to　e　to　his　apartment　and　why　I　went。　But　that　is　only　the　half　of　it。〃
　 She　finished　her　port　and　poured　herself　another　glass。
　 〃How's　your　asthma？〃　I　asked。
　 〃Bad；〃　she　said。　〃Get　on　with　your　story。〃
　 〃I　saw　Morningstar。　I　told　you　about　that　over　the　phone。　He　pretended　not　to　have　the　Brasher　Doubloon；　but　admitted　it　had　been　offered　to　him　and　said　he　could　get　it。　As　I　told　you。　Then　you　told　me　it　had　been　returned　to　you；　so　that　was　that。〃
　 I　waited；　thinking　she　would　tell　me　some　story　about　how　the　coin　had　been　returned；　but　she　just　stared　at　me　bleakly　over　the　wine　glass。
　 〃So；　as　I　had　made　a　sort　of　arrangement　with　Mr。　Morningstar　to　pay　him　a　thousand　dollars　for　the　coin〃
　 〃You　had　no　authority　to　do　anything　like　that；〃　she　barked。
　 I　nodded；　agreeing　with　her。
　 〃Maybe　I　was　kidding　him　a　little；〃　I　said。　〃And　I　know　I　was　kidding　myself。　Anyway　after　what　you　told　me　over　the　phone　I　tried　to　get　in　touch　with　him　to　tell　him　the　deal　was　off。　He's　not　in　the　phone　book　except　at　his　office。　I　went　to　his　office。　This　was　quite　late。　The　elevator　man　said　he　was　still　in　his　office。　He　was　lying　on　his　back　on　the　floor；　dead。　Killed　by　a　blow　on　the　head　and　shock；　apparently。　Old　men　die　easily。　The　blow　might　not　have　been　intended　to　kill　him。　I　called　the　Receiving　Hospital；　but　didn't　give　my　name。〃
　 〃That　was　wise　of　you；〃　she　said。
　 〃Was　it？　It　was　considerate　of　me；　but　I　don't　think　I'd　call　it　wise。　I　want　to　be　nice；　Mrs。　Murdock。　You　understand　that　in　your　rough　way；　I　hope。　But　two　murders　happened　in　a　matter　of　hours　and　both　the　bodies　were　found　by　me。　And　both　the　victims　were　connectedin　some　mannerwith　your　Brasher　Doubloon。〃
　 〃I　don't　understand。　This　other；　younger　man　also？〃
　 〃Yes。　Didn't　I　tell　you　over　the　phone？　I　thought　I　did。〃　I　wrinkled　my　brow；　thinking　back。　I　knew　I　had。
　 She　said　calmly：　〃It's　possible。　I　wasn't　paying　a　great　deal　of　attention　to　what　you　said。　You　see；　the　doubloon　had　already　been　returned。　And　you　sounded　a　little　drunk。〃
　 〃I　wasn't　drunk。　I　might　have　felt　a　little　shock；　but　I　wasn't　drunk。　You　take　all　this　very　calmly。〃
　 〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　 I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　connected　with　one　murder　already；　by　having　found　the　body　and　reported　it。　I　may　presently　be　connected　with　another；　by　having　found　the　body　and　not　reported　it。　Which　is　much　more　serious　for　me。　Even　as　far　as　it　goes；　I　have　until　noon　today　to　disclose　the　name　of　my　client。〃
　 〃That；〃　she　said；　still　much　too　calm　for　my　taste；　〃would　be　a　breach　of　confidence。　You　are　not　going　to　do　that；　I'm　sure。〃
　 〃I　wish　you'd　leave　that　damn　port　alone　and　make　some　effort　to　understand　the　position；〃　I　snapped　at　her。
　 She　looked　vaguely　surprised　and　pushed　her　glass　awayabout　four　inches　away。
　 〃This　fellow　Phillips；〃　I　said；　〃had　a　license　as　a　private　detective。　How　did　I　happen　to　find　him　dead？　Because　he　followed　me　and　I　spoke　to　him　and　he　asked　me　to　e　to　his　apartment。　And　when　I　got　there　he　was　dead。　The　police　know　all　this。　They　may　even　believe　it。　But　they　don't　believe　the　connection　between　Phillips　and　me　is　quite　that　much　of　a　coincidence。　They　think　there　is　a　deeper　connection　between　Phillips　and　me　and　they　insist　on　knowing　what　I　am　doing；　who　I　am　working　for。　Is　that　clear？〃
　 〃You'll　find　a　way　out　of　all　that；〃　she　said。　〃I　expect　it　to　cost　me　a　little　more　money；　of　course。〃
　 I　felt　myself　getting　pinched　around　the　nose。　My　mouth　felt　dry。　I　needed　air。　I　took　another　deep　breath　and　another　dive　into　the　tub　of　blubber　that　was　sitting　across　the　room　from　me　on　the　reed　chaise…longue；　looking　as　unperturbed　as　a　bank　president　refusing　a　loan。
　 〃I'm　working　for　you；〃　I　said；　〃now；　this　week；　today。　Next　week　I'll　be　working　for　somebody　else；　I　hope。　And　the　week　after　that　for　still　somebody　else。　In　order　to　do　that　I　have　to　be　on　reasonably　good　terms　with　the　police。　They　don't　have　to　love　me；　but　they　have　to　be　fairly　sure　I　am　not　cheating　on　them。　Assume　Phillips　knew　nothing　about　the　Brasher　Doubloon。　Assume；　even；　that　he　knew　about　it；　but　that　his　death　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　still　have　to　tell　the　cops　what　I　know　about　him。　And　they　have　to　question　anybody　they　want　to　question。　Can't　you　understand　that？〃
　 〃Doesn't　the　law　give　you　the　right　to　protect　a　client？〃　she　snapped。　〃If　it　doesn't；　what　is　the　use　of　anyone's　hiring　a　detective？〃
　 I　got　up　and　walked　around　my　chair　and　sat　down　again。　I　leaned　forward　and　took　hold　of　my　kneecaps　and　squeezed　them　until　my　knuckles　glistened。
　 〃The　law；　whatever　it　is；　is　a　matter　of　give　and　take；　Mrs。　Murdock。　Like　most　other　things。　Even　if　I　had　the　legal　right　to　stay　clammed　uprefuse　to　talkand　got　away　with　it　once；　that　would　be　the　end　of　my　business。　I'd　be　a　guy　marked　for　trouble。　One　way　or　another　they　would　get　me。　I　value　your　business；　Mrs。　Murdock；　but　not　enough　to　cut　my　throat　for　you　and　bleed　in　your　lap。〃
　 She　reached　for　her　glass　and　emptied　it。
　 〃You　seem　to　have　made　a　nice　mess　of　the　whole　thing；〃　she　said。　〃You　didn't　find　my　daughter…in…law　and　you　didn't　find　my　Brasher　Doubloon。　But　you　found　a　couple　of　dead　men　that　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　and　you　have　neatly　arranged　matters　so　that　I　must　tell　the　police　all　my　private　and　personal　business　in　order　to　protect　you　from　your　own　inpetence。　That's　what　I　see。　If　I　am　wrong；　pray　correct　me。〃
　 She　poured　some　more　wine　and　gulped　it　too　fast　and　went　into　a　paroxysm　of　coughing。　Her　shaking　hand　slid　the　glass　on　to　the　table；　slopping　the　wine。　She　threw　herself　forward　in　her　seat　and　got　purple　in　the　face。
　 I　jumped　up　and　went　over　and　landed　one　on　her　beefy　back　that　would　have　shaken　the　City　Hall。
　 She　let　out　a　long　strangled　wail　and　drew　her　breath　in　rackingly　and　stopped　coughing。　I　pressed　one　of　the　keys　on　her　dictaphone　box　and　when　somebody　answered；　metallic　and　loud；　through　the　metal　disk　I　said：　〃Bring　Mrs。　Murdock　a　glass　of　water；　quick！〃　and　then　let　the　key　up　again。
　 I　sat　down　again　and　watched　her　pull　herself　together。　When　her　breath　was　ing　evenly　and　without　effort；　I　said：　〃You're　not　tough。　You　just　think　you're　tough。　You　been　living　too　long　with　people　that　are　scared　of　you。　Wait'll　you　meet　up　with　some　law。　Those　boys　are　professionals。　You're　just　a　spoiled　amateur。〃
　 The　door　opened　and　the　maid　came　in　with　a　pitcher　of　ice　water　and　a　glass。　She　put　them　down　on　the　table　and　went　out。
　 I　poured　Mrs。　Murdock　a　glass　of　water　and　put　it　in　her　hand。
　 〃Sip　it；　don't　drink　it。　You　won't　like　the　taste　of　it；　but　it　won't　hurt　you。〃
　 She　sipped；　then　drank　half　of　the　glass；　then　put　the　glass　down　and　wiped　her　lips。
　 〃To　think；〃　she　said　raspingly；　〃that　out　of　all　the　snoopers　for　hire　I　could　have　employed；　I　had　to　pick　out　a　man　who　would　bully　me　in　my　own　home。〃
　 〃That's　not　getting　you　anywhere　either；〃　I　said。　〃We　don't　have　a　lot　of　time。　What's　our　story　to　the　police　going　to　be？〃
　 〃The　police　mean　nothing　to　me。　Absolutely　nothing。　And　if　you　give　them　my　name；　I　shall　regard　it　as　a　thoroughly　disgusting　breach　of　faith。〃
　 That　put　me　back　where　we　started。
　 〃Murder　changes　everything；　Mrs。　Murdock。　You　can't　dummy　up　on　a　murder　case。　We'll　have　to　tell　them　why　you　employed　me　and　what　to　do。　They　won't　publish　it　in　the　papers；　you　know。　That　is；　they　won't　if　they　believe　it。　They　certainly　won't　believe　you　hired　me　to　investigate　Elisha　Morningstar　just　because　he　called　up　and　wanted　to　buy　the　doubloon。　They　may　not　find　out　that　you　couldn't　have　sold　the　coin；　if　you　wanted　to；　because　they　might　not　think　of　that　angle。　But　they　won't　believe　you　hired　a　private　detective　just　to　investigate　a　possible　purchaser。　Why　should　you？〃
　 〃That's　my　business；　isn't　it？〃
　 〃No。　You　can't　fob　the　cops　off　that　way。　You　have　to　satisfy　them　that　you　are　being　frank　and　open　and　have　nothing　to　hide。　As　long　as　they　think　you　are　hiding　something　they　never　let　up。　Give　them　a　reasonable　and　plausible　story　and　they　go　away　cheerful。　And　the　most　reasonable　and　plausible　story　is　always　the　truth。　Any　objection　to　telling　it？〃
　 〃Every　possible　objection；〃　she　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　seem　to　make　much　difference。　Do　we　have　to　tell　them　that　I　suspected　my　daughter…in…law　of　stealing　the　coin　and　that　I　was　wrong？〃
　 〃It　would　be　better。〃
　 〃And　that　it　has　been　returned　and　how？〃
　 〃It　would　be　better。〃
　 〃That　is　going　to　humiliate　me　very　much。〃
　 I　shrugged。
　 〃You're　a　callous　brute；〃　she　said。　〃You're　a　cold…blooded　fish。　I　don't　like　you。　I　deeply　regret　ever　having　met　you。〃
　 〃Mutual；〃　I　said。
　 She　reached　a　thick　finger　to　a　key　and　barked　into　the　talking　box。　〃Merle。　Ask　my　son　to　e　in　here　at　once。　And　I　think　you　may　as　well　e　in　with　him。〃
　 She　released　the　key；　press