rc.theladyinthelake-第19节

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　insulting〃　She　caught　her　voice　and　snapped　it　in　mid…air　like　a　rubber　band。　Then　she　put　her　head　down；　purple　hat　and　all；　and　ran　for　the　door。　As　she　passed　me　she　put　a　hand　out　as　if　to　stiff　arm　me；　but　she　wasn't　near　enough　and　I　didn't　move。　She　jerked　the　door　wide　and　charged〃out　through　it　and　up　the　walk　to　the　street。　The　door　came　slowly　shut　and　I　heard　her　rapid　steps　above　the　sound　of　its　closing。
　　I　ran　a　fingernail　along　my　teeth　and　punched　the　point　of　my　jaw　with　a　knuckle；　listening。　I　didn't　hear　anything　anywhere　to　listen　to。　A　six…shot　automatic；　fired　empty。
　　〃Something；〃　I　said　out　loud；　〃is　all　wrong　with　this　scene。〃　The　house　seemed　now　to　be　abnormally　still。　I　went　along　the　apricot　rug　and　through　the　archway　to　the　head　of　the　stairs。　I　stood　there　for　another　moment　and　listened　again。
　　I　shrugged　and　went　quietly　down　the　stairs。
　　
　　
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　　The　lower　hall　had　a　door　at　each　end　and　two　in　the　middle　side　by　side。　One　of　these　was　a　linen　closet　and　the　other　was　locked。　I　went　along　to　the　end　and　looked　in　at　a　spare　bedroom　with　drawn　blinds　and　；no　sign　of　being　used。　I　went　back　to　the　other　end　of　the　hail　and　stepped　into　a　second　bedroom　with　a　wide　bed；　a　caféau…lait　rug；　angular　furniture　in　light　wood；　a　box　mirror　over　the　dressing　table　and　a　long　fluorescent　lamp　over　the　mirror。　In　the　corner　a　crystal　greyhound　stood　on　a　mirror…top　table　and　beside　him　a　crystal　box　with　cigarettes　in　it。
　　Face　powder　was　spilled　around　on　the　dressing　table。　There　was　a　smear　of　dark　lipstick　on　a　towel　hanging　over　the　waste　basket。　On　the　bed　were　pillows　side　by　side；　with　depressions　in　them　that　could　have　been　made　by　heads。　A　woman's　handkerchief　peeped　from　under　one　pillow。　A　pair　of　sheer　black　pajamas　lay　across　the　foot　of　the　bed。　A　rather　too　emphatic　trace　of　chypre　hung　in　the　air。
　　I　wondered　what　Mrs。　Falibrook　had　thought　of　all　this。
　　I　turned　around　and　looked　at　myself　in　the　long　mirror　of　a　closet　door。　The　door　was　painted　white　and　had　a　crystal　knob。　I　turned　the　knob　in　my　handkerchief　and　looked　inside。　The　cedar…lined　closet　was　fairly　full　of　man's　clothes。　'There　was　a　nice　friendly'　smell　of　tweed。　The　closet　was　not　entirely　full　of　man's　clothes。
　　There　was　also　a　woman's　black　and　white　tailored　suit；　mostly　white；　black　and　white　shoes　under　it；　a　panama　with　a　black　and　white　rolled　band　on　a　shelf　above　it。　There　were　other　woman's　clothes；　but　I　didn't　examine　them。
　　I　shut　the　closet　door　and　went　out　of　the　bedroom；　holding　my　handkerchief　ready　for　more　doorknobs。
　　The　door　next　to　the　linen　closet；　the　locked　door；　had　to　be　the　bathroom。　I　shook　it；　but　it　went　on　being　locked。　I　bent　down　and　saw　there　was　a　short；　slit…shaped　opening　in　the　middle　of　the　knob。　I　knew　then　that　the　door　was　fastened　by　pushing　a　button　in　the　middle　of　the　knob　inside；　and　that　the　slit…like　opening　was　for　a　metal　key　without　wards　that　would　spring　the　lock　open　in　case　somebody　fainted　in　the　bathroom；　or　the　kids　locked　themselves　in　and　got　sassy。
　　The　key　for　this　ought　to　be　kept　on　the　top　shelf　of　the　linen　closet；　but　it　wasn't。　I　tried　my　knife　blade；　but　that　was　too　thin。　I　went　back　to　the　bedroom　and　got　a　flat　nail　file　off　the　dresser。　That　worked。　I　opened　the　bathroom　door。
　　A　man's　sand…colored　pajamas　were　tossed　over　a　painted　hamper。　A　pair　of　heelless　green　slippers　lay　on　the　floor。　There　was　a　safety　razor　on　the　edge　of　the　washbowl　and　a　tube　of　cream　with　the　cap　off。　The　bathroom　window　was　shut；　and　there　was　a　pungent　smell　in　the　air　that　was　not　quite　like　any　other　smell。
　　Three　empty　shells　lay　bright　and　coppery　on　the　nile　green　tiles　of　the　bathroom　floor；　and　there　was　a　nice　clean　hole　in　the　frosted　pane　of　the　window。　To　the　left　and　a　little　above　the　window　were　two　scarred　places　in　the　plaster　where　the　white　showed　behind　the　paint　and　where　something；　such　as　a　bullet；　had　gone　in。
　　The　shower　curtain　was　green　and　white　oiled　silk　and　it　hung　on　shiny　chromium　rings　and　it　was　drawn　across　the　shower　opening。　I　slid　it　aside；　the　rings　making　a　thin　scraping　noise；　which　for　some　reason　sounded　indecently　loud。
　　I　felt　my　neck　creak　a　little　as　I　bent　down。　He　was　there　all　right…there　wasn't　anywhere　else　for　him　to　be。　He　was　huddled　in　the　corner　under　the　two　shining　faucets；　and　water　dripped　slowly　on　his　chest；　from　the　chromium　showerhead。
　　His　knees　were　drawn　up　but　slack。　The　two　holes　in　his　naked　chest　were　dark　blue　and　both　of　them　were　close　enough　to　his　heart　to　have　killed　him。　The　blood　seemed　to　have　been　washed　away。
　　His　eyes　had　a　curiously　bright　and　expectant　look；　as　if　he　smelled　the　morning　coffee　and　would　be　ing　right　out。
　　Nice　efficient　work。　You　have　just　finished　shaving　and　stripped　for　the　shower　and　you　are　leaning　in　against　the　shower　curtain　and　adjusting　the　temperature　of　the　water。　The　door　opens　behind　you　and　somebody　es　in。　The　somebody　appears　to　have　been　a　woman。　She　has　a　gun。　You　look　at　the　gun　and　she　shoots　it。
　　She　misses　with　three　shots。　It　seems　impossible；　at　such　short　range；　but　there　it　is。　Maybe　it　happens　all　the　time。　I've　been　around　so　little。
　　You　haven't　anywhere　to　go。　You　could　lunge　at　her　and　take　a　chance；　if　you　were　that　kind　of　fellow；　and　if'　you　were　braced　for　it。　But　leaning　in　over　the　shower　faucets；　holding　the　curtain　closed；　you　are　off　balance。　Also　you　are　apt　to　be　somewhat　petrified　with　panic；　if　you　are　at　all　like　other　people。　So　there　isn't　anywhere　to　go；　except　into　the　shower。
　　That　is　where　you　go。　You　go　into　it　as　far　as　you　can；　but　a　shower　stall　is　a　small　place　and　the　tiled　wall　stops　you。　You　are　backed　up　against　the　last　wall　there　is　now。　You　are　all　out　of　space；　and　you　are　all　out　of　living。　And　then　there　are　two　more　shots；　possibly　three；　and　you　slide　down　the　wall；　and　your　eyes　are　not　even　frightened　any　more　now。　They　are　just　the　empty　eyes　of　the　dead。
　　She　reaches　in　and　turns　the　shower　off。　She　sets　the　lock　of　the　bathroom　door。　On　her　way　out　of　the　house　she　throws　the　empty　gun　on　the　stair　carpet。　She　should　worry。　It　is　probably　your　gun。
　　Is　that　right？　It　had　better　be　right。
　　I　bent　and　pulled　at　his　arm。　Ice　couldn't　have　been　any　colder　or　any　stiffer。　I　went　out　of　the　bathroom；　leaving　it　unlocked。　No　need　to　lock　it　now。　It　only　makes　work　for　the　cops。
　　I　went　into　the　bedroom　and　pulled　the　handkerchief　out　from　under　the　pillow。　It　was　a　minute　piece　of　linen　rag　with　a　scalloped　edge　embroidered　in　red。　Two　small　initials　were　stitched　in　the　corner；　in　red。　A。F。
　　〃Adrienne　Fromsett；〃　I　said。　I　laughed。　It　was　a　rather　ghoulish　laugh。
　　I　shook　the　handkerchief　to　get　some　of　the　chypre　out　of　it　and　folded　it　up　in　a　tissue　and　put　it　in　a　pocket。　I　went　back　upstairs　to　the　living　room　and　poked　around　in　the　desk　against　the　wall。　The　desk　contained　no　interesting　letters；　phone　numbers　or　provocative　match　folders。　Or　if　it　did；　I　didn't　find　them。
　　I　looked　at　the　phone。　It　was　on　a　small　table　against　the　wall　beside　the　fireplace。　It　had　a　long　cord　so　that　Mr。　Lavery　could　be　lying　on　his　back　on　the　davenport；　a　cigarette　between　his　smooth　brown　lips；　a　tall　cool　one　at　the　table　at　his　side；　and　plenty　of　time　for　a　nice　long　cosy　conversation　with　a　lady　friend。　An　easy；　languid；　ifirtatious；　kidding；　not　too　subtle　and　not　too　blunt　conversation；　of　the　sort　he　would　be　apt　to　enjoy。
　　All　that　wasted　too。　I　went　away　from　the　telephone　to　the　door　and　set　the　lock　so　I　could　e　in　again　and　shut　the　door　tight；　pulling　it　hard　over　the　sill　until　the　lock　clicked。　I　went　up　the　walk　and　stood　in　the　sunlight　looking　across　the　street　at　Dr。　Almore's　house。
　　Nobody　yelled　or　ran　out　of　the　door。　Nobody　blew　a　police　whistle。　Everything　was　quiet　and　sunny　and　calm。　No　cause　for　excitement　whatever。　It's　only　Marlowe；　finding　another　body。　He　does　it　rather　well　by　now。　Murder…a…day　Marlowe；　they　call　him。　They　have　the　meat　wagon　following　him　around　to　follow　up　on　the　business　he　finds。
　　A　nice　enough　fellow；　in　an　ingenuous　sort　of　way。
　　I　walked　back　to　the　intersection　and　got　into　my　car　and　started　it　and　backed　it　and　drove　away　from　there。
　　
　　
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　　The　bellhop　at　the　Athletic　Club　was　back　in　three　minutes　with　a　nod　for　me　to　e　with　him。　We　rode　up　to　the　fourth　floor　and　went　around　a　corner　and　he　showed　me　a　half　open　door。
　　〃Around　to　the　left；　sir。　As　quietly　as　you　can。　A　few　of　the　members　are　sleeping。〃　I　went　into　the　club　library。　It　contained　books　behind　glass　doors　and　magazines　on　a　long　central　table　and　a　lighted　portrait　of　the　club's　founder。　But　its　real　business　seemed　to　be　sleeping。　Outward…jutting　bookcases　cut　the　room　into　a　number　of　small　alcoves　and　in　the　alcoves　were　high…backed　leather　chairs　of　an　incredible　size　and　softness。　In　a　number　of　the　chairs　old　boys　were　snoozing　peacefully；　their　faces　violet　with　high　blood　pressure；　thin　racking　snores　ing　out　of　their　pinched　noses。
　　I　climbed　over　a　few　feet　and　stole　around　to　the　left。　Derace　Kingsley