rs.inthebestfamelies-第26节
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ved six weeks ago。 I managed to get informed about it。 Of course I had to be extremely careful； new as I was； but on the other hand my being a newer was an advantage。 In preparing a list of prospects for the device I had conceived； a man in Rackham's position was an eminently suitable candidate； and naturally I had to know all about him。 That placed me favorably for starting； with the greatest caution； certain speculations and suspicions； and I got it to the point where it seemed desirable to put him under surveillance。 Luckily I didn't have to introduce your name； your enlistment had previously been considered； on a suggestion by Max Christy。 I was ready for you anyhow…I had gone as far as I could without you…and that made it easier。 I wouldn't have dared to risk naming you myself； and was planning accordingly； but it's vastly better this way。〃
〃Am I to proceed？ Get Saul and Orrie and Fred？ Tail Rackham？〃
Wolfe looked at his wrist。 His charade was certainly teaching him new tricks。 In all my years with him he had never sported a watch； and here he was glancing at his wrist as if born to it。 The way that wrist had been； normal； it would have required a custom…made strap。
〃I told that man an hour or more；〃 he said； 〃but we shouldn't be that long。 A minim of cause for suspicion and I'm through。 Nothing is too fantastic for them； they could even learn if we've been using the phone。 Confound it； I must have hours with you。〃
〃Ditch him and we'll meet somewhere。〃 〃Impossible。 No place would be safe…except one。 There is only one circumstance under which any man is granted the right to an extended period of undisturbed privacy； either by deliberation or on impulse。 We need a woman。 You know all kinds。〃
〃Not all kinds；〃 I objected； 〃I do draw the line。 What kind do we need？〃
〃Fairly young； attractive； a little wanton in appearance； utterly devoted to you and utterly trustworthy； and not a fool。〃
〃My God； if I knew where to find one like that I'd have been married long ago。 Also I would be bragging…〃
〃Archie；〃 he snapped。 〃If after all your promiscuous philandering you can't produce a woman to those specifications； I've misjudged you。 It's risky to trust anyone at all； but any other way would be still riskier。〃
I had my lips puckered。 〃Ruth Brady？〃
〃No。 She's an operative； and known。 Out of the question。〃
〃There's one who might take this as a substitute for a trip to Norway； which is now out。 I could ask her。〃
〃What's her name？〃
〃You know。 Lily Rowan。〃
He made a face。 〃She is rich； intemperate； and notorious。〃
〃Nuts。 She is well…heeled and playful。 You remember the time she helped out with an upstate murderer。 I have no further suggestions。 Do I phone her？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And tell her what？〃
He explained in some detail。 When he had answered my three or four questions； and filed my objection by asking if I had something better to offer； I pulled the phone to me and dialed a number。 No answer。 I tried the Troubadour Room of the Churchill； she wasn't there。 Next in order of priority was the Flamingo Club。 That found her。 Asked my name； I said to tell her it was Escamillo； though she hadn't called me that for quite a while。
After a wait her voice came。 〃Archie？ Really？〃
〃I prefer Escamillo；〃 I said firmly。 〃It's a question of security。 How high are you？〃
〃e and find out； I'm tired of the people I'm with； anyhow。 Listen； I'll wander out and meet you in front and we'll go…〃
〃We will not。 I'm working； and I'm on a spot； and I need help。 You're Just the type for it； and I pay a dollar an hour if you give satisfaction。 I'm offering you a brand new thrill。 You have never earned a nickel in your life； and here's your chance。 What mood are you in？〃
〃I'm bored as the devil； but all I need is six dances with you and…〃
〃Not tonight； my colleen donn。 Damn it； I'm working。 Will you help？〃
〃When？〃
〃NOW。〃
〃Is it any fun？〃
〃So…so。 Nothing to brag of。〃
〃Are you ing here for me？〃
〃No。 I'm going…you must get this straight。 Now listen。〃
〃That's exactly what I had in mind。 I was just telling myself； Lily； my precious； if he starts talking you must listen； because he is very shy and sensitive and therefore…did you say something？〃
〃I said shut up。 I'm at my office。 A roan is here with me。 We'll leave as soon as I hang up。 I'll go alone to your place and wait for you outside your door。 The man…〃
*'You won't have to wait。 I can make it…〃
〃Shut up； please。 Your first hour has started； so this is on my time。 The man with me has a car with a driver parked down in front。 He will be driven to the Flamingo Club and stop at the curb； and you will be waiting there in front； and when he opens the door you will climb in； not waiting for him to get out like a gentleman； because he won't。 You will not speak to the driver； who； when you're inside； will proceed to your address； where you and the man will find me waiting at your door。〃
〃Unless I get in the wrong car； and…〃
〃I'm telling you。 It's a dark gray forty…eight Chewy two…door sedan。 New York license OA six； seven； one； one； three。 Got that？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I'll make it a dollar ten an hour。 The man will call you Lily； and you will call him Pete。 Joining him in the car and riding up to your place； you need not go to extremes； but it is important for the driver to get the idea that you are mighty glad to see Pete and that you are looking forward with pleasure to the next several hours with him。 But…〃
〃Is it a reunion after a long absence？〃
〃I'll make it a dollar twenty an hour。 I was about to say； you can leave it vague whether you last saw Pete a week ago or two months ago。 You're just glad to be with him because you're so fond of him； but don't get thinking you're Paulette Goddard and ham it。 Do it right。 Pretend it's roe。 Which brings me to the crux。 It's going to be an ordeal for you。 Wait till you see Pete。〃
〃What's the matter with him？〃
〃Everything。 He's old enough to be your father and then some。 He has whiskers； turning gray。 His face is pleated。 You will have to fight down the feeling that you're having a nightmare； and…〃
〃Archie！ It's Nero Wolfe！〃
Goddam a woman anyhow。 There was absolutely no sense or reason for it。 My brain buzzed。 〃Sure；〃 I said admiringly。 〃You do it with mirrors。 If it was him； the way I feel about him； the first thing I would do would be to get him a date with you； huh？ Okay； then don't call him Pete； call him Nero。〃
〃Then who is it？〃
〃It's a man named Pete Roeder； and I've got to have a long talk with him that won't get in the papers。〃
〃We could take him to Norway。〃
〃Maybe。 We have to discuss Norway。 Give me a ring later in the week and tell me how you feel about this proposition。〃
〃I'll be out on the sidewalk in ten minutes； less than that； waiting for my Pete。〃
〃No public announcement。〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃I'm very pleased with your work so far。 We'll have to get you a social security number。 I'll be waiting anxiously at your door。〃
I hung up and told Wolfe； 〃All set。〃
Out of his chair； he grunted。 〃You overdid it a little； perhaps？ Nightmare； for instance？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 I agreed。 〃I get too enthusiastic。〃
I glared at him； and he glared back。
14
SINCE I do not intend to use up paper reporting the five…hour conference I had with Wolfe that night in Lily Rowan's living room； I could just as well go on to Wednesday morning； except for one thing。 I have got to tell about their arrival at the door of Lily's penthouse apartment on East 63rd Street。
Wolfe didn't speak and wouldn't look at me。 Lily shook hands with me； a form of greeting we hadn't used for I don't know how long； then unlocked the door； and we entered。 When her wrap and Wolfe's hat had been disposed of and we passed to the living room； she tossed her firecracker。
〃Archie；〃 she said； 〃I knew darned well that something would happen some day to make up for all the time I've wasted on you； I just felt it would。〃
I nodded。 〃Certainly。 You'll show a profit on the night even if you feed us sandwiches； especially since Pete is a light eater。 He's on a diet。〃
〃Oh；〃 she said； 〃I didn't mean money； and you can go the limit on sandwiches。 I meant the distinction you've brought me。 I'm the only woman in America who has necked with Nero Wolfe。 Nightmare； my eye。 He has a flair。〃
Wolfe； who had seated himself； cocked his head to frown at her…a firstrate performance。
I smiled at her。 〃I told Pete what you said on the phone； and he was flattered。 Okay； woman of distinction。〃
She shook her head。 〃Turn loose； my brave fellow。 I've got hold of it。〃
She moved to Wolfe； looking down at him。 〃Don't be upset； Pete。 I wouldn't have known you from Adam； no one would； that wasn't it。 It's my hero here。 Archie's an awful prude。 He has been up against some tough ones； lots of them； and not once has he ever called on me to help。 Never！ A proud prude。 Suddenly he calls me away from revelry…I might have been reveling for all he knew…to get into a car and be intimate with a stranger。 There's only one person on earth he would do that for： you。 So if I was pretty
