cw.imarriedadeadman-第24节

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　stout　man　wearing　horn…rimmed　spectacles　was　waiting　to　greet　them。
　〃e　in　and　meet　my　old　friend　Harve　Wheelock；〃　Father　Hazzard　said　to　her。
　They　seated　themselves　in　fortable　leather　chairs　in　the　private　office；　and　the　two　men　shared　cigars。
　〃Harve；　I've　got　a　new　customer　for　you。　This　is　my　boy　Hugh's　wife。　Not　that　I　think　your　mangy　old　bank　is　any　good；　but…well；　you　know　how　it　is。　Just　habit；　I　reckon。〃
　The　manager　shook　appreciatively　all　over；　as　if　this　were　some　joke　between　them　that　had　been　going　on　for　years。　He　winked　for　Patrice's　benefit。　〃I　agree　with　you　there。　Sell　it　to　you　real　cheap。〃
　〃How　cheap？〃
　〃Quarter　of　a　million。〃　Meanwhile　he　was　penning　required　entries　on　a　filing…form；　as　though　he　had　all　the　information　called　for　at　his　fingers'　tips；　didn't　need　to　ask　anything　about　it。
　Father　Hazzard　shook　his　head。　〃Too　cheap。　Can't　be　any　good。〃　He　offhandedly　palmed　an　oblong　of　light　blue　paper　onto　the　desk；　left　it　there　face　down。
　〃You　think　it　over　and　let　me　know；〃　the　manager　said　drily。　And　to　her；　reversing　his　pen；　〃Sign　here；　honey。〃
　Forger；　she　thought　scathingly。　She　handed　it　back；　her　eyes　downcast。　The　strip　of　light　blue　was　clipped　to　it　and　it　was　sent　out。　A　midget　black　book　came　back　in　its　stead。
　〃Here　you　are；　honey。〃　The　manager　tendered　it　to　her　across　his　desk。
　She　opened　it　and　looked　at　it；　unnoticed；　while　the　two　resumed　their　friendly　bickering　hammer　and　tongs。　It　was　so　spotless；　so　unused　yet。　At　the　top　it　said　〃Mrs。　Hugh　Hazzard。〃　And　there　was　just　one　entry；　under　today's　date。　A　deposit。
　
　〃5000。00〃
　
　
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　She　stood　there　holding　the　small　round　canister；　staring　frozenly　at　it　as　though　she　couldn't　make　out　what　was　in　it　She'd　been　holding　it　like　that　for　long　moments；　without　actually　seeing　it。　She　tilted　it　at　last　and　dumped　its　contents　into　the　washbowl。　It　had　been　better　than　half…full。
　She　went　out；　and　closed　the　door；　and　went　across　the　hall　and　knocked　softly。
　〃I'm　stepping　out　for　just　a　moment；　Mother。　Hughie　upset　his　whole　can　of　talc　in　the　bath　just　now；　and　I　want　to　get　another　before　I　forget。〃
　〃All　right；　dear。　The　walk'll　do　you　good。　Oh…bring　me　back　a　bottle　of　that　shampoo　while　you're　in　there；　dear。　I'm　on　the　last　of　it　now。〃
　She　got　that　slightly　sickened　feeling　she　was　beginning　to　know　so　well。　It　was　so　easy　to　fool　those　who　loved　you。　But　who　were　you　really　fooling…them　or　yourself？
　His　arm　was　draped　negligently　atop　the　car…door；　elbow　out。　The　door　fell　open。　He　made　way　for　her　by　shifting　leisurely　over　on　the　seat；　without　offering　to　rise。　His　indolent　taking　of　her　for　granted　was　more　scathingly　insulting　than　any　overt　rudeness　would　have　been。
　〃I'm　sorry　I　had　to　call。　I　thought　you'd　forgotten　about　our　talk。　It's　been　more　than　a　week　now。〃
　〃Forgotten？〃　she　said　drily。　〃I　wish　it　were　that　easy。〃
　〃I　see　you've　bee　a　depositor　of　the　Standard　Trust　since　our　last　meeting。〃
　She　shot　him　an　involuntary　look　of　shock；　without　answering。
　〃Five　thousand　dollars。〃
　She　drew　a　quick　breath。
　〃Tellers　will　chat　for　a　quarter　cigar。〃　He　smiled。　〃Well？〃
　〃I　haven't　any　money　with　me。　I　haven't　used　the　account　yet。　I'll　have　to　cash　a　check　in　the　morning　and…〃
　〃They　give　a　checkbook　with　each　account；　don't　they？　And　you　have　that　with　you；　most　likely…〃
　She　gave　him　a　look　of　unfeigned　surprise。
　〃I　have　a　fountain　pen　right　here　in　my　pocket。　I'll　turn　on　the　dashboard…lights　a　minute。　Let's　get　it　over　and　done　with；　the　quickest　way's　the　best。　Now；　I'll　tell　you　what　to　write。　To　Stephen　Georgesson。　Not　to　Cash　or　Bearer。　Five　hundred。〃
　〃Five　hundred？〃
　〃That's　academic。〃
　She　didn't　understand　what　he　meant；　and　was　incautious　enough　to　let　him　go　on　past　that　point　without　stopping　him。
　〃That's　all。　And　then　your　signature。　The　date；　if　you　want。〃
　She　stopped　short。　〃I　can't　do　this。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　you'll　have　to。　I　don't　want　it　any　other　way。　I　won't　accept　cash。〃
　〃But　this　passes　through　the　bank　with　both　our　names　on　it；　mine　as　payer；　yours　as　payee。〃
　〃There's　such　a　flood　of　checks　passing　through　the　bank　every　month；　it's　not　even　likely　to　be　noticed。　It　could　be　a　debt　of　Hugh's；　you　know；　that　you're　settling　up　for　him。〃
　〃Why　are　you　so　anxious　to　have　a　check？〃　she　asked　irresolutely。
　A　crooked　smile　looped　one　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃Why　should　you　object；　if　I　don't？　It's　to　your　advantage；　isn't　it？　I'm　playing　right　into　your　hands。　It　es　back　into　your　possession　after　it　clears　the　bank。　After　that　you're　holding　tangible　evidence　of　this…of　blackmail…against　me　if　you　should　ever　care　to　prosecute。　Which　is　something　you　haven't　got　so　far。　Remember；　up　to　this　point；　it's　just　your　word　against　mine；　I　can　deny　this　whole　thing　happened。　Once　this　check　goes　through；　you've　got　living　proof。〃
　He　said；　a　little　more　tartly　than　he'd　yet　spoken　to　her；　〃Shall　we　get　through？　You're　anxious　to　get　back。　And　I'm　anxious　to　pull　out　of　here。〃
　She　handed　him　the　pleted　check　and　pen。
　He　was　smiling　again　now。　He　waited　until　she'd　stepped　out　and　he'd　turned　on　the　ignition。　He　said　above　the　low　throb　of　the　motor；　〃Your　thinking　isn't　very　clear；　nor　very　quick；　is　it？　This　check　is　evidence　against　me；　that　you're　holding；　if　it　clears　the　bank　and　returns　to　you。　But　if　it　doesn't…if　it's　kept　out；　and　never　es　up　for　payment　at　all…then　it's　evidence　against　you；　that　I'm　holding。〃
　The　car　glided　off　and　left　her　standing　behind　looking　after　it　in　her　shattered　consternation。
　
　
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　She　all　but　ran　toward　the　car　along　the　night…shaded　street；　as　if　fearful　it　might　suddenly　glide　into　motion　and　escape　her；　instead　of　directing　her　steps　toward　it　grudgingly　as　she　had　the　two　previous　times。　She　clung　to　the　top　of　the　door　with　both　hands　when　she'd　reached　it；　as　if　in　quest　of　support。
　〃I　can't　stand　this！　What　are　you　trying　to　do　to　me？〃
　He　was　smugly　facetious。　His　brows　went　up。　〃Do？　I　haven't　done　anything　to　you。　I　haven't　been　near　you。　I　haven't　seen　you　in　the　last　three　weeks。〃
　〃The　check　wasn't　debited。〃
　〃Oh；　you've　had　your　bank　statement。　That's　right；　yesterday　was　the　first　of　the　month。　I　imagine　you've　had　a　bad　twenty…four　hours。　I　must　have　overlooked　it…〃
　〃No；〃　she　said　with　fierce　rancor；　〃you're　not　the　kind　would　overlook　anything　like　that；　you　vicious　leech！　Haven't　you　done　enough　to　me？　What　are　you　trying　to　do；　drive　me　pletely　out　of　my　mind…〃
　His　manner　changed　abruptly；　tightened。　〃Get　in；〃　he　said　crisply。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you。　I'll　drive　you　around　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so。〃
　〃I　can't　ride　with　you。　How　can　you　ask　me　to　do　that？〃
　〃We　can't　just　stand　still　in　this　one　place；　talking　it　over。　That's　far　worse。　We've　done　that　twice　already。　We　can　circle　the　lake　drive　once　or　twice；　there's　no　one　on　it　at　this　hour　and　no　stops。　Turn　your　collar　up　across　your　mouth。〃
　〃Why　are　you　holding　the　check？　What　are　you　meaning　to　do？〃
　〃Wait　until　we　get　there；〃　he　said。　Then　when　they　had；　he　answered　her；　coldly；　dispassionately；　as　though　there　had　been　no　interruption。
　〃I'm　not　interested　in　five　hundred　dollars。〃
　She　was　beginning　to　lose　her　head。　Her　inability　to　fathom　his　motives　was　kindling　her　to　panic。　〃Give　it　back　to　me；　then；　and　I'll　give　you　more。　I'll　give　you　a　thousand。　Only；　give　it　back　to　me。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　be　given　more。　I　don't　want　to　be　given　any　amount。　Don't　you　understand？　I　want　the　money　to　belong　to　me；　in　my　own　right。〃
　Her　face　was　suddenly　stricken　white。　〃I　don't　understand。　What　are　you　trying　to　say　to　me？〃
　〃I　think　you're　beginning　to；　by　the　look　on　your　face。〃　He　fumbled　in　his　pocket；　took　something　out。　An　envelope；　already　sealed　and　stamped　for　mailing。　〃You　asked　me　where　the　check　was。　It's　in　here。　Here；　read　what　it　says　on　it。　No；　don't　take　it　out　of　my　hand。　Just　read　it　from　where　you　are。〃
　
　〃MR。　DONALD　HAZZARD
　HAZZARD　AND　LORING
　EMPIRE　BUILDING
　CAULFIELD。〃
　
　〃No…〃　She　couldn't　articulate；　could　only　shake　her　head　convulsively。
　〃I'm　mailing　it　to　him　at　his　office；　where　you　can't　intercept　it。〃　He　returned　it　to　his　pocket　〃The　last　mail…collection；　here　in　Caulfield；　is　at　nine　each　night。　You　may　not　know　that；　but　I've　been　making　a　study　of　those　things　recently。　There's　a　mail…box　on　Pomeroy　Street；　just　a　few　feet　from　where　I've　been　parking　the　last　few　times　I've　met　you。　It's　dark　and　inconspicuous　around　there；　and　I'll　use　that　one。　It　takes　the　carrier　until　nine…fifteen　to　reach　it；　however；　I've　timed　him　several　nights　in　a　row　and　taken　the　average。〃
　He　silenced　her　with　his　hand；　went　on：　〃Now；　if　you　reach　there　before　the　carrier　does；　this　envelope　stays　out　of　the　chute。　If　you're　not　there　yet　when　he　arrives；　I　drop　it　in。　You　have　a　day's　grace；　until　nine…fifteen　tomorrow　night。〃
　〃But　what　do　you　want　me　to　be　there　for…？　You　said　you　didn't　want　more…〃
　〃We're　going　to　take　a　ride　out　to　Hastings；　that's　the　next　town　over。　I'm　taking　you　to　a　justice　of　the　peace　there；　and　he's　going　to　make　us　man　and　wife。〃
　He　slowed　the　car　as　her　head　lurched