erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第12章
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〃Oh; no;〃 she said; 〃it's a bundle of papers probably twenty inches thick。 But one man can lift them。〃
〃Let's go;〃 Drake said。
〃There's one more thing I wanted to tell you; Mr。 Mason;〃 Virginia said。 〃While I was away from Julian Bannock's ranch; or farm; or whatever you call it; and telephoning you and getting ready to go back and get those papers; this man showed up at the ranch。〃
〃What man?〃
〃The one who called on me。 Eagan; you say he is; the chauffeur for Mrs。 Trent。〃
〃And what did he want?〃
〃He wanted to look at some of the old files of Delano Bannock。 Julian…that's the brother…told him to wait; that I was going to be back there within a few minutes。〃
〃And what happened?〃
〃The man jumped in his car and drove off; going fast。〃
〃I see;〃 Mason said; and nodded to Drake。 〃Let's get those papers; Paul。〃
Drake acpanied Virginia to the parking lot。 She unlocked her car。 Drake picked up the files in the card… board carton; hoisted the carton to his shoulder and they returned to Mason's office。
Mason said; 〃Let's look at the file listed under 'T' and see what you have。 Let's see; you have 'T…1;' 'T…2;' 'T…3;' 'T…4;' 'T…5'; just what do those mean?〃
〃That's the way I kept the wills under 'T。' 'T…1' would be the first five letters of the alphabet。 In other words; 'TA;' 'T…B;' 'T…C;' 'T…D;' 'T…E'; then; 'T…2' would be the next five letters。〃
〃I see;〃 Mason said。 〃Well; let's look under the 'T…4' and see if we can find any papers relating to Lauretta Trent。〃
Mason spread the files out on the desk and Mason; Della Street; Paul Drake and Virginia Baxter started rapidly going through the files。
〃Well;〃 Mason said; after a few minutes' search; 〃apparently we have a lot of copies of wills here; but no copy of a will made for Lauretta Trent。〃
〃But we did her work; we made at least one will for her;〃 Virginia said。
〃And;〃 Mason said; 〃George Eagan was making inquiries as to the location of the carbon copies of Delano Bannock's files; and George Eagan is Lauretta Trent's chauffeur。〃
Mason turned to Paul Drake; 〃What hospital was Lauretta Trent in when she had her so…called digestive upsets?〃
〃Phillips Memorial Hospital;〃 Drake said。
Mason nodded to the phone; 〃Get them on the line; please; Della。〃
Della Street asked for an outside line; got a number and whirled the dial。 A moment later she nodded to Mason。
Mason picked up the phone; 〃Phillips Memorial Hospital?〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃This is Perry Mason; the attorney;〃 the lawyer said。 〃I would like to get some information on one of your patients。〃
〃I'm sorry we can't give information about our patients。〃
〃Well; this is just a routine matter of record;〃 Mason said casually。 〃The patient is Lauretta Trent。 You had her in the hospital on three occasions within the last several months and all I'm interested in is finding out the name of her physician。〃
〃Just a moment; we can give you that information。〃
〃I'll hold the phone; if I may;〃 Mason said。
A moment later the voice said; 〃The physician was Dr。 Ferris Alton。 He's in the Randwell Building。〃
〃Thank you;〃 Mason said。
The lawyer hung up; turned to Della Street; 〃Let's see if we can get Dr。 Alton's nurse。〃
〃His nurse?〃
〃Yes;〃 Mason said; 〃I'd like to talk with Dr。 Alton; but I think I'll have to speak with his nurse; personally; before we can get him on the line。 After all; this is probably the beginning of a busy afternoon for a doctor。 He probably sees a lot of office patients in the afternoon; does operating in the morning and makes hospital visits after that。〃
Della Street got the number; asked Gertie in the outer office for an outside line; dialed the number and again nodded to Perry Mason。
Mason picked up the telephone; said; 〃How do you do? This is Perry Mason; an attorney。 I know that Dr。 Alton is very busy and that this is just before the busiest time of the afternoon; but it is quite important that I speak with him briefly concerning a matter which may affect a patient of his。〃
〃_Perry_ Mason; the lawyer?〃 the feminine voice asked。
〃That's right。〃
〃Oh; I'm quite sure he'd want to talk with you personally。 He's busy at the moment; but I'll interrupt him and…Can you hang on to the line for a few moments?〃
〃I'll be glad to;〃 Mason said。
There was a period of silence。 Then a tired; slightly impatient voice said; 〃Yes; this is Dr。 Ferris Alton talking。〃
〃Perry Mason; the attorney;〃 the lawyer told him。 〃I wanted to ask you a few questions about a patient of yours。〃
〃What sort of questions; and who is the patient?〃
〃Lauretta Trent;〃 Mason said。 〃You've had her hospi~ talized several times within the last few months。〃
〃Well?〃 Dr。 Alton asked; and this time the note of impatience was quite apparent in his voice。
〃Can you tell me the nature of the malady?〃
〃I can not!〃 Dr。 Alton snapped。
〃Very well; then;〃 Mason said。 〃I can perhaps tell you something which will be of interest。 I have reason to believe that Lauretta Trent made a will; that this will was executed in the office of an attorney by the name of Delano Bannock; that the attorney is now deceased; that persons are interested in surreptitiously obtaining a copy of that will; that some of the persons associated with Lauretta Trent may be taking an active interest in a search of this kind。
〃Now then; I am asking you this。 Are you pletely satisfied with your diagnosis in the case of Lauretta Trent?〃
〃Certainly。 Otherwise I wouldn't have discharged her。〃
〃I understand; generally;〃 Mason said; 〃that she had a gastroenteric disturbance。〃
〃Well; what of it?〃
〃And;〃 Mason said; 〃I have before me several of the authorities on forensic medicine and toxicology。 I find that it is generally agreed that cases of arsenic poisoning are seldom diagnosed by the attending physician; since the symptoms are those of a gastroenteric disturbance。
〃You're crazy;〃 Dr。 Alton said。
〃Therefore;〃 Mason went on; 〃I think you will understand my position when I ask you if there were abdominal cramps; cramps in the calves of the legs; a burning sensation in the stomach and…〃
〃Good God!〃 Dr。 Alton interrupted。
Mason ceased talking; waiting for the doctor to say something。
There was a long period of silence over the phone。
〃No one would possibly want to poison Lauretta Trent;〃 Dr。 Alton said。
〃How do you know?〃 Mason asked。
There was another period of silence。
〃What's your interest in this matter?〃 Dr。 Alton asked at length。
〃My interest is purely incidental;〃 Mason said。 〃I can assure you that while I am representing a client; that client has no interests adverse to those of Lauretta Trent and there is no reason why you could not make any statement to me that you can make without disclosing a privileged professional confidence。〃
Dr。 Alton said; 〃You've given me something to think about; all right; Mason。 Her symptoms had a great deal in mon with those of arsenic poisoning。 You're so right; physicians who are called in on cases of this sort almost never suspect the possibilities of homicidal poisoning。 The cases are almost invariably given a diagnosis of enteric disturbance。〃
〃That;〃 the lawyer told him; 〃is why I'm calling you。〃
〃Do you have some suggestions?〃 Dr。 Alton asked。
〃Yes;〃 Mason said。 〃I would suggest that you get a sample of her hair pulled out by the roots; if possible。 And; if possible; some cuttings of the fingernails。 Let's have them analyzed for arsenic and see if we get a positive reaction。
〃In the meantime; I would suggest that you try not to alarm your patient; but take steps to see that she is put upon a restricted diet which is enforced by special roundthe…clock nurses…in other words; a rigid dietary supervision。
〃I take it the patient is in such a financial position that the expense can be justified?〃
〃Of course;〃 Dr。 Alton said。 〃。 。 。 My Lord; she has a heart condition which can't stand too many of these upsets。 I warned her; the last one。 I thought it was dietary indiscretion。 She has a weakness for highly spiced Mexican food with considerable garlic…That would be almost a perfect disguise for a dose of arsenic…Mason; how long are you going to be in your office?〃
〃I'll be here all afternoon;〃 Mason