raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第40章

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　 〃Vannier。〃
　 〃What　was　I　supposed　to　do　with　itguess　the　life　history　of　a　man　named　Teager？〃
　 〃I　don't　go　for　dumb　guys；〃　Eddie　Prue　said。
　 I　said：　〃Why　would　he　have　it　in　his　pocket　to　drop？　And　if　he　did　drop　it；　why　wouldn't　you　just　hand　it　back　to　him？　In　other　words；　seeing　that　I'm　a　dumb　guy；　explain　to　me　why　a　bill　for　dental　supplies　should　get　anybody　all　excited　and　start　trying　to　hire　private　detectives。　Especially　gents　like　Alex　Morny；　who　don't　like　private　detectives。〃
　 〃Morny's　a　good　head；〃　Eddie　Prue　said　coldly。
　 〃He's　the　fellow　for　whom　they　coined　the　phrase；　'as　ignorant　as　an　actor。'〃
　 〃Skip　that。　Don't　you　know　what　they　use　that　dental　stuff　for？〃
　 〃Yeah。　I　found　out。　They　use　albastone　for　making　molds　of　teeth　and　cavities。　It's　very　hard；　very　fine　grain　and　retains　any　amount　of　fine　detail。　The　other　stuff；　crystobolite；　is　used　to　cook　out　the　wax　in　an　invested　wax　model。　It's　used　because　it　stands　a　great　deal　of　heat　without　distortion。　Tell　me　you　don't　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　 〃I　guess　you　know　how　they　make　gold　inlays；〃　Eddie　Prue　said。　〃I　guess　you　do；　huh？〃
　 〃I　spent　two　of　my　hours　learning　today。　I'm　an　expert。　What　does　it　get　me？〃
　 He　was　silent　for　a　little　while；　and　then　he　said：　〃You　ever　read　the　paper？〃
　 〃Once　in　a　while。〃
　 〃It　couldn't　be　you　read　where　an　old　guy　named　Morningstar　was　bumped　off　in　the　Belfont　Building　on　Ninth　Street；　just　two　floors　above　where　this　H。　R。　Teager　had　his　office。　It　couldn't　be　you　read　that；　could　it？〃
　 I　didn't　answer　him。　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　longer；　then　he　put　his　hand　forward　to　the　dash　and　pushed　the　starter　button。　The　motor　of　his　car　caught　and　he　started　to　ease　in　the　clutch。
　 〃Nobody　could　be　as　dumb　as　you　act；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Nobody　ain't。　Good　night　to　you。〃
　 The　car　moved　away　from　the　curb　and　drifted　down　the　hill　towards　Franklin。　I　was　grinning　into　the　distance　as　it　disappeared。
　 I　went　up　to　the　apartment　and　unlocked　the　door　and　pushed　it　open　a　few　inches　and　then　knocked　gently。　There　was　movement　in　the　room。　The　door　was　pulled　open　by　a　strong…looking　girl　with　a　black　stripe　on　the　cap　of　her　white　nurse's　uniform。
　 〃I'm　Marlowe。　I　live　here。〃
　 〃e　in；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Dr。　Moss　told　me。〃
　 I　shut　the　door　quietly　and　we　spoke　in　low　voices。　〃How　is　she？〃　I　asked。
　 〃She's　asleep。　She　was　already　drowsy　when　I　got　here。　I'm　Miss　Lymington。　I　don't　know　very　much　about　her　except　that　her　temperature　is　normal　and　her　pulse　still　rather　fast；　but　going　down。　A　mental　disturbance；　I　gather。〃
　 〃She　found　a　man　murdered；〃　I　said。　〃It　shot　her　full　of　holes。　Is　she　hard　enough　asleep　so　that　I　could　go　in　and　get　a　few　things　to　take　to　the　hotel？〃
　 〃Oh；　yes。　If　you're　quiet。　She　probably　won't　wake。　If　she　does；　it　won't　matter。〃
　 I　went　over　and　put　some　money　on　the　desk。　〃There's　coffee　and　bacon　and　eggs　and　bread　and　tomato　juice　and　oranges　and　liquor　here；〃　I　said。　〃Anything　else　you'll　have　to　phone　for。〃
　 〃I've　already　investigated　your　supplies；〃　she　said；　smiling。　〃We　have　all　we　need　until　after　breakfast　tomorrow。　Is　she　going　to　stay　here？〃
　 〃That's　up　to　Dr。　Moss。　I　think　she'll　be　going　home　as　soon　as　she　is　fit　for　it。　Home　being　quite　a　long　way　off；　in　Wichita。〃
　 〃I'm　only　a　nurse；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　don't　think　there　is　anything　the　matter　with　her　that　a　good　night's　sleep　won't　cure。〃
　 〃A　good　night's　sleep　and　a　change　of　pany；〃　I　said；　but　that　didn't　mean　anything　to　Miss　Lymington。
　 I　went　along　the　hallway　and　peeked　into　the　bedroom。　They　had　put　a　pair　of　my　pajamas　on　her。　She　lay　almost　on　her　back　with　one　arm　outside　the　bedclothes。　The　sleeve　of　the　pajama　coat　was　turned　up　six　inches　or　more。　The　small　hand　below　the　end　of　the　sleeve　was　in　a　tight　fist。　Her　face　looked　drawn　and　white　and　quite　peaceful。　I　poked　about　in　the　closet　and　got　a　suitcase　and　put　some　junk　in　it。　As　I　started　back　out　I　looked　at　Merle　again。　Her　eyes　opened　and　looked　straight　up　at　the　ceiling。　Then　they　moved　just　enough　to　see　me　and　a　faint　little　smile　tugged　at　the　corners　of　her　lips。
　 〃Hello。〃　It　was　a　weak　spent　little　voice；　a　voice　that　knew　its　owner　was　in　bed　and　had　a　nurse　and　everything。
　 〃Hello。〃
　 I　went　around　near　her　and　stood　looking　down；　with　my　polished　smile　on　my　clear…cut　features。
　 〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　whispered。　〃I'm　fine。　Amn't　I？〃
　 〃Sure。〃
　 〃Is　this　your　bed　I'm　in？〃
　 〃That's　all　right。　It　won't　bite　you。〃
　 〃I'm　not　afraid；〃　she　said。　A　hand　came　sliding　towards　me　and　lay　palm　up；　waiting　to　be　held。　I　held　it。　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　you。　No　woman　would　ever　be　afraid　of　you；　would　she？〃
　 〃ing　from　you；〃　I　said；　〃I　guess　that's　meant　to　be　a　pliment。〃
　 Her　eyes　smiled；　then　got　grave　again。　〃I　lied　to　you；〃　she　said　softly。　〃II　didn't　shoot　anybody。〃
　 〃I　know。　I　was　over　there。　Forget　it。　Don't　think　about　it。〃
　 〃People　are　always　telling　you　to　forget　unpleasant　things。　But　you　never　do。　It's　so　kind　of　silly　to　tell　you　to；　I　mean。〃
　 〃Okay；〃　I　said；　pretending　to　be　hurt。　〃I'm　silly。　How　about　making　some　more　sleep？〃
　 She　turned　her　head　until　she　was　looking　into　my　eyes。　I　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　holding　her　hand。
　 〃Will　the　police　e　here？〃　she　asked。
　 〃No。　And　try　not　to　be　disappointed。〃
　 She　frowned。　〃You　must　think　I'm　an　awful　fool。〃
　 〃Wellmaybe。〃
　 A　couple　of　tears　formed　in　her　eyes　and　slid　out　at　the　corners　and　rolled　gently　down　her　cheeks。
　 〃Does　Mrs。　Murdock　know　where　I　am？〃
　 〃Not　yet。　I'm　going　over　and　tell　her。〃
　 〃Will　you　have　to　tell　hereverything？〃
　 〃Yeah；　why　not？〃
　 She　turned　the　head　away　from　me。　〃She'll　understand；〃　her　voice　said　softly。　〃She　knows　the　awful　thing　I　did　eight　years　ago。　The　frightful　terrible　thing。〃
　 〃Sure；〃　I　said。　〃That's　why　she's　been　paying　Vannier　money　all　this　time。〃
　 〃Oh　dear；〃　she　said；　and　brought　her　other　hand　out　from　under　the　bedclothes　and　pulled　away　the　one　I　was　holding　so　that　she　could　squeeze　them　tightly　together。　〃I　wish　you　hadn't　had　to　know　that。　I　wish　you　hadn't。　Nobody　ever　knew　but　Mrs。　Murdock。　My　parents　never　knew。　I　wish　you　hadn't。〃
　 The　nurse　came　in　at　the　door　and　looked　at　me　severely。　〃I　don't　think　she　ought　to　be　talking　like　this；　Mr。　Marlowe。　I　think　you　should　leave　now。〃
　 〃Look；　Miss　Lymington；　I've　known　this　little　girl　two　days。　You've　only　known　her　two　hours。　This　is　doing　her　a　lot　of　good。〃
　 〃It　might　bring　on　anothererspasm；〃　she　said　severely；　avoiding　my　eyes。
　 〃Well；　if　she　has　to　have　it；　isn't　it　better　for　her　to　have　it　now；　while　you're　here；　and　get　it　over　with？　Go　on　out　to　the　kitchen　and　buy　yourself　a　drink。〃
　 〃I　never　drink　on　duty；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃Besides　somebody　might　smell　my　breath。〃
　 〃You're　working　for　me　now。　All　my　employees　are　required　to　get　liquored　up　from　time　to　time。　Besides；　if　you　had　a　good　dinner　and　were　to　eat　a　couple　of　the　Chasers　in　the　kitchen　cabinet；　nobody　would　smell　your　breath。〃
　 She　gave　me　a　quick　grin　and　went　back　out　of　the　room。　Merle　had　been　listening　to　this　as　if　it　was　a　frivolous　interruption　to　a　very　serious　play。　Rather　annoyed。
　 〃I　want　to　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃I〃
　 I　reached　over　and　put　a　paw　over　her　two　locked　hands。　〃Skip　it。　I　know。　Marlowe　knows　everythingexcept　how　to　make　a　decent　living。　It　doesn't　amount　to　beans。　Now　you're　going　back　to　sleep　and　tomorrow　I'm　going　to　take　you　on　the　way　back　to　Wichitato　visit　your　parents。　At　Mrs。　Murdock's　expense。〃
　 〃Why；　that's　wonderful　of　her；〃　she　cried；　her　eyes　opening　wide　and　shining。　〃But　she's　always　been　wonderful　to　me。〃
　 I　got　up　off　the　bed。　〃She's　a　wonderful　woman；〃　I　said；　grinning　down　at　her。　〃Wonderful。　I'm　going　over　there　now　and　we're　going　to　have　a　perfectly　lovely　little　talk　over　the　teacups。　And　if　you　don't　go　to　sleep　right　now；　I　won't　let　you　confess　to　any　more　murders。〃
　 〃You're　horrid；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　like　you。〃　She　turned　her　head　away　and　put　her　arms　back　under　the　bedclothes　and　shut　her　eyes。
　 I　went　towards　the　door。　At　the　door　I　swung　around　and　looked　back　quickly。　S