esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡PERRY¡¡MASON¡fighting¡¡attorney£»¡¡who¡¡preferred¡¡being¡¡paid¡¡off¡¡as¡¡a¡¡sheep¡¡to¡¡being¡¡double¡crossed¡¡like¡¡a¡¡lamb
¡¡¡¡DELLA¡¡STREET¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡faithful¡¡Girl¡¡Friday¡¡£¨also¡¡Sunday¡¡and¡¡Monday£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡always£©
¡¡¡¡EVA¡¡GRIFFIN¡well¡¡groomed¡¡and¡¡well¡¡heeled£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡phony
¡¡¡¡HARRISON¡¡BURKE¡Congressman£»¡¡whose¡¡Duty¡¡to¡¡the¡¡People¡¡was¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡from¡¡knowing¡¡he¡¡was¡¡mixed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡murder
¡¡¡¡FRANK¡¡LOCKE¡editor¡¡of¡¡Spicy¡¡Bits£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡Southern£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡gentleman
¡¡¡¡PAUL¡¡DRAKE¡who¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡some¡¡interesting¡¡information¡¡on¡¡Georgia¡¡peaches¡¡and¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡same
¡¡¡¡SIDNEY¡¡DRUMM¡who¡¡put¡¡himself¡¡out¡¡on¡¡a¡¡limb¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡was¡¡up
¡¡¡¡GEORGE¡¡C¡£¡¡BELTER¡who¡¡got¡¡his¡¡money¡¡by¡¡blackmail£»¡¡and¡¡who¡naturally¡got¡¡his
¡¡¡¡MRS¡£¡¡BELTER¡a¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡a¡¡will¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡and¡¡put¡¡a¡¡velvet¡¡clause¡¡in¡¡it
¡¡¡¡CARL¡¡GRIFFIN¡nephew¡¡of¡¡George¡¡Belter£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡¡around¡¡and¡¡around¡¡and¡¡around¡¡the¡¡town
¡¡¡¡BILL¡¡HOFFMAN¡head¡¡of¡¡Homicide£»¡¡who¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡sleuth£»¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡sleuth£»¡¡and¡¡little¡¡else
¡¡¡¡MRS¡£¡¡VEITCH¡the¡¡housekeeper£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡as¡¡the¡¡tomb¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mummy
¡¡¡¡NORMA¡¡VEITCH¡a¡¡girl¡¡with¡¡matrimonies¡¡on¡¡her¡¡mind
¡¡¡¡ESTHER¡¡LINTEN¡who¡¡made¡¡up¡¡for¡¡losing¡¡her¡¡beauty¡¡sleep¡¡by¡¡deciding¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡out¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before
¡¡¡¡SOL¡¡STEINBURG¡who¡¡excelled¡¡at¡¡histrionics
¡¡¡¡ARTHUR¡¡ATWOOD¡who¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡vulnerable¡¡on¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Belter's¡¡tricks
¡¡¡¡HARRY¡¡LORING¡who¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡had¡¡too¡¡many¡¡wives¡¡or¡¡none
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡1¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Autumn¡¡sun¡¡beat¡¡against¡¡the¡¡window¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡the¡¡big¡¡desk¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡about¡¡him¡¡the¡¡attitude¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡is¡¡waiting¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡in¡¡repose¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chess¡¡player¡¡who¡¡is¡¡studying¡¡the¡¡board¡£¡¡That¡¡face¡¡seldom¡¡changed¡¡expression¡£¡¡Only¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡changed¡¡expression¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡being¡¡a¡¡thinker¡¡and¡¡a¡¡fighter£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡could¡¡work¡¡with¡¡infinite¡¡patience¡¡to¡¡jockey¡¡an¡¡adversary¡¡into¡¡just¡¡the¡¡right¡¡position£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡finish¡¡him¡¡with¡¡one¡¡terrific¡¡punch¡£
¡¡¡¡Book¡¡cases£»¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡leather¡backed¡¡books£»¡¡lined¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡A¡¡big¡¡safe¡¡was¡¡in¡¡one¡¡corner¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡chairs£»¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡swivel¡¡chair¡¡which¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡occupied¡£¡¡The¡¡office¡¡held¡¡an¡¡atmosphere¡¡of¡¡plain£»¡¡rugged¡¡efficiency£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡had¡¡absorbed¡¡something¡¡of¡¡the¡¡personality¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡who¡¡occupied¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡office¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡Della¡¡Street£»¡¡his¡¡secretary£»¡¡eased¡¡her¡¡way¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room¡¡and¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡behind¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡woman£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨who¡¡claims¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Eva¡¡Griffin¡£¡¨¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡with¡¡level¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡she¡¡is£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡looks¡¡phony¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Griffins¡¡in¡¡the¡¡telephone¡¡book¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡isn't¡¡any¡¡Griffin¡¡who¡¡has¡¡an¡¡address¡¡like¡¡the¡¡one¡¡she¡¡gave¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡City¡¡Directory£»¡¡and¡¡got¡¡the¡¡same¡¡result¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡Griffins£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡find¡¡any¡¡Eva¡¡Griffin¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡find¡¡any¡¡at¡¡her¡¡address¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡address£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Mason¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨2271¡¡Grove¡¡Street£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡made¡¡a¡¡notation¡¡on¡¡a¡¡slip¡¡of¡¡paper¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Okay£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Della¡¡Street¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡just¡¡wanted¡¡you¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡she¡¡looks¡¡phony¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Della¡¡Street¡¡was¡¡slim¡¡of¡¡figure£»¡¡steady¡¡of¡¡eye£»¡¡a¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡approximately¡¡twenty¡seven£»¡¡who¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡watching¡¡life¡¡with¡¡keenly¡¡appreciative¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡far¡¡below¡¡the¡¡surface¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡remained¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡eyeing¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡with¡¡quiet¡¡insistence¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡wish£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡you'd¡¡find¡¡out¡¡who¡¡she¡¡really¡¡is¡¡before¡¡we¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡for¡¡her¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡hunch£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡might¡¡call¡¡it¡¡that£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡smiling¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡nodded¡£¡¡His¡¡face¡¡had¡¡not¡¡changed¡¡expression¡£¡¡Only¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡warily¡¡watchful¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¡send¡¡her¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡a¡¡look¡¡at¡¡her¡¡myself¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Della¡¡Street¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡as¡¡she¡¡went¡¡out£»¡¡keeping¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡knob£»¡¡however¡£¡¡Within¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds£»¡¡the¡¡knob¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡door¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡walked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room¡¡with¡¡an¡¡air¡¡of¡¡easy¡¡assurance¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡in¡¡her¡¡early¡¡thirties£»¡¡or¡¡perhaps£»¡¡her¡¡late¡¡twenties¡well¡¡groomed£»¡¡and¡¡giving¡¡an¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡being¡¡exceedingly¡¡well¡¡cared¡¡for¡£¡¡She¡¡flashed¡¡a¡¡swiftly¡¡appraising¡¡glance¡¡about¡¡the¡¡office¡¡before¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡man¡¡seated¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡desk¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨e¡¡in¡¡and¡¡sit¡¡down£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡annoyance¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡face¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡expected¡¡men¡¡to¡¡get¡¡up¡¡when¡¡she¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡her¡¡with¡¡a¡¡deferential¡¡recognition¡¡of¡¡her¡¡sex¡¡and¡¡her¡¡position¡£
¡¡¡¡For¡¡just¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡seemed¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡ignore¡¡his¡¡invitation¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chair¡¡across¡¡from¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You're¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Mason£»¡¡the¡¡attorney£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡him¡¡in¡¡cautious¡¡appraisal£»¡¡suddenly¡¡widened¡¡as¡¡though¡¡by¡¡an¡¡effort¡£¡¡They¡¡gave¡¡to¡¡her¡¡face¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡utter¡¡innocence¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡trouble£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡nodded¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡news¡¡meant¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡other¡¡than¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡daily¡¡routine¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡he¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨Most¡¡people¡¡who¡¡e¡¡in¡¡here¡¡are¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡said£»¡¡abruptly£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡make¡¡it¡¡easy¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attorneys¡¡I¡¡have¡¡consulted¡£¡£¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡silent¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡smiled¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡Slowly¡¡he¡¡got¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡put¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡his¡¡weight¡¡on¡¡them¡¡so¡¡that¡¡his¡¡body¡¡was¡¡leaning¡¡toward¡¡her¡¡across¡¡the¡¡desk¡£¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attorneys¡¡that¡¡you've¡¡consulted¡¡have¡¡had¡¡expensive¡¡suites¡¡of¡¡offices¡¡and¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡clerks¡¡running¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡£¡¡You've¡¡paid¡¡them¡¡big¡¡money¡¡and¡¡haven't¡¡had¡¡anything¡¡much¡¡to¡¡show¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡They've¡¡bowed¡¡and¡¡scraped¡¡when¡¡you¡¡came¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡charged¡¡you¡¡big¡¡retainers¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡you¡¡get¡¡in¡¡a¡¡real¡¡jam¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡wide¡¡eyes¡¡narrowed¡¡somewhat¡£¡¡For¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡seconds¡¡they¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡lowered¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡forcefully£»¡¡yet¡¡without¡¡raising¡¡his¡¡voice¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡different¡£¡¡I¡¡get¡¡my¡¡business¡¡because¡¡I¡¡fight¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡because¡¡I¡¡fight¡¡for¡¡my¡¡clients¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡ever¡¡called¡¡on¡¡me¡¡to¡¡organize¡¡a¡¡corporation£»¡¡and¡¡I've¡¡never¡¡yet¡¡probated¡¡an¡¡estate¡£¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡drawn¡¡up¡¡over¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡contracts¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡go¡¡about¡¡foreclosing¡¡a¡¡mortgage¡£¡¡People¡¡that¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡don't¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡because¡¡they¡¡like¡¡the¡¡looks¡¡of¡¡my¡¡eyes£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡way¡¡my¡¡office¡¡is¡¡furnished£»¡¡or¡¡because¡¡they've¡¡known¡¡me¡¡at¡¡a¡¡club¡£¡¡They¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡because¡¡they¡¡need¡¡me¡£¡¡They¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡because¡¡they¡¡want¡¡to¡¡hire¡¡me¡¡for¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¨Just¡¡what¡¡is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡you¡¡do£»¡¡Mr¡¡Mason£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡snapped¡¡out¡¡two¡¡words¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡fight£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡nodded¡¡vigorously¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡do¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡again¡¡in¡¡his¡¡swivel¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡lit¡¡a¡¡cigarette¡£¡¡The¡¡atmosphere¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡cleared¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡two¡¡personalities¡¡had¡¡created¡¡an¡¡electrical¡¡storm¡¡which¡¡had¡¡subsided¡£¡¡¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡we've¡¡wasted¡¡enough¡¡time¡¡with¡¡preliminaries¡£¡¡Get¡¡down¡¡to¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡you¡¡want¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡first¡¡who¡¡you¡¡are¡¡and¡¡how¡¡you¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡it'll¡¡make¡¡it¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡you¡¡if¡¡you¡¡start¡¡in¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡began¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡rapidly£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡rehearsed¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡saying¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡married¡£¡¡My¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Eva¡¡Griffin£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡reside¡¡at¡¡2271¡¡Grove¡¡Street¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡trouble¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡very¡¡well¡¡discuss¡¡with¡¡the¡¡attorneys¡¡who¡¡have¡¡heretofore¡¡represented¡¡me¡£¡¡A¡¡friend¡¡who¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡name¡¡withheld£»¡¡told¡¡me¡¡about¡¡you¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡that¡¡you¡¡were¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡lawyer¡£¡¡That¡¡you¡¡went¡¡out¡¡and¡¡did¡¡things¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡asked£º¡¡¡¨Is¡¡it¡¡true£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Perry¡¡Mason¡¡nodded¡¡his¡¡head¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡suppose¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Most¡¡attorneys¡¡hire¡¡clerks¡¡and¡¡detectives¡¡to¡¡work¡¡up¡¡their¡¡cases£»¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out¡¡about¡¡the¡¡evidence¡£¡¡I¡¡don't£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡trust¡¡any¡¡one¡¡to¡¡do¡¡that¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡stuff¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡cases¡¡I¡¡handle¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡handle¡¡very¡¡many£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡do¡¡I'm¡¡well¡¡paid£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡usually¡¡give¡¡good¡¡results¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡hire¡¡a¡¡detective£»¡¡he's¡¡hired¡¡to¡¡get¡¡just¡¡one¡¡fact¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡She¡¡nodded¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡eagerly¡£¡¡Now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡ice¡¡was¡¡broken£»¡¡she¡¡seemed¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡with¡¡her¡¡story¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡read