rs.inthebestfamelies-第5章

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　a　hill。　At　the　top　the　road　went　straight　for　a　stretch　between　meadows；　and　I　eased　the　car　off　onto　the　grass；　stopped；　and　took　the　binoculars　and　aimed　them　at　the　summit　of　the　next　hill；　somewhat　higher　than　the　one　I　was　on；　where　the　roof　and　upper　walls　of　a　stone　mansion　showed　above　the　trees。
　　Now；　in　early　April；　with　no　leaves　yet；　and　with　the　binoculars；　I　could　see　most　of　the　mansion　and　even　something　of　the　surrounding　grounds；　and　a　couple　of　men　moving　about。
　　That　was　Eastcrest；　the　legal　residence　of　the　illegal　Arnold　Zeck…but　of　course　there　are　many　ways　of　being　illegal。　One　is　to　drive　through　a　red　light。　Another　is　to　break　laws　by　proxy　only；　for　money　only；　get　your　cut　so　it　can't　be　traced；　and　never　try　to　buy　a　man　too　cheap。　That　was　what　Zeck　had　been　doing　for　more　than　twenty　years…and　there　was　Eastcrest。
　　All　I　was　after　was　to　take　a　look；　just　case　it　from　a　hilltop。　I　had　never　seen　Zeck；　and　as　far　as　I　knew　Wolfe　hadn't　either。　Now　that　we　were　headed　at　him　for　the　third　time；　and　this　time　it　might　be　for　keeps；　I　thought　I　should　at　least　see　his　roof　and　count　his　chimneys。　That　was　all。
　　He　had　been　too　damn　remote　and　mysterious。　Now　I　knew　he　had　four　chimneys；　and　that　the　one　on　the　south　wing　had　two　loose　bricks。
　　I　turned　the　car　around　and　headed　down　the　hill；　and；　if　you　care　to　believe　it；　I　kept　glancing　in　the　mirror　to　see　if　something　showed　up　behind。　That　was　how　far　gone　I　was　on　Zeck。　It　was　not　healthy　for　my　self…respect；　it　was　bad　for　my　nerves；　and　I　was　good　and　tired　o￡　it。
　　Mrs。　Rackham's　place；　Birchvale；　was　only　five　miles　from　there；　the　other　side　of　Mount　Kisco；　but　I　made　a　wrong　turn　and　didn't　arrive　until　a　quarter　past　three。　The　entrance　to　her　estate　was　adequate　but　not　imposing。　I　went　on　by；　and　before　I　knew　it　there　was　a　neat　little　sign　on　the　left：
　　
　　HILLSIDE　KENNELS。
　　Doberman　Pinschers。
　　
　　The　gate　opening　was　narrow　and　so　was　the　drive；　and　I　kept　going　on　past　the　house　to　a　bare　rectangle　in　the　rear；　not　very　well　graveled；　and　maneuvered　into　a　er　close　to　a　wooden　building。　As　I　climbed　out　a　voice　came　from　somewhere；　and　then　a　ferocious　wild　beast　leaped　from　behind　a　hush　and　started　for　me　like　a　streak　of　lightning。　I　froze　except　for　my　right　arm；　which　sent　my　hand　to　my　shoulder　holster　automatically。
　　A　female　voice　sounded　sharp　in　mand。　〃Back！〃
　　The　beast；　ten　paces　from　me；　whirled　on　a　dime；　trotted　swiftly　to　the　woman　who　had　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　rectangle；　whirled　again　and　stood　facing　me；　concentrating　with　all　its　might　on　looking　beautiful　and　dangerous。　I　could　have　plugged　it　with　pleasure。　I　do　not　like　dogs　that　assume　you're　guilty　until　you　prove　you're　innocent。　I　like　democratic　dogs。
　　A　man　had　appeared　beside　the　woman。　They　advanced。
　　She　spoke。　〃Mr。　Goodwin？　Mr。　Leeds　had　to　go　on　an　errand；　but　he'll　be　back　soon。　I'm　Annabel　Frey。〃　She　came　to　me　and　offered　a　hand；　and　I　took　it。
　　This　was　my　first　check　on　an　item　of　information　furnished　us　by　Mrs。Rackham；　and　I　gave　her　an　A　for　accuracy。　She　had　said　that　her　daughterin…law　was　very　beautiful。　Some　might　have　been　inclined　to　argue　it；　for　instance　those　who　don't　like　eyes　so　far　apart　or　those　who　prefer　pink　skin　to　dark；　but　I'm　not　so　finicky　about　details。　The　man　stepped　up；　and　she　pronounced　his　name；　Hammond；　and　we　shook。　He　was　a　stocky　middleaged　specimen　in　a　bright　blue　shirt；　a　tan　jacket；　and　gray　slacks…a　hell　of　a　bination。　I　was　wearing　a　mixed　tweed　made　by　Fradick；　with　an　offwhite　shirt　and　a　maroon　tie。
　　〃I'll　sit　in　my　car；〃　I　told　them；　〃to　wait　for　Mr。　Leeds。　With　the　livestock　around　loose　like　that。〃
　　She　laughed。　〃Duke　isn't　loose；　he's　with　me。　He　wouldn't　have　touched　you。　He　would　have　stopped　three　paces　off；　springing　distance；　and　waited　for　me。　Don't　you　like　dogs？〃
　　〃It　depends　on　the　dog。　You　might　as　well　ask　if　I　like　lemon　pie。　With　a　dog　who　thinks　of　space　between　him　and　me　only　in　terms　of　springing　distance；　my　attitude　is　strictly　one　of　trepidant　vigilance。〃
　　〃My　Lord。〃　She　blinked　long　lashes　over　dark　blue　eyes。　〃Do　you　always　talk　like　that？〃　The　eyes　went　to　Hanunond。　〃Did　you　get　that；　Dana？〃
　　〃I　quite　agree　with　him〃　Hammond　declared；　〃as　you　know。　I'm　not　afraid　to　say　so；　either；　because　it　shows　the　lengths　I'll　go　to；　to　be　with　you。　When　you　opened　his　kennel　and　he　leaped　out　I　could　feel　my　hair　standing　up。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　Annabel　Frey　said　scornfully。　〃Duke　knows　too。　I　guess　I'd　better　put　him　in。〃　She　left　us；　speaking　to　the　dog；　who　abandoned　his　pose　and　trotted　to　her；　and　they　disappeared　around　a　er　of　the　building。　There　was　a　similarity　in　the　movements　of　the　two；　muscular　and　sure　and　quick；　but　sort　of　nervous　and　dainty。
　　〃Now　we　can　relax；〃　I　told　Hammond。
　　〃I　just　can't　help　it；〃　he　said；　irritated。　〃I'm　not　strong　for　dogs　anyhow；　and　with　these　。　。　。〃　He　shrugged。　〃I'd　just　as　soon　go　for　a　walk　with　a　tiger。〃
　　Soon　Annabel　rejoined　us；　with　a　crack　about　Hammond's　hair。　I　suggested　that　if　they　had　something　to　do　I　could　wait　for　Leeds　without　any　help；　but　she　said　no。
　　〃We　only　came　to　see　you；〃　she　stated　impersonally。　〃That　is；　I　did；　and　Mr。　Hammond　went　to　the　length　of　ing　along。　Just　to　see　you；　even　if　you　are　Archie　Goodwin；　I　wouldn't　cross　the　street；　but　I　want　to　watch　you　work。　So　many　things　fall　short　of　the　build…up；　I　want　to　see　if　a　famous　detective　does。　I'm　skeptical　already。　You　look　younger　than　you　should；　and　you　dress　too　well；　and　if　you　really　thought　that　dog　might　jump　you；　you　should　have　done　something　to…where　did　that　e　from？　Hey！〃
　　Sometimes　I　fumble　a　little　drawing　from　my　armpit；　but　that　time　it　had　been　slick　and　clean。　I　had　the　barrel　pointed　straight　up。　Hammond　had　made　a　noise　and　an　involuntary　backward　jerk。
　　I　grinned　at　her。　〃Showing　off。　Okay？　Want　to　try　it？　Get　him　and　send　him　out　from　behind　that　same　bush；　with　orders　to　take　me；　and　any　amount　up　to　two　bits；　even；　that　he　won't　reach　me。〃　I　returned　the　gun　to　the　holster。　〃Ready？〃
　　She　blinked。　〃You　mean　you　would？〃
　　Hammond　giggled。　He　was　a　full…sized　middle…aged　man　and　he　looked　like　a　banker；　and　I　want　to　be　fair　to　him；　but　he　giggled。　〃Look　out；　Annabel；〃　he　said　warningly。　〃He　might。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　I　told　her；　〃you　would　be　in　the　line　of　fire；　and　I've　never　shot　a　fast…moving　dog；　so　we　would　both　be　taking　a　risk。　Only　I　don't　like　you　being　skeptical。　Stick　around　and　you'll　see。〃
　　That　was　a　mistake；　caused　by　my　temperament。　It　is　natural　and　wholesome　for　a　man　of　my　age　to　enjoy　association　with　a　woman　of　her　age；　maid；　wife；　or　widow；　but　I　should　have　had　sense　enough　to　stop　to　realize　what　I　was　getting　in　for。　She　had　said　that　she　had　e　to　watch　me　work；　and　there　I　was　asking　for　it。　As　a　result；　I　had　to　spend　a　solid　hour　pretending　that　I　was　hell　bent　to　find　out　who　had　poisoned　one　of　Leed's　dogs　when　I　didn't　care　a　hang。　Not　that　I　love　dog…poisoners；　but　that　wasn't　what　was　on　my　mind。
　　When　Calvin　Leeds　showed　up；　as　he　did　soon　in　an　old　station　wagon　with　its　rear　taken　up　with　a　hig　wire　cage；　the　four　of　us　made　a　tour　of　the　kennels　and　the　runs；　with　Leeds　briefing　me；　and　me　asking　questions　and　making　notes；　and　then　we　went　in　the　house　and　extended　the　inquiry　to　aspects　such　as　the　poison　used；　the　method　employed；　the　known　suspects；　and　so　on。
　　It　was　a　strain。　I　had　to　make　it　good；　because　that　was　what　I　was　supposed　to　be　there　for；　and　also　because　Annabel　was　too　good…looking　to　let　her　be　skeptical　about　me。　And　the　dog　hadn't　even　died！　He　was　alive　and　well。　But　I　went　to　it　as　if　it　were　the　biggest　case　of　the　year　for　Nero　Wolfe　and　me；　and　Leeds　got　a　good　fifty　bucks'　worth　of　detection　for　nothing。　Of　course　nobody　got　detected；　but　I　asked　damn　good　questions。
　　After　Annabel　and　Hammond　left　to　return　to　Birchvale　next　door；　I　asked　Leeds　about　Hammond；　and　sure　enough　he　was　a　banker。　He　was　a　vice…president　of　the　Metropolitan　Trust　pany；　who　handled　affairs　for　Mrs。　Rackham…had　done　so　ever　since　the　death　of　her　first　husband。　When　I　r