raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第22节

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　 〃I　want　to　talk　to　a　fellow　named　Eddie　Prue。〃
　 〃So？〃
　 〃He　works　here；〃　I　said。
　 〃Works　here　doing　what？〃　His　voice　was　perfectly　level　and　as　dry　as　dry　sand。
　 〃I　understand　he's　the　guy　that　walks　behind　the　boss。　If　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　 〃Oh。　Eddie　Prue。〃　He　moved　one　lip　slowly　over　the　other　and　made　small　tight　circles　on　the　bar　with　his　bar　cloth。
　 〃Your　name？〃
　 〃Marlowe。〃
　 〃Marlowe。　Drink　while　waiting？〃
　 〃A　dry　martini　will　do。〃
　 〃A　martini。　Dry。　Veddy；　veddy　dry。〃
　 〃Okay。〃
　 〃Will　you　eat　it　with　a　spoon　or　a　knife　and　fork？〃
　 〃Cut　it　in　strips；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　just　nibble　it。〃
　 〃On　your　way　to　school；〃　he　said。　〃Should　I　put　the　olive　in　a　bag　for　you？〃
　 〃Sock　me　on　the　nose　with　it；〃　I　said。　〃If　it　will　make　you　feel　any　better。〃
　 〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃A　dry　martini。〃
　 He　took　three　steps　away　from　me　and　then　came　back　and　leaned　across　the　bar　and　said：　〃I　made　a　mistake　in　a　drink。　The　gentleman　was　telling　me　about　it。〃
　 〃I　heard　him。〃
　 〃He　was　telling　me　about　it　as　gentlemen　tell　you　about　things　like　that。　As　big　shot　directors　like　to　point　out　to　you　your　little　errors。　And　you　heard　him。〃
　 〃Yeah；〃　I　said；　wondering　how　long　this　was　going　to　go　on。　
　 〃He　made　himself　heardthe　gentleman　did。　So　I　e　over　here　and　practically　insult　you。〃
　 〃I　got　the　idea；〃　I　said。
　 He　held　up　one　of　his　fingers　and　looked　at　it　thoughtfully。
　 〃Just　like　that；〃　he　said。　〃A　perfect　stranger。〃
　 〃It's　my　big　brown　eyes；〃　I　said。　〃They　have　that　gentle　look。〃
　 〃Thanks；　chum；〃　he　said；　and　quietly　went　away。
　 I　saw　him　talking　into　a　phone　at　the　end　of　the　bar。　Then　I　saw　him　working　with　a　shaker。　When　he　came　back　with　the　drink　he　was　all　right　again。
　
　
　18
　
　 I　carried　the　drink　over　to　a　small　table　against　the　wall　and　sat　down　there　and　lit　a　cigarette。　Five　minutes　went　by。　The　music　that　was　ing　through　the　fret　had　changed　in　tempo　without　my　noticing　it。　A　girl　was　singing。　She　had　a　rich　deep　down　around　the　ankles　contralto　that　was　pleasant　to　listen　to。　She　was　singing　Dark　Eyes　and　the　band　behind　her　seemed　to　be　falling　asleep。
　 There　was　a　heavy　round　of　applause　and　some　whistling　when　she　ended。
　 A　man　at　the　next　table　said　to　his　girl：　〃They　got　Linda　Conquest　back　with　the　band。　I　heard　she　got　married　to　some　rich　guy　in　Pasadena；　but　it　didn't　take。〃
　 The　girl　said：　〃Nice　voice。　If　you　like　female　crooners。〃
　 I　started　to　get　up　but　a　shadow　fell　across　my　table　and　a　man　was　standing　there。
　 A　great　long　gallows　of　a　man　with　a　ravaged　face　and　a　haggard　frozen　right　eye　that　had　a　clotted　iris　and　the　steady　look　of　blindness。　He　was　so　tall　that　he　had　to　stoop　to　put　his　hand　on　the　back　of　the　chair　across　the　table　from　me。　He　stood　there　sizing　me　up　without　saying　anything　and　I　sat　there　sipping　the　last　of　my　drink　and　listening　to　the　contralto　voice　singing　another　song。　The　customers　seemed　to　like　corny　music　in　there。　Perhaps　they　were　all　tired　out　trying　to　be　ahead　of　the　minute　in　the　place　where　they　worked。
　 〃I'm　Prue；〃　the　man　said　in　his　harsh　whisper。
　 〃So　I　gathered。　You　want　to　talk　to　me；　I　want　to　talk　to　you；　and　I　want　to　talk　to　the　girl　that　just　sang。〃
　 〃Let's　go。〃
　 There　was　a　locked　door　at　the　back　end　of　the　bar。　Prue　unlocked　it　and　held　it　for　me　and　we　went　through　that　and　up　a　flight　of　carpeted　steps　to　the　left。　A　long　straight　hallway　with　several　closed　doors。　At　the　end　of　it　a　bright　star　cross…wired　by　the　mesh　of　a　screen。　Prue　knocked　on　a　door　near　the　screen　and　opened　it　and　stood　aside　for　me　to　pass　him。
　 It　was　a　cozy　sort　of　office；　not　too　large。　There　was　a　built…in　upholstered　corner　seat　by　the　french　windows　and　a　man　in　a　white　dinner　jacket　was　standing　with　his　back　to　the　room；　looking　out。　He　had　gray　hair。　There　was　a　large　black　and　chromium　safe；　some　filing　cases；　a　large　globe　in　a　stand；　a　small　built…in　bar；　and　the　usual　broad　heavy　executive　desk　with　the　usual　high…backed　padded　leather　chair　behind　it。
　 I　looked　at　the　ornaments　on　the　desk。　Everything　standard　and　all　copper。　A　copper　lamp；　pen　set　and　pencil　tray；　a　glass　and　copper　ashtray　with　a　copper　elephant　on　the　rim；　a　copper　letter　opener；　a　copper　thermos　bottle　on　a　copper　tray；　copper　corners　on　the　blotter　holder。　There　was　a　spray　of　almost　copper…colored　sweet　peas　in　a　copper　vase。　It　seemed　like　a　lot　of　copper。
　 The　man　at　the　window　turned　around　and　showed　me　that　he　was　going　on　fifty　and　had　soft　ash　gray　hair　and　plenty　of　it；　and　a　heavy　handsome　face　with　nothing　unusual　about　it　except　a　short　puckered　scar　in　his　left　cheek　that　had　almost　the　effect　of　a　deep　dimple。　I　remembered　the　dimple。　I　would　have　forgotten　the　man。　I　remembered　that　I　had　seen　him　in　pictures　a　long　time　ago；　at　least　ten　years　ago。　I　didn't　remember　the　pictures　or　what　they　were　about　or　what　he　did　in　them；　but　I　remembered　the　dark　heavy　handsome　face　and　the　puckered　scar。　His　hair　had　been　dark　then。
　 He　walked　over　to　his　desk　and　sat　down　and　picked　up　his　letter　opener　and　poked　at　the　ball　of　his　thumb　with　the　point。　He　looked　at　me　with　no　expression　and　said：　〃You're　Marlowe？〃
　 I　nodded。
　 〃Sit　down。〃　I　sat　down。　Eddie　Prue　sat　in　a　chair　against　the　wall　and　tilted　the　front　legs　off　the　floor。
　 〃I　don't　like　peepers；〃　Morny　said。
　 I　shrugged。
　 〃I　don't　like　them　for　a　lot　of　reasons；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　like　them　in　any　way　or　at　any　time。　I　don't　like　them　when　they　bother　my　friends。　I　don't　like　them　when　they　bust　in　on　my　wife。〃
　 I　didn't　say　anything。
　 〃I　don't　like　them　when　they　question　my　driver　or　when　they　get　tough　with　my　guests；〃　he　said。
　 I　didn't　say　anything。
　 〃In　short；〃　he　said。　〃I　just　don't　like　them。〃
　 〃I'm　beginning　to　get　what　you　mean；〃　I　said。
　 He　flushed　and　his　eyes　glittered。　〃On　the　other　hand；〃　he　said；　〃just　at　the　moment　I　might　have　a　use　for　you。　It　might　pay　you　to　play　ball　with　me。　It　might　be　a　good　idea。　It　might　pay　you　to　keep　your　nose　clean。〃
　 〃How　much　might　it　pay　me？〃　I　asked。
　 〃It　might　pay　you　in　time　and　health。〃
　 〃I　seem　to　have　heard　this　record　somewhere；〃　I　said。　〃I　just　can't　put　a　name　to　it。〃
　 He　laid　the　letter　opener　down　and　swung　open　a　door　in　the　desk　and　got　a　cut　glass　decanter　out。　He　poured　liquid　out　of　it　in　a　glass　and　drank　it　and　put　the　stopper　back　in　the　decanter　and　put　the　decanter　back　in　the　desk。
　 〃In　my　business；〃　he　said；　〃tough　boys　e　a　dime　a　dozen。　And　would…be　tough　boys　e　a　nickel　a　gross。　Just　mind　your　business　and　I'll　mind　my　business　and　we　won't　have　any　trouble。〃　He　lit　a　cigarette。　His　hand　shook　a　little。
　 I　looked　across　the　room　at　the　tall　man　sitting　tilted　against　the　wall；　like　a　loafer　in　a　country　store。　He　just　sat　there　without　motion；　his　long　arms　hanging；　his　lined　gray　face　full　of　nothing。
　 〃Somebody　said　something　about　some　money；〃　I　said　to　Morny。　〃What's　that　for？　I　know　what　the　bawling　out　is　for。　That's　you　trying　to　make　yourself　think　you　can　scare　me。〃
　 〃Talk　like　that　to　me；〃　Morny　said；　〃and　you　are　liable　to　be　wearing　lead　buttons　on　your　vest。〃
　 〃Just　think；〃　I　said。　〃Poor　old　Marlowe　with　lead　buttons　on　his　vest。〃
　 Eddie　Prue　made　a　dry　sound　in　his　throat　that　might　have　been　a　chuckle。
　 〃And　as　for　me　minding　my　own　business　and　not　minding　yours；〃　I　said；　〃it　might　be　that　my　business　and　your　business　would　get　a　little　mixed　up　together。　Through　no　fault　of　mine。〃
　 〃It　better　not；〃　Morny　said。　〃In　what　way？〃　He　lifted　his　eyes　quickly　and　dropped　them　again。
　 〃Well；　for　instance；　your　hard　boy　here　calling　me　up　on　the　phone　and　trying　to　scare　me　to　death。　And　later　in　the　evening　calling　me　up　and　talking　about　five　C's　and　how　it　would　do　me　some　good　to　drive　out　here　and　talk　to　you。　And　for　instance　that　same　hard　boy　or　somebody　who　looks　just　like　himwhich　is　a　little　unlikelyfollowing　around　after　a　fellow　in　my　business　who　happened　to　get　shot　this　afternoon；　on　Court　Street　on　Bunker　Hill。〃
　 Morny　lifted　his　cigarette　away　from　his　lips　and　narrowed　his　eyes　to　look　at　the　tip。　Every　motion；　every　gesture；　right　out　of　the　catalogue。
　 〃Who　got　shot？〃
　 〃A　fellow　named　Phillips；　a　youngish　blond　kid。　You　wouldn't　like　him。　He　was　a　peeper。〃　I　described　Phillips　to　him。
　 〃I　never　heard　of　him；〃　Morny　said。
　 〃And　also　for　instance；　a　tall　blond　who　didn't　live　there　was　seen　ing　out　of　the　apartment　house　just　after　he　was　killed；〃　I　said。
　 〃What　tall　blond？〃　His　voice　had　changed　a　little。　There　was　urgency　in　it。
　 〃I　don't　know　that。　She　was　seen　and　the　man　who　saw　her　could　identify　her；　if　he　saw　her　again。　Of　course　she　need　not　have　anything　to　do　with　Phillips。〃
　 〃This　man　Phillips　was　a　shamus？〃
　 I　nodded。　〃I　told　you　that　twice。〃
　 〃Why　was　he　killed　and　how？〃
　 〃He　was　sapped　and　shot　in　his　apartment。　We　don't　know　why　he　was　killed。　If　we　knew　that；　we　would　likely　know　who　killed　him。　It　seems　to　be　that　kind　of　a　situation。〃
　 〃Who　is　'we'？〃
　 〃The　police　and　myself。　I　found　him　dead。　So　I　had　to　stick　around。〃
　 Prue　let　the　front　legs　of　his　chair　down　on　the　carpet　v