raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第36节

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　 〃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。　She　had　one　eye　open；　watching　me。　I　gave　her　a　leer　and　it　snapped　shut　in　a　hurry。
　 I　went　back　to　the　living　room；　gave　Miss　Lymington　what　was　left　of　my　leer；　and　went　out　with　my　suitcase。
　 I　drove　over　to　Santa　Monica　Boulevard。　The　hockshop　was　still　open。　The　old　Jew　in　the　tall　black　skullcap　seemed　surprised　that　I　was　able　to　redeem　my　pledge　so　soon。　I　told　him　that　was　the　way　it　was　in　Hollywood。
　 He　got　the　envelope　out　of　the　safe　and　tore　it　open　and　took　my　money　and　pawn　ticket　and　slipped　the　shining　gold　coin　out　on　his　palm。
　 〃So　valuable　this　is　I　am　hating　to　give　it　back　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃The　workmanship；　you　understand；　the　workmanship；　is　beautiful。〃
　 〃And　the　gold　in　it　must　be　worth　all　of　twenty　dollars；〃　I　said。
　 He　shrugged　and　smiled　and　I　put　the　coin　in　my　pocket　and　said　goodnight　to　him。
　
　
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　 The　moonlight　lay　like　a　white　sheet　on　the　front　lawn　except　under　the　deodar　where　there　was　the　thick　darkness　of　black　velvet。　Lights　in　two　lower　windows　were　lit　and　in　one　upstairs　room　visible　from　the　front。　I　walked　across　the　stumble　stones　and　rang　the　bell。
　 I　didn't　look　at　the　little　painted　Negro　by　the　hitching　block。　I　didn't　pat　his　head　tonight。　The　joke　seemed　to　have　worn　thin。
　 A　white…haired；　red…faced　woman　I　hadn't　seen　before　opened　the　door　and　I　said：　〃I'm　Philip　Marlowe。　I'd　like　to　see　Mrs。　Murdock。　Mrs。　Elizabeth　Murdock。〃
　 She　looked　doubtful。　〃I　think　she's　gone　to　bed；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　think　you　can　see　her。〃
　 〃It's　only　nine　o'clock。〃
　 〃Mrs。　Murdock　goes　to　bed　early。〃　She　started　to　close　the　door。
　 She　was　a　nice　old　thing　and　I　hated　to　give　the　door　the　heavy　shoulder。　I　just　leaned　against　it。
　 〃It's　about　Miss　Davis；〃　I　said。　〃It's　important。　Could　you　tell　her　that？〃
　 〃I'll　see。〃
　 I　stepped　back　and　let　her　shut　the　door。
　 A　mockingbird　sang　in　a　dark　tree　nearby。　A　car　tore　down　the　street　much　too　fast　and　skidded　around　the　next　corner。　The　thin　shreds　of　a　girl's　laughter　came　back　along　the　dark　street　as　if　the　car　had　spilled　them　out　in　its　rush。
　 The　door　opened　after　a　while　and　the　woman　said：　〃You　can　e　in。〃
　 I　followed　her　across　the　big　empty　entrance　room。　A　single　dim　light　burned　in　one　lamp；　hardly　reaching　to　the　opposite　wall。　The　place　was　too　still；　and　the　air　needed　freshening。　We　went　along　the　hall　to　the　end　and　up　a　flight　of　stairs　with　a　carved　handrail　and　newel　post。　Another　hall　at　the　top；　a　door　open　towards　the　back。
　 I　was　shown　in　at　the　open　door　and　the　door　was　closed　behind　me。　It　was　a　big　sitting　room　with　a　lot　of　chintz；　a　blue　and　silver　wallpaper；　a　couch；　a　blue　carpet　and　french　windows　open　on　a　balcony。　There　was　an　awning　over　the　balcony。
　 Mrs。　Murdock　was　sitting　in　a　padded　wing　chair　with　a　card　table　in　front　of　her。　She　was　wearing　a　quilted　robe　and　her　hair　looked　a　little　fluffed　out。　She　was　playing　solitaire。　She　had　the　pack　in　her　left　hand　and　she　put　a　card　down　and　moved　another　one　before　she　looked　up　at　me。
　 Then　she　said：　〃Well？〃
　 I　went　over　by　the　card　table　and　looked　down　at　the　game。　It　was　Canfield。
　 〃Merle's　at　my　apartment；〃　I　said。　〃She　threw　an　ing…bing。〃
　 Without　looking　up　she　said：。　〃And　just　what　is　an　ing…bing；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃
　 She　moved　another　card；　then　two　more　quickly。
　 〃A　case　of　the　vapors；　they　used　to　call　it；〃　I　said。　〃Ever　catch　yourself　cheating　at　that　game？〃
　 〃It's　no　fun　if　you　cheat；〃　she　said　gruffly。　〃And　very　little　if　you　don't。　What's　this　about　Merle？　She　has　never　stayed　out　like　this　before。　I　was　getting　worried　about　her。〃
　 I　pulled　a　slipper　chair　over　and　sat　down　across　the　table　from　her。　It　put　me　too　low　down。　I　got　up　and　got　a　better　chair　and　sat　in　that。
　 〃No　need　to　worry　about　her；〃　I　said。　〃I　got　a　doctor　and　a　nurse。　She's　asleep。　She　was　over　to　see　Vannier。〃
　 She　laid　the　pack　of　cards　down　and　folded　her　big　gray　hands　on　the　edge　of　the　table　and　looked　at　me　solidly。
　 〃Mr。　Marlowe；〃　she　said；　〃you　and　I　had　be