raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第5节

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　 〃Why　should　my　mother　want　Linda　found？〃　he　asked　slowly。　〃She　hated　her　guts。　I　mean　my　mother　hated　Linda's　guts。　Linda　was　quite　decent　to　my　mother。　What　do　you　think　of　her？〃
　 〃Your　mother？〃
　 〃Of　course。　You　haven't　met　Linda；　have　you？〃
　 〃That　secretary　of　your　mother's　has　her　job　hanging　by　a　frayed　thread。　She　talks　out　of　turn。〃
　 He　shook　his　head　sharply。　〃Mother　won't　know。　Anyhow；　Mother　couldn't　do　without　Merle。　She　has　to　have　somebody　to　bully。　She　might　yell　at　her　or　even　slap　her　face；　but　she　couldn't　do　without　her。　What　did　you　think　of　her？〃
　 〃Kind　of　cutein　an　old　world　sort　of　way。〃
　 He　frowned。　〃I　mean　Mother。　Merle's　just　a　simple　little　girl；　I　know。〃
　 〃Your　powers　of　observation　startle　me；〃　I　said。
　 He　looked　surprised。　He　almost　forgot　to　fingernail　the　ash　of　his　cigarette。　But　not　quite。　He　was　careful　not　to　get　any　of　it　in　the　ashtray；　however。
　 〃About　my　mother；〃　he　said　patiently。
　 〃A　grand　old　warhorse；〃　I　said。　〃A　heart　of　gold；　and　the　gold　buried　good　and　deep。〃
　 〃But　why　does　she　want　Linda　found？　I　can't　understand　it。　Spending　money　on　it　too。　My　mother　hates　to　spend　money。　She　thinks　money　is　part　of　her　skin。　Why　does　she　want　Linda　found？〃
　 〃Search　me；〃　I　said。　〃Who　said　she　did？〃
　 〃Why；　you　implied　so。　And　Merle〃
　 〃Merle's　just　romantic。　She　made　it　up。　Hell；　she　blows　her　nose　in　a　man's　handkerchief。　Probably　one　of　yours。〃
　 He　blushed。　〃That's　silly。　Look；　Marlowe。　Please；　be　reasonable　and　give　me　an　idea　what　it's　all　about。　I　haven't　much　money；　I'm　afraid；　but　would　a　couple　of　hundred〃
　 〃I　ought　to　bop　you；〃　I　said。　〃Besides　I'm　not　supposed　to　talk　to　you。　Orders。〃
　 〃Why；　for　heaven's　sake？〃
　 〃Don't　ask　me　things　I　don't　know。　I　can't　tell　you　the　answers。　And　don't　ask　me　things　I　do　know；　because　I　won't　tell　you　the　answers。　Where　have　you　been　all　your　life？　If　a　man　in　my　line　of　work　is　handed　a　job；　does　he　go　around　answering　questions　about　it　to　anyone　that　gets　curious？〃
　 〃There　must　be　a　lot　of　electricity　in　the　air；〃　he　said　nastily；　〃for　a　man　in　your　line　of　work　to　turn　down　two　hundred　dollars。〃
　 There　was　nothing　in　that　for　me　either。　I　picked　his　broad　mahogany　match　out　of　the　tray　and　looked　at　it。　It　had　thin　yellow　edges　and　there　was　white　printing　on　it。　ROSEMONT。　H。　RICHARDS　'3the　rest　was　burnt　off。　I　doubled　the　match　and　squeezed　the　halves　together　and　tossed　it　in　the　waste　basket。
　 〃I　love　my　wife；〃　he　said　suddenly　and　showed　me　the　hard　white　edges　of　his　teeth。　〃A　corny　touch；　but　it's　true。〃
　 〃The　Lombardos　are　still　doing　all　right。〃
　 He　kept　his　lips　pulled　back　from　his　teeth　and　talked　through　them　at　me。　〃She　doesn't　love　me。　I　know　of　no　particular　reason　why　she　should。　Things　have　been　strained　between　us。　She　was　used　to　a　fast　moving　sort　of　life。　With　us；　well；　it　has　been　pretty　dull。　We　haven't　quarreled。　Linda's　the　cool　type。　But　she　hasn't　really　had　a　lot　of　fun　being　married　to　me。〃
　 〃You're　just　too　modest；〃　I　said。
　 His　eyes　glinted；　but　he　kept　his　smooth　manner　pretty　well　in　place。
　 〃Not　good；　Marlowe。　Not　even　fresh。　Look；　you　have　the　air　of　a　decent　sort　of　guy。　I　know　my　mother　is　not　putting　out　two　hundred　and　fifty　bucks　just　to　be　breezy。　Maybe　it's　not　Linda。　Maybe　it's　something　else。　Maybe〃　he　stopped　and　then　said　this　very　slowly；　watching　my　eyes；　〃maybe　it's　Morny。〃
　 〃Maybe　it　is；〃　I　said　cheerfully。
　 He　picked　his　gloves　up　and　slapped　the　desk　with　them　and　put　them　down　again。　〃I'm　in　a　spot　there　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　didn't　think　she　knew　about　it。　Morny　must　have　called　her　up。　He　promised　not　to。〃
　 This　was　easy。　I　said：　〃How　much　are　you　into　him　for？〃　It　wasn't　so　easy。　He　got　suspicious　again。　〃If　he　called　her　up；　he　would　have　told　her。　And　she　would　have　told　you；〃　he　said　thinly。
　 〃Maybe　it　isn't　Morny；〃　I　said；　beginning　to　want　a　drink　very　badly。　〃Maybe　the　cook　is　with　child　by　the　iceman。　But　if　it　was　Morny；　how　much？〃
　 〃Twelve　thousand；〃　he　said；　looking　down　and　flushing。
　 〃Threats？〃
　 He　nodded。
　 〃Tell　him　to　go　fly　a　kite；〃　I　said。　〃What　kind　of　lad　is　he？　Tough？〃
　 He　looked　up　again；　his　face　being　brave。　〃I　suppose　he　is。　I　suppose　they　all　are。　He　used　to　be　a　screen　heavy。　Good　looking　in　a　flashy　way；　a　chaser。　But　don't　get　any　ideas。　Linda　just　worked　there；　like　the　waiters　and　the　band。　And　if　you　are　looking　for　her；　you'll　have　a　hard　time　finding　her。〃
　 I　sneered　at　him　politely。
　 〃Why　would　I　have　a　hard　time　finding　her？　She's　not　buried　in　the　back　yard；　I　hope。〃
　 He　stood　up　with　a　flash　of　anger　in　his　pale　eyes。　Standing　there　leaning　over　the　desk　a　little　he　whipped　his　right　hand　up　in　a　neat　enough　gesture　and　brought　out　a　small　automatic；　about　。25　caliber　with　a　walnut　grip。　It　looked　like　the　brother　of　the　one　I　had　seen　in　the　drawer　of　Merle's　desk。　The　muzzle　looked　vicious　enough　pointing　at　me。　I　didn't　move。
　 〃If　anybody　tries　to　push　Linda　around；　he'll　have　to　push　me　around　first；〃　he　said　tightly。
　 〃That　oughtn't　to　be　too　hard。　Better　get　more　gununless　you're　just　thinking　of　bees。〃
　 He　put　the　little　gun　back　in　his　inside　pocket。　He　gave　me　a　straight　hard　look　and　picked　his　gloves　up　and　started　for　the　door。
　 〃It's　a　waste　of　time　talking　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃All　you　do　is　crack　wise。〃
　 I　said：　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　and　got　up　and　went　around　the　desk。　〃It　might　be　a　good　idea　for　you　not　to　mention　this　interview　to　your　mother；　if　only　for　the　little　girl's　sake。〃
　 He　nodded。　〃For　the　amount　of　information　I　got；　it　doesn't　seem　worth　mentioning。〃
　 〃That　straight　goods　about　your　owing　Morny　twelve　grand？〃
　 He　looked　down；　then　up；　then　down　again。　He　said：　〃Anybody　who　could　get　into　Alex　Morny　for　twelve　grand　would　have　to　be　a　lot　smarter　than　I　am。〃
　 I　was　quite　close　to　him。　I　said：　〃As　a　matter　of　fact　I　don't　even　think　you　are　worried　about　your　wife。　I　think　you　know　where　she　is。　She　didn't　run　away　from　you　at　all。　She　just　ran　away　from　your　mother。〃
　 He　lifted　his　eyes　and　drew　one　glove　on。　He　didn't　say　anything。
　 〃Perhaps　she'll　get　a　job；〃　I　said。　〃And　make　enough　money　to　support　you。〃
　 He　looked　down　at　the　floor　again；　turned　his　body　to　the　right　a　little　and　the　gloved　fist　made　a　tight　unrelaxed　arc　through　the　air　upwards。　I　moved　my　jaw　out　of　the　way　and　caught　his　wrist　and　pushed　it　slowly　back　against　his　chest；　leaning　on　it。　He　slid　a　foot　back　on　the　floor　and　began　to　breathe　hard。　It　was　a　slender　wrist。　My　fingers　went　around　it　and　met。
　 We　stood　there　looking　into　each　other's　eyes。　He　was　breathing　like　a　drunk；　his　mouth　open　and　his　lips　pulled　back。　Small　round　spots　of　bright　red　flamed　on　his　cheeks。　He　tried　to　jerk　his　wrist　away；　but　I　put　so　much　weight　on　him　that　he　had　to　take　another　short　step　back　to　brace　himself。　Our　faces　were　now　only　inches　apart。
　 〃How　e　your　old　man　didn't　leave　you　some　money？〃　I　sneered。　〃Or　did　you　blow　it　all？〃
　 He　spoke　between　his　teeth；　stifi　trying　to　jerk　loose。　〃If　it's　any　of　your　rotten　business　and　you　mean　Jasper　Murdock；　he　wasn't　my　father。　He　didn't　like　me　and　he　didn't　leave　me　a　cent。　My　father　was　a　man　named　Horace　Bright　who　lost　his　money　in　the　crash　and　jumped　out　of　his　office　window。〃
　 〃You　milk　easy；〃　I　said；　〃but　you　give　pretty　thin　milk。　I'm　sorry　for　what　I　said　about　your　wife　supporting　you。　I　just　wanted　to　get　your　goat。〃
　 I　dropped　his　wrist　and　stepped　back。　He　still　breathed　hard　and　heavily。　His　eyes　on　mine　were　very　angry；　but　he　kept　his　voice　down。
　 〃Well；　you　got　it。　If　you're　satisfied；　I'll　be　on　my　way。〃
　 〃I　was　doing　you　a　favor；〃　I　said。　〃A　gun　toter　oughtn't　to　insult　so　easily。　Better　ditch　it。〃
　 〃That's　my　business；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sorry　I　took　a　swing　at　you。　It　probably　wouldn't　have　hurt　much；　if　it　had　connected。〃
　 〃That's　all　right。〃
　 He　opened　the　door　and　went　on　out。　His　steps　died　along　the　corridor。　Another　screwball。　I　tapped　my　teeth　with　a　knuckle　in　time　to　the　sound　of　his　steps　as　long　as　I　could　hear　them。　Then　I　went　back　to　the　desk；　looked　at　my　pad；　and　lifted　the　phone。
　
　
　4
　
　 After　the　bell　had　rung　three　times　at　the　other　end　of　the　line　a　light　childish　sort　of　girl's　voice　filtered　itself　through　a　hank　of　gum　and　said：　〃Good　morning。　Mr。　Morningstar's　office。〃
　 〃Is　the　old　gentleman　in？〃
　 〃Who　is　calling；　please？〃　
　 〃Marlowe。〃
　 〃Does　he　know　you；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃
　 〃Ask　him　if　he　wants　to　buy　any　early　American　gold　coins。〃
　 〃Just　a　minute；　please。〃
　 There　was　a　pause　suitable　to　an　elderly　party　in　an　inner　office　having　his　attention　called　to　the　fact　that　somebody　on　the　telephone　wanted　to　talk　to　him。　Then　the　phone　clicked　and　a　man　spoke。　He　had　a　dry　voice。　You　might　even　call　it　parched。
　 〃This　is　Mr。　Morningstar。〃
　 〃I'm　told　you　called　Mrs。　Murdock　in　Pasadena；　Mr。　Morningstar。　About　a　certain　coin。〃
　 〃About　a　certain　coin；〃　he　repeated。　〃Indeed。　Well？〃
　 〃My　understanding　is　that　you　wished　to　buy　the　coin　in　question　from　the　Murdock　collection。〃
　 〃Indeed？　And　who　are　you；　sir？〃
　 〃Philip　Marlowe。　A　private　detective。　I'm　working　for　Mrs。　Murdo