raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第7节

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　 〃Ask　at　the　house；　Jack。〃
　 〃I　done　asked。　They　done　shut　the　door　in　mah　face。〃
　 〃You're　breaking　my　heart；　Jack。〃
　 〃How　about　Mrs。　Morny？〃
　 〃Same　answer；　Jack。　I　just　work　here。　Selling　something？〃　I　held　my　card　so　that　he　could　read　it。　It　was　a　business　card　this　time。　He　put　the　sponge　down　on　the　running　board；　and　the　hose　on　the　cement。　He　stepped　around　the　water　to　wipe　his　hands　on　a　towel　that　hung　at　the　side　of　the　garage　doors。　He　fished　a　match　out　of　his　pants；　struck　it　and　tilted　his　head　back　to　light　the　dead　butt　that　was　stuck　in　his　face。
　 His　foxy　little　eyes　flicked　around　this　way　and　that　and　he　moved　behind　the　car；　with　a　jerk　of　the　head。　I　went　over　near　him。
　 〃How's　the　little　old　expense　account？〃　he　asked　in　a　small　careful　voice。
　 〃Fat　with　inactivity。〃
　 〃For　five　I　could　start　thinking。〃
　 〃I　wouldn't　want　to　make　it　that　tough　for　you。〃　
　 〃For　ten　I　could　sing　like　four　canaries　and　a　steel　guitar。〃　
　 〃I　don't　like　these　plushy　orchestrations；〃　I　said。　
　 He　cocked　his　head　sideways。　〃Talk　English；　Jack。〃　
　 〃I　don't　want　you　to　lose　your　job；　son。　All　I　want　to　know　is　whether　Mrs。　Momy　is　home。　Does　that　rate　more　than　a　buck？〃
　 〃Don't　worry　about　my　job；　Jack。　I'm　solid。〃
　 〃With　Mornyor　somebody　else？〃　
　 〃You　want　that　for　the　same　buck？〃　
　 〃Two　bucks。〃
　 He　eyed　me　over。　〃You　ain't　working　for　him；　are　you？〃
　 〃Sure。〃
　 〃You're　a　liar。〃
　 〃Sure。〃
　 〃Gimme　the　two　bucks；〃　he　snapped。
　 I　gave　him　two　dollars。
　 〃She's　in　the　backyard　with　a　friend；〃　he　said。　〃A　nice　friend。　You　got　a　friend　that　don't　work　and　a　husband　that　works；　you're　all　set；　see？〃　He　leered。
　 〃You'll　be　all　set　in　an　irrigation　ditch　one　of　these　days。'
　 〃Not　me；　Jack。　I'm　wise。　I　know　how　to　play　'em。　I　monkeyed　around　these　kind　of　people　all　my　life。〃
　 He　rubbed　the　two　dollar　bills　between　his　palms；　blew　on　them；　folded　them　longways　and　wideways　and　tucked　them　in　the　watch　pocket　of　his　breeches。
　 〃That　was　just　the　soup；〃　he　said。　〃Now　for　five　more〃　
　 A　rather　large　blond　cocker　spaniel　tore　around　the　Cadillac；　skidded　a　little　on　the　wet　concrete；　took　off　neatly；　hit　me　in　the　stomach　and　thighs　with　all　four　paws；　licked　my　face；　dropped　to　the　ground；　ran　around　my　legs；　sat　down　between　them；　let　his　tongue　out　all　the　way　and　started　to　pant。
　 I　stepped　over　him　and　braced　myself　against　the　side　of　the　car　and　got　my　handkerchief　out。
　 A　male　voice　called：　〃Here；　Heathcliff。　Here；　Heathcliff。〃　Steps　sounded　on　a　hard　walk。
　 〃That's　Heathcliff。〃　the　chauffeur　said　sourly。
　 〃Heathcliff？〃
　 〃Cripes；　that's　what　they　call　the　dog；　Jack。〃
　 〃Wuthering　Heights？〃　I　asked。
　 〃Now　you're　double…talking　again；〃　he　sneered。　〃Look　outpany。〃
　 He　picked　up　the　sponge　and　the　hose　and　went　back　to　washing　the　car。　I　moved　away　from　him。　The　cocker　spaniel　immediately　moved　between　my　legs　again；　almost　tripping　me。
　 〃Here；　Heathcliff；〃　the　male　voice　called　out　louder；　and　a　man　came　into　view　through　the　opening　of　a　latticed　tunnel　covered　with　climbing　roses。
　 Tall；　dark；　with　a　clear　olive　skin；　brilliant　black　eyes；　gleaming　white　teeth。　Sideburns。　A　narrow　black　mustache。　Sideburns　too　long；　much　too　long。　White　shirt　with　embroidered　initials　on　the　pocket；　white　slacks；　white　shoes。　A　wrist　watch　that　curved　halfway　around　a　lean　dark　wrist；　held　on　by　a　gold　chain。　A　yellow　scarf　around　a　bronzed　slender　neck。
　 He　saw　the　dog　squatted　between　my　legs　and　didn't　like　it。　He　snapped　long　fingers　and　snapped　a　clear　hard　voice：
　 〃Here；　Heathcliff。　e　here　at　once！〃
　 The　dog　breathed　hard　and　didn't　move；　except　to　lean　a　little　closer　to　my　right　leg。
　 〃Who　are　you？〃　the　man　asked；　staring　me　down。
　 I　held　out　my　card。　Olive　fingers　took　the　card。　The　dog　quietly　backed　out　from　between　my　legs；　edged　around　the　front　end　of　the　car；　and　faded　silently　into　the　distance。
　 〃Marlowe；〃　the　man　said。　〃Marlowe；　eh？　What's　this？　A　detective？　What　do　you　want？〃
　 〃Want　to　see　Mrs。　Morny。〃
　 He　looked　me　up　and　down；　brilliant　black　eyes　sweeping　slowly　and　the　silky　fringes　of　long　eyelashes　following　them。
　 〃Weren't　you　told　she　was　not　in？〃
　 〃Yeah；　but　I　didn't　believe　it。　Are　you　Mr。　Morny？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃That's　Mr。　Vannier；〃　the　chauffeur　said　behind　my　back；　in　the　drawled；　over…polite　voice　of　deliberate　insolence。　〃Mr。　Vannier's　a　friend　of　the　family。　He　es　here　quite　a　lot。〃
　 Vannier　looked　past　my　shoulder；　his　eyes　furious。　The　chauffeur　came　around　the　car　and　spit　the　cigarette　stub　out　of　his　mouth　with　casual　contempt。
　 〃I　told　the　shamus　the　boss　wasn't　here；　Mr。　Vannier。〃
　 〃I　see。〃
　 〃I　told　him　Mrs。　Morny　and　you　was　here。　Did　I　do　wrong？〃　
　 Vannier　said：　〃You　could　have　minded　your　own　business。〃　
　 The　chauffeur　said：　〃I　wonder　why　the　hell　I　didn't　think　of　that。〃
　 Vannier　said：　〃Get　out　before　I　break　your　dirty　little　neck　for　you。〃
　 The　chauffeur　eyed　him　quietly　and　then　went　back　into　the　gloom　of　the　garage　and　started　to　whistle。　Vannier　moved　his　hot　angry　eyes　over　to　me　and　snapped：
　 〃You　were　told　Mrs。　Morny　was　not　in；　but　it　didn't　take。　Is　that　it？　In　other　words　the　information　failed　to　satisfy　you。〃
　 〃If　we　have　to　have　other　words；〃　I　said；　〃those　might　do。〃
　 〃I　see。　Could　you　bring　yourself　to　say　what　point　you　wish　to　discuss　with　Mrs。　Morny？〃
　 〃I'd　prefer　to　explain　that　to　Mrs。　Morny　herself。〃
　 〃The　implication　is　that　she　doesn't　care　to　see　you。〃
　 Behind　the　car　the　chauffeur　said：　〃Watch　his　right；　Jack。　It　might　have　a　knife　in　it。〃
　 Vannier's　olive　skin　turned　the　color　of　dried　seaweed。　He　turned　on　his　heel　and　rapped　at　me　in　a　stifled　voice：　〃Follow　me。〃
　 He　went　along　the　brick　path　under　the　tunnel　of　roses　and　through　a　white　gate　at　the　end。　Beyond　was　a　walled…in　garden　containing　flowerbeds　crammed　with　showy　annuals；　a　badminton　court；　a　nice　stretch　of　greensward；　and　a　small　tiled　pool　glittering　angrily　in　the　sun。　Beside　the　pool　there　was　a　flagged　space　set　with　blue　and　white　garden　furniture；　low　tables　with　position　tops；　reclining　chairs　with　footrests　and　enormous　cushions；　and　over　all　a　blue　and　white　umbrella　as　big　as　a　small　tent。
　 A　long…limbed　languorous　type　of　showgirl　blond　lay　at　her　ease　in　one　of　the　chairs；　with　her　feet　raised　on　a　padded　rest　and　a　tall　misted　glass　at　her　elbow；　near　a　silver　ice　bucket　and　a　Scotch　bottle。　She　looked　at　us　lazily　as　we　came　over　the　grass。　From　thirty　feet　away　she　looked　like　a　lot　of　class。　From　ten　feet　away　she　looked　like　something　made　up　to　be　seen　from　thirty　feet　away。　Her　mouth　was　too　wide；　her　eyes　were　too　blue；　her　makeup　was　too　vivid；　the　thin　arch　of　her　eyebrows　was　almost　fantastic　in　its　curve　and　spread；　and　the　mascara　was　so　thick　on　her　eyelashes　that　they　looked　like　miniature　iron　railings。
　 She　wore　white　duck　slacks；　blue　and　white　open…toed　sandals　over　bare　feet　and　crimson　lake　toenails；　a　white　silk　blouse　and　a　necklace　of　green　stones　that　were　not　square　cut　emeralds。　Her　hair　was　as　artificial　as　a　night　club　lobby。
　 On　the　chair　beside　her　there　was　a　white　straw　garden　hat　with　a　brim　the　size　of　a　spare　tire　and　a　white　satin　chin　strap。　On　the　brim　of　the　hat　lay　a　pair　of　green　sun　glasses　with　lenses　the　size　of　doughnuts。
　 Vannier　marched　over　to　her　and　snapped　out：　〃You've　got　to　can　that　nasty　little　red…eyed　driver　of　yours；　but　quick。　Otherwise　I'm　liable　to　break　his　neck　any　minute。　I　can't　go　near　him　without　getting　insulted。〃
　 The　blond　coughed　lightly；　flicked　a　handkerchief　around　without　doing　anything　with　it；　and　said：
　 〃Sit　down　and　rest　your　sex　appeal。　Who's　your　friend？〃
　 Vannier　looked　for　my　card；　found　he　was　holding　it　in　his　band　and　threw　it　on　her　lap。　She　picked　it　up　languidly；　ran　her　eyes　over　it；　ran　them　over　me；　sighed　and　tapped　her　teeth　with　her　fingernails。
　 〃Big；　isn't　he？　Too　much　for　you　to　handle；　I　guess。〃　
　 Vannier　looked　at　me　nastily。　〃All　right；　get　it　over　with；　whatever　it　is。〃
　 〃Do　I　talk　to　her？〃　I　asked。　〃Or　do　I　talk　to　you　and　have　you　put　it　in　English？〃
　 The　blond　laughed。　A　silvery　ripple　of　laughter　that　held　the　unspoiled　naturalness　of　a　bubble　dance。　A　small　tongue　played　roguishly　along　her　lips。
　 Vannier　sat　down　and　lit　a　gold…tipped　cigarette　and　I　stood　there　looking　at　them。
　 I　said：　〃I'm　looking　for　a　friend　of　yours；　Mrs。　Morny。　I　understand　that　she　shared　an　apartment　with　you　about　a　year　ago。　Her　name　is　Linda　Conquest。〃
　 Vannier　flicked　his　eyes　up；　down；　up；　down。　He　turned　his　head　and　looked　across　the　pool。　The　cocker　spaniel　named　Heathcliff　sat　over　there　looking　at　us　with　the　white　of　one　eye。
　 Vannier　snapped　his　fingers。　〃Here；　Heathcliff！　Here；　Heathcliff！　e　here；　sir！〃
　 The　blond　said：　〃Shut　up。　The　dog　hates　your　guts。　Give　your　vanity　a　rest；　for　heaven's　sake。〃
　 Vannier　snapped：　〃Don't　talk　like　that　to　me。〃
　 The　blond　giggled　and　petted　his　face　with　her　eyes。
　 I　said：　〃I'm　looking　for　a　girl　named　Linda　Conquest；　Mrs。　Morny。〃
　 The　blond　looked　at　me　and　said：　〃So　you　said。　I　was　just　thinking。　I　don't　think　I've　seen　her　in　six　months。　S