esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第1节

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　　PERRY　MASON…fighting　attorney；　who　preferred　being　paid　off　as　a　sheep　to　being　double…crossed　like　a　lamb
　　DELLA　STREET…who　was　a　faithful　Girl　Friday　（also　Sunday　and　Monday；　if　not　quite　always）
　　EVA　GRIFFIN…well　groomed　and　well　heeled；　who　was　a　phony
　　HARRISON　BURKE…Congressman；　whose　Duty　to　the　People　was　to　keep　them　from　knowing　he　was　mixed　up　in　murder
　　FRANK　LOCKE…editor　of　Spicy　Bits；　who　was　Southern；　but　no　gentleman
　　PAUL　DRAKE…who　turned　up　some　interesting　information　on　Georgia　peaches　and　sons　of　same
　　SIDNEY　DRUMM…who　put　himself　out　on　a　limb　of　the　tree　Perry　Mason　was　up
　　GEORGE　C。　BELTER…who　got　his　money　by　blackmail；　and　who…naturally…got　his
　　MRS。　BELTER…a　woman　who　had　a　will　of　her　own　and　put　a　velvet　clause　in　it
　　CARL　GRIFFIN…nephew　of　George　Belter；　and　a　gentleman　around　and　around　and　around　the　town
　　BILL　HOFFMAN…head　of　Homicide；　who　wanted　the　sleuth；　the　whole　sleuth；　and　little　else
　　MRS。　VEITCH…the　housekeeper；　who　was　silent　as　the　tomb　and　looked　like　a　mummy
　　NORMA　VEITCH…a　girl　with　matrimonies　on　her　mind
　　ESTHER　LINTEN…who　made　up　for　losing　her　beauty　sleep　by　deciding　to　pass　out　the　night　before
　　SOL　STEINBURG…who　excelled　at　histrionics
　　ARTHUR　ATWOOD…who　found　himself　vulnerable　on　Mrs。　Belter's　tricks
　　HARRY　LORING…who　wasn't　sure　whether　he　had　too　many　wives　or　none
　　
　　
　　　1。
　　
　　Autumn　sun　beat　against　the　window。
　　Perry　Mason　sat　at　the　big　desk。　There　was　about　him　the　attitude　of　one　who　is　waiting。　His　face　in　repose　was　like　the　face　of　a　chess　player　who　is　studying　the　board。　That　face　seldom　changed　expression。　Only　the　eyes　changed　expression。　He　gave　the　impression　of　being　a　thinker　and　a　fighter；　a　man　who　could　work　with　infinite　patience　to　jockey　an　adversary　into　just　the　right　position；　and　then　finish　him　with　one　terrific　punch。
　　Book　cases；　filled　with　leather…backed　books；　lined　the　walls　of　the　room。　A　big　safe　was　in　one　corner。　There　were　two　chairs；　in　addition　to　the　swivel　chair　which　Perry　Mason　occupied。　The　office　held　an　atmosphere　of　plain；　rugged　efficiency；　as　though　it　had　absorbed　something　of　the　personality　of　the　man　who　occupied　it。
　　The　door　to　the　outer　office　opened；　and　Della　Street；　his　secretary；　eased　her　way　into　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind　her。
　　〃A　woman；〃　she　said；　〃who　claims　to　be　a　Mrs。　Eva　Griffin。〃　Perry　Mason　looked　at　the　girl　with　level　eyes。
　　〃And　you　don't　think　she　is？〃　he　asked。
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃She　looks　phony　to　me；〃　she　said。　〃I've　looked　up　the　Griffins　in　the　telephone　book。　And　there　isn't　any　Griffin　who　has　an　address　like　the　one　she　gave。　I　looked　in　the　City　Directory；　and　got　the　same　result。　There　are　a　lot　of　Griffins；　but　I　don't　find　any　Eva　Griffin。　And　I　don't　find　any　at　her　address。〃
　　〃What　was　the　address？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃2271　Grove　Street；〃　she　said。
　　Perry　Mason　made　a　notation　on　a　slip　of　paper。
　　〃I'll　see　her；〃　he　said。
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Della　Street。　〃I　just　wanted　you　to　know　that　she　looks　phony　to　me。〃
　　Della　Street　was　slim　of　figure；　steady　of　eye；　a　young　woman　of　approximately　twenty…seven；　who　gave　the　impression　of　watching　life　with　keenly　appreciative　eyes　and　seeing　far　below　the　surface。
　　She　remained　standing　in　the　doorway　eyeing　Perry　Mason　with　quiet　insistence。　〃I　wish；〃　she　said；　〃that　you'd　find　out　who　she　really　is　before　we　do　anything　for　her。〃
　　〃A　hunch？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　〃You　might　call　it　that；〃　she　said；　smiling。
　　Perry　Mason　nodded。　His　face　had　not　changed　expression。　Only　his　eyes　had　bee　warily　watchful。
　　〃All　right；　send　her　in；　and　I'll　take　a　look　at　her　myself。〃
　　Della　Street　closed　the　door　as　she　went　out；　keeping　a　hand　on　the　knob；　however。　Within　a　few　seconds；　the　knob　turned　the　door　opened；　and　a　woman　walked　into　the　room　with　an　air　of　easy　assurance。
　　She　was　in　her　early　thirties；　or　perhaps；　her　late　twenties…well　groomed；　and　giving　an　appearance　of　being　exceedingly　well　cared　for。　She　flashed　a　swiftly　appraising　glance　about　the　office　before　she　looked　at　the　man　seated　behind　the　desk。
　　〃e　in　and　sit　down；〃　said　Perry　Mason。
　　She　looked　at　him　then；　and　there　was　a　faint　expression　of　annoyance　upon　her　face。　It　was　as　though　she　expected　men　to　get　up　when　she　came　into　the　room；　and　to　treat　her　with　a　deferential　recognition　of　her　sex　and　her　position。
　　For　just　a　moment　she　seemed　inclined　to　ignore　his　invitation。　Then　she　walked　to　the　chair　across　from　the　desk　sat　down　in　it；　and　looked　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Well？〃　he　asked。
　　〃You're　Mr。　Mason；　the　attorney？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　The　blue　eyes　which　had　been　looking　at　him　in　cautious　appraisal；　suddenly　widened　as　though　by　an　effort。　They　gave　to　her　face　an　expression　of　utter　innocence。
　　〃I　am　in　trouble；〃　she　said。
　　Perry　Mason　nodded　as　though　the　news　meant　nothing　to　him；　other　than　a　matter　of　daily　routine。
　　When　she　didn't　go　on；　he　said：　〃Most　people　who　e　in　here　are…〃
　　The　woman　said；　abruptly：　〃You　don't　make　it　easy　for　me　to　tell　you　about　it。　Most　of　the　attorneys　I　have　consulted。。。〃
　　She　was　suddenly　silent。
　　Perry　Mason　smiled　at　her。　Slowly　he　got　to　his　feet；　put　his　hands　on　the　edge　of　the　desk　and　leaned　his　weight　on　them　so　that　his　body　was　leaning　toward　her　across　the　desk。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　know。　Most　of　the　attorneys　that　you've　consulted　have　had　expensive　suites　of　offices　and　a　lot　of　clerks　running　in　and　out。　You've　paid　them　big　money　and　haven't　had　anything　much　to　show　for　it。　They've　bowed　and　scraped　when　you　came　in　the　room；　and　charged　you　big　retainers。　But　when　you　get　in　a　real　jam　you　don't　dare　to　go　to　them。〃
　　Her　wide　eyes　narrowed　somewhat。　For　two　or　three　seconds　they　stared　at　each　other；　and　then　the　woman　lowered　her　eyes。
　　Perry　Mason　continued　to　speak；　slowly　and　forcefully；　yet　without　raising　his　voice。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　different。　I　get　my　business　because　I　fight　for　it；　and　because　I　fight　for　my　clients。　Nobody　ever　called　on　me　to　organize　a　corporation；　and　I've　never　yet　probated　an　estate。　I　haven't　drawn　up　over　a　dozen　contracts　in　my　life；　and　I　wouldn't　know　how　to　go　about　foreclosing　a　mortgage。　People　that　e　to　me　don't　e　to　me　because　they　like　the　looks　of　my　eyes；　or　the　way　my　office　is　furnished；　or　because　they've　known　me　at　a　club。　They　e　to　me　because　they　need　me。　They　e　to　me　because　they　want　to　hire　me　for　what　I　can　do。〃
　　She　looked　up　at　him　then。　〃Just　what　is　it　that　you　do；　Mr　Mason？〃　she　asked。
　　He　snapped　out　two　words　at　her。　〃I　fight！〃
　　She　nodded　vigorously。　〃That's　exactly　what　I　want　you　to　do　for　me。〃
　　He　sat　down　again　in　his　swivel　chair；　and　lit　a　cigarette。　The　atmosphere　seemed　to　have　been　cleared　as　though　the　two　personalities　had　created　an　electrical　storm　which　had　subsided。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Now　we've　wasted　enough　time　with　preliminaries。　Get　down　to　earth；　and　tell　me　what　it　is　you　want。　Tell　me　first　who　you　are　and　how　you　happened　to　e　to　me。　Maybe　it'll　make　it　easier　for　you　if　you　start　in　that　way。〃
　　She　began　to　speak　rapidly；　as　though　she　had　rehearsed　what　she　was　saying。
　　〃I　am　married。　My　name　is　Eva　Griffin；　and　I　reside　at　2271　Grove　Street。　I　have　trouble　that　I　can't　very　well　discuss　with　the　attorneys　who　have　heretofore　represented　me。　A　friend　who　asked　her　name　withheld；　told　me　about　you。　She　said　that　you　were　more　than　a　lawyer。　That　you　went　out　and　did　things。〃
　　She　was　silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　asked：　〃Is　it　true？〃
　　Perry　Mason　nodded　his　head。
　　〃I　suppose　so；〃　he　said。　〃Most　attorneys　hire　clerks　and　detectives　to　work　up　their　cases；　and　find　out　about　the　evidence。　I　don't；　for　the　simple　reason　that　I　can't　trust　any　one　to　do　that　sort　of　stuff　in　the　kind　of　cases　I　handle。　I　don't　handle　very　many；　but　when　I　do　I'm　well　paid；　and　I　usually　give　good　results。　When　I　hire　a　detective；　he's　hired　to　get　just　one　fact。〃
　　She　nodded　quickly　and　eagerly。　Now　that　the　ice　was　broken；　she　seemed　eager　to　go　on　with　her　story。
　　〃You　read　in　the　paper　about　the　hold…up　at　the　Beechwood　Inn　last　night？　There　were　some　guests；　you　know；　in　the　main　dining　room；　and　some　in　the　private　dining　rooms。　A　man　tried　to　hold　up　the　guests；　and　somebody　shot　him。〃
　　Perry　Mason　nodded。　〃I　read　about　it；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　was　there。〃
　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Know　anything　about　who　did　the　shooting？〃
　　She　lowered　her　eyes　for　a　moment；　and　then　raised　them　to　his。　〃No；〃　she　said。
　　He　looked　at　her；　narrowed　his　eyes　and　scowled。
　　She　met　the　stare　for　a　second　or　two；　then　lowered　her　eyes。
　　Perry　Mason　continued　to　wait　as　though　she　had　not　answered　his　question。
　　After　a　moment　she　raised　her　eyes　once　more；　and　fidgeted　uneasily　in　the　chair。　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃if　you're　going　to　be　my　attorney；　I　should　tell　you　the　truth。　Yes。〃
　　Mason's　nod　seemed　more　of　satisfaction　than　affirmation。
　　〃Go　on；〃　he　told　her。
　　〃We　tried　to　get　out；　and　couldn't。　The　entrances　were　all　watched。　It　seems　somebody　had　put　thr