esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第16节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　She　glanced　at　the　older　woman；　and　the　older　woman　nodded　her　head　once　more。
　　〃I'll　get　it；　Mother；〃　said　Norma　Veitch。
　　〃No；〃　said　the　older　woman；　speaking　in　a　voice　that　was　as　dry　as　the　rustling　of　corn　husks。　〃I'll　get　it。　You　don't　know　where　things　are。〃
　　She　pushed　back　her　chair　and　walked　across　the　kitchen　to　a　cupboard。　She　slid　back　a　door　and　took　down　a　huge　coffee　percolator　and　a　can　of　coffee。　Her　face　was　absolutely　expressionless；　but　she　moved　as　though　she　were　very　tired。
　　She　was　flat…chested　and　flat…hipped　and　walked　with　springless　steps。　Her　entire　manner　was　that　of　dejection。
　　The　girl　turned　to　Mason　and　flashed　him　a　smile　from　her　full　red　lips。
　　〃You're　a　detective？〃　she　asked。
　　Mason　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　the　man　that　was　here　with　Mrs。　Belter。　I'm　the　one　that　called　the　police。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃Oh；　yes。　I　heard　something　about　you。〃
　　Mason　turned　to　the　mother。
　　〃I　can　make　the　coffee　all　right；　Mrs。　Veitch；　if　you　don't　feel　able。〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　in　that　same　dry；　expressionless　voice。　〃I　can　make　it　all　right。〃
　　She　poured　coffee　into　the　container；　put　water　in　the　percolator；　walked　over　to　the　gas　stove；　lit　the　gas；　looked　at　the　percolator　for　a　moment；　then　walked　with　her　peculiar；　flat…footed　gait　back　to　the　chair；　sat　down；　folded　her　hands　on　her　lap；　and　lowered　her　eyes　so　that　she　was　staring　at　the　top　of　the　table。　She　continued　to　stare　there　in　fixed　intensity。
　　Norma　Veitch　looked　up　at　Perry　Mason。　〃My；〃　she　said；　〃it　was　horrible。　Wasn't　it？〃
　　Mason　nodded；　remarked　casually；　〃You　didn't　hear　the　shot；　I　presume？〃
　　The　girl　shook　her　head。
　　〃No；　I　was　sound　asleep。　In　fact；　I　didn't　wake　up　until　after　the　officers　came。　They　got　Mother　up；　and　I　guess　they　didn't　know　that　I　was　sleeping　in　the　adjoining　room。　They　wanted　to　look　through　Mother's　room　while　she　was　upstairs；　I　guess。　Anyway；　the　first　thing　I　knew；　I　woke　up　and　there　was　a　man　standing　by　the　bed　looking　down　at　me。〃
　　She　lowered　her　eyes　and　tittered　slightly。
　　One　gathered　that　she　had　not　found　the　experience　unpleasant。
　　〃What　happened？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃They　acted　as　though　they　thought　they　had　discovered　the　nigger　in　the　woodpile；〃　she　said。　〃They　made　me　put　on　clothes　and　wouldn't　even　let　me　out　of　their　sight　while　I　was　dressing。　They　took　me　upstairs；　and　gave　me　what　they　call　a　third　degree；　I　guess。〃
　　〃What　did　you　tell　them？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃Told　them　the　truth；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　went　to　bed　and　went　to　sleep；　and　woke　up　to　find　somebody　staring　down　at　me。〃　She　seemed　rather　pleased　as　she　added；　〃They　didn't　believe　me。〃
　　Her　mother　sat　at　the　table；　hands　folded　on　her　lap；　eyes　staring　steadily　in　fixed　intensity　at　the　center　of　the　table。
　　〃And　you　didn't　hear　anything；　or　see　anything？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Not　a　thing。〃
　　〃Have　you　any　ideas　about　it？〃
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃None　that　would　bear　repeating。〃
　　He　glanced　at　her　sharply。
　　〃Have　you　any　that　wouldn't　bear　repeating？〃　he　inquired。
　　She　nodded　her　head。
　　〃Of　course；　I've　only　been　around　here　a　week　or　so；　but　in　that　time。。。〃
　　〃Norma！〃　said　her　mother；　in　a　voice　which　had　suddenly　lost　its　dry　huskiness　and　cracked　like　the　lash　of　a　whip。
　　The　girl　lapsed　into　abrupt　silence。
　　Perry　Mason　glanced　at　the　older　woman。　She　had　not　so　much　as　raised　her　eyes　from　the　table　when　she　spoke。
　　〃Did　you　hear　anything；　Mrs。　Veitch？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　am　a　servant。　I　hear　nothing；　and　I　see　nothing。〃
　　〃Rather　mendable　for　one　who　is　a　servant；　as　far　as　minor　matters　are　concerned；〃　he　observed；　〃but　I　think　you　will　find　the　law　has　ideas　of　its　own　upon　the　matter；　and　that　you　will　be　required　to　see　and　to　hear。〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　without　so　much　as　moving　a　muscle　of　her　head。　〃I　saw　nothing。〃
　　〃And　heard　nothing？〃
　　〃And　heard　nothing。〃
　　Perry　Mason　scowled。　Somehow　he　sensed　that　the　woman　was　concealing　something。
　　〃Did　you　answer　those　questions　in　just　that　way　when　you　were　questioned　upstairs？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　think；〃　she　said；　〃the　coffee　is　about　ready　to　start　percolating。　You　can　turn　the　fire　down　as　soon　as　it　does；　so　that　it　doesn't　boil　over。〃
　　Mason　turned　to　the　coffee。　The　percolator　was　specially　designed　to　heat　a　maximum　of　water　in　a　small　amount　of　time；　and　the　fire　under　it　was　a　blue　flame　of　terrific　heat。　Steam　was　mencing　to　rise　from　the　water。
　　〃I'll　watch　the　coffee；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　interested　to　know　whether　or　not　you　answered　the　questions　in　exactly　that　way　when　you　were　upstairs。〃
　　〃What　way？〃　she　countered。
　　〃The　way　you　answered　them　here。〃
　　〃I　told　them　the　same　thing；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　saw　nothing　and　heard　nothing。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　giggled。　〃That's　her　story；〃　she　said；　〃and　she　sticks　to　it。〃
　　The　mother　snapped；　〃Norma！〃
　　Mason　stared　at　them　both；　his　thoughtful　face　apparently　absolutely　placid。　Only　his　eyes　were　hard　and　calculating。
　　〃You　know；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　a　lawyer。　If　you　have　anything　to　confide　in　me；　now　would　make　an　excellent　time。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch；　tonelessly。
　　〃How's　that？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　〃I　merely　agreed；〃　she　said；　〃that　this　would　be　an　excellent　time。〃
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。
　　〃Well？〃　said　Mason。
　　〃But　I　have　nothing　to　confide；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　still　fixed　on　the　table　top。
　　At　that　moment；　the　percolator　menced　to　bubble。　Mason　turned　down　the　fire。
　　〃I'll　get　some　cups　and　saucers；〃　said　Norma；　jumping　to　her　feet。
　　Mrs。　Veitch　said；　〃Sit　down；　Norma。　I'll　do　it。〃　She　pushed　back　her　chair；　walked　to　one　of　the　cupboards；　and　took　down　some　cups　and　saucers。　〃They'll　drink　out　of　these。〃
　　〃Mother；〃　said　Norma；　〃those　are　the　cups　and　saucers　that　are　kept　for　the　chauffeurs　and　servants。〃
　　〃These　are　police　officers；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch。　〃They're　just　the　same。〃
　　〃No；　they　aren't；　Mother；〃　said　Norma。
　　〃I'm　doing　this；〃　said　Mrs。　Veitch。　〃You　know　what　the　master　would　have　said　had　he　been　alive。　He'd　have　given　them　nothing。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃Well；　he　isn't　alive。　Mrs。　Belter　is　going　to　be　the　one　that　runs　things。〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch　turned　and　looked　steadily　at　her　daughter　from　those　deep…set；　lack…luster　eyes。
　　〃Don't　be　too　sure　that　she　is；〃　she　said。
　　Perry　Mason　poured　some　of　the　coffee　into　the　cups；　and　then　poured　it　back　through　the　coffee　container　in　the　percolator。　When　he　had　poured　it　through　the　second　time；　it　was　black　and　steaming。
　　〃Get　me　a　tray；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　take　in　a　couple　of　cups　to　Sergeant　Hoffman　and　Carl　Griffin。　You　can　serve　coffee　to　the　others　upstairs。〃
　　Wordlessly；　she　secured　him　a　tray。　Perry　Mason　poured　three　cups　of　coffee；　picked　up　the　tray；　and　walked　into　the　dining　room；　through　it　into　the　sitting　room。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　was　standing；　his　shoulders　thrown　back；　his　head　thrust　forward；　feet　wide　apart。
　　Plumped　down　in　one　of　the　chairs；　his　face　flushed　and　his　eyes　very　red；　was　Carl　Griffin。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　was　talking　as　Perry　Mason　brought　in　the　coffee。
　　〃That　wasn't　the　way　you　talked　about　her　when　you　first　came　in；〃　Sergeant　Hoffman　said。
　　〃I　was　drunk　then；〃　said　Griffin。
　　Hoffman　stared　at　him。　〃Many　times　a　person　tells　the　truth　when　he's　drunk　and　conceals　his　feelings　when　he's　sober；〃　he　remarked。
　　Carl　Griffin　raised　his　eyebrows　in　an　expression　of　well…bred　surprise。
　　〃Indeed？〃　he　observed。　〃I'd　never　noticed　it。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　heard　Mason　behind　him；　whirled；　and　grinned　as　he　saw　the　steaming　cups　of　coffee。
　　〃Okay；　Mason；〃　he　said；　〃that's　going　to　e　in　pretty　handy。　Drink　one　of　these；　Griffin；　and　you'll　feel　better。〃
　　Griffin　nodded。　〃It　looks　good；　but　I　feel　all　right　now。〃
　　Mason　handed　him　a　cup　of　coffee。
　　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　a　will？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman；　abruptly。
　　〃I'd　rather　not　answer　that；　if　you　don't　mind；　Sergeant；〃　Griffin　answered。
　　Hoffman　took　himself　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃It　happens　that　I　do　mind；〃　he　mented。　〃I　want　you　to　answer　that　question。〃
　　〃Yes；　there's　a　will；〃　Griffin　admitted。
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know　there　is　one？〃
　　〃He　showed　it　to　me。〃
　　〃Does　the　property　all　go　to　his　wife？〃
　　Griffin　shook　his　head。
　　〃I　don't　think　anything　goes　to　her；〃　he　said；　〃except　the　sum　of　five　thousand　dollars。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　raised　his　eyebrows；　and　whistled。
　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃puts　a　different　aspect　on　it。〃
　　〃Different　aspect　on　what？〃　asked　Griffin。
　　〃On　the　whole　situation；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃She　was　kept　here　practically　dependent　on　him；　and　upon　his　continuing　to　live。　The　minute　he　died；　she　was　put　out　with　virtually　nothing。〃
　　Griffin　volunteered　a　statement　by　way　of　explanation。　〃I　don't　think　they　were　very　congenial。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　said；　musingly；　〃That's　not　the　point。　Usually　in　any　of　these　cases；　we　have　to　look　for　a　motive。〃
　　Mason　grinned　at　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃Are　you　insinuating　that　Mrs。　Belter　fired　the　shot　which　killed　her　husband？〃　he