esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第32节

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　　Mason　nodded。　〃Walk　right　in；〃　he　said。
　　Eva　Belter　gave　a　little　cry。　〃Perry；　you've　got　to　protect　me！　I　came　clean。　You've　got　to　stand　back　of　me。〃
　　Perry　looked　at　her；　then　turned　abruptly　to　Sidney　Drumm。
　　〃This　is　a　break　for　you；　Sidney；〃　he　said。　〃You're　going　to　be　able　to　make　the　arrest。　This　is　Eva　Belter；　who　has　just　confessed　to　the　murder　of　her　husband。〃
　　Eva　Belter　screamed；　got　to　her　feet　and　swayed　uncertainly。
　　Drumm　looked　from　one　to　the　other。
　　〃It's　a　fact；〃　Paul　Drake　said。
　　Mason　motioned　toward　Della　Street。
　　〃It's　all　down　there；〃　he　said；　〃in　black　and　white。　We've　got　witnesses；　and　we've　got　her　statement　taken　verbatim。〃
　　Sidney　Drumm　whistled　under　his　breath。
　　〃By　God；　Perry；〃　he　said；　〃that's　a　lucky　break　for　you！　They　were　going　to　charge　you　with　the　murder。〃
　　Mason's　voice　was　savage；　〃There　wasn't　any　luck　about　it。　I　was　willing　to　give　her　a　break　as　long　as　she　shot　square。　But　when　I　read　in　the　paper　about　her　dragging　me　into　it；　I　made　up　my　mind　that　I　was　going　to　call　for　a　show…down。〃
　　Paul　Drake　said；　〃Do　you　really　know　where　Harrison　Burke　is？〃
　　〃Hell；　no！〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃I　didn't　even　get　out　of　this　room　last　night。　I　simply　sat　here　and　thought。　I　did　get　hold　of　Mrs。　Veitch；　and　told　her　that　Eva　Belter　was　going　to　be　in　here　this　morning　and　wanted　her　to　be　here　in　order　to　corroborate　a　statement　she　was　going　to　make　to　the　reporters。　I　sent　a　taxi　out　for　Mrs。　Veitch　and　had　her　e　in。〃
　　〃She　wouldn't　have　backed　you　up　in　the　statement？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I　didn't　talk　with　her　at　all。　She　wouldn't　talk　with　me。　I　think　she's　holding　something　back；　though。　I'm　satisfied　she　knows　something。　I　simply　wanted　to　have　you　open　the　door　and　let　Eva　Belter　see　her　here　for　the　purpose　of　exerting　a　little　pressure。〃
　　Eva　Belter　stared　white…faced　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Damn　you；〃　she　said；　〃for　a　double…crossing　back…stabber！〃
　　It　was　Sidney　Drumm　who　gave　the　situation　its　last　touch　of　irony。　〃Hell；〃　he　said；　〃Eva　Belter　was　the　woman　who　told　us　where　you　were；　Perry。　She　said　she　was　going　to　see　you　this　morning　and　that　we　could　wait　until　someone　else　came　here　and　claim　we'd　followed　that　other　person。　She　wanted　to　have　you　think　we'd　followed　Della　Street　or　someone；　instead　of　her。〃
　　Mason　made　no　ment。　His　face　was　suddenly　very　weary。
　　
　　
　　　16。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　sat　in　his　office　looking　very　tired。
　　Della　Street　sat　across　the　desk　from　him　and　avoided　his　eyes。
　　〃I　thought　you　didn't　like　her；〃　Mason　remarked。
　　She　kept　her　eyes　averted。
　　〃I　didn't；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　I'm　sorry　that　you　had　to　be　the　one　that　made　the　disclosure。　She　relied　on　you　to　get　her　out　of　trouble。　You　turned　her　over　to　the　officers。〃
　　〃I　didn't　do　anything　of　the　sort；〃　he　denied。　〃I　simply　refused　to　be　the　goat。〃
　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃I've　known　you　for　five　years；〃　she　said；　slowly。　〃During　that　time　your　clients　have　always　e　first。　You　didn't　make　the　cases；　and　you　didn't　make　the　clients。　You　took　them　as　they　came。　Some　of　your　clients　got　hung。　Others　got　free。　But；　while　you　represented　them；　you　never　went　back　on　any　of　them。〃
　　〃What　is　this；〃　he　asked；　〃a　sermon？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　shortly。
　　〃Go　on；　then。〃
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃It's　finished。〃
　　He　got　up　and　walked　over　to　her；　and　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。
　　〃Della；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　one　thing　to　ask　you。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Please　have　confidence　in　me；〃　he　said；　humbly。
　　She　looked　up　and　met　his　eyes　then。
　　〃You　mean。。。？〃
　　He　nodded　his　head。
　　〃She　isn't　convicted；〃　he　said；　〃of　a　damned　thing　until　a　jury　brings　in　a　verdict　finding　her　guilty　of　something。〃
　　〃But；〃　said　Della　Street；　〃she　won't　have　anything　more　to　do　with　you。　She'll　get　another　lawyer　now；　and　she's　confessed。　How　are　you　going　to　get　away　from　that　confession？　She　repeated　the　confession　to　the　police　and　signed　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　to　get　away　from　it。　You've　got　to　convict　them　beyond　a　reasonable　doubt。　If　a　jury　has　a　reasonable　doubt；　it　can't　convict。　I　can　get　her　free　yet。〃
　　She　scowled　at　him。
　　〃Why　couldn't　you　have　let　Paul　Drake　tip　off　the　police　to　ask　her　certain　questions？〃　she　said。　〃Why　did　you　have　to　tell　them？〃
　　〃Because　she'd　have　lied　her　way　out　of　any　questions　the　police　could　have　asked。　She's　clever；　that　woman。　She　wanted　me　to　help　her；　but　she　figured　that　she'd　throw　me　to　the　wolves　any　time　the　pack　got　too　close。〃
　　〃So　you　threw　her　instead？〃
　　〃If　you　want　to　put　it　that　way；　yes；〃　Mason　admitted；　and　took　his　hand　from　her　shoulder。
　　She　got　up　and　walked　toward　the　outer　office。
　　〃Carl　Griffin　is　out　there；〃　she　said；　〃and　Arthur　Atwood；　his　lawyer。〃
　　〃Send　them　in；〃　Mason　told　her　in　a　flat；　dispirited　tone　of　voice。
　　She　opened　the　door　to　the　outer　office；　held　it　open　and　beckoned　to　the　two　men。
　　Carl　Griffin's　face　showed　traces　of　his　dissipation；　but　he　was　perfectly　poised；　very　suave；　and　very　much　of　the　gentleman。　He　bowed　his　apologies　to　Della　Street　for　walking　in　front　of　her　as　he　passed　through　the　door；　smiled　courteously　and　meaninglessly　at　Perry　Mason；　as　he　said；　〃Good　afternoon。〃
　　Arthur　Atwood　was　a　man　in　his　late　forties；　with　a　face　that　needed　sunlight。　His　eyes　were　sparkling；　but　shifty。　His　head　was　bald　from　the　forehead　to　the　top　where　a　fringe　of　hair　ran　around　and　down　to　his　ears；　making　a　fuzzy　halo　for　the　back　of　the　head。　His　lips　were　twisted　into　a　perpetual；　professional　smile；　which　was　utterly　meaningless。　The　face　had　taken　on　lines　from　that　smile；　deep　calipers　running　from　the　nose　to　the　corners　of　the　mouth；　with　crow's…feet　radiating　out　from　the　eyes。　He　was　a　man　who　was　hard　to　judge；　except　in　one　thing…he　was　a　dangerous　antagonist。
　　Perry　Mason　indicated　chairs　and　Della　Street　closed　the　door。
　　Carl　Griffin　started　talking。　〃You　will　pardon　me；　Mr。　Mason；　if　I　seemed　to　have　misunderstood　your　motives　in　this　case　earlier　in　the　game。　I　understand　that　it　was　your　clever　detective　work　which　is　largely　responsible　for　the　confession　of　Mrs。　Belter。〃
　　Arthur　Atwood　interposed　affably；　〃Just　leave　the　talking　to　me　if　you　will；　Carl。〃
　　Griffin　smiled　suavely；　bowed　toward　his　counsel。
　　Arthur　Atwood　hitched　a　chair　up　to　the　desk；　sat　down；　looked　at　Perry　Mason：　〃All　right；　counselor；　we　understand　each　other；　I　take　it。〃
　　〃I'm　not　certain　that　we　do；〃　said　Mason。
　　Atwood's　lips　twisted　in　his　perpetual　smile；　but　his　sparkling　eyes　showed　no　trace　of　humor。
　　〃You're　the　attorney　of　record；〃　he　said；　〃for　Eva　Belter's　contest　to　the　probate　of　the　will。　Also　for　her　in　her　application　for　letters　as　special　administratrix。　It　would　simplify　matters　very　much　if　you　would　dismiss　both　the　contest；　and　the　application…without　prejudice；　of　course。〃
　　〃Whom　would　it　simplify　matters　for？〃　Mason　asked。
　　Atwood　waved　his　hand　in　the　direction　of　his　client。　〃Mr。　Griffin；　of　course。〃
　　〃I'm　not　representing　Griffin；〃　Mason　answered　curtly。
　　Atwood's　eyes　now　joined　in　the　smile　of　his　lips。
　　〃That；　of　course；　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃at　the　present　time。　However；　I　may　state　candidly；　that　my　client　has　bee　very　much　impressed　with　the　rare　ability　which　you　have　shown　in　this　matter　and　with　the　spirit　of　fairness　which　has　characterized　you　throughout。　It　is；　of　course；　a　painful　and　embarrassing　bination　of　circumstances　all　around。　It　es　very　much　as　a　shock　to　my　client。　However；　there　can　now　be　no　question　as　to　what　happened；　and　my　client；　in　carrying　on　the　business　of　the　estate；　will　require　plenty　of　petent　counsel；　if　you　understand　what　I　mean。〃
　　〃Exactly　what　do　you　mean？〃　Mason　asked。
　　Atwood　sighed。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　must　speak　frankly；　or　I　might　say；　crudely；　inasmuch　as　we　are　all　here　together；　just　the　three　of　us；　it　is　quite　possible　that　my　client　will　find　that　the　operation　of　the　publication；　Spicy　Bits；　is　something　which　will　require　very　specialized　attention。　I；　of　course；　will　be　busy　representing　the　balance　of　the　estate；　and　he　has　suggested　to　me　that　he　might　like　to　secure　the　services　of　some　petent　attorney　to　advise　him；　particularly　with　reference　to　the　publication。　In　fact；　to　take　over　the　publication　during　the　period　that　the　estate　is　in　probate。〃
　　Atwood　ceased　speaking；　and　gazed　significantly；　with　his　beady；　glittering　eyes；　at　Perry　Mason。　Then；　as　Mason　said　nothing；　he　went　on；　〃The　matter　would　call　for　some　expenditure　of　time。　You　would　be　well　pensated；　very　well　pensated；　indeed。〃
　　Mason　was　blunt。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Why　mince　matters？　What　you　want　me　to　do　is　to　dismiss　the　contest　all　the　way　along　the　line　and　leave　Griffin　in　the　saddle。　He'll　see　that　I　make　some　money　out　of　it。　Is　that　the　proposition？〃
　　Atwood　pursed　his　lips。
　　〃Really；　counselor；　I　would　hesitate　to　mit　myself　upon　so　blunt　an　expression　of　policy；　but；　if　you　will　think　over　the　statement　that　I　made；　I　think　you　will　find　that　it　keeps　within　the　bounds　of　p