esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第37节

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　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said；　〃that　may　work　out　just　as　well。　Meet　me　out　at　the　foot　of　Elmwood　Drive。　We'll　be　waiting　there　in　a　Buick　coupe。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm。　〃We're　leaving　in　about　five　minutes。〃
　　〃See　you　later；〃　Mason　told　him；　and　slipped　the　receiver　back　on　its　hook。
　　
　　
　　　19。
　　
　　The　four　men　pushed　their　way　up　the　steps　of　the　Belter　Mansion。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　frowned　at　Mason。　〃Now　listen；　no　funny　business。　I'm　trusting　you　on　this。〃
　　〃Just　keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open；　and　if　you　think　I'm　uncovering　something；　go　ahead　and　follow　up　the　lead。　Any　time　you　think　I'm　trying　to　give　you　the　double…cross；　you　can　walk　out。〃
　　Hoffman　said；　〃That's　fair。〃
　　〃Let's　remember　one　or　two　things　before　we　start；〃　cautioned　Mason。　〃I　met　Mrs。　Belter　at　the　drug　store　down　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　We　came　up　together。　She　didn't　have　her　keys　with　her；　and　she　didn't　have　her　purse。　She'd　left　the　door　unlocked　when　she　came　out　so　she　could　get　back　in。　She　told　me　that　the　door　was　unlocked。　When　I　tried　the　door　it　was　locked。　The　night　latch　was　on。〃
　　Drumm　said；　〃She's　such　a　liar；　that　if　she　told　me　a　door　was　open；　I'd　know　it　was　locked。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；　too；〃　Mason　said；　doggedly　insistent；　〃but　remember　that　she　didn't　have　her　keys　with　her；　and　she　went　out　in　the　rain。　She　was　bound　to　figure　on　getting　back　in　some　way。〃
　　〃Maybe　she　was　too　rattled；〃　Hoffman　pointed　out。
　　〃Not　that　baby；〃　Mason　remarked。
　　〃All　right；　go　on；〃　said　Hoffman；　interested。　〃What's　next？〃
　　〃When　I　went　in；〃　said　Mason；　〃there　was　an　umbrella　in　the　stand；　which　was　wet。　There　was　a　pool　of　water　which　had　drained　down　from　it　on　the　floor　underneath。　You　probably　noticed　it　when　you　came。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman's　eyes　narrowed。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃e　to　think　of　it；　I　did　notice　it。　What　about　it？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　said　Mason；　〃yet。〃　He　reached　out　his　finger　and　pushed　the　bell　button。
　　After　a　few　minutes　the　door　was　opened　by　the　butler；　who　stared　at　them。
　　〃Carl　Griffin　home？〃　asked　Mason。
　　The　butler　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃he's　out。　He　had　a　business　appointment；　sir。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Veitch；　the　housekeeper's　here？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　sir；　of　course；　sir。〃
　　〃And　her　daughter；　Norma？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃we're　going　up　to　Belter's　study。　Don't　say　anything　to　anybody　about　the　fact　that　we're　here。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　butler。
　　Hoffman　stepped　inside　the　door；　and　looked　searchingly　at　the　hall　stand　in　which　the　umbrella　had　stood　the　night　of　the　murder。　His　eyes　were　very　thoughtful。
　　Drumm　was　whistling　nervously　in　a　low；　almost　inaudible　note。
　　They　climbed　up　the　stairs；　and　went　into　the　suite　where　Belter's　body　had　been　found。　Mason　switched　on　the　lights　and　began　a　minute　search　of　the　walls。
　　〃I　wish　you　folks　would　take　a　look；〃　he　said。
　　〃What　are　you　looking　for？〃　asked　Drumm。
　　〃A　bullet　hole；〃　said　Mason。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　grunted　and　said；　〃You　can　save　your　time　on　that。　We've　gone　over　every　inch　of　these　rooms；　and　had　them　photographed；　and　mapped。　A　bullet　couldn't　have　gone　through　here　without　leaving　a　hole　we'd　have　seen；　and　there'd　have　been　plaster　chipped　loose。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　made　a　search　before　you　got　here　looking　for　the　same　thing；　and　couldn't　find　it。　But　I　want　to　make　one　more　search。　I　know　what　must　have　happened；　but　I　can't　prove　it；　yet。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman；　suddenly　suspicious；　said；　〃Look　here；　Mason！　Are　you　trying　to　clear　that　woman？〃
　　Mason　turned　and　faced　him。
　　〃I'm　trying　to　show　what　actually　happened；〃　he　said。
　　Hoffman　frowned。　〃That　doesn't　answer　my　question。　Are　you　trying　to　free　the　woman？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃That　lets　me　out；〃　said　Hoffman。
　　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　said　Mason。　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　an　opportunity　to　get　your　pictures　all　over　the　front　pages　of　the　papers。〃
　　〃That's　what　I'm　afraid　of；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃You're　clever；　Mason。　I've　looked　you　up。〃
　　〃All　right；　if　you've　looked　me　up；　you　know　I　never　go　back　on　my　friends。　Sidney　Drumm　is　a　friend　of　mine。　I　got　him　in　on　this。　If　it　had　been　any　kind　of　a　frame…up；　I'd　have　got　somebody　I　didn't　know。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　admitted　grudgingly；　〃Well；　I'm　going　to　stick　around　a　little　while；　but　don't　try　any　funny　stuff。　I　want　to　know　what　you're　getting　at。〃
　　Mason　stood　staring　at　the　bathroom。　There　were　chalk…lines　on　the　floor；　marking　the　position　in　which　the　body　of　George　Belter　had　been　found。
　　Suddenly　Mason　laughed　aloud。
　　〃I'll　be　damned！〃
　　〃What's　the　joke？〃　asked　Drumm。
　　Mason　turned　to　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃Okay；　Sergeant；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　ready　to　go　ahead　and　show　you　something。　Will　you　send　for　Mrs。　Veitch　and　her　daughter？〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　looked　dubious。　〃What　do　you　want　with　them？〃
　　Mason　said；　〃I　want　to　ask　them　some　questions。〃
　　Hoffman　shook　his　head。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　I　want　you　to…not　until　I　know　more　about　it。〃
　　〃This　is　on　the　level；　Sergeant；〃　Mason　insisted。　〃You　sit　and　listen　to　the　questions。　Any　time　you　think　I'm　getting　off　the　reservation；　you　can　stop　me。　Hell's　fire；　man！　If　I　wanted　to　slip　over　a　fast　one；　I'd　run　you　in　front　of　a　jury　and　then　pull　my　stuff　as　a　surprise。　I　certainly　wouldn't　go　out　and　take　the　police　in　on　the　ground　floor　of　what　my　defense　was　going　to　be。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　thought　a　minute。
　　〃That's　logical；〃　he　said。　He　turned　to　Drumm。　〃Go　on　down　and　round　up　the　two　women；　and　bring　them　up　here；〃　he　said。
　　Drumm　nodded　and　left　the　room。
　　Paul　Drake　stared　at　Mason　curiously。　There　was　not　the　faintest　trace　of　expression　on　Mason's　face；　nor　did　he　say　anything　during　the　few　minutes　which　elapsed　after　Drumm　left　the　room　and　the　time　when　shuffling　steps　were　heard　outside　of　the　door。　Then　the　door　opened；　and　Drumm　bowed　the　two　women　into　the　room。
　　Mrs。　Veitch　was　as　sombre　as　ever。　Her　dull　black　eyes　stared　incuriously　at　the　men　in　the　room。　She　walked　with　her　peculiar；　long；　flat…footed　stride。
　　Norma　Veitch　wore　a　tight　fitting　dress；　which　accentuated　the　curves　of　her　figure。　She　seemed　proudly　aware　of　her　ability　to　catch　the　masculine　eye　as　she　stared　from　face　to　face；　with　a　half　smile　on　her　full　lips。
　　Mason　said；　〃We　wanted　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃Again？〃
　　〃Mrs。　Veitch；　do　you　know　anything　about　your　daughter's　engagement　to　Carl　Griffin？〃　asked　Mason；　ignoring　Norma's　ment。
　　〃I　know　they're　engaged。〃
　　〃Did　you　know　that　there　was　any　romance　there？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃There's　usually　a　romance　when　people　get　engaged；〃　she　said；　in　her　husky　voice。
　　〃I'm　not　talking　about　that；〃　he　told　her。　〃Please　answer　my　question；　Mrs。　Veitch。　Was　there　any　romance　between　the　pair；　that　you　know　of；　prior　to　the　time　that　Norma　came　here？〃
　　The　dark；　sunken　eyes　shifted　for　a　moment　toward　Norma；　then　came　back　to　Mason's　face。
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃not　before　they　came　here。　They　got　acquainted　afterwards。〃
　　〃Did　you　know　your　daughter　had　been　married？〃　asked　Mason。
　　The　eyes　stared　full　in　his　face　without　any　change　of　expression。
　　〃No；〃　said　the　woman　wearily；　〃she　hasn't　been　married。〃
　　Mason　shifted　quickly　to　Norma。
　　〃How　about　it；　Miss　Veitch？　Were　you　ever　married？〃
　　〃Not　yet；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　to　be。　And　I　don't　see　for　the　life　of　me　how　that's　connected　with　the　murder　of　George　Belter。　If　you　folks　want　to　ask　questions　about　that；　I　presume　we've　got　to　answer　them；　but　I　don't　see　that　that　means　I　have　to　go　into　my　private　affairs。〃
　　〃How　could　you　marry　Carl　Griffin　when　you　were　already　married？〃　Mason　asked。
　　〃I'm　not　married；〃　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃and　I　don't　have　to　stand　for　these　insulting　ments。〃
　　〃That　isn't　what　Harry　Loring　says；〃　Mason　told　her。
　　The　girl's　face　didn't　change　expression　by　so　much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelash。
　　〃Loring？〃　she　said；　in　a　calmly　inquiring　tone。　〃Never　heard　of　the　man。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　man　named　Loring；　Mumsey？〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch　puckered　her　forehead。　〃Not　that　I　can　recall；　Norma。　I'm　not　very　good　at　remembering　names；　but　I　don't　know　any　Loring。〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　said　Mason；　〃I　can　refresh　your　recollection。　He's　a　man　that　lived　in　the　Belvedere　Apartments。　He　had　apartment　312。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　shook　her　head　hastily；　〃I'm　certain　there's　some　mistake。〃
　　Perry　Mason　pulled　the　copy　of　the　summons　and　plaint　in　the　divorce　action　from　his　pocket。　〃Then　perhaps　you　can　explain　how　it　happened　that　you　verified　this　plaint；　in　which　you　swore　on　your　oath　that　you　had　gone　through　a　marriage　ceremony　with　Harry　Loring。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　flashed　one　quick　glance　at　the　paper；　then　shifted　her　eyes　to　her　mother。　Mrs。　Veitch's　face　was　quite　expressionless。
　　Norma　spoke　rapidly。
　　〃I'm　sorry　that　you　found　that　out；　but　since　you　did；　I　may　as　well　tell　you。　I　didn't　want　Carl　to　know　anything　about　it。　I　was　married　and　had　trouble　with　my　husband　and　left　him。　I　came　here　and　took　my　maiden　name。　Carl　met　me；　and　we　fell　in　love　with　each　other　at　first　sig