esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第40节

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　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Those　are　cases。　Every　one　of　them　is　a　case；　and　all　the　other　drawers　are　filled　with　cases　just　the　same　way。　They　represent　cases　that　I've　handled。　Most　of　them　are　murder　cases。
　　〃When　I　get　all　done　with　your　case　you're　going　to　have　a　jacket　in　there；　just　about　the　same　size　as　all　of　the　other　jackets；　and　it's　going　to　be　of　just　about　the　same　importance。　Miss　Street　is　going　to　give　you　a　number。　Then　if　anything　es　up；　and　I　want　to　look　back　at　the　case　to　find　out　what　was　done　I'll　give　her　that　number；　and　she'll　get　me　the　jacket　with　the　papers　in　it。〃
　　Eva　Belter　frowned。
　　〃What's　the　matter；〃　she　asked；　〃don't　you　feel　well？　What　are　you　trying　to　do？　What　do　you　want　to　say？〃
　　Della　Street　stepped　from　the　filing　case　to　the　door　which　led　to　the　outer　office。　She　moved　out　and　softly　closed　the　door。　Perry　Mason　stared　steadily　at　Eva　Belter；　and　said；　〃I'm　just　telling　you　where　you　stand　in　this　office。　You're　a　case　and　nothing　but　a　case。　There　are　hundreds　of　cases　in　that　file；　and　there　are　going　to　be　hundreds　of　other　cases。　You've　paid　me　some　money　already；　and　you're　going　to　pay　me　five　thousand　dollars　more。　If　you　take　my　advice　you're　going　to　get　twenty…five　hundred　of　it　from　Harrison　Burke。〃
　　Eva　Belter's　lip　quivered。
　　〃I　wanted　to　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃Believe　me；　this　is　sincere。　This　es　from　the　heart。　I've　done　play　acting　with　you　before；　but　this　time　it's　real。　I　feel　so　deeply　grateful　to　you　that　I'd　do　anything　on　earth　for　you。　You're　simply　wonderful。　I　e　up　here　to　tell　you　so；　and　you　start　talking　to　me　as　though　I　was　just　a　specimen　that　had　strayed　into　a　laboratory。〃
　　This　time　there　were　real　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　she　looked　at　him　wistfully。
　　〃There's　lots　to　be　done　yet；〃　he　told　her。　〃You've　got　to　see　that　Griffin　is　convicted　of　first　degree　murder；　in　order　to　set　that　will　aside。　You've　got　to　keep　in　the　background　in　this　thing；　but　you've　got　to　keep　in　the　battle。　The　only　money　that's　available　to　Griffin　is　money　that's　in　George　Belter's　safe。　We've　got　to　see　that　he　doesn't　get　any　of　it。　Those　are　some　of　the　things　that　have　got　to　be　done。　I'm　just　telling　you　so　you　won't　think　you　can　get　along　without　me。〃
　　〃That　isn't　what　I　said！　That　isn't　what　I　meant。　That　isn't　what　I　thought；〃　she　said　rapidly。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　just　telling　you。〃
　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door；　which　opened　from　the　outer　office。
　　〃Yes？〃　called　Perry　Mason。
　　The　door　opened　and　Della　Street　slipped　into　the　room。
　　〃Can　you　take　another　case　today？〃　she　asked　solicitously；　looking　at　his　bloodshot　eyes。
　　He　shook　his　head；　as　though　to　shake　away　some　mental　fog。
　　〃What　kind　of　case？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃It's　a　girl　expensively　dressed；　good　looking。　Seems　well　bred。　She's　in　trouble；　but　she　won't　open　up。〃
　　〃Sulky；　eh？〃
　　〃Sulky？…Well；　perhaps　I'd　call　her　sort　of　trapped。〃
　　〃That's　because　you　like　her　looks；〃　Mason　grinned。　〃If　you　didn't　you'd　call　her　sulky。　What's　your　hunch；　Della？　You　usually　have　pretty　good　hunches　on　how　the　cases　are　going　to　turn　out。　Look　at　the　last　client。〃
　　Della　Street　looked　at　Eva　Belter；　then　looked　hurriedly　away。
　　〃This　girl；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃is　angry　inside；　all　torn　up。　She's　a　lady；　though；　almost　too　much　of　a　lady。　She's　like。。。　well；　maybe　she　is　just　sulky。〃
　　Perry　Mason　heaved　a　great　sigh。　The　savage　glint　slowly　faded　from　his　eyes；　and　in　its　place　came　a　look　of　thoughtful　interest。　He　raised　the　back　of　his　hand　to　his　mouth；　wiped　off　the　lipstick；　and　smiled　at　Della　Street。
　　〃I'll　see　her；〃　he　said；　〃just　as　soon　as　Mrs。　Belter　goes　out。　And；〃　he　added；　〃that　will　be　in　a　very　few　minutes。〃
　　
　　
　　THE　END
　　
　　



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