erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第10节

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d　to　send　them　to　Norton。　Norton　suddenly　decided　that　he　didn't　want　to　wait；　but　wanted　them　right　away。　He　told　me　to　wake　up　Devoe；　that's　the　chauffeur；　and　get　him　to　drive　me　out　to　Crinston's　house　and　pick　up　the　agreements。
　　　　　　〃At　that　time；　Crinston　and　Purley　were　just　about　to　drive　away。　They　had；　I　believe；　started　their　car。
　　　　　　〃Then　Mr。　Norton　suddenly　got　the　idea　that　if　I　should　drive　out　with　Mr。　Crinston；　I　could　save　a　little　time。　He　intended　to　have　Devoe；　the　chauffeur；　e　in　and　pick　me　up。　But　it　was　going　to　take　Mr。　Crinston　a　few　minutes　to　get　the　documents；　after　I　got　there；　and　the　chauffeur　would　take　a　little　time　dressing　and　getting　the　car　out；　so　Norton　thought　he　could　save　time　by　having　me　go　in　with　Mr。　Crinston。　There　wasn't　any　sense　to　it。　Devoe　could　have　driven　me　there　just　as　well；　but　I　mention　it　to　show　how　excited　Norton　was。　He　was　simply　furious。
　　　　　　〃So　Mr。　Norton　raised　up　the　window　in　his　office　and　called　down　to　Mr。　Crinston　to　wait　a　minute。　I'm　not　certain；　but　I　think　Mr。　Crinston　got　out　of　the　machine　and　walked　back　so　that　he　stood　under　the　window　to　hear　what　Mr。　Norton　said。　I　heard　Norton　ask　if　it　would　be　all　right　for　me　to　ride　in　with　them；　and　I　heard　Crinston　say　that　he'd　go　over　and　ask　Judge　Purley　if　there　were　any　objections。
　　　　　　〃I　knew　right　away　there　wouldn't　be　any　objections；　so　I　started　hot…footing　down　the　stairs。　The　way　Norton　felt；　I　didn't　want　to　waste　a　second。
　　　　　　〃Crinston　had　asked　Judge　Purley；　and　was　standing　beneath　the　window；　talking　with　Mr。　Norton；　when　I　got　down。　Mr。　Crinston　said　to　me：　'Hurry　up；　Graves；　I've　promised　Judge　Purley　that　he　would　leave　here　promptly　at　eleven　thirty；　and　he's　in　a　rush　to　get　home。'　So　I　ran　right　across　and　jumped　into　the　machine。　I　think　that　I　got　into　the　machine　before　Mr。　Crinston　did；　or　maybe　we　got　in　together；　at　any　rate；　Mr。　Crinston　got　into　the　machine　at　just　about　the　same　time。
　　　　　　〃Judge　Purley　had　the　engine　running；　and　just　as　soon　as　the　door　slammed；　he　started　the　car。　I　was　in　the　back　seat；　and　Mr。　Crinston　was　sitting　up　in　front　with　Judge　Purley。
　　　　　　〃You　know　the　way　the　road　winds　around　up　the　side　of　the　hill。　Well；　I　don't　know　what　prompted　me　to　look　back　through　the　window　at　the　house。　Maybe　it　was　just　curiosity；　maybe　it　was　some　sense　of　what　was　happening。
　　　　　　〃Anyway；　I　was　looking　back　through　the　rear　window　of　the　car；　and　just　as　it　rounded　the　curve　where　I　could　see　into　the　study；　I　saw　people　in　the　study；　and　a　man　swinging　a　club。〃
　　　　　　〃How　many　people？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　Don　Graves　did　not　answer　for　a　moment。　Then　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　said　slowly：　〃Only　one　that　I　was　sure　of。　That　is；　I　saw　one　person　raise　his　arm　and　strike　another　person。〃
　　　　　　〃That　you　were　sure　of？〃　said　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Yes　sir；〃　said　Graves；　〃that　I　was　sure　of。〃
　　　　　　〃There　might　have　been　another　person　present？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　Don　Graves　said　in　a　very　low　voice：　〃I　don't　think；　if　I　were　you；　sir；　that　I'd　go　into　that。〃
　　　　　　〃Why　not？〃　asked　Perry　Mason　explosively。
　　　　　　〃I'd　rather　not　state；〃　said　Graves；　squirming　unfortably。　〃But　you　might　find；　if　you　pressed　that　line　of　inquiry　too　far；　that　it　wasn't　of　any　particular　advantage；　either　to　you　or　your　client。〃
　　　　　　〃I　think　I　see；〃　said　Perry　Mason　softly。
　　　　　　Graves　sighed　his　relief。
　　　　　　〃You　were；　of　course；　some　distance　away？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Graves；　〃I　was　some　distance　away。〃
　　　　　　Mason　looked　at　the　young　man　searchingly；　but　Don　Graves　kept　his　eyes　averted。
　　　　　　〃How　clearly　could　you　see？〃　Mason　pressed。
　　　　　　Graves　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　could　see　quite　clearly　that　somebody　was　standing　over　somebody　else；　and　striking　a　blow；〃　he　blurted。
　　　　　　〃And　did　you　see　that　other　person　fall？〃
　　　　　　〃I　don't　think　so。　You　know；　it　was　quite　a　distance　away；　and　I　only　had　a　flash　as　the　car　was　swinging　around　the　curve　in　the　road。〃
　　　　　　〃Could　you　say　that　there　were　only　two　people　in　the　room？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃No；　of　course　not；　because　I　couldn't　see　the　entire　room。〃
　　　　　　〃Could　you　say　that　you　only　saw　two　people　in　the　room？〃　Mason　inquired。
　　　　　　〃I　did　say　that；〃　said　Graves；　and　added　after　a　moment；　〃to　the　police。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason's　voice　was　low。　〃Let's　not　misunderstand　each　other；　Graves。　In　the　event　that　you　saw　anything　which　indicated　that　there　was　another　person　in　the　room；　did　you　see　anything　that　would　identify　that　person？〃
　　　　　　Graves　spoke　very　softly　and；　with　obvious　reluctance。　〃Confidentially；　Mr。　Mason；　one　can't　trust　one's　impressions　in　a　momentary　glimpse　like　that。　It　isn't　as　though　you　had　a　photograph　of　it。　And　yet　there's　something　that's　etched　on　my　brain　that　I　haven't　mentioned　…　to　the　police。　I　might　tell　you；　in　strict　confidence；　that；　if　there　was　another　person　in　that　room；　and　if　I　saw　such　a　person；　that　person　was　a　woman。〃
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　stared　steadily　at　Graves；　then　asked：
　　　　　　〃Could　you　identify　that　woman？〃
　　　　　　〃I　have　not　mentioned　to　anyone　that　I　saw　that　woman；〃　said　Graves　slowly；　〃and　I　would　not　care　to　make　any　identification。〃
　　　　　　〃But；〃　said　Mason；　〃have　you　been　absolutely　positive　and　emphatic　in　saying　that　you　did　not　see　such　a　person？〃
　　　　　　Graves　met　his　eyes。　〃I　have　tried　to　tell　the　truth；　Mr。　Mason。　So　far；　whenever　the　question　has　been　asked　me；　I　have　answered　in　such　a　way　that　the　inquiry　has　taken　another　turn。　You　understand　that　I　am　going　to　answer　questions　truthfully　when　I　get　on　the　witness　stand；　if　I　get　on　the　witness　stand。　But　you　will　also　understand　that　every　one　of　us　is　exceedingly　loyal　to　your　client。〃
　　　　　　〃Meaning？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Meaning　Miss　Celane。〃
　　　　　　〃Do　I　understand；〃　said　Mason　very　softly　and　almost　ominously；　〃that　such　a　loyalty　would　lead　you　to　protect　her　against　a　murder　charge？〃
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Graves　frankly；　〃it　would　not。　But　it　certainly　would　be　sufficient　to　lead　us　to　keep　her　name　out　of　an　investigation　which　could　only　be　abortive　at　any　rate。〃
　　　　　　〃And　what　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　pressed　the　attorney。
　　　　　　〃I　mean　by　that；　that　inasmuch　as　Miss　Celane　was　not　in　the　house　at　the　time；　it　would　naturally　have　been　impossible　for　her　to　have　been　in　that　room。〃
　　　　　　〃Then　you　did　not　see　a　woman　in　the　room？〃　Mason　asked。
　　　　　　〃I　didn't　say　that　either；〃　said　Graves。　〃I　said　that　if　there　had　been　another　person　in　the　room　that　I　had　seen；　that　person　would　probably　have　been　a　woman。〃
　　　　　　〃Why；〃　asked　the　lawyer；　〃do　you　say　that？〃
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Graves；　〃there　is　in　my　mind　a　more　or　less　confused　impression　of　a　woman's　head　and　shoulders　showing　momentarily　in　one　corner　of　the　window。　But　of　course　I　couldn't　be　sure　of　it；　because　my　glance　was　riveted　on　the　man　with　his　arm　upraised。〃
　　　　　　〃One　more　question；〃　said　Mason。　〃Did　the　police　take　down；　in　shorthand；　the　answers　which　you　gave　to　the　questions　they　asked　you；　when　they　inquired　about　what　you　had　seen？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Graves。
　　　　　　〃And　you　didn't　mention　anything　about　a　woman　at　that　time？〃
　　　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　　　Mason　said　slowly：　〃You　understand；　Graves；　that　there　is　something　very　peculiar　about　this。　Both　you　and　Crinston　have　intimated　to　me　that　my　client　might　be　in　some　danger。　Yet；　apparently；　she　was　not　anywhere　near　the　house　at　the　time。〃
　　　　　　〃That's　right；〃　said　Graves　eagerly；　〃she　wasn't　here。〃
　　　　　　〃Then　how　could　she　be　in　any　danger？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃She　isn't；〃　said　Graves。　〃That's　the　point　I'm　trying　to　make。　And　I'm　trying　to　protect　her　against　any　insinuations　which　might　be　made；　because；　you　understand；　there's　a　motive　which　might　be　attached　to　her。〃
　　　　　　〃Very　mendable；〃　said　Mason　dryly。　〃I　wouldn't　want　you　to　mit　any　perjury；　Graves；　but　you　will；　of　course；　understand　that　if　you　tell　your　story　a　few　times　without　mentioning　the　woman；　and　that　story　is　recorded　in　shorthand；　or　reported　in　the　press；　and　then　you　should　subsequently　be　placed　upon　the　stand　and　asked　specifically　if　you　saw　a　woman　or　had　the　impression　that　a　woman　was　there；　an　answer　which　tended　to　change　your　previous　story　wouldn't　do　my　client　such　a　great　amount　of　harm。　On　the　other　hand；　it　wouldn't　do　you　such　a　great　amount　of　good。〃
　　　　　　Graves　said　with　dignity：　〃I　am　prepared　to　make　some　sacrifices　in　order　to　protect　the　good　name　of　Miss　Celane。〃
　　　　　　〃And；〃　went　on　Perry　Mason；　ominously；　〃when　you　did　amplify　your　story　to　include　a　woman；　as　being　present　in　that　room；　I'd　rip　you　wide　open。〃
　　　　　　〃Sure；〃　said　Graves；　readily。
　　　　　　〃And；〃　Mason　told　him　grimly；　〃when　I　say　wide　open；　I　mean　wide　open。〃
　　　　　　At　that　moment；　a　door　opened　and　a　detective　looked　into　the　room；　stared　at　Mason；　then　shifted　his　eyes　to　Graves；　and　beckoned。
　　　　　　〃Graves；〃　he　said；　〃we　want　you　back　upstairs。　There　are　one　or　two　questions　we　want　to　ask　you。　When　you　gave　your　statement；　you　seemed　to　have　evaded　answering　one　of　the　questions。　That　is；　the　chief　thinks　that　you　did；　now　that　your　statement　is　being　read　over。〃
　　　　　　Graves　looked