raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第2部分

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　 〃I　charge　twenty…five　dollars　a　day；　Mrs。　Murdock。　And　of　course　expenses。〃
　 〃It　seems　high。　You　must　make　a　great　deal　of　money。〃　She　drank　some　more　of　her　port。　I　don't　like　port　in　hot　weather；　but　it's　nice　when　they　let　you　refuse　it。
　 〃No；〃　I　said。　〃It　isn't。　Of　course　you　can　get　detective　work　done　at　any　pricejust　like　legal　work。　Or　dental　work。　I'm　not　an　organization。　I'm　just　one　man　and　I　work　at　just　one　case　at　a　time。　I　take　risks；　sometimes　quite　big　risks；　and　I　don't　work　all　the　time。　No；　I　don't　think　twenty…five　dollars　a　day　is　too　much。〃
　 〃I　see。　And　what　is　the　nature　of　the　expenses？〃
　 〃Little　things　that　e　up　here　and　there。　You　never　know。〃
　 〃I　should　prefer　to　know；〃　she　said　acidly。
　 〃You'll　know；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　get　it　all　down　in　black　and　white。　You'll　have　a　chance　to　object；　if　you　don't　like　it。〃
　 〃And　how　much　retainer　would　you　expect？〃
　 〃A　hundred　dollars　would　hold　me；〃　I　said。
　 〃I　should　hope　it　would；〃　she　said　and　finished　her　port　and　poured　the　glass　full　again　without　even　waiting　to　wipe　her　lips。
　 〃From　people　in　your　position；　Mrs。　Murdock；　I　don't　necessarily　have　to　have　a　retainer。〃
　 〃Mr。　Marlowe；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　a　strong…minded　woman。　But　don't　let　me　scare　you。　Because　if　you　can　be　scared　by　me；　you　won't　be　much　use　to　me。〃
　 I　nodded　and　let　that　one　drift　with　the　tide。
　 She　laughed　suddenly　and　then　she　belched。　It　was　a　nice　light　belch；　nothing　showy；　and　performed　with　easy　unconcern。　〃My　asthma；〃　she　said　carelessly。　〃I　drink　this　wine　as　medicine。　That's　why　I'm　not　offering　you　any。〃
　 I　swung　a　leg　over　my　knee。　I　hoped　that　wouldn't　hurt　her　asthma。
　 〃Money；〃　she　said；　〃is　not　really　important。　A　woman　in　my　position　is　always　overcharged　and　gets　to　expect　it。　I　hope　you　will　be　worth　your　fee。　Here　is　the　situation。　Something　of　considerable　value　has　been　stolen　from　me。　I　want　it　back；　but　I　want　more　than　that。　I　don't　want　anybody　arrested。　The　thief　happens　to　be　a　member　of　my　family　by　marriage。〃
　 She　turned　the　wine　glass　with　her　thick　fingers　and　smiled　faintly　in　the　dim　light　of　the　shadowed　room。　〃My　daughter…in…law；〃　she　said。　〃A　charming　girland　tough　as　an　oak　board。〃
　 She　looked　at　me　with　a　sudden　gleam　in　her　eyes。
　 〃I　have　a　damn　fool　of　a　son；〃　she　said。　〃But　I'm　very　fond　of　him。　About　a　year　ago　he　made　an　idiotic　marriage；　without　my　consent。　This　was　foolish　of　him　because　he　is　quite　incapable　of　earning　a　living　and　he　has　no　money　except　what　I　give　him；　and　I　am　not　generous　with　money。　The　lady　he　chose；　or　who　chose　him；　was　a　night　club　singer。　Her　name；　appropriately　enough；　was　Linda　Conquest。　They　have　lived　here　in　this　house。　We　didn't　quarrel　because　I　don't　allow　people　to　quarrel　with　me　in　my　own　house；　but　there　has　not　been　good　feeling　between　us。　I　have　paid　their　expenses；　given　each　of　them　a　car；　made　the　lady　a　sufficient　but　not　gaudy　allowance　for　clothes　and　so　on。　No　doubt　she　found　the　life　rather　dull。　No　doubt　she　found　my　son　dull。　I　find　him　dull　myself。　At　any　rate　she　moved　out；　very　abruptly；　a　week　or　so　ago；　without　leaving　a　forwarding　address　or　saying　good…by。〃
　 She　coughed；　fumbled　for　a　handkerchief；　and　blew　her　nose。
　 〃What　was　taken；〃　she　went　on；　〃was　a　coin。　A　rare　gold　coin　called　a　Brasher　Doubloon。　It　was　the　pride　of　my　husband's　collection。　I　care　nothing　for　such　things；　but　he　did。　I　have　kept　the　collection　intact　since　he　died　four　years　ago。　It　is　upstairs；　in　a　locked　fireproof　room；　in　a　set　of　fireproof　cases。　It　is　insured；　but　I　have　not　reported　the　loss　yet。　I　don't　want　to；　if　I　can　help　it。　I'm　quite　sure　Linda　took　it。　The　coin　is　said　to　be　worth　over　ten　thousand　dollars。　It's　a　mint　specimen。〃
　 〃But　pretty　hard　to　sell；〃　I　said。
　 〃Perhaps。　I　don't　know。　I　didn't　miss　the　coin　until　yesterday。　I　should　not　have　missed　it　then；　as　I　never　go　near　the　collection；　except　that　a　man　in　Los　Angeles　named　Morningstar　called　up；　said　he　was　a　dealer；　and　was　the　Murdock　Brasher；　as　he　called　it；　for　sale？　My　son　happened　to　take　the　call。　He　said　he　didn't　believe　it　was　for　sale；　it　never　had　been；　but　that　if　Mr。　Morningstar　would　call　some　other　time；　he　could　probably　talk　to　me。　It　was　not　convenient　then；　as　I　was　resting。　The　man　said　he　would　do　that。　My　son　reported　the　conversation　to　Miss　Davis；　who　reported　it　to　me。　I　had　her　call　the　man　back。　I　was　faintly　curious。〃
　 She　sipped　some　more　port；　flopped　her　handkerchief　about　and　grunted。
　 〃Why　were　you　curious；　Mrs。　Murdock？〃　I　asked；　just　to　be　saying　something。
　 〃If　the　man　was　a　dealer　of　any　repute；　he　would　know　that　the　coin　was　not　for　sale。　My　husband；　Jasper　Murdock；　provided　in　his　will　that　no　part　of　his　collection　might　be　sold；　loaned　or　hypothecated　during　my　lifetime。　Nor　removed　from　this　house；　except　in　case　of　damage　to　the　house　necessitating　removal；　and　then　only　by　action　of　the　trustees。　My　husband〃　she　smiled　grimly　〃seemed　to　feel　that　I　ought　to　have　taken　more　interest　in　his　little　pieces　of　metal　while　he　was　alive。〃
　 It　was　a　nice　day　outside；　the　sun　shining；　the　flowers　blooming；　the　birds　singing。　Cars　went　by　on　the　street　with　a　distant　fortable　sound。　In　the　dim　room　with　the　hardfaced　woman　and　the　winy　smell　everything　seemed　a　little　unreal。　I　tossed　my　foot　up　and　down　over　my　knee　and　waited。
　 〃I　spoke　to　Mr。　Morningstar。　His　full　name　is　Elisha　Morningstar　and　he　has　offices　in　the　Belfont　Building　on　Ninth　Street　in　downtown　Los　Angeles。　I　told　him　the　Murdock　collection　was　not　for　sale；　never　had　been；　and；　so　far　as　I　was　concerned；　never　would　be；　and　that　I　was　surprised　that　he　didn't　know　that。　He　hemmed　and　hawed　and　then　asked　me　if　he　might　examine　the　coin。　I　said　certainly　not。　He　thanked　me　rather　dryly　and　hung　up。　He　sounded　like　an　old　man。　So　I　went　upstairs　to　examine　the　coin　myself；　something　I　had　not　done　in　a　year。　It　was　gone　from　its　place　in　one　of　the　locked　fireproof　cases。〃
　 I　said　nothing。　She　refilled　her　glass　and　played　a　tattoo　with　her　thick　fingers　on　the　arm　of　the　chaise　longue。　〃What　I　thought　then　you　can　probably　guess。〃
　 I　said：　〃The　part　about　Mr。　Morningstar；　maybe。　Somebody　had　offered　the　coin　to　him　for　sale　and　he　had　known　or　suspected　where　it　came　from。　The　coin　must　be　very　rare。〃
　 〃What　they　call　a　mint　specimen　is　very　rare　indeed。　Yes；　I　had　the　same　idea。〃
　 〃How　would　it　be　stolen？〃　I　asked。
　 〃By　anyone　in　this　house；　very　easily。　The　keys　are　in　my　bag；　and　my　bag　lies　around　here　and　there。　It　would　be　a　very　simple　matter　to　get　hold　of　the　keys　long　enough　to　unlock　a　door　and　a　cabinet　and　then　return　the　keys。　Difficult　for　an　outsider；　but　anybody　in　the　house　could　have　stolen　it。〃
　 〃I　see。　How　do　you　establish　that　your　daughter…in…law　took　it；　Mrs。　Murdock？〃
　 〃I　don'tin　a　strictly　evidential　sense。　But　I'm　quite　sure　of　it。　The　servants　are　three　women　who　have　been　here　many；　many　yearslong　before　I　married　Mr。　Murdock；　which　was　only　seven　years　ago。　The　gardener　never　es　in　the　house。　I　have　no　chauffeur；　because　either　my　son　or　my　secretary　drives　me。　My　son　didn't　take　it；　first　because　he　is　not　the　kind　of　fool　that　steals　from　his　mother；　and　secondly；　if　he　had　taken　it；　he　could　easily　have　prevented　me　from　speaking　to　the　coin　dealer；　Morningstar。　Miss　Davisridiculous。　Just　not　the　type　at　all。　Too　mousy。　No；　Mr。　Marlowe；　Linda　is　the　sort　of　lady　who　might　do　it　just　for　spite；　if　nothing　else。　And　you　know　what　these　night　club　people　are。〃
　 〃All　sorts　of　peoplelike　the　rest　of　us；〃　I　said。　〃No　signs　of　a　burglar；　I　suppose？　It　would　take　a　pretty　smooth　worker　to　lift　just　one　valuable　coin；　so　there　wouldn't　be。　Maybe　I　had　better　look　the　room　over；　though。〃
　 She　pushed　her　jaw　at　me　and　muscles　in　her　neck　made　hard　lumps。　〃I　have　just　told　you；　Mr。　Marlowe；　that　Mrs。　Leslie　Murdock；　my　daughter…in…law；　took　the　Brasher　Doubloon。〃
　 I　stared　at　her　and　she　stared　back。　Her　eyes　were　as　hard　as　the　bricks　in　her　front　walk。　I　shrugged　the　stare　off　and　said：
　 〃Assuming　that　is　so；　Mrs。　Murdock；　just　what　do　you　want　done？〃
　 〃In　the　first　place　I　want　the　coin　back。　In　the　second　place　I　want　an　uncontested　divorce　for　my　son。　And　I　don't　intend　to　buy　it。　I　daresay　you　know　how　these　things　are　arranged。〃
　 She　finished　the　current　instalment　of　port　and　laughed　rudely。
　 〃I　may　have　heard；〃　I　said。　〃You　say　the　lady　left　no　forwarding　address。　Does　that　mean　you　have　no　idea　at　all　where　she　went？〃
　 〃Exactly　that。〃
　 〃A　disappearance　then。　Your　son　might　have　some　ideas　he　hasn't　passed　along　to　you。　I'll　have　to　see　him。〃
　 The　big　gray　face　hardened　into　even　ruggeder　lines。　〃My　son　knows　nothing。　He　doesn't　even　know　the　doubloon　has　been　stolen。　I　don't　want　him　to　know　anything。　When　the　time　es　I'll　handle　him。　Until　then　I　want　him　left　alone。　He　will　do　exactly　what　I　want　him　to。〃
　 〃He　hasn't　always；〃　I　said。
　 〃His　marriage；〃　she　said　nastily；　〃was　a　momentary　impulse。　Afterwards　he　tried　to　act　like　a　gentleman。　I　have　no　such　scruples。〃
　 〃It　takes　three　days　to　have　that　kind　of　momentary　impulse　in　California；　Mrs。　Murdock。〃
　 〃Young　man；　do　you　want　this　job　or　don't　you？〃
　 〃I　want　it　if　I'm　told　the　facts　and　allowed　to　handle　the　case　as　I　see　fit。　I　don't　want　it　if　you're　going　to　make　a　lot　of　rules　and　regulations　for　me　to　trip　over。〃
　 She　laughed　harshly。　〃This　is　a　delicate　family　matter；　Mr。　Marlowe。　And　it　must　be　handled　with　delicacy。〃
　 〃If　you　hire　me；　you'll　get　all　the　delicacy　I　have。　If　I　don't　have　enough　delicacy；　maybe　you'd　better　not　hire　me。　For　instance；　I　take　it　you　don't　want　your　daughter…in…law　framed。　I'm　not　delicate　enough　for　that。〃
　 She　turned　the　color　of　a　cold　boiled　beet　and　opened　her　mouth　to　yell。　Then　she　thought　better　of　it；　lifted　her　port　glass　and　tucked　away　some　more　of　her　medicine。
　 〃You'll　do；〃　she　said　dryly；　〃I　wish　I　had　met　you　two　years　ago；　before　he　married　her。〃
　 I　didn't　know　exactly　what　this　last　meant；　so　I　let　it　ride。　She　bent　over　sideways　and　fumbled　with　the　key　on　a　house　telephone　and　growled　into　it　when　she　was　answered。
　 There　were　steps　and　the　little　copper…blond　came　tripping　into　the　room　with　her　chin　low；　as　if　somebody　might　be　going　to　take　a　swing　at　her。
　 〃Make　this　man　a　check　for　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；〃　the　old　dragon　snarled　at　her。　〃And　keep　your　mouth　shut　about　it。〃
　 The　little　girl　flushed　all　the　way　to　her　neck。　〃You　know　I　never　talk　about　your　affairs；　Mrs。　Murdock；〃　she　bleated。　〃You　know　I　don't。　I　wouldn't　dream　of　it；　I〃
　 She　turned　with　her　head　down　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　As　she　closed　the　door　I　looked　out　at　her。　Her　little　lip　was　trembling　but　her　eyes　were　mad。
　 〃I'll　need　a　photo　of　the　lady　and　some　information；〃　I　said　when　the　door　was　shut　again。
　 〃Look　in　the　desk　drawer。〃　Her　rings　flashed　in　the　dimness　as　her　thick　gray　finger　pointed。
　 I　went　over　and　opened　the　single　drawer　of　the　reed　desk　and　took　out　the　photo　that　lay　all　alone　in　the　bottom　of　the　drawer；　face　up；　looking　at　me　with　cool　dark　eyes。　I　sat　down　again　with　the　photo　and　looked　it　over。　Dark　hair　parted　loosely　in　th