raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第7部分

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　 I　turned　and　walked　away　across　the　grass。　About　halfway　across　it　I　looked　back　at　them。　Vannier　stood　in　exactly　the　same　position；　his　hand　inside　his　shirt。　The　blond's　eyes　were　still　wide　and　her　lips　parted；　but　the　shadow　of　the　umbrella　had　dimmed　her　expression　and　at　that　distance　it　might　have　been　either　fear　or　pleased　anticipation。
　 I　went　on　over　the　grass；　through　the　white　gate　and　along　the　brick　path　under　the　rose　arbor。　I　reached　the　end　of　it；　turned；　walked　quietly　back　to　the　gate　and　took　another　look　at　them。　I　didn't　know　what　there　would　be　to　see　or　what　I　cared　about　it　when　I　saw　it。
　 What　I　saw　was　Vannier　practically　sprawled　on　top　of　the　blond；　kissing　her。
　 I　shook　my　head　and　went　back　along　the　walk。
　 The　red…eyed　chauffeur　was　still　at　work　on　the　Cadillac。　He　had　finished　the　wash　job　and　was　wiping　off　the　glass　and　nickel　with　a　large　chamois。　I　went　around　and　stood　beside　him。
　 〃How　you　e　out？〃　he　asked　me　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth。
　 〃Badly。　They　tramped　all　over　me；〃　I　said。
　 He　nodded　and　went　on　making　the　hissing　noise　of　a　groom　rubbing　down　a　horse。
　 〃You　better　watch　your　step。　The　guy's　heeled；〃　I　said。　〃Or　pretends　to　be。〃
　 The　chauffeur　laughed　shortly。　〃Under　that　suit？　Nix。〃
　 〃Who　is　this　guy　Vannier？　What　does　he　do？〃
　 The　chauffeur　straightened　up；　put　the　chamois　over　the　sill　of　a　window　and　wiped　his　hands　on　the　towel　that　was　now　stuck　in　his　waistband。
　 〃Women；　my　guess　would　be；〃　he　said。
　 〃Isn't　it　a　bit　dangerousplaying　with　this　particular　woman？〃
　 〃I'd　say　it　was；〃　he　agreed。　〃Different　guys　got　different　ideas　of　danger。　It　would　scare　me。〃
　 〃Where　does　he　live？〃
　 〃Sherman　Oaks。　She　goes　over　there。　She'll　go　once　too　often。〃
　 〃Ever　run　across　a　girl　named　Linda　Conquest？　Tall；　dark；　handsome；　used　to　be　a　singer　with　a　band？〃
　 〃For　two　bucks；　Jack；　you　expect　a　lot　of　service。〃
　 〃I　could　build　it　up　to　five。〃
　 He　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　the　party。　Not　by　that　name。　All　kinds　of　dames　e　here；　mostly　pretty　flashy。　I　don't　get　introduced。〃　He　grinned。
　 I　got　my　wallet　out　and　put　three　ones　in　his　little　damp　paw。　I　added　a　business　card。
　 〃I　like　small　close…built　men；〃　I　said。　〃They　never　seem　to　be　afraid　of　anything。　e　and　see　me　some　time。〃
　 〃I　might　at　that；　Jack。　Thanks。　Linda　Conquest；　huh？　I'll　keep　my　ear　flaps　off。〃
　 〃So　long；〃　I　said。　〃The　name？〃
　 〃They　call　me　Shifty。　I　never　knew　why。〃
　 〃So　long；　Shifty。〃
　 〃So　long。　Gat　under　his　armin　them　clothes？　Not　a　chance。〃
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said。　〃He　made　the　motion。　I'm　not　hired　to　gunfight　with　strangers。〃
　 〃Hell；　that　shirt　he's　wearing　only　got　two　buttons　at　the　top。　I　noticed。　Take　him　a　week　to　pull　a　rod　from　under　that。〃　But　he　sounded　faintly　worried。
　 〃I　guess　he　was　just　bluffing；〃　I　agreed。　〃If　you　hear　mention　of　Linda　Conquest；　I'll　be　glad　to　talk　business　with　you。〃
　 〃Okay；　Jack。〃
　 I　went　back　along　the　black　driveway。　He　stood　there　scratching　his　chin。
　
　
　6
　
　 I　drove　along　the　block　looking　for　a　place　to　park　so　that　I　could　run　up　to　the　office　for　a　moment　before　going　on　downtown。
　 A　chauffeur…driven　Packard　edged　out　from　the　curb　in　front　of　a　cigar　store　about　thirty　feet　from　the　entrance　to　my　building。　I　slid　into　the　space；　locked　the　car　and　stepped　out。　It　was　only　then　that　I　noticed　the　car　in　front　of　which　I　had　parked　was　a　familiar…looking　sand…colored　coupé。　It　didn't　have　to　be　the　same　one。　There　were　thousands　of　them。　Nobody　was　in　it。　Nobody　was　near　it　that　wore　a　cocoa　straw　hat　with　a　brown　and　yellow　band。
　 I　went　around　to　the　street　side　and　looked　at　the　steering　post。　No　license　holder。　I　wrote　the　license　plate　number　down　on　the　back　of　an　envelope；　just　in　case；　and　went　on　into　my　building。　He　wasn't　in　the　lobby；　or　in　the　corridor　upstairs。
　 I　went　into　the　office；　looked　on　the　floor　for　mail；　didn't　find　any；　bought　myself　a　short　drink　out　of　the　office　bottle　and　left。　I　didn't　have　any　time　to　spare　to　get　downtown　before　three　o'clock。
　 The　sand…colored　coupé　was　still　parked；　still　empty。　I　got　into　mine　and　started　up　and　moved　out　into　the　traffic　stream。
　 I　was　below　Sunset　on　Vine　before　he　picked　me　up。　I　kept　on　going；　grinning；　and　wondering　where　he　had　hid。　Perhaps　in　the　car　parked　behind　his　own。　I　hadn't　thought　of　that。
　 I　drove　south　to　Third　and　all　the　way　downtown　on　Third。　The　sand…colored　coupé　kept　half　a　block　behind　me　all　the　way。　I　moved　over　to　Seventh　and　Grand；　parked　near　Seventh　and　Olive；　stopped　to　buy　cigarettes　I　didn't　need；　and　then　walked　east　along　Seventh　without　looking　behind　me。　At　Spring　I　went　into　the　Hotel　Metropole；　strolled　over　to　the　big　horseshoe　cigar　counter　to　light　one　of　my　cigarettes　and　then　sat　down　in　one　of　the　old　brown　leather　chairs　in　the　lobby。
　 A　blond　man　in　a　brown　suit；　dark　glasses　and　the　now　familiar　hat　came　into　the　lobby　and　moved　unobtrusively　among　the　potted　palms　and　the　stucco　arches　to　the　cigar　counter。　He　bought　a　package　of　cigarettes　and　broke　it　open　standing　there；　using　the　time　to　lean　his　back　against　the　counter　and　give　the　lobby　the　benefit　of　his　eagle　eye。
　 He　picked　up　his　change　and　went　over　and　sat　down　with　his　back　to　a　pillar。　He　tipped　his　hat　down　over　his　dark　glasses　and　seemed　to　go　to　sleep　with　an　unlighted　cigarette　between　his　lips。
　 I　got　up　and　wandered　over　and　dropped　into　the　chair　beside　him。　I　looked　at　him　sideways。　He　didn't　move。　Seen　at　close　quarters　his　face　seemed　young　and　pink　and　plump　and　the　blond　beard　on　his　chin　was　very　carelessly　shaved。　Behind　the　dark　glasses　his　eyelashes　flicked　up　and　down　rapidly。　A　hand　on　his　knee　tightened　and　pulled　the　cloth　into　wrinkles。　There　was　a　wart　on　his　cheek　just　below　the　right　eyelid。
　 I　struck　a　match　and　held　the　flame　to　his　cigarette。　〃Light？〃
　 〃Ohthanks；〃　he　said；　very　surprised。　He　drew　breath　in　until　the　cigarette　tip　glowed。　I　shook　the　match　out；　tossed　it　into　the　sand　jar　at　my　elbow　and　waited。　He　looked　at　me　sideways　several　times　before　he　spoke。
　 〃Haven't　I　seen　you　somewhere　before？〃
　 〃Over　on　Dresden　Avenue　in　Pasadena。　This　morning。〃
　 I　could　see　his　cheeks　get　pinker　than　they　had　been。　He　sighed。
　 〃I　must　be　lousy；〃　he　said。
　 〃Boy；　you　stink；〃　I　agreed。
　 〃Maybe　it's　the　hat；〃　he　said。
　 〃The　hat　helps；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　don't　really　need　it。〃
　 〃It's　a　pretty　tough　dollar　in　this　town；〃　he　said　sadly。　〃You　can't　do　it　on　foot；　you　ruin　yourself　with　taxi　fares　if　you　use　taxis；　and　if　you　use　your　own　car；　it's　always　where　you　can't　get　to　it　fast　enough。　You　have　to　stay　too　close。〃
　 〃But　you　don't　have　to　climb　in　a　guy's　pocket；〃　I　said。　〃Did　you　want　something　with　me　or　are　you　just　practising？〃
　 〃I　figured　I'd　find　out　if　you　were　smart　enough　to　be　worth　talking　to。〃
　 〃I'm　very　smart；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　be　a　shame　not　to　talk　to　me。〃
　 He　looked　carefully　around　back　of　his　chair　and　on　both　sides　of　where　we　were　sitting　and　then　drew　a　small；　pigskin　wallet　out。　He　handed　me　a　nice　fresh　card　from　it。　It　read：　George　Anson　Phillips。　Confidential　Investigations。　212　Senger　Building；　1924　North　Wilcox　Avenue；　Hollywood。　A　Glenview　telephone　number。　In　the　upper　left　hand　corner　there　was　an　open　eye　with　an　eyebrow　arched　in　surprise　and　very　long　eyelashes。
　 〃You　can't　do　that；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　the　eye。　〃That's　the　Pinkerton's。　You'll　be　stealing　their　business。〃
　 〃Oh　hell；〃　he　said；　〃what　little　I　get　wouldn't　bother　them。〃　I　snapped　the　card　on　my　fingernail　and　bit　down　hard　on　my　teeth　and　slipped　the　card　into　my　pocket。
　 〃You　want　one　of　mineor　have　you　pleted　your　file　on　me？〃
　 〃Oh；　I　know　all　about　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　a　deputy　at　Ventura　the　time　you　were　working　on　the　Gregson　case。〃
　 Gregson　was　a　con　man　from　Oklahoma　City　who　was　followed　all　over　the　United　States　for　two　years　by　one　of　his　victims　until　he　got　so　jittery　that　he　shot　up　a　service　station　attendant　who　mistook　him　for　an　acquaintance。　It　seemed　a　long　time　ago　to　me。
　 I　said：　〃Go　on　from　there。〃
　 〃I　remembered　your　name　when　I　saw　it　on　your　registration　this　a。m。　So　when　I　lost　you　on　the　way　into　town　I　just　looked　you　up。　I　was　going　to　e　in　and　talk；　but　it　would　have　been　a　violation　of　confidence。　This　way　I　kind　of　can't　help　myself。〃
　 Another　screwball。　That　made　three　in　one　day；　not　counting　Mrs。　Murdock；　who　might　turn　out　to　be　a　screwball　too。
　 I　waited　while　he　took　his　dark　glasses　off　and　polished　them　and　put　them　on　again　and　gave　the　neighborhood　the　once　over　again。　Then　he　said：
　 〃I　figured　we　could　maybe　make　a　deal。　Pool　our　resources；　as　they　say。　I　saw　the　guy　go　into　your　office；　so　I　figured　he　had　hired　you。〃
　 〃You　knew　who　he　was？〃
　 〃I'm　working　on　him；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　sounded　flat　and　discouraged。　〃And　where　I　am　getting　is　no　place　at　all。〃
　 〃What　did　he　do　to　you？〃
　 〃Well；　I'm　working　for　his　wife。〃
　 〃Divorce？〃
　 He　looked　all　around　him　carefully　and　said　in　a　small　voice：　〃So　she　says。　But　I　wonder。〃
　 〃They　both　want　one；〃　I　said。　〃Each　trying　to　get　something　on　the　other。　ical；　isn't　it？〃
　 〃My　end　I　don't　like　so　well。　A　guy　is　tailing　me　around　some　of　the　time。　A　very　tall　guy　with　a　funny　eye。　I　shake　him　but　after　a　while　I　see　him　again。　A　very　tall　guy。　Like　a　lamppost。〃
　 A　very　tall　man　with　a　funny　eye。　I　smoked　thoughtfully。　〃Anything　to　do　with　you？〃　the　blond　man　asked　me　a　little　anxiously。
　 I　shook　my　head　and　threw　my　cigarette　into　the　sand　jar。　〃Never　saw　him　that　I　know　of。〃　I　looked　at　my　strap　watch。　〃We　better　get　together　and　talk　this　thing　over　properly；　but　I　can't　do　it　now。　I　have　an　appointment。〃
　 〃I'd　like　to；〃　he　said。　〃Very　much。〃
　 〃Let's　then。　My　office；　my　apartment；　or　your　office；　or　where？〃
　 He　scratched　his　badly　shaved　chin　with　a　well…chewed　thumbnail。
　 〃My　apartment；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃It's　not　in　the　phone　book。　Give　me　that　card　a　minute。〃
　 He　turned　it　over　on　his　palm　when　I　gave　it　to　him　and　wrote　slowly　with　a　small　metal　pencil；　moving　his　tongue　along　his　lips。　He　was　getting　younger　every　minute。　He　didn't　seem　much　more　than　twenty　by　now；　but　he　had　to　be；　because　the　Gregson　case　had　been　six　years　back。
　 He　put　his　pencil　away　and　handed　me　back　the　card。　The　address　he　had　written　on　it　was　204　Florence　Apartments；　128　Court　Street。
　 I　looked　at　him　curiously。　〃Court　Street　on　Bunker　Hill？〃
　 He　nodded；　flushing　all　over　his　blond　skin。　〃Not　too　good；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃I　haven't　been　in　the　chips　lately。　Do　you　mind？〃
　 〃No；　why　would　I？〃
　 I　stood　up　and　held　a　hand　out。　He　shook　it　and　dropped　it　and　I　pushed　it　down　into　my　hip　pocket　and　rubbed　the　palm　against　the　handkerchief　I　had　there。　Looking　at　his　face　more　closely　I　saw　that　there　was　a　line　of　moisture　across　his　upper　lip　and　more　of　it　along　the　side　of　his　nose。　It　was　not　as　hot　as　all　that。
　 I　started　to　move　off　and　then　I　turned　back　to　lean　down　close　to　his　face　and　say：　〃Almost　anybody　can　pull　my　leg；　but　just　to　make　sure；　she's　a　tall　blond　with　careless　eyes；　huh？〃
　 〃I　wouldn't　call　them　careless；〃　he　said。
　 I　he