raymondchandler.thehighwindow-第3部分

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ooked　it　over。　Dark　hair　parted　loosely　in　the　middle　and　drawn　back　loosely　over　a　solid　piece　of　forehead。　A　wide　cool　go…to…hell　mouth　with　very　kissable　lips。　Nice　nose；　not　too　small；　not　too　large。　Good　bone　all　over　the　face。　The　expression　of　the　face　lacked　something。　Once　the　something　might　have　been　called　breeding；　but　these　days　I　didn't　know　what　to　call　it。　The　face　looked　too　wise　and　too　guarded　for　its　age。　Too　many　passes　had　been　made　at　it　and　it　had　grown　a　little　too　smart　in　dodging　them。　And　behind　this　expression　of　wiseness　there　was　the　look　of　simplicity　of　the　little　girl　who　still　believes　in　Santa　Claus。
　 I　nodded　over　the　photo　and　slipped　it　into　my　pocket。　thinking　I　was　getting　too　much　out　of　it　to　get　out　of　a　mere　photo；　and　in　a　very　poor　light　at　that。
　 The　door　opened　and　the　little　girl　in　the　linen　dress　came　in　with　a　three…decker　check　book　and　a　fountain　pen　and　made　a　desk　of　her　arm　for　Mrs。　Murdock　to　sign。　She　straightened　up　with　a　strained　smile　and　Mrs。　Murdock　made　a　sharp　gesture　towards　me　and　the　little　girl　tore　the　check　out　and　gave　it　to　me。　She　hovered　inside　the　door；　waiting。　Nothing　was　said　to　her；　so　she　went　out　softly　again　and　closed　the　door。
　 I　shook　the　check　dry；　folded　it　and　sat　holding　it。　〃What　can　you　tell　me　about　Linda？〃
　 〃Practically　nothing。　Before　she　married　my　son　she　shared　an　apartment　with　a　girl　named　Lois　Magiccharming　names　these　people　choose　for　themselveswho　is　an　entertainer　of　some　sort。　They　worked　at　a　place　called　the　Idle　Valley　Club；　out　Ventura　Boulevard　way。　My　son　Leslie　knows　it　far　too　well。　I　know　nothing　about　Linda's　family　or　origins。　She　said　once　she　was　born　in　Sioux　Falls。　I　suppose　she　had　parents。　I　was　not　interested　enough　to　find　out。〃
　 Like　hell　she　wasn't。　I　could　see　her　digging　with　both　hands；　digging　hard；　and　getting　herself　a　double　handful　of　gravel。
　 〃You　don't　know　Miss　Magic's　address？〃
　 〃No。　I　never　did　know。〃
　 〃Would　your　son　be　likely　to　knowor　Miss　Davis？〃
　 〃I'll　ask　my　son　when　he　es　in。　I　don't　think　so。　You　can　ask　Miss　Davis。　I'm　sure　she　doesn't。〃
　 〃I　see。　You　don't　know　of　any　other　friends　of　Linda's？〃
　 〃No。〃
　 〃It's　possible　that　your　son　is　still　in　touch　with　her；　Mrs。　Murdockwithout　telling　you。〃
　 She　started　to　get　purple　again。　I　held　my　hand　up　and　dragged　a　soothing　smile　over　my　face。　〃After　all　he　has　been　married　to　her　a　year；〃　I　said。　〃He　must　know　something　about　her。〃
　 〃You　leave　my　son　out　of　this；〃　she　snarled。
　 I　shrugged　and　made　a　disappointed　sound　with　my　lips。　〃Very　well。　She　took　her　car；　I　suppose。　The　one　you　gave　her？〃
　 〃A　steel　gray　Mercury；　1940　model；　a　coupé。　Miss　Davis　can　give　you　the　license　number；　if　you　want　that。　I　don't　know　whether　she　took　it。〃
　 〃Would　you　know　what　money　and　clothes　and　jewels　she　had　with　her？〃
　 〃Not　much　money。　She　might　have　had　a　couple　of　hundred　dollars；　at　most。〃　A　fat　sneer　made　deep　lines　around　her　nose　and　mouth。　〃Unless　of　course　she　has　found　a　new　friend。〃
　 〃There's　that；〃　I　said。　〃Jewelry？〃
　 〃An　emerald　and　diamond　ring　of　no　very　great　value；　a　platinum　Longines　watch　with　rubies　in　the　mounting；　a　very　good　cloudy　amber　necklace　which　I　was　foolish　enough　to　give　her　myself。　It　has　a　diamond　clasp　with　twenty…six　small　diamonds　in　the　shape　of　a　playing　card　diamond。　She　had　other　things；　of　course。　I　never　paid　much　attention　to　them。　She　dressed　well　but　not　strikingly。　Thank　God　for　a　few　small　mercies。〃
　 She　refilled　her　glass　and　drank　and　did　some　more　of　her　semi…social　belching。
　 〃That's　all　you　can　tell　me；　Mrs。　Murdock？〃
　 〃Isn't　it　enough？〃
　 〃Not　nearly　enough；　but　I'll　have　to　be　satisfied　for　the　time　being。　If　I　find　she　did　not　steal　the　coin；　that　ends　the　investigation　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。　Correct？〃
　 〃We'll　talk　it　over；〃　she　said　roughly。　〃She　stole　it　all　right。　And　I　don't　intend　to　let　her　get　away　with　it。　Paste　that　in　your　hat；　young　man。　And　I　hope　you　are　even　half　as　rough　as　you　like　to　act；　because　these　night　club　girls　are　apt　to　have　some　very　nasty　friends。〃
　 I　was　still　holding　the　folded　check　by　one　corner　down　between　my　knees。　I　got　my　wallet　out　and　put　it　away　and　stood　up；　reaching　my　hat　off　the　floor。
　 〃I　like　them　nasty；〃　I　said。　〃The　nasty　ones　have　very　simple　minds。　I'll　report　to　you　when　there　is　anything　to　report；　Mrs。　Murdock。　I　think　I'll　tackle　this　coin　dealer　first。　He　sounds　like　a　lead。〃
　 She　let　me　get　to　the　door　before　she　growled　at　my　back：　〃You　don't　like　me　very　well；　do　you？〃
　 I　turned　to　grin　back　at　her　with　my　hand　on　the　knob。　〃Does　anybody？〃
　 She　threw　her　head　back　and　opened　her　mouth　wide　and　roared　with　laughter。　In　the　middle　of　the　laughter　I　opened　the　door　and　went　out　and　shut　the　door　on　the　rough　mannish　sound。　I　went　back　along　the　hall　and　knocked　on　the　secretary's　half　open　door；　then　pushed　it　open　and　looked　in。
　 She　had　her　arms　folded　on　her　desk　and　her　face　down　on　the　folded　arms。　She　was　sobbing。　She　screwed　her　head　around　and　looked　up　at　me　with　tear…stained　eyes。　I　shut　the　door　and　went　over　beside　her　and　put　an　arm　around　her　thin　shoulders。
　 〃Cheer　up；〃　I　said。　〃You　ought　to　feel　sorry　for　her。　She　thinks　she's　tough　and　she's　breaking　her　back　trying　to　live　up　to　it。〃
　 The　little　girl　jumped　erect；　away　from　my　arm。　〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　said　breathlessly。　〃Please。　I　never　let　men　touch　me。　And　don't　say　such　awful　things　about　Mrs。　Murdock。〃
　 Her　face　was　all　pink　and　wet　from　tears。　Without　her　glasses　her　eyes　were　very　lovely。
　 I　stuck　my　long…waiting　cigarette　into　my　mouth　and　lit　it。
　 〃II　didn't　mean　to　be　rude；〃　she　snuffled。　〃But　she　does　humiliate　me　so。　And　I　only　want　to　do　my　best　for　her。〃　She　snuffled　some　more　and　got　a　man's　handkerchief　out　of　her　desk　and　shook　it　out　and　wiped　her　eyes　with　it。　I　saw　on　the　hanging　down　corner　the　initials　L。M。　embroidered　in　purple。　I　stared　at　it　and　blew　cigarette　smoke　towards　the　corner　of　the　room；　away　from　her　hair。　〃Is　there　something　you　want？〃　she　asked。
　 〃I　want　the　license　number　of　Mrs。　Leslie　Murdock's　car。〃
　 〃It's　2X1111；　a　gray　Mercury　convertible；　1940　model。〃
　 〃She　told　me　it　was　a　coupé。〃
　 〃That's　Mr。　Leslie's　car。　They're　the　same　make　and　year　and　color。　Linda　didn't　take　the　car。〃
　 〃Oh。　What　do　you　know　about　a　Miss　Lois　Magic？〃
　 〃I　only　saw　her　once。　She　used　to　share　an　apartment　with　Linda。　She　came　here　with　a　Mr。a　Mr。　Vannier。〃
　 〃Who's　he？〃
　 She　looked　down　at　her　desk。　〃Ishe　just　came　with　him。　I　don't　know　him。〃
　 〃Okay；　what　does　Miss　Lois　Magic　look　like？〃
　 〃She's　a　tall　handsome　blond。　Veryvery　appealing。〃
　 〃You　mean　sexy？〃
　 〃Well〃　she　blushed　furiously；　〃in　a　nice　well…bred　sort　of　way；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　 〃I　know　what　you　mean；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　never　got　anywhere　with　it。〃
　 〃I　can　believe　that；〃　she　said　tartly。
　 〃Know　where　Miss　Magic　lives？〃
　 She　shook　her　head；　no。　She　folded　the　big　handkerchief　very　carefully　and　put　it　in　the　drawer　of　her　desk；　the　one　where　the　gun　was。
　 〃You　can　swipe　another　one　when　that's　dirty；〃　I　said。　She　leaned　back　in　her　chair　and　put　her　small　neat　hands　on　her　desk　and　looked　at　me　levelly。
　 〃I　wouldn't　carry　that　tough…guy　manner　too　far；　if　I　were　you；　Mr。　Marlowe。　Not　with　me；　at　any　rate。〃
　 〃No？〃
　 〃No。　And　I　can't　answer　any　more　questions　without　specific　instructions。　My　position　here　is　very　confidential。〃
　 〃I'm　not　tough；〃　I　said。　〃Just　virile。〃
　 She　picked　up　a　pencil　and　made　a　mark　on　a　pad。　She　smiled　faintly　up　at　me；　all　posure　again。
　 〃Perhaps　I　don't　like　virile　men；〃　she　said。　
　 〃You're　a　screwball；〃　I　said；　〃if　ever　I　met　one。　Good…by。〃　
　 I　went　out　of　her　office；　shut　the　door　firmly；　and　walked　back　along　the　empty　halls　through　the　big　silent　sunken　funereal　living　room　and　out　of　the　front　door。
　 The　sun　danced　on　the　warm　lawn　outside。　I　put　my　dark　glasses　on　and　went　over　and　patted　the　little　Negro　on　the　head　again。
　 〃Brother；　it's　even　worse　than　I　expected；〃　I　told　him。　The　stumble…stones　were　hot　through　the　soles　of　my　shoes。　I　got　into　the　car　and　started　it　and　pulled　away　from　the　curb。
　 A　small　sand…colored　coupé　pulled　away　from　the　curb　behind　me。　I　didn't　think　anything　of　it。　The　man　driving　it　wore　a　dark　porkpie　type　straw　hat　with　a　gay　print　band　and　dark　glasses　were　over　his　eyes；　as　over　mine。
　 I　drove　back　towards　the　city。　A　dozen　blocks　later　at　a　traffic　stop；　the　sand…colored　coupé　was　still　behind　me。　I　shrugged　and　just　for　the　fun　of　it　circled　a　few　blocks。　The　coupé　held　its　position。　I　swung　into　a　street　lined　with　immense　pepper　trees；　dragged　my　heap　around　in　a　fast　U…turn　and　stopped　against　the　curbing。
　 The　coupé　came　carefully　around　the　corner。　The　blond　head　under　the　cocoa　straw　hat　with　the　tropical　print　band　didn't　even　turn　my　way。　The　coupé　sailed　on　and　I　drove　back　to　the　Arroyo　Seco　and　on　towards　Hollywood。　I　looked　carefully　several　times；　but　I　didn't　spot　the　coupé　again。
　
　
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　 I　had　an　office　in　the　Cahuenga　Building；　sixth　floor；　two　small　rooms　at　the　back。　One　I　left　open　for　a　patient　client　to　sit　in；　if　I　had　a　patient　client。　There　was　a　buzzer　on　the　door　which　I　could　switch　on　and　off　from　my　private　thinking　parlor。
　 I　looked　into　the　reception　room。　It　was　empty　of　everything　but　the　smell　of　dust。　I　threw　up　another　window；　unlocked　the　municating　door　and　went　into　the　room　beyond。　Three　hard　chairs　and　a　swivel　chair；　flat　desk　with　a　glass　top；　five　green　filing　cases；　three　of　them　full　of　nothing；　a　calendar　and　a　framed　license　bond　on　the　wall；　a　phone；　a　washbowl　in　a　stained　wood　cupboard；　a　hatrack；　a　carpet　that　was　just　something　on　the　floor；　and　two　open　windows　with　net　curtains　that　puckered　in　and　out　like　the　lips　of　a　toothless　old　man　sleeping。
　 The　same　stuff　I　had　had　last　year；　and　the　year　before　that。　Not　beautiful；　not　gay；　but　better　than　a　tent　on　the　beach。
　 I　hung　my　hat　and　coat　on　the　hatrack；　washed　my　face　and　hands　in　cold　water；　lit　a　cigarette　and　hoisted　the　phone　book　onto　the　desk。　Elisha　Morningstar　was　listed　at　824　Belfont　Building；　422　West　Ninth　Street。　I　wrote　that　down　and　the　phone　number　that　went　with　it　and　had　my　hand　on　the　instrument　when　I　remembered　that　I　hadn't　switched　on　the　buzzer　for　the　reception　room。　I　reached　over　the　side　of　the　desk　and　clicked　it　on　and　caught　it　right　in　stride。　Somebody　had　just　opened　the　door　of　the　outer　office。
　 I　turned　my　pad　face　down　on　the　desk　and　went　over　to　see　who　it　was。　It　was　a　slim　tall　self…satisfied　looking　number　in　a　tropical　worsted　suit　of　slate　blue；　black　and　white　shoes；　a　dull　ivory…colored　shirt　and　a　tie　and　display　handkerchief　the　color　of　jacaranda　bloom。　He　was　holding　a　long　black　cigarette…holder　in　a　peeled　back　white　pigskin　glove　and　he　was　wrinkling　his　nose　at　the　dead　magazines　on　the　library　table　and　the　chairs　and　the　rusty　floor　covering　and　the　general　air　of　not　much　money　being　made。
　 As　I　opened　the　municating　door　he　made　a　quarter　turn　and　stared　at　me　out　of　a　pair　of　rather　dreamy　pale　eyes　set　close　to　a　narrow　nose。　His　skin　was　sun