[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Holmes looked at his wife's hands, wringing each other with enough force that
he could hear the sound from across the room; she was completely oblivious to
both sound and gesture. "So I was thinking, Holmes, if it made such a stink at
the time, surely the police would still have the file open. I mean unless
they've decided she fell and hit herself on the head with the statue. Which
going by what I heard tonight would only be likely if they were paid to decide
that, did you know, Holmes "
He walked into the bath-room and shook tooth-powder onto his brush, but even
with the noise of the running tap and the brush, he could hear the words
spilling out of the next room. Drugged, drunk, hysterical, or simply infected
by the mood of a flock of partying flappers, he couldn't know, but it was
tiresome and it was worrying and it was not Russell, not at all.
***
At last, near dawn, she slept. Holmes, who had spent most of his life in
complete disregard of the hours of light and dark, wondered if age was
beginning to slip up on him, for the long hours they'd kept the
past few days had left him feeling light-headed with exhaustion. So he, too,
Page 105
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
slept, so deeply he did not hear her rise, dress, and go out.
It was past ten o'clock when the door opened again. This time, he came awake
swiftly.
"Russell?"
"Good heavens, " she said. "Are you still asleep? Sorry, I felt sure you'd
gone out and I missed seeing you. "
"How long have you been up?" A faint heaviness at the edges of his voice gave
away his sleep-clogged state, and he cleared his throat to rid himself of it.
"Oh, two or three hours, " she answered cheerfully: If that was true, she had
slept for less than three hours, in spite of which she showed no signs of
hang-over. She was probably still intoxicated. "It's a lovely morning, a bit
of fog earlier but it looks to be warm today. I'll just fetch what I came for
and
leave you. "
"That is not necessary, I was on the edge of waking. Have you had your
breakfast?"
"Oh, yes."
"Six cups of black coffee."
"Two, and toast," she protested.
"Then you'll be ready for a proper breakfast. I shall meet you in the
restaurant after I have shaved. Unless your current task cannot wait. "
"Oh no, that's fine. I was just coming for the key, I thought I'd go up to the
house this morning, but it
can wait. I'll order coffee. " And so saying she left. Holmes rubbed his face,
grimacing at the stubble,
and swung his long legs to the floor.
The restaurant was nearly deserted at that hour, and Russell was at a window
table, the bright sunlight turning her into the silhouette of a young woman
bent over her morning paper. She looked sleek and alien in her bobbed haircut
and new clothes, and the arm that stretched across the paper had something of
the modern fashion for bone without muscle: In another few days, her thinness
would become alarming.
She looked up when he came to the table, and permitted the waiter to fill her
cup along with Holmes'.
"Have you ordered?" he asked.
"I'll just have a piece of toast. I had an omelette at Flo's house. "
"Seven hours ago. You will have a breakfast, " he said flatly, and turned to
the waiter to order two large meals. She raised an eyebrow at his tone and his
action, and when the waiter had left, Holmes addressed himself to her again.
"Occasional periods of self-starvation benefit the mental processes; over the
long term, it can be destructive. The body is a machine, and needs fuel. Think
of your porridge and eggs as petrol. "
"They will have about as much savour. "
Page 106
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"The body cares not what the palate thinks. What is in the news today?"
He listened with half an ear as she read to him a number of political and
criminological stories that concerned him not in the least "3 FLUNG TO THE
ROAD FROM CABLE-CAR" was one admittedly evocative headline, less so the
lengthy tale of a woman who came home from filing for divorce to find her
three children and the husband shot to death by his hand. When their food
came, he waited until she had begun before he picked up his fork, and felt he
was nearly counting the number of times her own rose and fell. After a time,
the habits of her own physicality took over, and he relaxed his vigil, and
paid closer attention to her words.
By the end of the meal, he couldn't have said precisely where his wife had
been the night before or recalled the peculiar names of the dances she had
assayed, but two things were clear: She had eaten enough for the moment and,
although she had not expected to do so when she'd left the hotel the night
before, she had in truth enjoyed the company of Flo Greenfield. Holmes
commented on the latter fact.
Russell looked mildly surprised. "Yes, I suppose so. She's not exactly my
sort, and hasn't much of an interest in anything but fashion and decorating,
but she does have a brain beneath the flutter. Sooner or later she's going to
get tired of night-clubs and hang-overs, and when she does, I have a feeling
she'll make something of herself. Are you asking for a reason?"
Holmes was not altogether pleased to see the evidence of Russell's quick
common sense it was good to see a flash of normality, but it meant that he'd
have to proceed cautiously. He took out his cigarette case. "I don't suppose
you've any meetings with Norbert until Monday?"
"I do have a brief appointment this morning, just to sign a few papers. The
manager of the Sacramento property wanted to meet today, but unfortunately his
mother's been taken ill and he's cancelled it until Tuesday or Wednesday. "
"I see. "
"What are you up to, Holmes?"
"Me? Why do you imagine "
"You're asking far too many innocent questions. "
"Ah. I was simply concerned... well, never mind. We shall plan an outing for
the week-end. "
"Concerned that what?"
"Russell, I don't know that it's good for you to be without something to
employ your mind, " he replied bluntly. "You're dwelling too much on the past.
We shall hire a motor and take the Sausalito ferry to "
"Me? I'm not the one who's 'dwelling on the past, '" she snapped. "And I
certainly don't need a nurse-maid. "
"Good, fine. You've no doubt made plans for parties with your friend. In town,
I take it?"
"Why?"
Page 107
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I don't... I would hate... " Holmes took a deep breath and began again. "I
rather trust you won't do something foolish such as going to see your parents'
summer house on your own. "
"'Foolish'?" Russell's chin came up and her eyes flashed; with the raised
colour in her face, she looked nearly herself. "Holmes, I should appreciate it
if you would not try to tell me what I am and am not to do. If I choose to
drive down the coast and look at the Lodge my Lodge then I shall do so. I need
not ask your permission. "
"Russell, I merely request "
But the heat of her response was only fed by placation. "You think it
'foolish' when I investigate a matter, and not when you do it? Thank you,
Holmes, I shall let you know what I decide to do with the weekend. " And with
that she rose, dropped her table napkin on the cloth, and strode from the
restaurant.
It was as well she did not look back. She might have seen Holmes, leaning back
to tap his cigarette into the ash-tray, smiling gently at the rising smoke.
*** [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

dona35.pev.pl