erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第15部分

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hone。〃
　The　headwaiter　bustled　importantly　to　the　table；　conscious　of　the　fact　that　many　eyes　were　on　him　as　he　plugged　in　the　telephone　for　his　distinguished　guest。
　〃Your　call；　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said。
　Mason　picked　up　the　telephone；　said；　〃Mason　talking。〃
　The　operator　said；　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Mason。〃　And　then　Mason　heard　a　quick；　〃On　the　line。〃
　〃Mason　talking；〃　the　lawyer　said。
　The　voice　of　the　laboratory　technician　was　almost　mechanical　as　he　rasped　out　a　report。
　〃You　wanted　an　analysis　of　nails　and　hair　for　arsenic。　Both　reactions　were　positive。〃
　〃Quantity？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃It　was　not　a　quantitative　analysis。　I　simply　ran　tests。　However；　I　can　state　this：　There　are　two　bands　of　arsenic　in　the　hair　indicating　a　recurrent　poisoning　with　a　lapse　of　about　four　weeks　in　between　the　attacks。　The　nails　do　not　give　that　long　a　sequence　but　do　indicate　the　presence　of　arsenic。〃
　〃Can　you　make　an　analysis　which　would　give　me　an　idea　of　the　quantity？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Not　with　the　material　which　I　have　at　present。　I　gathered　that　haste　was　imperative　and　I　used　up　the　material　in　making　tests　simply　for　the　purpose　of　getting　a　reaction　to　the　poison。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said；　〃thanks　a　lot；　just　keep　it　under　your　hat。〃
　〃Anything　to　report　to　the　authorities？〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Mason　said　positively。　〃Absolutely　nothing。〃
　The　lawyer　hung　up　the　phone；　scribbled　the　amount　of　a　tip　on　a　check　which　the　headwaiter　had　brought　him；　signed　his　name　and　handed　the　headwaiter　ten　dollars。
　〃This　is　for　you；　Pierre。　Thanks。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you　so　much；〃　Pierre　said。　〃The　call　it　was　all　right？　It　came　through　nicely？〃
　〃It　came　through　fine；〃　Mason　said。
　The　lawyer　nodded　to　Della　Street。　They　walked　out　of　the　restaurant；　and　Mason　stopped　at　the　telephone　booth　to　deposit　a　coin　and　dial　Dr。　Alton's　night　number。
　Mason　heard　the　phone　start　ringing；　and　almost　instantly　Dr。　Alton's　voice　said；　〃Yes；　yes。　Hello。　Hello；〃　indicating　that　the　physician　had　been　anxiously　waiting　by　the　telephone。
　〃Perry　Mason　talking；　Doctor；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃The　tests　were　both　positive。　The　hair　test　indicated　there　had　been　two　periods　of　poison　ingestion　about　four　weeks　apart。〃
　There　was　a　long　moment　of　stunned　silence　at　the　other　end　of　the　telephone；　then　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Good　God！〃
　Mason　said；　〃She's　your　patient；　Doctor。〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃Look；　Mason；　I　have　reason　to　believe　that　I　am　named　as　one　of　the　beneficiaries　in　Lauretta　Trent's　will。
　〃This　whole　business　is　going　to　put　me　in　a　very　embarrassing　position。　As　soon　as　I　make　a　report　to　Lauretta　Trent；　I　will　be　castigated　by　the　family　who　will　insist　on　calling　in　another　physician　to　check　my　diagnosis　and　then　when　that　physician　confirms　our　suspicions；　the　family　will　at　least　intimate　that　I　have　been　trying　to　hurry　up　my　inheritance。〃
　Mason　said；　〃You　might　also　give　a　little　thought　to　what　will　happen　if　you　don't　report　what　you　have　found　out　and　if　there　should　be　a　fourth　attack　during　which　Mrs。　Trent　should　die。〃
　〃I've　been　pacing　the　floor　thinking　of　that　for　the　last　hour；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I　knew　that　you　disapproved　of　the　extent　of　the　precautionary　measures　I　had　taken。　You　thought　that　I　should　at　least　have　confided　my　suspicions　to　the　nurse　in　charge　and　seen　that…Oh；　well；　that's　all　water　under　the　bridge　now。
　〃Mason；　I'm　going　out　there。　I'd　like　very；　very　much　to　have　you　along　with　me　when　I　talk　with　my　patient。　I　think　I'm　going　to　need　professional　reinforcements　and　before　I　get　done；　I　may　need　an　attorney。　I　want　to　have　you　there　to　substantiate　the　facts。　I'll　see　that　you're　amply　paid　by　Mrs。　Trent。　I'll　make　that　my　responsibility。〃
　〃What's　the　address？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃An　imposing　mansion　on　Alicia　Drive；　the　number　is　twenty…one　twelve。　I'm　going　right　out　there。　If　I　should　get　there　first；　I'll　wait　for　you。　If　you　get　there；　just　park　your　car　at　the　curb　on　the　street　and　wait　for　me。
　〃Actually；　there's　a　curved　driveway　going　up　to　the　front　entrance；　but　the　only　place　you　could　wait　without　attracting　attention　would　be　at　the　curb。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃Della　Street；　my　secretary；　and　I　are　on　the　way　out　right　now。〃
　〃I'll　probably　beat　you　there；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃I'll　be　parked　at　the　curb。〃
　〃Any　idea　of　just　how　you　are　going　about　it？〃　Mason　asked。
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I've　been　overly　optimistic　long　enough。　Perhaps　I　should　say；　I've　been　a　coward。〃
　〃You're　going　to　tell　her　the　whole　thing？〃
　〃Tell　her　the　whole　thing。　Tell　her　that　her　life　is　in　danger。　Tell　her　that　I　have　made　a　mistake　in　diagnosis。　In　short；　I'm　going　to　set　off　the　whole　chain　reaction。〃
　〃You　know　her；〃　Mason　asked；　〃how　will　she　take　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know　her　that　well；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。
　〃Haven't　you　been　treating　her　for　quite　a　while？〃
　〃I've　been　her　physician　for　years；〃　Dr　Alton　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　her　well　enough　to　know　how　she'll　take　anything　like　this。　No　one　does。　She　is　very　much　of　a　law　unto　herself。〃
　〃Sounds　interesting；〃　Mason　said。
　〃Probably　interesting　to　you；〃　Dr。　Alton　told　him；　〃but　it's　disastrous　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Now；　don't　be　too　hard　on　yourself；〃　Mason　said。　〃Physicians　don't　ordinarily　expect　homicidal　poisoning；　and　the　records　show　that　virtually　every　case　of　arsenical　poisoning　was　originally　diagnosed　by　the　physician　in　charge　as　a　gastroenteric　disturbance　of　considerable　magnitude。〃
　〃I　know。　I　know；〃　Dr。　Alton　said。　〃You　can　make　it　easy　on　me；　but　I'm　not　going　to。　I'm　going　to　face　the　music。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃I'll　meet　you　there。〃
　The　lawyer　hung　up；　nodded　to　Della　Street。
　〃Report　to　Paul　Drake；　Della。　We're　going　out　there。　We　can't　let　Dr。　Alton　face　the　music　alone。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　Mason　found　Alicia　Drive　without　difficulty；　drove　slowly　along　until　the　street　lights　showed　an　imposing　white　mansion　on　high　ground　to　the　right　with　a　curved　driveway　leading　up　to　the　front。
　A　car　was　parked　at　the　curb　just　before　the　entrance　to　the　driveway　and　the　parking　lights　were　on。　A　figure　could　be　seen　silhouetted　in　the　driver's　seat。
　Mason　said；　〃Unless　I'm　mistaken；　that　will　be　Dr。　Alton。〃
　The　lawyer　eased　his　car　into　the　curb　behind　the　other　machine；　and　Dr。　Alton　almost　instantly　opened　the　door　of　his　car　and　came　walking　back　to　Mason's　side　of　the　car。
　〃Well；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃you　made　good　time。　Let's　go。〃
　〃Take　both　cars　in　the　driveway？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃I　think　so。　I'll　lead　the　way；　you　follow　me。　There's　a　parking　place　in　front。　That　is；　it's　wide　enough　for　three　cars　and　you　just　leave　your　car　behind　mine。〃
　〃Let's　go；〃　Mason　told　him。
　Dr。　Alton　hesitated　a　moment；　squared　his　shoulders；　marched　grimly　over　to　his　automobile；　started　the　motor；　switched　on　the　headlights　and　led　the　way　up　the　curving　drive。
　Mason　followed　behind　him；　parked　his　car；　walked　around　to　help　Della　out；　then　led　her　up　the　steps　to　the　spacious　stone　landing。
　Dr。　Alton　pressed　the　bell　button。
　Apparently　Alton　had　expected　a　servant　to　open　the　door。　He　recoiled　noticeably　when　a　chunky；　blue…eyed　man　in　his　middle　fifties　stood　in　the　doorway。
　〃Why；　hello；　Doc；〃　the　man　said。　And　then　added　almost　instantly；　〃What's　the　matter？　Anything　wrong？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said　with　dignity；　〃I　happened　to　be　driving　by　。　。　。　I　decided　to　drop　in　to　see　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　The　man　turned　speculative　blue　eyes　on　Perry　Mason　and　Della　Street。
　〃And　these　people？〃　he　asked。
　Dr。　Alton；　evidently　upset　by　the　meeting；　apparently　did　not　intend　to　perform　introductions。
　〃They　are　with　me；〃　he　said　shortly；　and　started　through　the　door。
　Mason　took　Della　Street's　arm；　guided　her　into　the　reception　hallway；　smiled　affably　but　impersonally　and　started　to　follow　Dr。　Alton　up　a　sweeping　staircase。
　〃Hey；　wait　a　minute！〃　the　man　said。　〃Hey；　what　is　this？〃
　Dr。　Alton　turned；　frowned；　reached　a　decision。　〃I　have　asked　these　people…〃
　〃Why；　this　is　Perry　Mason；　the　lawyer！〃　the　man　interrupted。　〃I've　seen　his　picture　dozens　of　times。〃
　Dr。　Alton；　with　close…clipped　professional　efficiency；　said；　〃Quite　right。　That　is　Mr。　Perry　Mason　and；　in　case　you're　interested；　the　young　woman　with　him　is　Miss　Della　Street；　his　secretary。　I　want　Mr。　Mason　to　talk　with　Mrs。　Trent。〃
　Then；　after　a　barely　perceptible　hesitation；　he　said；　〃This　is　Mr。　Boring　Briggs；　a　brother…in…law　of　my　patient。〃
　Briggs　didn't　even　acknowledge　the　introduction。
　〃Say；　what　is　this？〃　he　asked。　〃You　folks　making　out　a　will　or　something？　What's　happened？　Lauretta　hasn't　had　another　one　of　her　spells；　has　she？〃
　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃I　would　prefer　to　let　Mrs。　Trent　give　you　the　information；　but　if　it　will　relieve　your　mind　any；　Mr。　Mason　is　with　me。　Mrs。　Trent　didn't　send　for　him。〃
　〃Well；　don't　be　so　crusty　about　it；〃　Briggs　said。　〃I　naturally　felt　a　little　alarm。　I've　been　out。　Just　got　back　a　few　minutes　ago；　and　when　I　find　a　doctor　and　a　lawyer　ing　out　to　the　house　at　this　hour　of　the　night…well；　I　felt　I　was　entitled　to　a　little　information；　that's　all。〃
　〃We'll　go　on　up；〃　Dr。　Alton　said　with　formal　dignity。　〃Right　this　way；　please。〃
　The　physician　indicated　the　stairway　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm　and　climbed　the　stairs。
　Mason　and　Della　Street　followed　a