howardspencercalledmeonthefollowingfridaymorning.hewasattheritz-beverlyandsuggestedidropoverforadrinkinthebar.

「bettermakeitinyourroom,」isaid.

「verywell,ifyoupreferit.room828.i’vejusttalkedtoeileenwade.sheseemsquiteresigned.shehasreadthescriptrogerleftandsaysshethinksitcanbefinishedoffveryeasily.itwillbeagooddealshorterthanhisotherbooks,butthatisbalancedbythepublicityvalue.iguessyouthinkwepublishersareaprettycallousbunch.eileenwillbehomeallafternoon.naturallyshewantstoseemeandiwanttoseeher.」

「i’llbeoverinhalfanhour,mr.spencer.」

hehadaniceroomysuiteonthewestsideofthehotel.thelivingroomhadtallwindowsopeningonanarrowiron-railedbalcony.thefurniturewasupholsteredinsomecandy-stripedmaterialandthatwiththeheavilyflowereddesignofthecarpetgaveitanold-fashionedair,exceptthateverythingyoucouldputadrinkdownonhadaplateglasstopandtherewerenineteenashtraysspottedaround.ahotelroomisaprettysharpindicationofthemannersoftheguests.theritz-beverlywasn’texpectingthemtohaveany.

spencershookhands.「sitdown,」hesaid.「whatwillyoudrink?」

「anythingornothing.idon’thavetohaveadrink.」

「ifancyaglassofamontillado.californiaispoordrinkingcountryinthesummer.innewyorkyoucanhandlefourtimesasmuchforonehalfthehangover.」

「i’lltakearyewhiskeysour.」

hewenttothephoneandordered.thenhesatdownononeofthecandy-stripedchairsandtookoffhisrimlessglassestopolishthemonahandkerchief.heputthembackon,adjustedthemcarefully,andlookedatme.

「itakeityouhavesomethingonyourmind.that’swhyyouwantedtoseemeuphereratherthaninthebar.」

「i’lldriveyououttoidlevalley.i’dliketoseemrs.wadetoo.」

helookedalittleuncomfortable.「i’mnotsurethatshewantstoseeyou,」hesaid.

「iknowshedoesn’t.icangetinonyourticket.」

「thatwouldnotbeverydiplomaticofme,wouldit?」

「shetellyoushedidn’twanttoseeme?」

「notexactly,notinsomanywords.」heclearedhisthroat.「igettheimpressionthatsheblamesyouforroger’sdeath.」

「yeah.shesaidthatrightout—tothedeputywhocametheafternoonhedied.sheprobablysaidittothesheriff’shomicidelieutenantthatinvestigatedthedeath.shedidn’tsayittothecoroner,however.」

heleanedbackandscratchedtheinsideofhishandwithafinger,slowly.itwasjustasortofdoodlinggesture.

「whatgoodwoulditdoforyoutoseeher,marlowe?itwasaprettydreadfulexperienceforher.iimagineherwholelifehadbeenprettydreadfulforsometime.whymakeherliveitover?doyouexpecttoconvinceherthatyoudidn’tmissoutalittle?」

「shetoldthedeputyikilledhim.」

「shecouldn’thavemeantthatliterally.otherwise—」

thedoorbuzzerrang.hegotuptogotothedoorandopenit.theroomservicewaitercameinwiththedrinksandputthemdownwithasmuchflourishasifhewasservingasevencoursedinner.spencersignedthecheckandgavehimfourbits.theguywentaway.spencerpickeduphisglassofsherryandwalkedawayasifhedidn’twanttohandmemydrink.iletitstaywhereitwas.

「otherwisewhat?」iaskedhim.

「otherwiseshewouldhavesaidsomethingtothecoroner,wouldn’tshe?」hefrownedatme.「ithinkwearetalkingnonsense.justwhatdidyouwanttoseemeabout?」

「youwantedtoseeme.」

「only,」hesaidcoldy,「becausewhenitalkedtoyoufromnewyorkyousaidiwasjumpingtoconclusions.thatimpliedtomethatyouhadsomethingtoexplain.well,whatisit?」

「i’dliketoexplainitinfrontofmrs.wade.」

「idon’tcarefortheidea.ithinkyouhadbettermakeyourownarrangements.ihaveagreatregardforeileenwade.asabusinessmani’dliketosalvageroger’sworkifitcanbedone.ifeileenfeelsaboutyouasyousuggest,ican’tbethemeansofgettingyouintoherhouse.bereasonable.」