forashorttimethenextdaythingslookedlikegettinglively.districtattorneyspringercalledanearlypressconferenceanddeliveredastatement.hewasthebigfloridblack-browedprematurelygray-hairedtypethatalwaysdoessowellinpolitics.

ihavereadthedocumentwhichpurportstobeaconfessionbytheunfortunateandunhappywomanwhorecentlytookherlife,adocumentwhichmayormaynotbegenuine,butwhich,ifgenuine,isobviouslytheproductofadisorderedmind.iamwillingtoassumethatthejournalpublishedthisdocumentingoodfaith,inspiteofitsmanyabsurditiesandinconsistencies,andtheseishallnotboreyouwithenumerating.ifeileenwadewrotethesewords,andmyofficeinconjunctionwiththestaffofmyrespectedcoadjutor,sheriffpetersen,willsoondeterminewhetherornotshedid,thenisaytoyouthatshedidnotwritethemwithaclearhead,norwithasteadyhand.itisonlyamatterofweekssincetheunfortunateladyfoundherhusbandwallowinginhisownblood,spilledbyhisownhand.imaginetheshock,thedespair,theutterlonelinesswhichmusthavefollowedsosharpadisaster!andnowshehasjoinedhiminthebitternessofdeath.isanythingtobegainedbydisturbingtheashesofthedead?anything,myfriends,beyondthesaleofafewcopiesofanewspaperwhichisbadlyinneedofcirculation?nothing,myfriends,nothing.letusleaveitatthat.likeopheliainthatgreatdramaticmasterpiececalledhamlet,bytheimmortalwilliamshakespeare,eileenwadeworeherruewithadifference.mypoliticalenemieswouldliketomakemuchofthatdifference,butmyfriendsandfellowvoterswillnotbedeceived.theyknowthatthisofficehaslongstoodforwiseandmaturelawenforcement,forjusticetemperedwithmercy,forsolid,stable,andconservativegovernment.thejournalstandsforiknownotwhat,andforwhatitstandsidonotmuchorgreatlycare.lettheenlightenedpublicjudgeforitself.

thejournalprintedthisguffinitsearlyedition(itwasaround-theclocknewspaper)andhenrysherman,themanagingeditor,camerightbackatspringerwithasignedcomment.

mr.districtattorneyspringerwasingoodformthismorning.heisafinefigureofamanandhespeakswitharichbaritonevoicethatisapleasuretolistento.hedidnotboreuswithanyfacts.anytimemr.springercarestohavetheauthenticityofthedocumentinquestionprovedtohim,thejournalwillbemosthappytooblige.wedonotexpectmr.springertotakeanyactiontoreopencaseswhichhadbeenofficiallyclosedwithhissanctionorunderhisdirection,justaswedonotexpectmr.springertostandonhisheadonthetowerofthecityhall.asmr.springersoaptlyphrasesit,isanythingtobegainedbydisturbingtheashesofthedead?or,asthejournalwouldprefertophraseitlesselegantly,isanythingtobegainedbyfindingoutwhocommittedamurderwhenthemurdereeisalreadydead?nothing,ofcourse,butjusticeandtruth.

onbehalfofthelatewilliamshakespeare,thejournalwishestothankmr.springerforhisfavorablementionofhamlet,andforhissubstantially,althoughnotexactly,correctallusiontoophelia.「youmustwearyourruewithadifference」wasnotsaidofopheliabutbyher,andjustwhatshemeanthasneverbeenverycleartoourlesseruditeminds.butletthatpass.itsoundswellandhelpstoconfusetheissue.perhapswemaybepermittedtoquote,alsofromthatofficiallyapproveddramaticproductionknownashamlet,agoodthingthathappenedtobesaidbyabadman:「andwheretheoffenceisletthegreataxefall.」

lonniemorgancalledmeupaboutnoonandaskedmehowilikedit.itoldhimididn’tthinkitwoulddospringeranyharm.

「onlywiththeeggheads,」lonniemorgansaid,「andtheyalreadyhadhisnumber.imeantwhataboutyou?」

「nothingaboutme.i’mjustsittingherewaitingforasoftbucktorubitselfagainstmycheek.」

「thatwasn’texactlywhatimeant.」

「i’mstillhealthy.quittryingtoscareme.igotwhatiwanted.iflennoxwasstillalivehecouldwalkrightuptospringerandspitinhiseye.」

「youdiditforhim.andbythistimespringerknowsthat.theygotahundredwaystoframeaguytheydon’tlike.idon’tfigurewhatmadeitworthyourtime.lennoxwasn’tthatmuchman.」

「what’sthatgottodowithit?」

hewassilentforamoment.thenhesaid:「sorry,marlowe.shutmybigmouth.goodluck.」

wehungupaftertheusualgoodbyes.

abouttwointheafternoonlindaloringcalledme.「nonames,please,」shesaid.「i’vejustflowninfromthatbiglakeupnorth.somebodyupthereisboilingoversomethingthatwasinthejournallastnight.myalmostex-husbandgotitrightbetweentheeyes.thepoormanwasweepingwhenileft.heflewuptoreport.」

「whatdoyoumean,almostex-husband?」

「don’tbestupid.foroncefatherapproves.parisisanexcellentplacetogetaquietporce.soishallsoonbeleavingtogothere.andifyouhaveanysenseleftyoucoulddoworsethanspendalittleofthatfancyengravingyoushowedmegoingalongwayoffyourself.」

「what’sitgottodowithme?」

「that’sthesecondstupidquestionyou’veasked.you’renotfoolinganyonebutyourself,marlowe.doyouknowhowtheyshoottigers?」