“那就去做，快点。”

“Then do it, and make it snappy.”

马龙放下电话。海伦正从年轻人那里拿走一个高高的杯子，里面装着一些看起来有毒的绿色混合物。

Malone put down the telephone. Helene was just taking a tallish glass, containing some poisonous-looking green mixture, away from the young man.

“这也是一种很特别的。可惜浪费了。好吧，如果你不想要。我要……”

“This was a very special one, too. Shame to waste it. Well, if you don't want it. I do—”

“放下那个杯子。” 马龙严厉地说，“你现在和冯?弗拉纳根有个约会。”

“Put that glass down.” Malone said sharply. “You've got a date with von Flanagan, right now.”

“为什么？我做了什么？”

“Why, what have I done?”

“在路上我再告诉你。穿上你的帽子和外套。”

“I'll tell you on the way. Put on your hat and coat.”

“海伦去哪儿我就去哪儿。” 杰克坚定地说。

“I'm going anywhere Helene goes,” Jake said firmly.

“好吧，你也可以来。”

“All right, you can e, too.”

“如果我要去和冯?弗拉纳根会面，” 她若有所思地说，“我得喝上那一杯。” 她迅速喝光了杯子里的酒，穿上外套，调整了一下那顶小巧的棕色皮帽。

“If I’m going to have a session with von Flanagan,” she said thoughtfully, “I’m going to need that drink.” She emptied the glass quickly, put on her coat, and adjusted the pert little brown fur hat.

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“你能保证在我们回来之前一直待在这儿吗？”

“Will you promise to stay right here until we get back?”

罗斯?麦克劳林点点头。“我保证。我知道你们在努力帮我。我会照你们说的做。”

Ross McLaurin nodded. “I promise. I know you’re trying to help me. I’ll do anything you say.”

马龙说：“我们不会去很久。如果你需要什么，就拿起电话要。”

Malone said, “We won’t be long. If you want anything, pick up the phone and ask for it.”

在去冯?弗拉纳根办公室的路上，他解释了这次拜访的原因。

On the way to von Flanagan’s office he explained the reason for the visit.

“我在想冯?弗拉纳根要多久才能想到这一点。” 她评论道，“这两起谋杀案是用同一张纸、同一把剪刀剪出来的。马龙，你觉得那把钥匙去哪儿了？”

“I wondered how long it would take von Flanagan to tumble to that,” she mented. “Those two killings are cut out of the same paper, and with the same pair of scissors. Malone, where do you suppose that key went to?”

“凶手拿着它。第一起谋杀案发生的那个晚上，他跟踪我，还掏了我的口袋。”

“The murderer has it. He trailed me the night of the first murder and picked my pocket.”

“有这种可能。” 杰克说。

“It’s possible,” Jake said.

“或者是这个图伊兹跟踪了我，掏了我的口袋，然后杀了他的人从他那里拿走了钥匙。”

“Or this Tuesday trailed me and picked my pocket, and then the man who murdered him took it from him.”

“我更喜欢第一种说法。” 海伦说。

“I like the first one better,” Helene said.

“或者它从我的口袋里掉了出来，掉进了下水道格栅里。”

“Or it fell out of my pocket somewhere and was lost down a grating.”

“那太无聊了，而且很可能就是这么回事。” 她说，“我想那把钥匙也打开了非常重要的东西。哦，好吧，为洒了的钥匙哭泣也没用。” 她伸手握住杰克的手，紧紧地握着。

“That’s dull and probably what happened,” she said. “I imagine it unlocked something damned important, too. Oh well, no use crying over spilled keys.” She reached for Jake’s hand and held it tight.

他们是最后一批到达冯?弗拉纳根办公室的人。莫娜?麦克莱恩在那里，身着黑色的定制昂贵服饰，看起来非常令人印象深刻，非常小巧玲珑，非常时髦。洛特斯?艾伦坐在一把直背椅子上，用一个棕色琥珀烟嘴抽着烟，显得非常冷静和沉着。杰克注意到并赞赏她的驼毛大衣、小巧的棕色帽子和整洁的小牛津鞋。文宁夫妇并肩坐在破旧的皮沙发上。迈克尔?文宁的脸红红的，带着一丝愤慨。伊迪莎?文宁看起来比以前更加苍白和憔悴。杰克断定，灰色松鼠毛和蓝色毡帽肯定不适合她。不过，她曾经肯定是个大美女。她隔着房间与他目光相接，微微露出友好的认可的微笑。

They were the last to arrive at von Flanagan’s office. Mona McClane was there, looking very impressive and very small and very chic, in something black, tailored, and expensive. Lotus Allen was sitting in a straight chair, smoking a cigarette in a brown amber holder, seeming very cool and self-possessed. Jake noted and approved her camel’s hair coat, her small brown hat and trim little oxfords. The Vennings sat side by side on the worn leather couch. Michael Venning’s face was pink and a shade indignant. Editha Venning seemed more pale and haggard than before. Gray squirrel and blue felt were certainly not being to her, Jake decided. Still, she must have been a howling beauty once. She met his gaze across the room with just the faintest smile of friendly recognition.

小主，

卢埃拉?怀特坐在她旁边的一把大皮椅上，宽阔的脸庞毫无表情，但她的小眼睛注视着房间里发生的一切。杰克想知道在树林里是不是她向他开枪。在他看来，她只要稍有挑衅就会向几乎任何人开枪。