按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Oh no； not a thing；〃 Dr。 Alton said。 〃I told the nurse I'd been puzzled about Mrs。 Trent's case； that I couldn't believe that the disturbance resulted entirely from food poisoning but that I thought perhaps it might be a bination of things。〃
〃She didn't give any indication that she thought your requests were unusual？〃 Mason asked。
〃None whatever。 She accepted them just as any good nurse would； without any ment。 I told her to get a taxi and send the nail parings and the hair in their sterile phials to my office at once。〃
Mason said； 〃I know a laboratory which specializes in forensic medicine and toxicology that will give us a quick report on these； not a quantitative analysis； but it will show whether any arsenic is present。〃
〃How soon can you have that？〃
Mason said； 〃I think I can have it right after dinner； Doctor。〃
〃I wish you'd telephone me；〃 Dr。 Alton said。
〃All right；〃 Mason told him； 〃but what have you done about furnishing your patient with round…the…clock protection？〃
Dr。 Alton's eyes shifted。 〃All right； Mason；〃 he said； 〃I'll put it right on the line。 You almost convinced me when you talked over the telephone； and then I became more convinced when I thought over the symptoms。 But when I took time to think things over； I felt I couldn't justify taking really drastic steps pending a laboratory report； but I have taken precautionary steps which will be ample for the time being。〃
〃What steps？〃 Mason asked； his voice coldly disapproving。
〃I've decided that during the next few hours there won't be any element of real danger； particularly in view of the fact that this nurse； Anna Fritch； is on the job。 However； I told her to see that Mrs。 Trent was on a very bland diet tonight； that I intended to perform some tests and I wanted her to have nothing except soft boiled eggs and toast tonight； that I wanted the nurse to prepare both the eggs and the toast； and see that the eggs were served in the shell so that there would be no chance of too many spices being added。〃
〃All right；〃 Mason said； 〃if that's what you've done； that's what you've done。 Give me your night number。 I'll drop these things at the laboratory and ask for an immediate check。 。 。 。 Now； what do you propose to do if the tests are positive and show the presence of arsenic？〃
This time Dr。 Alton met Mason's eyes firmly。 〃I intend to go to the patient and tell her that she has been suffering from arsenic poisoning rather than from allergies or a digestive upset。 I intend to tell her that we're going to have to take extraordinary safeguards and that； from the manner in which the symptoms developed； I have very strong suspicions that there was an attempt at homicide。〃
Mason said； 〃And I suppose you have taken into consideration that this will start a three…ring circus among relatives； authorities and people in the household。 They'll call you a quack； an alarmist and accuse you of trying to alienate Lauretta Trent's affections。〃
〃I can't help it。 I have my duty as a doctor。〃
〃All right；〃 Mason said。 〃We should have that report no later than nine…thirty。 The only thing that I don't agree with you on is safeguarding your patient in the meantime。〃
〃I know； I know；〃 Dr。 Alton said。 〃I've debated the pros and cons with myself and I have cqme to the conclusion that this is the best way to handle it。 I'll accept responsibility for the decision。 After all； you know； it is my responsibility。〃
Mason nodded to Della Street。 〃All right； Della； we'll go to the laboratory； start them working on these things； and get a preliminary report at the earliest possible moment。 You get Dr。 Alton's night number and we'll call him just as soon as we have a report。〃
〃And； of course；〃 Dr。 Alton said； 〃you'll keep things entirely confidential？ You know； the police and； of course； the press。 These things have a way of leaking out once they get into the hands of the police； and I know that Lauretta Trent would consider publicity…well； she'd simply hit the ceiling。 It would mean the end of our professional relationship。〃
Mason said； 〃I'm in somewhat the position of being a public servant in this case； Doctor。 Actually； I haven't a client。 The logical client would probably be Lauretta Trent； but I certainly don't want to approach her in any way。〃
〃You don't have to；〃 Dr。 Alton said。 〃The minute you find anything positive in the hair and the nails； I'm going to go to her myself and I'm going to explain to her just what you have done in the case and how valuable your assistance has been。
〃In the meantime； I can assure you； on my own responsibility； that any amounts within reason you may be called upon to pay will be promptly remitted by Mrs。 Trent。
〃But 。 。 。〃 Dr。 Alton cleared his throat； 〃in the event your suspicions should turn out to be groundless； Mr。 Mason； you are…Well； I 。 。 。 I mean to say…〃
Mason grinned and interrupted him。 〃You mean that in the event I'm barking up the wrong tree； my costs are going to be borne exclusively by me； that I will have lost a lot of face with you。〃
Dr。 Alton said； 〃You've expressed it more forcefully than I would； but very well。〃
Mason said； 〃You'll hear from me about nine or ninethirty and then you can take it from there。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Dr。 Alton said。
He gripped the lawyer's hand and went out。
Della Street looked at Mason speculatively； 〃Do you have some mental reservations about Dr。 Alton？〃 she asked。
Mason said； 〃Do you know； Della； I can't help feeling what a mess it would be if Dr。 Alton should be one of the beneficiaries in Lauretta Trent's will。〃
Della Street's eyes widened with consternation。 〃Good heavens；〃 she said； 〃do you suppose 。 。 。 ？〃
〃Exactly；〃 Mason said as her voice trailed away into silence。 〃And now； let's go to dinner； after stopping by the laboratory and asking for a quick preliminary report。〃
〃And you're going to tell Dr。 Alton what you find？ If he's one of the beneficiaries under the will…Well； of course； under the circumstances…〃
〃I know；〃 Mason said； 〃I'm going to tell him and then I'nj going to make absolutely certain that Lauretta Trent is protected against any further so…called gastroenteric disturbances。〃
〃That；〃 Della Street said； 〃should make quite a situation。〃
〃It will；〃 Mason told her。
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mason and Della Street had a leisurely； relaxing dinner。
Della Street had left word with the laboratory to call them at the café； and the headwaiter； knowing that an important call was expected； was bustling about keeping an eye on Mason's table。
Della Street had contented herself with a small steak and baked potato； but Mason had ordered an extra…thick cut of rare prime ribs of beef； a large bottle of Guinness Stout； tossed salad and stuffed baked potato。
At length； the lawyer pushed back his plate； finished the last of his Stout； smiled across the glass atDella Street and said； 〃It's a real pleasure to be able to dine； to feel that we're not wasting time and yet be able to take all the time we want。
〃We have the laboratory doing our analysis for us； we have Paul Drake all ready to…Oh…oh；〃 the lawyer interrupted himself； 〃here es Pierre with a telephone。〃
The headwaiter bustled importantly to the table； c