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.”