第31部分(第6/7 頁)

fford　to。

〃I　won't　disturb　you；〃　she　said；　〃I　see　you're　getting　set　to　write…〃

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　I　said。　〃I've　got　more　time　than　Carter's　got　liver　pills。　e　on　in。〃

She　did；　but　stood　by　the　door。　〃It's　just　that　I　couldn't　sleep　…　again　…　and　happened　to　be　looking　out　my　window　a　little　earlier　。。。　and　。。。〃

〃And　you　saw　Mr。　Dolan　and　me　having　our　pleasant　little　chat；〃　I　said。　I　hoped　seeing　was　all　she'd　done；　that　her　window　had　been　closed　and　she　hadn't　heard　me　whining　to　be　let　go。

〃It　didn't　look　pleasant　and　it　didn't　look　friendly；〃　she　said。　〃Paul；　that　Mr。　Dolan's　been　asking　around　about　you。　He　asked　me　about　you　…　last　week；　this　was。　I　didn't　think　much　about　it　then；　just　that　he's　got　himself　a　nasty　long　nose　for　other　people's　business；　but　now　I　wonder。〃

〃Asking　about　me？〃　I　hoped　I　didn't　sound　as　uneasy　as　I　felt。　〃Asking　what？〃

〃Where　you　go　walking；　for　one　thing。　And　why　you　go　walking。〃

I　tried　to　laugh。　〃There's　a　man　who　doesn't　believe　in　exercise；　that　much　is　clear。〃

〃He　thinks　you've　got　a　secret。〃　She　paused。　〃So　do　I。〃

I　opened　my　mouth　…　to　say　what；　I　don't　know　…　but　Elaine　raised　one　of　her　gnarled　but　oddly　beautiful　hands　before　I　could　get　a　single　word　out。　〃If　you　do；　I　don't　want　to　know　what　it　is；　Paul。　Your　business　is　your　business。　I　was　raised　to　think　that　way；　but　not　everyone　was。　Be　careful。　That's　all　I　want　to　tell　you。　And　now　I'll　let　you　alone　to　do　your　work。〃

She　turned　to　go；　but　before　she　could　get　out　the　door；　I　called　her　name。　She　turned　back；　eyes　questioning。

〃When　I　finish　what　I'm　writing…〃　I　began；　then　shook　my　head　a　little。　That　was　wrong。　〃If　I　finish　what　I'm　writing；　would　you　read　it？〃

She　seemed