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〃I think you have taken up enough of our time；〃 Grayson said。
I stood up。 I thanked them both and made a yard towards the door and said： 〃You didn't do anything more about it after Talley was arrested？〃
〃Saw an assistant district attorney named Leach；〃 Grayson grunted。 〃Got exactly nowhere。 He saw nothing to justify his office in interfering。 Wasn't even interested in the narcotic angle。 But Condy's place was closed up about a month later。 That might have e out of it somehow。〃
〃That was probably the Bay City cops throwing a little smoke。 You'd find Condy somewhere else； if you knew where to look。 With all his original equipment intact。〃 I started for the door again and Grayson hoisted himself out of his chair and dragged across the room after me。 There was a flush on his yellow face。
〃I didn't mean to be rude；〃 he said。 〃I guess Lettie and I oughtn't to brood about this business the way we do。〃
〃I think you've both been very patient；〃 I said。 〃Was there anybody else involved in all this that we haven't mentioned by name？〃 He shook his head； then looked back at his wife。 Her hands were motionless holding the current sock on the darning egg。 Her head was tilted a little to one side。 Her attitude was of listening； but not to us。
I said： 〃The way I got the story； Dr。 Almore's office nurse put Mrs。 Almore to bed that night。 Would that be the one he was supposed to be playing around with？〃 Mrs。 Grayson said sharply： 〃Wait a minute。 We never saw the girl。 But she had a pretty name。 Just give me a minute。〃 We gave her a minute。 〃Mildred something；〃 she said； and snapped her teeth。
I took a deep breath。 〃Would it be Mildred Haviland； Mrs。 Grayson？〃 She smiled brightly and nodded。 〃Of course； Mildred Haviland。 Don't you remember； Eustace？〃 He didn't remember。 He looked at us like a horse that has got into the wrong stable。 He opened the door and said： 〃What does it matter？〃
〃And you said Talley was a small man；〃 I bored on。 〃He wouldn't for instance be a big loud bruiser with an overbearing manner？〃
〃Oh no；〃 Mrs。 Grayson said。 〃Mr。 Talley is a man of not more than medium height； middle…aged； with brownish hair and a very quiet voice。 He had a sort of worried expression。 I mean； he looked as if he always had it。〃
〃Looks as if he needed it；〃 I said。
Grayson put his bony hand out and I shook it。 It felt like shaking hands with a towel rack。
〃If you get him；〃 he said and clamped his mouth hard on his pipe stem； 〃call back with a bill。 If you get Almore； I mean； of course。〃 I said I knew he meant Almore； but that there wouldn't be any bill。
I went back along the silent hallway。 The self…operating elevator was carpeted in red plush。 It had an elderly perfume in it； like three widows drinking tea。
24
The house on Westmore Street was a small frame bungalow behind a larger house。 There was no number visible on the smaller house； but the one in front showed a stencilled 1618 beside the door； with a dim light behind the stencil。 A narrow concrete path led along under windows to the house at the back。 It had a tiny porch with a single chair on it。 I stepped up on the porch and rang the bell。
It buzzed not very far oft。 The front door was open behind the screen but there was no light。 From the darkness a querulous voice said： 〃What is it？〃 I spoke into the darkness。 〃Mr。 Talley in？〃 The voice became flat and without tone。 〃Who wants him？〃
〃A friend。〃 The woman sitting inside in the darkness made a vague sound in her throat which might have been amusement。 Or she might just have been clearing her throat。
〃All right；〃 she said。 〃How much is this one？〃
〃It's not a bill； Mrs。 Talley。 I suppose you are Mrs。 Talley？〃
〃Oh； go away and let me alone；〃 the voice said。 〃Mr。 Talley isn't here。 He hasn't been here。 He won't be here。〃 I put my nose against the screen and tried to peer into the room。 I could see the vague outlines of its furniture。 From where the voice came from also showed the shape of a couch。 A woman was lying on it。 She seemed to be lying on her back and looking up at the ceiling。 She was quite motionless。
〃I'm sick；〃 the voice said。 〃I've had enough trouble。 Go away and leave me be。〃 I said： 〃I've just e from talking to the Graysons。〃 There was a little silence； but no movement； then a sigh。 〃I never heard of them。〃 I leaned against the frame of the screen door and looked back along the narrow walk to the street。 There was a car across the way with parking lights burning。 There were other cars along the block。
I said： 〃Yes； you have； Mrs。 Talley。 I'm working for them。 They're still in there pitching。 How about you？ Don't you want something back？〃 The voice said。 〃I want to be let alone。〃
〃I want information；〃 I said。 〃I'm going to get it。 Quietly if I can。 Loud； if it can't be quiet。〃 The voice said： 〃Another copper； eh？〃
〃You know I'm not a copper； Mrs。 Talley。 The Graysons wouldn't talk to a copper。 Call them up and ask them。〃
〃I never heard of them；〃 the voice said。 〃I don't have a phone； if I knew them。 Go away； copper。 I'm sick。 I've been sick for a month。〃
〃My name is Marlowe；〃 I said。 〃Philip Marlowe。 Fm a private eye in Los Angeles； I've been talking to the Graysons。 I've got something； but I want to talk to your husband。〃 The woman on the couch let out a dim laugh which barely reached across the room。 〃You've got something；〃 she said。 〃That sounds familiar。 My God it does！ You've got something。 George Talley had something too…once。〃
〃He can have it again；〃 I said； 〃if he plays his cards right。〃
〃If that's what it takes；〃 she said； 〃you can scratch him off right now。〃 I leaned against the doorframe and scratched my chin instead。 Somebody back on the street had clicked a flashlight on。 I didn't know why。 It went off again。 It seemed to be near my car。
The pale blur of face on the couch moved and disappeared。 Hair took its place。 The woman had turned her face to the wall。
〃I'm tired；〃 she said； her voice now muffled by talking at the wall。 〃I'm so damn tired。 Beat it； mister。 Be nice and go away。〃
〃Would a little money help any？〃
〃Can't you smell the cigar smoke？〃 I sniffed。 I didn't smell any cigar smoke。 I said； 〃No。〃
〃They've been here。 They were here two hours。 God； I'm tired of it all。 Go away。〃
〃Look； Mrs。 Talley〃 She rolled on the couch and the blur of her face showed again。 I could almost see her eyes； not quite。
〃Look yourself；〃 she said。 〃I don't know you。 I don't want to know you。 I have nothing to tell you。 I wouldn't tell it； if I had。 I live here； mister； if you call it living。 Anyway it's the nearest I can get to living。 I want a little peace and quiet。 Now you get out and leave me alone。〃
〃Let me in the house；〃 I said。 〃We can talk this over。 I think I can show you〃 She rolled suddenly on the couch again and feet struck the floor。 A tight anger came into her voice。
〃If you don't get out；〃 she said； 〃I'm going to start yelling my head off。 Right now。 Now！〃
〃Okay；〃 I said quickly。 〃I'll stick my card in the door。 So you won't forget my name。 You might change your mind。〃 I got the card out and wedged it into the crack o