“No one can pin a crime on a man who’s been dead for twenty years.”

“显然，”马龙说，“那是他正在给他的兄弟——那个假迈克尔·文宁写的纸条的一部分。当这两个兄弟来到芝加哥的时候，他们一定决定用一个大概已经死了二十多年的人的名字。这样那个假文宁就不能引起别人对他们的注意——同时也不能引起别人对罗斯代尔公墓里那个墓碑的注意。还有第二个原因。他们一定认为如果有两个人出现，自称是杰拉尔德·图伊兹，这会把真正的杰拉尔德·图伊兹吓得去做他们要求的事情。我说清楚了吗？”

“Evidently,” Malone said, “that was part of a note he was writing to his brother—the false Michael Venning. When the two brothers came to Chicago, they must have decided to assume the name of a man who had—presumably—been dead for over twenty years. Then the false Venning couldn’t call any attention to them—without also calling attention to that tombstone out in Rosedale cemetery. There was a second reason, too. They must have figured that if two men turned up, calling themselves Gerald Tuesday, it would scare the real Gerald Tuesday into doing what they demanded. Do I make myself clear?”

“不是很清楚，”她说，“但也行了。”

“Not very,” she said, “but it’ll do.”

马龙清了清嗓子。“所有的谋杀……”他又开始说。

Malone cleared his throat. “All murder—” he began again.

杰克说：“嘿，你有钱吗？”

Jake said, “Say, have you got any money?”

小律师在口袋里摸了摸，拿出两张皱巴巴的一美元钞票和一把零钱。海伦从手提包里倒出九十美分的五分镍币和十分镍币。杰克找出三美元五十美分。

The little lawyer felt in his pockets, produced two crumpled one-dollar bills and a handful of small change. Helene dumped ninety cents in nickels and dimes out of her handbag. Jake dug up three dollars and a half.

“该死，”马龙说，“我们很富有。而且，我在天使乔这里信誉良好，从现在起我有钱了。”

“Hell,” Malone said, “we’re rich. Besides, my credit is good with Joe the Angel, and from now on I’m in the bucks.”

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“你说你有钱了是什么意思？”

“What do you mean, you’re in the bucks?”

“等你看到我给莫娜·麦克莱恩和伊迪莎·文宁开的法律服务账单就知道了。”

“Wait till you see the bills I’m sending Mona McClane and Editha Venning for legal services.”

杰克低声嘟囔了些什么。

Jake muttered something under his breath.