"Night of January 16th" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rand Ayn)

FLINT:And your occupation?
HUTCHINS:I'm the night watchman in the Faulkner Building, sir.
FLINT:Did Mr. Faulkner have business offices in that building?
HUTCHINS:Yes, sir.
FLINT:Do you know who owned the penthouse on the roof of the building?
HUTCHINS:Certainly, sir. Mr. Faulkner did.
FLINT:And who lived there?
HUTCHINS:Mr. Faulkner and Miss Andre, sir. That is, before Mr. Faulkner's marriage.
FLINT:And after the marriage?
HUTCHINS:After the marriage, Miss Andre lived there -- alone.
FLINT:Have you ever seen Mr. Faulkner calling on Miss Andre after his marriage?
HUTCHINS:Only once, sir.
FLINT:And that was?
HUTCHINS:On the night of January sixteenth.
FLINT:Tell us about it, Mr. Hutchins.
HUTCHINS:Well, sir, it was about ten thirty and -­
FLINT:How did you know the time?
HUTCHINS:I come on duty at ten, sir, and it was no more than a half hour after. The entrance door bell rang. I went down to the lobby and opened the door. It was Miss Andre, and Mr. Faulkner was with her. I was surprised, because Miss Andre has her own key and, usually, she opens the door herself.
FLINT:Was she alone with Mr. Faulkner?
HUTCHINS:No, sir. There were two other gentlemen with them.
HUTCHINS:I don't know, sir.
FLINT:Had you ever seen them before?
HUTCHINS:No, sir, never.
FLINT:What did they look like?
HUTCHINS:They were tall and sort of slender, both of them. One had light eyes, as I remember. The other one -- I couldn't see his face at all, sir, on account of his hat being all crooked over his eyes. He must have had a bit too much, sir, meaning no disrespect.
FLINT:Just what do you mean?
HUTCHINS:Well, he was a bit tight, sir, if I'm permitted to say so. He wasn't very steady on his feet, so that Mr. Faulkner and the other gentleman had to help him. They almost dragged him into the elevator.
FLINT:Did Mr. Faulkner look worried?
HUTCHINS:No, sir. On the contrary, he seemed very happy.
FLINT:Did he look like a man contemplating suicide?
STEVENS:We object, your Honor!
FLINT:Did the others in the party seem happy, too?
HUTCHINS:Yes, sir. Miss Andre was smiling. And Mr. Faulkner laughed when they went up in the elevator.
FLINT:Did you see any of them leave, that night?
HUTCHINS:Yes, sir. The first one left about fifteen minutes later.
FLINT:Who was that?
HUTCHINS:The drunken one, sir. He came down in the elevator, all by himself. He didn't seem quite so drunk no more. He could walk, but he staggered a little.
FLINT:Did you see where he went?
HUTCHINS:Well, I wanted to help him to the door, seeing the condition he was in, but he noticed me coming and he hurried out. He got into a car parked right at the entrance and did he step on it! But I'm sure he didn't go far. The cops must've got him.
FLINT:What makes you think that?
HUTCHINS:Well, I noticed a car that started right after him.
[KARENcomes to life, suddenly, out of her frozen calm. She jumps up and throws her question at Hutchins]
KAREN:What car?
JUDGE HEATH:The defendant will please keep quiet.
[STEVENSwhispers toKAREN, making her sit down]
FLINT:If Miss Andre will let me do the questioning, I may satisfy her curiosity. I was just going to ask what car, Mr. Hutchins?
HUTCHINS:It was a big black sedan, sir. It was parked two cars away from him.
FLINT:Who was in it?
HUTCHINS:I saw only one man.
FLINT:What makes you think he was after the first car?