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

HUTCHINS:Well, I couldn't be sure he was, sir. It just looked funny they started together like that.
FLINT:Did you see that other guest of Miss Andre's leaving, too?
HUTCHINS:Yes, sir. It wasn't more than ten minutes later when he came out of the elevator.
FLINT:What did he do?
FLINT:And then what happened?
HUTCHINS:I started on my round of the building; and then, it must have been an hour later, I heard screams outside, in the street. I rushed down and as I came into the lobby, I saw Miss Andre running out of the elevator, her gown all torn, sobbing wild-like. I ran after her. We pushed through the crowd outside andthere was Mr. Faulkner all over the pavement.
FLINT:What did Miss Andre do?
HUTCHINS:She screamed and fell on her knees. It was horrible, sir. I've never seen a body smashed like that.
FLINT:That is all, Mr. Hutchins.
STEVENS:You said that you had never seen Mr. Faulkner calling on Miss Andre after his marriage, with the exception of that night. Now, tell me, do you always see every visitor who comes into the building at night?
HUTCHINS:No, sir. I'm not in the lobby all of the time, I have my rounds to make. If the guest has a key, he can come in and I wouldn't see him at all.
STEVENS:In other words, Miss Andre might have had any number of visitors, Mr. Faulknerincluded, whom you never saw come in?
HUTCHINS:Yes, sir, quite right.
STEVENS:That is all.
[HUTCHINSleaves the stand and exits]
FLINT:Homer Van Fleet!
CLERK:Homer Van Fleet!
[HOMER VAN FLEETmakes his appearance. He is tall, not very young, and can be best described by the word "correct." His clothes are correct --smart, but not flashy; his manner is correct --cool, exact, strictly businesslike. He is diffident and dignified at the same time]
CLERK:You solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?
VAN FLEET:I do.
FLINT:Your name?
VAN FLEET:Homer Herbert Van Fleet.
FLINT:Occupation?
VAN FLEET:Private investigator.
FLINT:What was your last assignment?
VAN FLEET:Shadowing Mr. Bjorn Faulkner.
VAN FLEET:By Mrs. Bjorn Faulkner.
[A slight reaction in the courtroom]
FLINT:Were you shadowing Mr. Faulkner on the night of January sixteenth?
VAN FLEET:I was.
FLINT:Kindly tell us about it.
VAN FLEET:I'll start with six thirteenP.M.
FLINT:How do you know the time, Mr. Van Fleet?
VAN FLEET:Part of my duties. Had to record it and report to Mrs. Faulkner.
FLINT:I see.
VAN FLEET:[He speaks briskly, precisely, as if reporting to an employer]Six thirteenP.M.Mr. Faulkner leaves home on Long Island. Wears formal dress suit. Drives car himself, alone. Special notation: Unusual speed all the way to New York.
FLINT:Where does Mr. Faulkner go?
FLINT:Where do they go?
VAN FLEET:No one is perfect in this world.
FLINT:What do you mean?
VAN FLEET:I mean I lost track of them. Due to Mr. Faulkner's speed and to an accident.
FLINT:What accident?
VAN FLEET:My left fender crashing into a truck; damages for which fender charged to Mrs. Faulkner.
FLINT:What did you do when you lost track of them?
VAN FLEET:Returned to the Faulkner Building and waited.
FLINT:When did they return?
VAN FLEET:Ten thirtyP.M.exactly. A gray coupй follows them. Mr. Faulkner gets out and helps Miss Andre. While she rings the bell, he opens the door of the gray coupй; a tall gentleman in formal clothes steps out, and together they help out a third gentleman, the latter wearing a dark gray sport coat. Special notation: The aforementioned gentleman shows signs of inebriation. They all go into the Faulkner Building.
FLINT:Then what did you do?
VAN FLEET:Left my car and went into Gary's Grill, across the street from the Faulkner Building. I must explain that I allow myself time to take nourishment every four hours while on duty and four hours had elapsed since we left Long Island. I sat at a window and watched the Faulkner entrance door.
FLINT:What did you observe?