The Case of the Crying Swallow

Начало книги

Perry Mason, tilted back in his walnut desk chair, was studying a recent decision of the state supreme court when Della Street, his secretary, opened the door from the outer office, advanced to the desk and quietly laid ten crisp one-hundred-dollar bills on the blotter.

Mason, too engrossed to notice what she was doing, continued his reading.

Della Street said, “A client sends his card.”

Mason straightened in the swivel chair and for the first time caught sight of the money which Della Street had so neatly spread out.

“He said his name was Mr. Cash,” Della Street explained. “Then he handed me ten one-hundred-dollar bills and said these were his cards.”

Mason grinned. “So the black market begins to turn yellow. What does Mr. Cash look like?”

“He’s a floor walker.”

Mason raised his eyebrows, glanced at the cash. “A floorwalker?”

“No, no, not a department store floorwalker! I mean that he’s a floor walker, the same as you are. He paces the floor when he’s worried. He’s doing a carpet marathon out there right now.”

Читать дальше →