Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 49, No. 6. Whole No. 283, June 1967

Начало книги

Before the divorce laws were changed in New York State there was only one legally accepted grounds for ending a marriage. Stephen Duane didn’t like it — in fact, he dreaded and abhorred it — but he had no alternative. And the whole nasty, distasteful business turned out to be a worse mess than he and his lawyer, or his wife and her lawyer, ever dreamed it could be... One of Cornell Woolrich’s most interesting story situations...

One wore glasses and carried a brief case; he looked like a lawyer. The other didn’t wear glasses and carried an overnight case; all he looked was ill at ease. They were together.

“I’d like a room,” the one with the overnight case said a little self-consciously to the registration clerk.

“For both you gentlemen?”

“No, not him,” corrected the applicant. “For myself and my wife. She’ll be along later.”

“Very well. Will you sign here, please?”

The registrant took the desk pen and then turned to look inquiringly at his companion, as though waiting to be told what he should do next.

Читать дальше →