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The Case of the Velvet Claws :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
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“All right,” said Mason, “that’s a lawsuit. You think you can. I think you can’t.”
“Moreover,” said Atwood, “she can’t take any of the property because she murdered him. It’s against the policy of the law for a person to inherit property from one he or she has murdered regardless of any will or other instrument.”
Mason said nothing.
Atwood exchanged glances with his client.
“Do you question that?” he asked of Mason.
“Hell, yes,” said Mason, “but I’m not going to argue it with you here. I’ll do my arguing when I get in front of a jury. Don’t think I was born yesterday. I know what you want. You want to be assured of convicting Eva Belter of first degree murder. You think I can help you show premeditation by giving proof of a motive. If you can convict her of first degree murder she can’t take any of the property. That’s the law a murderer can’t inherit. But if she’s not convicted of murder, even if she should be convicted of manslaughter, she could still inherit. You’re after the property and you want to bribe me. It won’t work.”
“If you persist in this course, counselor, you may find yourself in front of a jury.”
“All right,” said Mason, “what’s the English translation of that, a threat?”
“You can’t keep us out of the saddle,” said Atwood. “And when we get in the saddle, we will have several important decisions to make. Some of them may affect your activities.”
Perry Mason got to his feet.
“I don’t like this business of talking around in circles,” he said. “I come out and say what I have to say.”
“Well,” said Atwood, still speaking suavely, “exactly what do you have to say?”
“No!” snapped Mason, explosively.
Carl Griffin coughed apologetically.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “perhaps I might say something which would simplify the situation.”
“No,” said Atwood, “I’m doing the talking.”
Griffin smiled at Mason.
“No hard feelings, counselor,” he said, “it’s a matter of business.”
“Please,” said Atwood, his eyes staring steadily at his client.
“Oh, all right,” said Griffin.
Mason motioned toward the door. “Well, gentlemen, I guess the conference is over.”
Atwood tried again. “If you could only see your way clear to dismissing the applications, counselor, it would save time. As it is, you must admit that we have a perfect case, but we didn’t like the time and expense necessary to present it.
“All right,” said Mason, “that’s a lawsuit. You think you can. I think you can’t.”
“Moreover,” said Atwood, “she can’t take any of the property because she murdered him. It’s against the policy of the law for a person to inherit property from one he or she has murdered regardless of any will or other instrument.”
Mason said nothing.
Atwood exchanged glances with his client.
“Do you question that?” he asked of Mason.
“Hell, yes,” said Mason, “but I’m not going to argue it with you here. I’ll do my arguing when I get in front of a jury. Don’t think I was born yesterday. I know what you want. You want to be assured of convicting Eva Belter of first degree murder. You think I can help you show premeditation by giving proof of a motive. If you can convict her of first degree murder she can’t take any of the property. That’s the law a murderer can’t inherit. But if she’s not convicted of murder, even if she should be convicted of manslaughter, she could still inherit. You’re after the property and you want to bribe me. It won’t work.”
“If you persist in this course, counselor, you may find yourself in front of a jury.”
“All right,” said Mason, “what’s the English translation of that, a threat?”
“You can’t keep us out of the saddle,” said Atwood. “And when we get in the saddle, we will have several important decisions to make. Some of them may affect your activities.”
Perry Mason got to his feet.
“I don’t like this business of talking around in circles,” he said. “I come out and say what I have to say.”
“Well,” said Atwood, still speaking suavely, “exactly what do you have to say?”
“No!” snapped Mason, explosively.
Carl Griffin coughed apologetically.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “perhaps I might say something which would simplify the situation.”
“No,” said Atwood, “I’m doing the talking.”
Griffin smiled at Mason.
“No hard feelings, counselor,” he said, “it’s a matter of business.”
“Please,” said Atwood, his eyes staring steadily at his client.
“Oh, all right,” said Griffin.
Mason motioned toward the door. “Well, gentlemen, I guess the conference is over.”
Atwood tried again. “If you could only see your way clear to dismissing the applications, counselor, it would save time. As it is, you must admit that we have a perfect case, but we didn’t like the time and expense necessary to present it.