Chapter 22 Bronze Wedding Celebration
According to those guys from the social department, the reporters from the literature and art department seem to be all good luck.They watch movies, drink and have fun with literati and scholars, and they can get a monthly salary.In fact, it is not so, how can this job be so happy!Especially participating in publishing commemorative meetings and birthday celebrations held after the sixtieth year of celebrities, it is even more difficult to describe.The people who attend such gatherings each have a habit or two.With their unique powers of observation, they painstakingly collected topics that others didn't talk about, and used them in their speeches during the banquet, which made the listeners feel depressed and bored.Moreover, such gatherings have an atmosphere of their own that does not tolerate laymen.Even our literary and art journalists feel the power of repulsion in this atmosphere.Seems like a different race.In this way, we feel the pain of being in the position of spectators.For this reason, we delegate as much as possible to others during such gatherings.However, when Mr. Hata Ryo invited me to participate in his "Bronze Wedding Celebration", I, a literary journalist who hated "XX Club" and the like, actually wanted to attend.Mr. Bo Duoliang is forty-two years old this year, and he is already a solid writer in the literary world.But lately he was also writing detective stories, and it was rumored that this gave him a special interest in such parties.This "Bronze Wedding Celebration" is an ingenious idea.Based on this alone, I can write an essay or something like that.So I immediately informed the host: I will attend the ceremony.In fact, there are many reasons for this. The charm of Mrs. Podo's silk is also one of the temptations that prompted me to attend the meeting.
Mrs. Juanzi is already thirty-five or sixteen years old, but she gives the impression that she is far younger, she looks about thirty.The appearance is somewhat similar to the movie actress Yueqiu Menglu, and it is most suitable to wear a kimono.She was always smiling at everyone, and among journalists she had one of the best reputations among ladies.Just because Yueqiu once starred in "Dangerous Virtue", some of the reporter colleagues made dirty jokes.For example, Mrs. Juanzi's chastity is also at stake.This shows how deep our interest in Mrs.
The meeting place is located in the living room of the Hata mansion.The tables and chairs of the banquet are arranged in a square shape.One thing that surprised me was how few people were there.Except for the so-called "school" writers and critics who had co-organized fanzines with Mr. Bodo in the past, almost no one in the literary world showed up, but five journalists were invited to attend.This is not surprising, there is something more puzzling. Mr. Kenichi Suga, an associate professor of University of T, was also present at the meeting. Mr. Suga is an economic commentator who has recently become a popular figure in the press.Those of us journalists who are well versed in the inside story of the literary world also feel incredible about the relationship between Mr. Suga and Mr. Bodo.In addition, there was a guest in the uniform of a police officer who was nearly fifty years old.
There was another person who was about the same age, sitting on the next seat to the left of Mr. Bodo, with a shabby appearance, like a company employee; but his true identity was still a mystery.
Next to me was Yamazaki-kun from the N newspaper, and I asked him about the details of the two men.
Among my colleagues, Yamazaki-kun has a relatively close relationship with the Hatta couple, so I think he must know the inside story.
"The police officer's name is Nojima, and he serves as the chief of Bureau K. Recently, most police chiefs are college students, but Mr. Nojima is a veteran detective who has worked hard. He lives near this house. So there is this relationship." Yamazaki Jun has been working in the social department two years ago, and has been covering the news of the Metropolitan Police Department for a long time.Later, he suffered a chest injury and temporarily suspended his duties. After recovering, he was transferred to the Department of Literature and Art, which was relatively less labor-intensive.It's just that Yamazaki-kun didn't understand why Associate Professor Suga was present here, nor did he know the true identity of the person next to Mr. Hata.
In gatherings generally named "XX Meeting..." or "XX Celebration", mediators or participants are secondary figures.
He continually invites contributions from the participants.This bronze wedding ceremony took the form of Mr. Bodo presiding over the reception, so after he delivered a speech, no one else stood up to speak.Acquaintances and companions sitting next to each other pour Japanese wine or beer and chat with each other.
I also asked Yamazaki-kun about his condition since the last breakup.He said that recently his chest had just healed, and he returned to the agency to work, feeling very strenuous.Besides her breasts, her liver also seems to have problems, so she doesn't seem to live long!
"Fortunately, I'm a bachelor, so I have nothing to worry about. It's just that before I die, I want to send a shocking news. I've been thinking about it recently!"
He purposely said it in a relaxed and cheerful manner, but his expression was so sad and sad, I felt my heart was cold when I saw it.When he interviewed the Metropolitan Police Department, he was a quick-witted and capable reporter. Now he works in the Department of Literature and Art, so maybe he feels aggrieved.
I was thinking like this, while looking at his sickly and withered profile.
Suddenly, someone stood up during the banquet.He seemed to have made up his mind, and his expression was stern.It turned out that it was Mr. Haruhiko Omi.He faces downward, as if weighing his words.After a while he stammered, still looking a little cowed.
"Well—just now, Mr. Bodo explained the reason why he asked me to attend this celebration. But let's say it was for a certain reason. I came to the party for my own purpose. As Mr. Bodo said just now, I am here Immediately after graduating from university, he followed the army to Manchuria..." At that time, Haruhiko received a telegram from China one day: "Sukiko is dead, please send me a detailed letter." There were only two brothers and sisters in the Omi family, so there was naturally a deep friendship.Haruyan wanted to go home immediately, but he was not allowed to ask for leave because of military affairs.He had to wait for the "detailed letter", but when the letter came, the sender was Shuzi.He was extremely astonished, and hurriedly read the letter. He could not find the slightest sign of abnormality in the letter, and there was not a single word that could be associated with Shuzi's death.The letter contained only the usual words of condolence, and in addition to reporting on the current situation at home, she did not mention any illness she had.Moreover, the date on the postmark was the same as the dispatch date of the telegram.As for the time, Shuzi's letter was written between 8:00 am and noon, and the telegram was sent at 4:00 pm.
"That is to say, until that morning, Shuzi was still a healthy and lively girl. I even thought that there might be a mistake in the telegram. However, I received a postcard from my father the next day. That's when I knew, Shuzi His death is a fact."
Haruyan's speech was sluggish at first, but as he gradually became excited, it became fluent and unimpeded at this time, and his gripping skills are also very wonderful.
"That postcard is not a letter from home at all. It is a single piece of paper with only a few lines painted on it..." Haruyan continued.
The postcard read: "Sukiko committed suicide. What a pity for this child. Since Shuzi is dead, you don't have to go home after you retire. You may as well find a job in China as you wish. Let's sever the relationship between father and son." Haruhiko said indeed However, he wanted to find a job in China, but he couldn't figure out why his father cut off relations with him.He immediately wrote to inquire, but there has been no reply.He also sent a letter to his only relative, but nothing came to light.The doubts in his heart are getting bigger and bigger, but on the other hand, Haruhiko is also happy to be free.
"Why do I feel relaxed? After I arrived in China, I was completely intoxicated by the charm of that country. Until then, my parents often said that I was the heir of the Omi family. This sentence occupied my consciousness. No matter what I did, I always Hesitant. This is a typical eldest son’s character. After getting in touch with the nature of China, I felt how insignificant this mere Omi family was! But I kept it in my heart. How hopeless I was! At the right time, the Omi family Breaking off with me, no matter what the reason, is always beneficial to my personal growth. Well, maybe it’s because of the youth’s exuberance, and I feel a sense of freedom when I think about it.” After that he entered the “ South Manchuria Railway Co., Ltd.", and later enlisted in the army, was captured at the end of the war, and returned to China in Showa 31.For many years, he has been brooding over the reason why Mei Shuzi committed suicide.After returning home, he learned that his father Yuanyi had passed away, and he couldn't find out where his relatives lived.Omi Commercial Company has changed its name, and asked the company's cadres and staff, but no one knows why Shuzi committed suicide.
However, he was told that Mr. Bodo, the novelist, might know.
"Before this, I, a careless person, even forgot Mr. Bodo."
"In particular, I never thought that the surname Bodo was the pseudonym of Shuko's fiancé, Mr. Tian Ye. So I hurried to visit Mr. Bodo, which happened about a month ago." On that day, Mr. Bodo was invited by the magazine to participate The art lecture was about to leave for Kyushu, so there was only five minutes to meet. Haruhiko didn't have time to explain why he was here, but he made an appointment to contact him again in the near future.I went back that day.
"So, I am honored to be invited by Mr. Bodo to participate in today's party. Uh-so, as my wish, I must hear about Shuzi at this party. Mr. Bodo, can you tell me?"
Mr. Bodo talked with his wife in a low voice, and without standing up, he said to Mr. Haruhiko and the rest of the attendees in a deliberative tone: "Well, we have nothing to do, but I wonder if everyone here is interested? Well, it’s nothing more than a past event that has nothing to do with you, I’m afraid you don’t want to listen to it, and if you force everyone, we feel sorry..."
"Oh, don't mind us! It's the first time we've heard of such a thing, but we're glad to hear about it!" Mr. Matsuura spoke on behalf of everyone, and he is one of the "martial arts" writers.We journalists also hold the same attitude.On the one hand, it is out of professional interest.On the other hand, I thought it was more interesting than the boring chat between dinners.As for myself, I hurriedly turned over a page in my notebook and prepared to record.
"In this case..." Mr. Bo Duo was about to stand up, but stopped halfway, he just leaned over, looked at his wife and said, "It's better for you to say! You know the situation best."
"Really? But I wonder if I can make it clear?"
Madame stood up.Perhaps it was the effect of the beer, but her face was flushed with embarrassment.
"This is an unforgettable past." Mrs. Juanzi said the opening remarks.
Perhaps aware of the existence of the audience, she used this monogatari form of speech.Yamazaki-kun stabbed me.
"She's really talented!" Yamazaki-kun blushed for some reason.
"It was June of the 17th year of Showa, June 21st to be precise. In those days, as my husband said just now, I broke up my relationship with Mr. Suga who is here today, and I felt very sad. So I went to see Miss Shuzi every day. On that day, I also went to Miss Shuzi's house around one o'clock, talked to her in the room on the second floor, and drank a cup of tea.
"Later, I went downstairs to borrow the bathroom in her house. When I came out, my mother—by the way, I called her mother the same as Miss Shuzi at that time—and my mother told me to go to her room. After entering the room, give I look at the sheer white wedding dress that just arrived.
"Mom called Miss Shuzi loudly, but Miss Shuzi didn't come downstairs. Mom said: 'You must be ashamed!' So I went upstairs to call her. When I walked into the room, I saw Miss Shuzi lying on the table. She seemed to be dozing off, and she was sitting on a chair. At this time, I smelled a strange smell, and my heart flustered. I hurried to her side to check. Miss Shuzi spat something out of her mouth, and I exclaimed a few times, Shuzi The lady didn't say a word. So I shook her body vigorously, but she didn't respond at all. I still shudder when I think of my fear at that time!
"Whether it's accurate or not, it's unimaginable if you haven't experienced that kind of scene!" Mrs. Juanzi said this, and gathered her clothes with her hands.
"I was running down the stairs, calling out to my mum. The doctor was here soon.
"But Ms. Shuzi has passed away. During the time I was not in her room, it was only about five minutes, and she took the poison at that time. This way... yes, what happened later, the field officer who was in charge of investigating this incident at that time Mr. Shima is also here, why don't you ask him to talk?" Everyone's eyes turned to Mr. Nojima who was wearing a police uniform.I also pause the recording.Look at everyone's expressions: some are smoking a pipe, some are holding the rim of a cup in their mouths, and they have different postures, listening intently.
That Mr. Nojima, with a perplexed expression, scanned all the seats.
Mr. Bodo urged, "How about it, Mr. Nojima? Don't you want to show your face?" Nojima stood up.He is only six years older than Bodo, but his hair is already very thin, which may be the result of wearing a hat for many years.
"Yeah, this—" Nojima stood up and didn't speak for a long time.He gives the impression that he is an honest, honest and hard-working civil servant.
"This—we've had so many cases that our memory is a mess.
"...However, that--that Miss Shuzi died when she was about to get married, so the impression is quite deep.
"This—where do I start to make sense? I find it difficult. If someone asks a question, I answer it, and it's easy to handle..."
"Then let me ask. What is the basis for the police to judge it as suicide?" Haruhiko did not get up, but sat down and asked.I was moved by it.So Haruhiko has doubts about suicide?
"This—the deceased had a suicide note, which is of key significance... Let me explain the police's analysis in detail..." Summarizing Nojima's statement, the content is as follows: The police also suspected homicide at first.No matter who you ask, no one can tell the motive of suicide, let alone the deceased has a marriage contract and only waits for the wedding day, so there is no reason to commit suicide.
For this reason, the police made a careful investigation in the room of the deceased.Shuzi's cause of death was determined to be cyanic acid poisoning, and the vomit gave off the peculiar smell of this medicine.The black tea cups obtained on the spot were naturally handed over to the appraisers.The person who brewed the black tea was Shuzi herself, which is also consistent with the result of the fingerprint test conducted by the appraiser on the spot.Shuzi's fingerprints can be seen in the teacups used by the two, and one of the cups has silk fingerprints covered with Shuzi's fingerprints.If it is murder, except for silk.No chance for anyone to commit a crime.Kanako was interrogated rather harshly for this, but her answers were impeccable.
Seeing the unexpected death of her close friend, Miss Kaneko at that time was naturally grieved and hysterical.
"However, as an unmarried girl, her will is indeed admirable. The section chief in charge of the interrogation also made the same evaluation." Nojima commented on the silk at that time.
During the search, a police officer found a novel open and not closed on the desk.Asked Jianzi, she also said "it's a strange thing".They didn't come to talk about the topic of that novel that day, so it stands to reason that they wouldn't open it.Juanzi took the book in her hand to browse, and suddenly said to the police officer, "Is this a suicide note?" According to her, the two girlfriends used a communication method known only to them at the time.That is, needles are used to pierce holes in the typefaces of printed matter, and the words that have been pierced are connected together to read, and a paragraph of text is obtained.This is quite an interesting game.That novel—"The Gourd of the Sky" by Nakagawa Yuichi, seems to have that kind of needle-pricked hole in it.So they started from the first page of the book, carefully found out the typeface with small holes, and read them together.
Well, in this way, it is by no means a trivial matter to find out that the text was written, we think it is indeed a suicide note.
Perhaps Nojima thought of this to adjust the atmosphere. He raised a glass of beer and drank it in one gulp. Although this incident happened more than ten years ago, the story of a girl who committed suicide suddenly before getting married aroused our deep interest.We wait for Nojima to reveal the mystery of the suicide.However, what Nojima said below disappointed us.
"I don't think it's appropriate to announce the contents of the suicide note at this party at this moment. However, it is undoubtedly a suicide note. Moreover, if the things written on it really exist, the lady at that time chose to commit suicide. It's not unreasonable." Nojima only hinted at the content of the suicide note, and stopped talking.Our curiosity is strongly stimulated.
I thought, if Nojima didn't tell me now, I'd try to find out later.If he said, "Please don't publish it," it didn't have to be included in the report.However, as a journalist, he would not be willing to remain silent after smelling such a mysterious event.
"What's going on? Please tell me what's going on!" It was Haruhiko who insisted on knowing the details.This is not surprising. As outsiders, we still want to know the details. Since we are close relatives, we are naturally eager to know the truth about my sister's suicide.
"Well..." Nojima started, then stopped talking.He rested his chin on his hand and looked up at the ceiling.
Yamazaki-kun poked my waist: "That's Mr. Nojima's habit. When you don't know what to say, you put on this posture."
At this time, Mrs. Juanzi suddenly said: "I also think it's better not to announce this matter here..." To me, these words seemed to be telling Nojima who was in trouble under Haruhiko's aggressive aura: "You must never say that!"
"Why? As I said before, I have been feeling incomprehensible about this matter for more than ten years, and I really want to find out the details of it. This request is not too much!" Haruyan's plea was expressed very stubbornly.
"Announce it, I'm afraid someone will be hurt." Mrs. Juanzi pursed her lips slightly, as if deliberately making a sarcastic expression.
"Ah, so that person is here today?"
"Oh! Don't you all understand?" Mrs. Juanzi's tone became unprecedentedly tough.
In a word, the audience was in a commotion.Everyone seemed unwilling to touch the suffocating air, and deliberately became active, and neighbors poured beer to each other.
"Is that so? Well, then I'll inquire after this person is gone." Haruyan seemed to have finally given up.He silently lit his cigarette and took a deep drag.
"Aha!" Mrs. Juanzi shouted emotionally: "What are you talking about 'this person'! Since you said so, then I will make it public! The suicide note said: Miss Shuzi was raped by her brother when she was a student. Can't get married!"
I have visited Mr. Bodo many times on business, and I have never seen Mrs. Juanzi speak so excitedly.Her face was originally pink, but now her face has turned pale.Her angry expression is actually very beautiful.
"Say what? Say it again! Please say it again!"
Haruhiko was also shocked and suddenly jumped up.
"No, please wait! Now I'm going to get the exact content of the suicide note."
Mr. Bodo is just the opposite of his wife, with a very calm attitude.After he finished speaking in a steady tone, he walked out of the venue.
Not long after, Bodo returned to the table with an old notebook in his hand.After sitting down, he took out a piece of paper that looked like a note from the notebook.
"This is the diary from that year." Bodo's tone was completely different from the previous speech, as casual as a discussion.
"On this piece of paper, I copied Miss Shuzi's suicide note—no, no, to be precise, it is an article joined by needle-punched typefaces. I put it in this notebook. Let me read it. How about it? "
"'I can't get married with my body. My brother raped me before he joined the army. It's painful to say it, but I can't lie to Mr. Tianye. Dad! Mom! Please forgive me. Ms. Kinuko has always been as close as a sister to me. Dad , Mom! From now on, treat Ms. Kanko as a Shuzi! If Mr. Tian Ye can marry Miss Jinzi, I will be happy under Jiuquan.'”
"Needless to say, there are a few places where I didn't find the corresponding Chinese characters. For example, I used hiragana for my surname. Anyway, this is the full text of the suicide note."
After Bodo finished speaking, he sat down.The audience was silent, shrouded in a tense atmosphere.
My gaze naturally turned to Haruhiko.Haruyan bowed his head and remained silent, as if he was deep in thought. Maybe he acquiesced to the content of the "suicide note" and was introspecting painfully, maybe he was searching his stomach and wanted to say something.
"This is weird!" Yamazaki-kun whispered to me.He licked his lips frequently, with an expression of interest.I saw that the plot was out of order, and when I recorded it, I felt overloaded. However, Yamazaki-kun was from the social department after all, and he seemed to arouse professional excitement.
"Ah, everyone!" Mrs. Juanzi said, maybe she couldn't bear the depressing silence of the audience.
"Let's stop here. After all, someone was hurt!" Although Madam was cleaning up the mess, her tone was full of triumphant arrogance.
"No, wait!" Someone yelled.In a blink of an eye, it turned out that it was Haruhiko himself who was hurt.
"Wait, I was just trying to gather my thoughts. Anyway, I don't have the impression. Something went wrong! I really don't know anything."
Haruhiko's voice was very sad, as if he had been cornered.He was silent for a moment, and then murmured: "However, as a father, after reading such a suicide note, it is only natural for him to sever ties with me... Sigh, I really didn't do such a thing!"
"Let me talk about some ideas. However, I'm afraid it can only be regarded as the writer's imagination." The writer Akino Shun, who has been silent all the time, spoke in his seat. He probably saw that Haruhiko was too embarrassed and wanted to give him a step to step down. .
"I think this can also be explained by the fact that Miss Shuzi is obsessed with certain delusions. That is to say, since she was a child, she has had a certain complicated psychology towards her brother. When she was in a state of extreme tension before marriage, that kind of psychology took form like this. This is my opinion." After hearing these words, Haruhiko stood up again.
"Ah, that's right! Mr. Nojima, what's the result of Shuko's autopsy? It's easy to know whether she was raped or not."
"No, no! The so-called judicial autopsy can only be carried out if it is suspected of homicide and approved by the superior. However, this incident was roughly judged as suicide according to the suicide note, so there was no autopsy. But regarding what you said, we would like to ask you The parents of the deceased did an investigation."
"What's the result?" Haruhiko asked through gritted teeth.
"Oh, the result is this! No facts that can overturn the content of the suicide note have been found." This means that Miss Shuzi had sexual experience before her death.
As a result, the situation is obviously not conducive to Haruhiko.He sat down again.Maybe it's because of the hardships and exhaustion in the detention life, he is prematurely aging, his gray hair, coupled with those hard-pressed brows, makes him look even more pitiful.
All the guests immediately talked about it.The neighboring companions whispered and whispered, intertwined into a buzzing sound.
"Hey, do you think he's guilty?" Yamazaki-kun whispered to me, pointing at Haruhiko.
I replied, "I don't know!" In fact, I wasn't sure what to judge.
The subject of whispering among the guests was obviously the suicide incident sixteen years ago.However, no one is willing to express their opinions publicly.Quite a few people cast glances at Haruhiko from time to time.In the venue of the bronze wedding ceremony, there was a dull atmosphere that shouldn't be there in the bronze wedding ceremony.
"I always find it strange..."
Yamazaki-kun was whispering to me again, but just as he said this, Associate Professor Suga, who was sitting next to Mrs. Kanako, stood up.
"I want to say a few words, can you give me a hand?"
Bo Duo nodded lightly. As the host of the ceremony, when encountering an unexpected situation, it might be difficult for him to clean up the situation.The gaze he cast on Suga could be interpreted as "please".
Suga took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his mouth before speaking.
"What I want to say may have nothing to do with what I just talked about. In other words, it probably has nothing to do with Miss Shuzi's suicide. However, although this is the second time I have heard about the situation before and after Miss Shuzi's suicide , but one thing has caught my attention. I want to say it, and then let you judge. Mr. Bodo has said before that I made friends with Mr. Bodo through the current Mrs. Bodo.
"That is to say, Mr. Bodo was also favored by the Omi couple when he was the tutor of Ms. Shuzi, so he made a marriage contract with Ms. Mrs. Bodo builds a relationship.
"Because Ms. Shuzi and Mrs. Bodo are as close as sisters, Mr. Bodo and I sometimes meet at parties, and sometimes we go skiing together. In this way, we two men become friendly. Mr. Bodo and I, although we are respectively from the Department of Economics and Students in the Department of Literature, but they all graduated from the same high school, and they are not strangers. In addition, we were skeptical about the Japanese-Chinese incident at that time, and there was a common language between the two. These circumstances brought us together. Then we graduated from college.
"I stayed at the graduate school, and Mr. Hata went to a junior high school in Shizuoka Prefecture.
"However, he goes back to Tokyo roughly once a week to meet Miss Shuko and us... Mr. Bodo's appointment as a middle school teacher may not be out of his own will. In fact, he is only thinking about literature, but he is forced by the economy. I have no choice but to become a teacher. However, what is Mr. Bodo’s opinion? So far, I have not made mistakes, right?” Hearing this question, Bodo nodded as before.Unknowingly, the original order was restored in the venue.It was probably Suga's skillful and sophisticated lecture-style narrative that attracted the attention of the entire audience.
Having said that, Suga took a sip of beer to moisten his throat.Then, he wiped his mouth with the handkerchief again.
It seems that this is his habit of speaking.
"But..." However, at the end of April, Suga's apartment was searched by the police of the Special High School, and as a result, Suga was arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of violating the law and order law.The chief professor went to the police station and the special high-level department of the Metropolitan Police Department to inquire, and worked hard for him.However, the police claimed to have found quite definite evidence in his apartment, based on which they concluded that Suga was a member of the Communist Party Reconstruction Team, and therefore refused to release him anyway.
"However, I am neither an important figure in the Communist Party, nor an ordinary member. I have no impression of that evidence. The police interrogated me harshly, asking me to tell the underground activities of my comrades and explain the reconstruction plan of the Communist Party. Especially , They took bamboo swords and slammed my waist and other places, and then I suffered from neuralgia every winter. But tortured and tortured, I really didn’t know anything, and they couldn’t do anything. Later they said to me: "As long as you If you are willing to write a letter of betrayal, you can not prosecute if you are a first-time offender." This is really nonsense! At the beginning, it was much trouble, not to mention the betrayal had to provide guarantees and organization information, but since I don't know anything, it is impossible to betray. In this way, starting from the end of April, I was detained and transferred to one police station after another during that year, and my love relationship with the current Mrs. Boduo had to be completely terminated." Speaking of this, Suga seemed very sad feeling.It is not uncommon for scholars to live alone all their lives, and Suga is the only one who has been single so far.I thought, the secret of Mrs. Suga's celibacy is actually such a difficult reason!
"But! About the so-called evidence, I haven't said anything yet. It's neither Lenin nor Marx's work, it's just a translation of Keynes' general theory."
As soon as this remark came out, the audience was in an uproar.This statement can be believed.At that time, due to the ignorance of the police, there was indeed a joke that Malthus's population theory was mistaken for Marx's works and copied and banned.However, this is the first time I have heard of being arrested for possession of Keynes's works.Seeing the effect of his words during the banquet, Suga seemed very satisfied.
He rested for a moment, smiling.It can be seen from this that he is, after all, a teacher at the university.
"It's natural for you to be surprised, but despite the ignorance and insanity of the police in wartime Japan, arresting people for Keynes' books seems impossible. There is another reason for it. And that's it, I I think it might be related to Ms. Shuko's suicide. Ah, I'm not saying it's definitely related, but I just thought of this possibility." Suga moistened his throat with beer.
Yamazaki-kun whispered to me: "The suicide incident, does it have anything to do with ideological problems? The more you say this, the more strange it becomes!"
I also drew up the title of a news novel for a weekly magazine: "A Girl Martyred for Thought," with the subtitle "The Mystery of Suicide Clarified After Sixteen Years."
"Let me talk about things in order from the beginning. The day I was arrested was April 30, which happened to be the day of the Yasukuni Shrine's regular festival. Around six o'clock in the morning, the police came to my apartment. They violated The house was searched on the grounds of suspicion of maintaining law and order. As a witness, I observed the search from the beginning to the end. There were three police officers. They took out a few books from the book box and inspected them. Looking at the window page by page. I don’t understand this kind of behavior. I put on an air of indifference. I am not a practical person in any way, although I resonate with Marxism ideologically, But did not participate in the practical activities. So, there is nothing to worry about. However, when a policeman was checking the tenth book, he suddenly called the remaining two. Press the three people together to check the book. I think I went over to see what was going on, but they didn't allow me to approach. After a while, one of them handed me the receipt of the confiscated items. It only registered the above-mentioned book of Keynes. Naturally, I asked why on the spot To confiscate the book, they just sneered a few times inexplicably. Moreover, they asked me to voluntarily accompany them to the police station. The so-called voluntary accompanying them implied to me that if I refused, I would be arrested urgently. They returned it to me. I put on handcuffs.
"I was so impressed by the events of that day, so much to say in one breath! Let's briefly talk about it."
When he arrived at the police station, the interrogators coldly asked him to confess the Communist Party's reconstruction plan. Suga didn't understand what he meant, so he asked the police back.The other party shouted: "Don't pretend to be stupid! Such a simple code, the police can understand it at a glance!" The interrogator threw a book in front of his eyes, which turned out to be the book by Keynes.
"According to the police officer's instructions, I looked through the book page by page. I saw that some typefaces had small pinholes. Then I read the pierced words together. I was surprised! With this paragraph Article, I cannot be excused for suing me for violating the Law on the Maintenance of Public Security. Its content is only the one time I saw it, and I can’t remember it. The general idea is: Organize cadres to enter the country secretly from Kyushu. She was contacted and anti-war leaflets were printed, and her contact points were designated."
"I was stunned for a moment. I didn't know anything about this matter. I didn't even notice that there were pinholes in the book because of my carelessness. During the interrogation time, in the detention center, as long as I had free time, I was thinking hard. : How could this kind of coded book get mixed into my collection? If the book was bought in a second-hand bookstore, at least it can be explained clearly, and the police can also be refuted. But it is obviously a new book, that is I don't know how to explain it to myself. Finally, I came to a conclusion: there must be a misunderstanding. This is off topic, but I still want to state my reasoning for your reference. My reasoning is as follows: Sell this book In the bookstore of the book, there is a clerk or owner who is a Communist Party member. This is the premise.
"He intends to hand over this book with information when his comrades show up at the bookstore. I arrived at the bookstore just in time, either because I looked like the connector, or because the boss was away from the store, It was mis-sold to me by an uninformed clerk. It was for such reasons that the book came to me by mistake.
"However, you will of course find that there is a flaw in my reasoning. It is very simple: I have this book of Keynes in my possession, and how did the police know? This, after my release--no, until So far, it is still a mystery. But tonight, with many past events learned during the banquet, the mystery has become even bigger.
"It's clear: Miss Shuzi's suicide note and the physical evidence in my case all come from the same method. Miss Shuzi committed suicide while I was in prison, and after I was released, I lived in seclusion in the countryside for about two years. I also don't know anything about Miss Shuzi's suicide note. However, after hearing what I said just now, I pondered alone. Is it purely accidental or is there another reason for the two to come out of the same technique? Suicide is related, so I dared to tell my own past and raised such extraneous questions, what do you guys think? I would like to hear a little bit about it." Associate Professor Suga said, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief again, and sat down.As soon as his words fell, the guests began to whisper to each other in twos and threes.After a while, the buzzing gradually increased and turned into a noisy mess.
"Isn't it easy to explain the doubts that Mr. Suga said just now?" The speaker was Eiichi Yanagihara.He is not only a critic who belongs to the "school", but also a theorist who sends literary activities.He has a reputation for being exceptionally sharp.It is said that even seemingly unreasonable things can be rationalized smoothly after Yanagihara's argument.
At this time, Liu Yuan took off his glasses and squeezed the area between his eyes with his right hand.不象别人一样起立发言，仍然稳坐不动，口边浮着腼腆的微笑。
“我是这样想的。那自然是共产党的情报，不过那种书籍。一本本地买下来，代价可就大了。每周买一本，要花两百元——哦，当时是一至两元吧。累计起来，就是很大的数目。所以，接头人一定是在书店当场读取了情报。
“也许照规定是必须买走的，这是为了不留证据。可是偶然也有缺钱的时侯吧。这种时候，就只好当场读取了事。总之，那本书是在接头人当场读取情报之后，作为废物留在书店里，又由须贺先生买去了。这，就是我的想法。至于警察的消息来源嘛，可以这样考虑：刺有针孔的书本，可能经过这样的途径，落到另外的某个人家里。而那位X先生，恐怕不会象须贺先生这么疏忽大意，而且颇有闲暇，还怀有侦探的兴趣。他发现了针孔，便把刺了孔的文字串接起来，方知是非同小可的文章，连忙向警察局报告。于是警察开始搜查。
“啊，对了！有件事要请问须贺先生。须贺先生，凯恩斯的那本著作，是在您常去的书店买的吧？”
“嗯——记不清了，不过多半是吧。那时候，大部分书籍都是在月底关饷时上那家书店买的。”
“非如此不可呢，于是警察叫书店开列老顾客的名单，须贺先生一定购阅了当时被视为危险品的综合杂志；此外还买过许多不受当局欢迎的书籍。何况他又是专攻经济学的大学院学生。于是警察选中他了，搜查了他的住宅。”对这番推理，我颇以为然。柳原的意见是否妥当，我还来不及充分考虑，但他在须臾之间便作出了如此牢固的“理论构成”，使我觉得他的这种才干的确名不虚传。
“须贺先生！请您注意，现在探讨问题的第二个层次——即淑子小姐的遗书和那情报文书为何出自同一手法。我以为这也很好解释——波多先生的夫人，当时是须贺先生的未婚妻，她可能为须贺先生的安危，去找律师之类的人物打听内情。请对方预测刑罚的轻重。不管那人是律师还是其他身份，反正是个十分知情的人物。他告诉当时的绢子小姐，获释是很难的，因为证据确凿；至于那证据嘛，就是如此这般。绢子小姐从此得到启发，便采用同样的办法与她的好友作秘密通信的游戏。
“事情也许就是如此。怎么样？这一点，即算说得不准，也不会相差太远吧？”说完这一席推理，柳原点燃烟斗，深吸一口。满座的视线集中于绢子夫人。夫人有些尴尬，眨眨眼睛，不置可否地微笑着。
“哎呀，事情过去太久，我可记不清了……听这么一说，觉得这种事说不定是有过的。”
“不，这种说法很不对头！”出乎意料，野岛局长竟然出言反驳，“诸位，我想以警官的身份说几句。我觉得刚才那种意见，是不通警方内情的说法。这个——无非是空想推理之类……”柳原在座位上挺直了身子。他面露敏锐的表情，仿佛斗志猛涨。
“如今法律知识已经普及，对于人权的关心日益高涨，所以当人们遭到逮捕，大多数部会延请律师。可是当时，很少有人在预审前履行这项手续。怎么样？须贺先生，您当时请了律师么？”
“嗯——我想没有。因为事出突然，我连一个律师的名字也不知道……反正被捕以后，除了警官谁也没有见着！”
“这就对了。违反治安维持法的嫌疑犯，自然是不准会见外人的，连骨肉至亲也不许会面呢！所以关于针孔一事，不可能由须贺先生泄漏出来。至于搜查当局的警察，对于如此关键的证据，更不会漏出风声……就是说，夫人无法知道须贺先生案子的证据究竟是什么。”野岛说话时虽然笨拙地故作谦谨，但看得出他骨子里充满自信。不过，柳原也不示弱，他的态度似乎是将要起而反驳。
这时，春彦突然起身嚷道：“啊，明白了！”
春彦显然非常激动。说话的音量之大，超出了必要的程度。他向野岛提问：“野岛先生，既然手法一致，可以考虑是同一个人所为吧？”野岛大约一时没有听懂春彦这句话的意思，愣了片刻。
但他很快就悟出来了。
“当然可以！一个犯罪者，一旦取得成功，下次犯罪也倾向于采用同样的手法。不过，正因为手法相同，容易判断为同一个人的罪行，所以得冒风险。”野岛的回答既非肯定亦非否定，但春彦对此并不介意，滔滔不绝地说了起来。
“刚才听了须贺先生的讲话，明白了很多事情。先前说我妹妹自杀，是和我有过不伦关系的缘故，可我对此毫无印象。
“我正在考虑：为什么会出现这种情况呢？恰好听到须贺先生的一席话，于是构思了一种假说。这个假说，须贺先生恐怕也是想到了的。但是他不愿使波多先生难堪，只作了暗示，却不敢深入发掘。这假说与柳原先生的推论大相径庭，恐怕有所冒犯。但请诸位好歹容我说出来，若有矛盾之处，恳望批评指正。”春彦说话间渐渐沉着下来，语气也趋于平静。
“首先，关于须贺先生的案子，那本书上所刺的针孔，其实并非共产党的文件。那是某个人物在须贺先生家里作客的时候，背着须贺先生刺上去的。这是第一个前提。其次就是淑子的遗书，即《天之瓠》那本书上所刺的针孔，其实并非出自淑子之手，而是别人所为。这是第二个前提。考虑到二者在手法上过于相似，可以推理，它们之间似乎有所关联。即是说，两份文书的作者，或者是同一个人，或者是相互间有密切关系的人物。不过，当时与须贺先生和淑子都有关系的人，为数很少。首当其冲的，是波多先生及夫人。这样想来，导致须贺先生被捕的那份文件，以及淑子那份真伪难辨的遗书，其作者或许是他们夫妇之一，或许是两人共谋而为。这种假说，并非无稽之谈。”这番话，真是天外奇谈！
我这样想着，望一望波多夫妇，波多默默地吸烟，脑袋微倾，斜眼看着站在他的邻席讲话的春彦。绢子夫人则意识到自己是众目之的，抬手整理衣襟。不过，出乎意料之外，两人的表情都有些装模作样。
“这一来，恐怕有人会问，他们夫妇为什么做出这种事情呢？答案如下……”
以下是春彦推理的概要。那两对未婚夫妻，或者说两对恋人，互相熟识接近了。可是绢子小姐比淑子小蛆更加美丽动人，而且富有个性。对于以当小说家为平生志向的波多而言，她是个极有魅力的女性。于是，波多为了拆散须贺与绢子这对恋人，在须贺的藏书中伪造共产党的秘密文件，然后向警察写信告发这一假案，致使须贺被捕。由于须贺被警察贴上了“赤色”标签，在当时的时局下，恋爱关系自然破裂了，波多的第一个目的便已达到。
另一方面，绢子也通过淑子与波多接触，在交往中，觉得他比一本正经的须贺更为迷人，便希望嫁给波多。
两人经过协商，决定杀害挡道碍眼的淑子。为了制造淑子自杀的假象，他们玩弄遗书的伎俩，结果大功告成。
“此话碍难相信！”柳原率先反对，“首先，他们可以不冒杀人的风险，还有好些另外的办法。如果俩人彼此钟情，私奔之类都是可行的嘛。”我也认为此话十分在理，大多数宾客，似乎都赞成柳原的说法。
大家认为，春彦的推理走入了极端，不如说是空想或妄想之类，可是春彦不肯善罢甘休。
“不，事实并非如此。波多先生在大学时代，经济拮据，课余时间担任淑子的家庭教师。其间两人感情渐深，发展为恋爱关系，打算大学毕业以后结婚。可是，波多先生作为一名作家的前程尚未确立，因此我的父母曾说，在他们婚后仍须给予某种程度的经济援助。”
简而言之，波多中断他与淑子的婚约，无异于断绝自己的活路。由于经济上的原因，他不可能正面毁约。为了同绢子结婚，除了杀害淑子，别无办法。
“我父亲是个古板的正人君子。所以，女儿在出嫁前夕，任性轻生自杀，他考虑到这件事给予婚约对方的精神打击，心中过意不去，便要设法补偿对方的损失。这一点，凡是对我父亲稍有了解的人，是完全能够预料到的。何况淑子在遗书中写明了愿让他们二位结为伴侣，并且要父母爱护绢子小姐如同爱护她自己，这样，我父亲在经济上继续援助，便有了九成的把握。这些后事，大约也在二位谋算之中吧。”
这一段话，听春彦的口气，似乎非给人赖上罪名不可。竟造成一种印象，仿佛也想敲诈什么东西。
“既然如此，你那个近亲相奸的问题作何解释呢？他们何必把这件事写进遗书？”
柳原似乎备下了种种问题，单等春彦的话告一段落，立刻提出反问。
“关于这一点，我十分佩服二位的聪敏机灵。如果是我强奸了淑子，致使她服毒自尽，我那位正人君子的父亲，把家庭的声名看得比性命还重，必然把我拒于家门之外，这样一来，不仅经济援助可以指望，就是继承遗产也有可能。何况，把这作为出嫁前夕的少女轻生自杀的理由，任何人都会信以为真。”
“可是，对于淑子小姐已非处女这一点，还得加以解释吧？”
“这很筒单！这种事情，波多先生早已做在前头。”春彦说这话时显得万分自信。
我一直认为他的推理是一派胡言，此时竟然也为他的自信所动，脑子里转了个弯儿，心想：“没准是这样。”
“喂，波多！你说话呀！沉默可不是办法！”柳原许是沉不住气了吧，他向波多发出了呼喊。
波多苦笑着站立起来。
“唉，真是平白无故地蒙受嫌疑。柳原叫我说话，可是说了也没用吧。近江先生所作的推论，也不过是一种可能的解释罢了；诸位自然不会在毫无证据的情况下把我当作杀人犯吧。”波多说得镇静自如。他那四平八稳的语气，其说服力似乎胜于任何雄辩。
山崎君对我耳语道：“波多先生毕竟是无辜的！”
“不！”春彦说着，复又站立起来，“我有证据。”在我心中，两种情绪相互交织，我既期望春彦果然举出确凿的证据，又为他的执拗感到困惑。
“证据就在这里！”春彦一边说，一边从上衣内口袋里掏出一张已经发黄的信纸。
“在公布这封信的内容之前，我想请诸位看一看信封邮戳上的日期。好，就请传阅一遍！”信封从春彦的左邻开始依次在每个人手中传阅。
大家都象负有鉴定人的职责，做出严肃的表情，仔细审阅邮戳。
信封传到我手上时，我看到邮戳上记录的投寄时间，是昭和十七年六月二十一日上午。
我把这日期写在笔记本上。
信封刚回到春彦手中，他便再度发言。
“诸位想必都已知道，这封信是在昭和十七年六月二十一日发出的。可是，就在那一天下午，淑子服毒自杀了。就是说，这是淑子写给我的最后一封信。先前我已说过，这封信的内容，嗅不出半点自杀的气味。下面，全文朗读恐怕占用时间过多，我给诸位念一段吧：'我是女流之辈，也许是这个缘故，总觉得战争文学读来乏味。我所喜爱的，虽有儿女情长之嫌，仅是那种优美抒情的恋爱故事。昨天早晨，我买了一木《天之瓠》。是中河与一先生最近出版的作品。回到家里，一天之内便把它读完了。很久不曾读到这么优美的故事了，我非常感激那位作家。绢子小姐傍晚来到我们家，我忙把那本书借给她看。'”
这就是信中的内容，可是，据绢子夫人刚才所说，那本《天之瓠》是摊开在自杀现场的。这岂不奇怪么！就在淑子自杀的前一天，绢子夫人把那本书借回去了。因此，淑子死去的那一天，那书应该已经不在淑子手头上。退一步说，绢子夫人一夜之间读完了那本书，第二天下午还回来了，可是淑子又哪有时间以针刺孔留下遗书呢？在房间里交谈的那段时间，自然是干不了的。搜索恰当的铅字，刺上针孔，这样写作文章，需要相当长的时间。
先前夫人说过，淑子独自留在房内的时间，不过五分钟而已。其间制作遗书，是根本不可能的吧。尤其是，绢子夫人随时都可能回到房里。这样看来，只有一种推论可以成立。那就是说，绢子夫人在前一天把那本书借阅去之后，当晚在自己家里炮制了那份遗书，次日作客时，趁淑子没注意，在红茶里下了毒。见淑子服毒而死，便把那本书摊开在桌上，然后下楼去了。后来又是绢子夫人告诉警察：那本书里大有文章。这一点，也为我的推理提供了证据。
唯有一件事，是绢子夫人始料来及的，那就是淑子给我写了这么一封信，而写信的时间又是这么凑巧！这样一来，局势对波多夫妇非常不利。如果不能指出这封信是伪造的，他们就没有抗辩的余地。
席间复又私语四起，织成一片嗡嗡之声。一般压抑着的激动，回荡在座席之间，使气氛空前沉闷。我想道，这件事绝不会寻常了结！
然而，春彦到这里突然把话锋一转：“啊，罢了。刚才所言，大大失礼，很为抱歉。我想借用一下卫生间。这样吧，波多先生！在我离座的这段时间里，请与夫人商量一个对策吧。”春彦说罢这句挖苦话，便离开了会客厅。
我们的注意力，自然转移到波多夫妇的身上。夫妻二人把脸凑到一起，交谈了几句。
我痛心地想道：他们果如春彦所说，正在商议对策吧？我不忍目睹，移目他视。就连那位柳原先生，此刻似乎也觉得不便言语了。
过了一会，绢子夫人突然离席，向会客厅外走去。这一来，波多左右两席皆空，他觉得很不自在，眼光在宾客当中扫来扫去。这一瞬间，波多心中恐怕是百感交集，纷纷然一团杂乱罢。过了一会，他欠欠身子，对须贺副教授说了些什么。这又是一桩怪事。须知须贺也是被害者之一。我想把这话说给山崎君听，没想到山崎君不知何时已经离了座位，看来他也出去了。照当时的气氛判断，这幕戏已逼尾声了。
春彦又回到了席上。绢子夫人随后而到，山崎君跟在她的身后。
“喂，你去谈过话了？”我问山崎君。此后进展如何，将是一条重要新闻，一位著名作家，竟在十几年前犯过杀人罪行！有关人士的言论，是必须记录下来的。春彦说了什么呢？我想向山崎君打听。
“没呀，没谈话。”山崎君竟然含糊其辞。我想，他有什么事情瞒着我。即便是文艺部的记者，这点儿机灵还是有的。不过，我心中无底。虽然放心不下，却也无计可施。
“怎么样？想好对策了吗？”春彦公然挑战。
“你老是说对策、对策的，究竟是指什么对策呢？”波多以牙还牙。
“嘿嘿？你还能这么满不在乎么？你是说我的说明还不够充分？犯罪手段、动机和证据，全部抖落出来啦！老老实实认输吧，警察局长先生也在这儿……”
“哈哈哈……”波多想放声大笑，可这终究不过是空洞的叫声。
“可是近江先生！不是我说大话，不论是警察局长还是别的大人物，都拿我无可奈何！你毕竟是个糊涂虫哪！十五年以上的往事，不管是什么罪行，一概因时效而免罚。是不是，野岛先生？”
“啊，是有这个规定……”野岛仅说了这么一句。也许他在搜索十六年前自己办案的记忆吧。他面露困惑的表情，额头上皱起了竖纹。
“啊，不错！看来你早就胸有成竹。这一点，我自然也是知道的，并不是所谓的糊涂虫。从一开始，就没打算把你送过监狱，这一点请放心吧。只要你承认十六年前是你杀害了淑子，我就心满意足了。这里也有报社的诸君在场，社会舆论的批判，足以为淑子报仇了！话说回来吧，刚才关于时效的那番话，你说得并不聪明呢！这岂不是给诸位一种印象，即你已经承认了罪行？喂，怎么样？现在可以坦白了吧？”关键时刻越来越近了。我把笔记本翻开了新的一页，接着抬头注视波多夫妇。
这时，我突然看见这对夫妻做了一个奇怪的动作。绢子夫人取出一个白色的小纸包，把它往波多的啤酒杯上覆去。纸包里掉出一些白粉，沉往啤酒下面。接着，夫人又把那种白粉倒入了自己的酒杯。两人伸手握住了杯子。
“啊，不行！这不能喝！”我下意识地大叫大嚷。满座宾客大吃一惊，把目光一齐向我投来。
“那只杯子里下了药，波多先生企图自杀！”可是，这时绢子夫人仿佛要打断我的叫喊，猛然举杯喝干了啤酒。It's too late!恐怕是氰酸钾吧。我站立起来，脑子里浮现出一行标题：《作家波多亮夫妇自杀，十六年前凶杀案水落石出》。
必须把摄影师叫来！电话在哪儿呢？记者同人们也纷纷碰倒了椅子。
正在兴奋的时侯，耳朵里听到一阵高亢的笑声。而且，那不仅是一人在笑。
"Ho ho..."
“哈哈……”朝这笑声的发声源望去，原来竟是刚刚饮下毒药的绢子夫人。
此外还有波多和他邻座的春彦这两个势不两立的敌人，竟然变得十分友好，一齐发出令人莫名其妙的大笑。我们这批人瞠目结舌，呆若木鸡。我又把满座人环视一遍，只见野岛和须贺也在发笑。唯有“门派”作家、批评家，加上我们新闻记者，傻呵呵地面面相觑。
“唉，这太失礼啦！好啦好啦，都请坐下。连诸位新闻记者也上当啦！”春彦说着，摆动两手做出下压的动作请大家坐下。宾客们虽然不解其意，还是重新就座了。
波多站起身来。然而我们的眼光，仍然集中于绢子夫人。
当时她的确喝下了毒药，为什么竟平安无事呢？
“也许我必须一一作出解释吧，其实今天在聚会上所说的一切，都不过是做戏而已，就是说，一切都是虚构出来的。从代理结婚开始，直到十六年前的自杀事件，实无其事。不单是我的话，还有近江先生说的故事，以及须贺先生违反治安维持法等等，全是谎言！更不用说，刚才我和内人喝下的白粉，根本不是毒药。只是一点白砂糖。诸位会问我，为什么要干这种事情呢？原因之一是我认为铜婚庆典这样的聚会，如果一本正经地举行，是毫无趣味可言的，这样就对不起诸位。另一个原因，则是以报复大家平日对我的批评为目的。诸位来客，其中尤其是柳原先生等人，常说我写的侦探小说虚构过多，如果我在小说中所写的事情发生在现实当中，是一眼就能看破的。于是我就试将这种虚构移植到实际生活里，试看柳原先生是否果然能够把它识破。事有凑巧，内人念女学时演过戏剧，而须贺先生和近江先生又演得意外地逼真，配合默契，直到最后也没有露出破绽。平日总是大言不惭的柳原先生，这一次完全上钩了，亲自出马充当侦探，想出了各种各样的推理，由此可见这次试验是大功告成了。啊，实在是失礼了！不过，我本想公平合理地进行这场游戏，所以在虚构的故事中插入了一个细节，大家本应该对它产生怀疑，可是没有一个人察觉到了。这样也好，就把它留给大家回去寻找答案吧。我再次表示歉意！”
翌晨，报纸一到，我首先翻阅社会版。平时出于职业习惯。总是先看各报的文艺栏，今天一反常例，只因我已经向社会版供稿报道前一天的那个“铜婚庆典”。文章排在左角的直栏里，刊载如下：作家波多亮氏（四十二）及夫人绢子（三十六）为庆祝结婚十五周年。五日于东京都中野区X町田野氏宅邸举行“铜婚庆典”。出席者有T大副教授须贺、评论家柳原英一等十余人。
席间，波多氏旧交0氏发表推理如下：“十五年前，波多氏夫妇曾将吾妹毒杀。”及至出示物证，该夫妇终于认罪，当场服毒。
与会者惊恐万状，将夫妇团团围住。其毒何也？实为砂糖。0氏之推理，亦为波多氏虚构之游戏，欲为聚会添趣之故也。波多氏近来运笔于侦探小说，此“铜婚式”实为其杰作之一。
我继而打开N报，浏览山崎君的报道。目光刚刚触及社会版，只觉得全身的血直冲头顶。一个一个的标题大字，就象一根根利针，刺痛了我的眼睛。
N报把这篇报道排为头条新闻，而其内容则好似在嘲笑我的那篇报道。
凸版印刷的横福标题如下：《杀人案沉埋十六年忽见天日，大作家波多亮夫妇完全犯罪》，以下空出四行安排了副题：《被害者之兄当面推理，旧信等证据至今尚存》。报道的正文中，又有占据三行的小标题：《波多氏设计销罪》。我脑子里混乱如麻。what the hell is it! N报为什么刊载这样的报道？我急忙打开S报、H报和其它报纸，方知这些报纸对此事根本未作报道。我这才松了一口气，开始阅读N报的报道。我从“销罪”一节开始读起：这时，穷途末路的波多氏经与夫人商议，通过夫人向近江氏提出两项交换条件：1、一个月内支付五百万元；2、今后波多氏每出版一种单行本，将版税之一半奉送近江氏。
为此，近江氏应向公众宣布：近江氏当晚所言之事，纯属“铜婚庆典”之精彩节目，且为波多氏之创作趣旨。波多氏同时就此事求得须贺氏之谅解，近江亦接受两项条件。于是多数出席者最终根据波多、进江两氏所言，深信此完全犯罪暴露事件纯系席间余兴，放心而归。 （记者山崎）报道末尾加记者署名，表明责任所在。若非自信不移，是不会这么做的。这是新闻记者的常识。我想，这篇报道恐怕是真实可靠的吧。我回忆起几件事情：前一天夜里，春彦选择了一个很有意思的时刻上厕所，不一会儿绢子夫人也走出了会