jamesclavell.noblehouse-第65章

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　She　sighed；　then　importantly　consulted　her　notepad。　〃She's　never　been　married。　Oh；　lots　of　suitors　but　none　have　lasted；　tai…pan。　In　fact；　according　to　rumors；　none　have　。。。〃
　Dunross's　eyebrows　shot　up。　〃You　mean　she's　a　virgin？〃
　〃Of　that　we're　not　sure　…　only　that　she　has　no　reputation　for　staying　out　late；　or　overnight；　with　a　gentleman。　No。　The　only　gentleman　she　goes　out　socially　with　is　Mr。　Bartlett　and　that's　infrequently。　Except　on　business　trips。　He；　by　the　way；　tai…pan；　he's　quite　a　gadabout　…　swinger　was　the　term　used。　No　one　lady　bu…　〃
　〃Used　by　whom？〃
　〃Ah！　Mr。　Handsome　Bartlett　doesn't　have　one　special　girl　friend；　tai…pan。　Nothing　steady　as　they　say。　He　was　divorced　in　1956；　the　same　year　that　your　Cirrrannnousshee　joined　his　firm。〃
　〃She's　not　my　Ciranoush；〃　he　said。
　Claudia　beamed　more　broadly。　〃She's　twenty…six。　She's　Sagittarius。〃
　〃You　got　someone　to　snitch　her　passport　…　or　got　someone　to　take　a　peek？〃
　〃Very　good　gracious　no；　tai…pan。〃　Claudia　pretended　to　be　shocked。　〃I　don't　spy　on　people。　I　just　ask　questions。　But　100　says　she　and　Mr。　Bartlett　have　been　lovers　at　some　time　or　another。〃
　〃That's　no　bet；　I'd　be　astounded　if　they　weren't。　He's　certainly　in　love　with　her　…　and　she　with　him。　You　saw　how　they　danced　together。　That's　no　bet　at　all。〃
　The　lines　around　her　eyes　crinkled。　〃Then　what　odds　will　you　give　me　they've　never　been　lovers？〃
　〃Eh？　What　d'you　know？〃　he　asked　suspiciously。
　〃Odds；　tai…pan？〃
　He　watched　her。　Then　he　said；　〃A　thousand　to　。。。　I'll　give　you　ten　to　one。〃
　〃Done！　A　hundred。　Thank　you　tai…pan。　Now；　about　the　Nels…　〃
　〃Where'd　you　get　all　this　information？　Eh？〃
　She　extracted　a　telex　from　the　papers　she　was　carrying。　The　rest　she　put　into　his　in　tray。　〃You　telexed　our　people　in　New　York　the　night　before　last　for　information　on　her　and　to　recheck　Bartlett's　dossier。　This's　just　arrived。〃
　He　took　it　and　scanned　it。　His　reading　was　very　fast　and　his　memory　almost　photographic。　The　telex　gave　the　information　Claudia　had　related　in　bald　terms　without　her　embroidered　interpretation　and　added　that　K。　C。　Tcholok　had　no　known　police　record；　46；000　in　a　savings　account　at　the　San　Fernando　Savings　and　Loan；　and　8；700　in　her　checking　account　at　the　Los　Angeles　and　California　Bank。
　〃It's　shocking　how　easy　it　is　in　the　States　to　find　out　how　much　you've　got　in　the　bank；　isn't　it；　Claudia？〃
　〃Shocking。　I'd　never　use　one；　tai…pan。〃
　He　grinned。　〃Except　to　borrow　from！　Claudia；　just　give　me　the　telex　next　time。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。　But　isn't　my　way　of　telling　certain　things　more　exciting？〃
　〃Yes。　But　where's　it　say　about　the　nakedness？　You　made　that　up！〃
　〃Oh　no；　that's　from　my　own　source　here。　Third　Toiletma…　〃　Claudia　stopped　just　too　late　to　avoid　falling　into　his　trap。
　His　smile　was　seraphic。　〃So！　A　spy　in　the　V　and　A！　Third　Toiletmaid！　Who？　Which　one；　Claudia？〃
　To　give　him　face　she　pretended　to　be　annoyed。　〃Ayeeyah！　A　spymaster　may　reveal　nothing；　heya？〃　Her　smile　was　kindly。　〃Here's　a　list　of　your　calls。　I've　put　off　as　many　as　I　can　till　tomorrow　…　I'll　buzz　you　in　good　time　for　the　meeting。〃　He　nodded　but　she　saw　that　his　smile　had　vanished　and　now　he　was　lost　in　thought　again。　She　went　out　and　he　did　not　hear　the　door　close。　He　was　thinking　about　spymasters　and　AMG　and　his　meeting　with　Brian　Kwok　and　Roger　Crosse　this　morning　at　ten；　and　the　one　ing　at　six　o'clock。
　The　meeting　this　morning　had　been　short；　sharp　and　angry。　〃First；　is　there　anything　new　on　AMG？〃　he　had　asked。
　Roger　Crosse　had　replied　at　once；　〃It　was；　apparently；　an　accident。　No　suspicious　marks　on　the　body。　No　one　was　seen　nearby；　no　car　marks；　impact　marks　or　skid　marks　…　other　than　the　motorcycle。　Now；　the　files；　Ian　…　oh　by　the　way　we　know　now　you've　got　the　only　copies　existent。〃
　〃Sorry　but　I　can't　do　what　you　asked。〃
　〃Why？〃　There　had　been　a　sour　edge　to　the　policeman's　voice。
　〃I'm　still　not　admitting　one　way　or　the　other　that　they　exist　but　y…　〃
　〃Oh　for　chrissake；　Ian；　don't　be　ridiculous！　Of　course　the　copies　exist。　Do　you　take　us　for　bloody　fools？　If　they　didn't；　you'd've　e　out　with　it　last　night　and　that　would　have　been　that。　I　strongly　advise　you　to　let　us　copy　them。〃
　〃And　I　strongly　advise　you　to　have　a　tighter　hold　on　your　temper。〃
　〃If　you　think　I've　lost　my　temper；　Ian；　then　you　know　very　little　about　me。　I　formally　ask　you　to　produce　those　documents。　If　you　refuse　I'll　invoke　my　powers　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act　at　six　o'clock　this　evening　and　tai…pan　or　not；　of　the　Noble　House　or　not；　friend　or　not；　by　one　minute　past　six；　you'll　be　under　arrest。　You'll　be　held　inmunicado　and　we'll　go　through　all　your　papers；　safes；　deposit　boxes　until　we've　found　them！　Now　kindly　produce　the　files！〃
　Dunross　remembered　the　taut　face　and　the　iced　eyes　staring　at　him；　his　real　friend　Brian　Kwok　in　shock。　〃No。〃
　Crosse　had　sighed。　The　threat　in　the　sound　had　sent　a　tremor　through　him。　〃For　the　last　time；　why？〃
　〃Because；　in　the　wrong　hands；　I　think　they'd　be　damaging　to　Her　Maj…　〃
　〃Good　sweet　Christ；　I'm　head　of　Special　Intelligence！〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃Then　kindly　do　as　I　ask。〃
　〃Sorry。　I　spent　most　of　the　night　trying　to　work　out　a　safe　way　to　giv…　〃
　Roger　Crosse　had　got　up。　〃I'll　be　back　at　six　o'clock　for　the　files。　Don't　burn　them；　Ian。　I'll　know　if　you　try　and　I'm　afraid　you'll　be　stopped。　Six　o'clock。〃
　Last　night　while　the　house　slept；　Dunross　had　gone　to　his　study　and　reread　the　files。　Rereading　them　now　with　the　new　knowledge　of　AMG's　death　and　possible　murder；　the　involvement　of　MI…5　and　…6；　probably　the　KGB；　and　Crosse's　astounding　anxiety；　and　then　the　added　thought　that　perhaps　some　of　the　material　might　not　yet　be　available　to　the　Secret　Service；　together　with　the　possibility　that　many　of　the　pieces　he　had　dismissed　as　too　farfetched　were　not　…　now　all　the　reports　took　on　new　importance。　Some　of　them　blew　his　mind。
　To　hand　them　over　was　too　risky。　To　keep　them　now；　impossible。
　In　the　quiet　of　the　night　Dunross　had　considered　destroying　them。　Finally　he　concluded　it　was　his　duty　not　to。　For　a　moment　he　had　considered　leaving　them　openly　on　his　desk；　the　French　windows　wide　to　the　terrace　darkness；　and　going　back　to　sleep。　If　Crosse　was　so　concerned　about　the　papers　then　he　and　his　men　would　be　watching　now。　To　lock　them　in　the　safe　was　unsafe。　The　safe　had　been　touched　once。　It　would　be　touched　again。　No　safe　was　proof　against　an　absolute；　concerted　professional　attack。
　There　in　the　darkness；　his　feet　perched　fortably；　he　had　felt　the　excitement　welling；　the　beautiful；　intoxicating　lovely　warmth　of　danger　surrounding　him；　physical　danger。　Of　enemies　nearby。　Of　being　perched　on　the　knife　edge　between　life　and　void。　The　only　thing　that　detracted　from　his　pleasure　was　the　knowledge　that　Struan's　was　betrayed　from　within；　the　same　question　always　grinding：　Is　the　Sevrin　spy　the　same　as　he　who　gave　their　secrets　to　Bartlett？　One　of　seven？　Alastair；　Phillip；　Andrew；　Jacques；　Linbar；　David　MacStruan　in　Toronto；　or　his　father。　All　unthinkable。
　His　mind　had　examined　each　one。　Clinically；　without　passion。　All　had　the　opportunity；　all　the　same　motive：　jealousy；　and　hatred；　in　varying　degrees。　But　not　one　would　sell　the　Noble　House　to　an　outsider。　Not　one。　Even　so；　one　of　them　did。
　Who？
　The　hours　passed。
　Who？　Sevrin；　what　to　do　about　the　files；　was　AMG　murdered；　how　much　of　the　files're　true？
　Who？
　The　night　was　cool　now　and　the　terrace　had　beckoned　him。　He　stood　under　the　stars。　The　breeze　and　the　night　weled　him。　He　had　always　loved　the　night。　Flying　alone　above　the　clouds　at　night；　so　much　better　than　the　day；　the　stars　so　near；　eyes　always　watching　for　the　enemy　bomber　or　enemy　night　fighter；　thumb　ready　on　the　trigger　。。。　ah；　life　was　so　simple　then；　kill　or　be　killed。
　He　stood　there　for　a　while；　then；　refreshed；　he　went　back　and　locked　the　files　away　and　sat　in　his　great　chair　facing　the　French　windows；　on　guard；　working　out　his　options；　choosing　one。　Then；　satisfied；　he　had　dozed　an　hour　or　so　and　awoke；　as　usual；　just　before　dawn。
　His　dressing　room　was　off　his　study　which　was　next　door　to　their　master　bedroom。　He　had　dressed　casually　and　left　silently。　The　road　was　clear。　Sixteen　seconds　were　clipped　from　his　record。　In　his　penthouse　he　bathed　and　shaved　and　changed　into　a　tropical　suit；　then　went　to　his　office　on　the　floor　below。　It　was　very　humid　today　with　a　curious　look　to　the　sky。　A　tropical　storm's　ing；　he　had　thought。　Perhaps　we'll　be　lucky　and　it　won't　pass　us　by　like　all　the　others　and　it'll　bring　rain。　He　turned　away　from　his　windows　and　concentrated　on　running　the　Noble　House。
　There　was　a　pile　of　overnight　telexes　to　deal　with　on　all　manner　of　negotiations　and　enterprises；　problems　and　business　opportunities　throughout　the　Colony　and　the　great　outside。　From　all　points　of　the　pass。　As　far　north　as　the　Yukon　where　Struan's　had　an　oil…prospecting　joint　venture　with　the　Canadian　timber　and　mining　giant；　McLean…Woodley。　Singapore　and　Malaya　and　as　far　south　as　Tasmania　for　fruit　and　minerals　to　carry　to　Japan。　West　to　Britain；　east　to　New　York；　the　tentacles　of　the　new　international　Noble　House　that　Dunross　dreamed　about　were　beginning　to　reach　out；　still　weak；　still　tentative；　and　without　the　sustenance　he　knew　was　vital　to　their　growth。
　Never　mind。　Soon　they'll　be　strong。　The　Par…Con　deal　will　make　our　web　like　steel；　with　Hong　Kong　the　center　of　the　earth　and　us　the　nucleus　of　the　center。　Thank　God　for　the　telex　and　telephones。
　〃Mr。　Bartlett　please。〃
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Ian　Dunross；　good　morning；　sorry　to　disturb　you　so　early；　could　we　postpone　our　meeting　till　6：30？〃
　〃Yes。　Is　there　a　problem？〃
　〃No。　Just　business。　I've　a　lot　to　catch　up　with。〃
　〃Anything　on　John　Chen？〃
　〃Not　yet；　no。　Sorry。　I'll　keep　you　posted　though。　Give　my　regards　to　Casey。〃
　〃I　will。　Say；　that　was　some　party　last　night。　Your　daughter's　a　charmer！〃
　〃Thanks。　I'll　e　to　the　hotel　at　6：30。　Of　course　Casey's　invited。　See　you　then。　'Bye！〃
　Ah　Casey！　he　thought。
　Casey　and　Bartlett。　Casey　and　Gornt。　Gornt　and　Four　Finger　Wu。
　Early　this　morning　he　had　heard　from　Four　Finger　Wu　about　his　meeting　with　Gornt。　A　pleasant　current　had　swept　through　him　on　hearing　that　his　enemy　had　almost　died。　The　Peak　Road's　no　place　to　lose　your　brakes；　he　thought。
　Pity　the　bastard　didn't　die。　That　would　have　saved　me　lots　of　anguish。　Then　he　dismissed　Gornt　and　rethought　Four　Finger　Wu。
　Between　the　old　seaman's　pidgin　and　his　Haklo　they　could　converse　quite　well。　Wu　had　told　him　everything　he　could。　Gornt's　ment　on　the　Ho…Pak；　advising　Wu　to　withdraw　his　money；　was　surprising。　And　cause　for　concern。　That　and　Haply's　article。
　Does　that　bugger　Gornt　know　something　I　don't？
　He　had　gone　to　the　bank。　〃Paul；　what's　going　on？〃
　〃About　what？〃
　〃The　Ho…Pak。〃
　〃Oh。　The　run？　Very　bad　for　our　banking　image；　I　must　say。　Poor　Richard！　We're　fairly　certain　he's　got　all　the　reserves　he　needs　to　weather　his　storm　but　we　don't　know　the　extent　of　his　mitments。　Of　course　I　called　him　the　moment　I　read　Haply's　ridiculous　article。　I　must　tell　you；　Ian；　I　also　called　Christian　Toxe　and　told　him　in　no　uncertain　terms　he　should　control　his　reporters　and　that　he'd　better　cease　and　desist　or　else。〃
　〃I　was　told　there　was　a　queue　at　Tsim　S