hr.thecarpetbaggers-第57节

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　〃May　I　speak　to　her？〃
　〃If　you　wish；〃　Amru　Singh　answered。　〃But　I　suggest　someplace　other　than　here。　They　would　perhaps　misconstrue　what　she　might　say。〃
　〃But　the　police　have　already　sent　for　a　doctor；〃　Jacques　said。　〃Will　he　not…　〃
　Amru　Singh　smiled。　〃The　doctor　will　merely　confirm　that　she　is　in　shock。〃
　Which　was　exactly　what　the　doctor　did。　Jacques　turned　to　the　Inspector。　〃If　you　will　permit　me；　Inspector；　I　shall　escort　Mademoiselle　Marlowe　to　her　home。　I　will　bring　her　down　to　your　office　tomorrow　afternoon；　after　her　own　physician　has　attended　her；　to　make　a　statement。〃
　The　Inspector　bowed。
　In　the　taxi；　Jacques　leaned　forward　and　gave　the　driver　Rina's　address。
　〃I　think　it　would　be　better　if　Mademoiselle　Marlowe　were　not　to　go　to　her　own　apartment；〃　Amru　Singh　said　quickly。　〃There　is　much　there　to　remind　her　of　her　late　friend。〃
　Jacques　thought　for　a　moment；　then　gave　the　driver　his　other　address。
　Amru　Singh　walked　into　the　apartment　and　Rina　followed　him　docilely。　Jacques　closed　the　door　behind　them。　Amru　Singh　led　her　to　a　chair。　He　gestured　and　she　sat　down。　〃I　have　taken　away　my　shoulder；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃I　can　no　longer　speak　for　you。　You　must　speak　now　for　yourself。〃
　Rina　raised　her　head　slowly。　Her　eyes　were　blinking　as　if　she　were　awakening　from　a　deep　sleep。　Then　she　saw　him。
　Instantly；　the　tears　rushed　to　her　eyes。　She　flung　herself　into　his　arms。　〃Jacques！　Jacques！〃　she　cried。　〃I　knew　you　would　e！〃
　She　began　to　sob；　her　body　trembling　against　him。　The　words　kept　tumbling　from　her　lips　in　wild；　disjointed　sentences。
　〃Shh；〃　he　whispered　soothingly；　holding　her。　〃Don't　be　afraid。　Everything　will　be　all　right。〃
　He　heard　the　door　open　and　close　behind　him。　He　turned　his　head　slightly。　Amru　Singh　was　gone。
　The　following　day；　they　went　to　the　Inspector's　office。　From　there；　they　went　to　her　flat　and　moved　her　things　to　his　apartment。　Two　nights　later；　when　he　had　e　into　the　apartment　unexpectedly；　Amru　Singh　rose　from　a　chair。
　〃Amru　Singh　is　my　friend；〃　Rina　said　hesitantly。
　Jacques　looked　at　her；　then　at　the　Indian。　He　stepped　forward　quickly；　his　hand　outstretched。　〃If　he　is　your　friend；〃　he　said；　〃then　he　is　my　friend；　also。〃
　The　Indian's　white　teeth　flashed　in　a　smile　as　their　hands　met　in　a　warm　clasp。　From　that　time　until　now；　the　three　of　them　had　dinner　together　at　least　once　a　week。
　
　Jacques　turned　the　key　in　the　door。　He　stepped　aside　to　let　Rina　enter；　then　followed　her　into　the　bedroom。　As　soon　as　she　entered；　she　kicked　off　her　shoes。　She　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　rubbing　her　feet。　〃Ah；　that　feels　good。〃
　He　knelt　in　front　of　her　and　massaged　her　foot。　He　smiled　up　at　her。　〃You　were　very　beautiful　tonight。〃
　She　looked　at　him　mischievously。　〃Monsieur　le　Ministre　thought　so；〃　she　teased。　〃He　said　if　I　should　ever　consider　another　liaison；　to　keep　him　in　mind。〃
　〃The　old　lecher！〃　Jacques　swore。　〃He　must　be　all　of　eighty　years　old　…　and　at　the　Opera；　too！〃
　She　got　up　from　the　bed　and　took　her　dress　off；　then　seated　herself；　yoga　fashion；　on　the　floor。　Her　legs　were　crossed　under　her；　her　arms　formed　a　square　in　front　of　her　chest。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked　in　surprise。
　〃Preparing　for　meditation；〃　she　answered。　〃Amru　Singh　says　that　five　minutes'　meditation　before　going　to　sleep　relieves　the　mind　and　the　body　of　all　its　tensions。〃
　He　removed　the　studs　from　his　shirt　and　placed　them　on　the　dresser。　He　watched　her　in　the　mirror。　〃It　would　be　very　easy　for　me　to　bee　jealous　of　Amru　Singh。〃
　〃That　would　make　me　very　unhappy；〃　she　said　seriously。　〃For　then　I　would　have　to　stop　seeing　Amru。〃
　〃You　would　do　that　for　me？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　〃I　love　you。　He　is　only　my　friend；　my　teacher。〃
　〃He　is　my　friend；　too；〃　he　said；　as　seriously。　〃I　would　be　very　unhappy　if　you　let　a　jesting　remark　disturb　that　relationship。〃
　She　smiled。　He　smiled　back　at　her　and　turned　back　to　the　dresser。　He　began　to　take　off　his　shirt。　〃And　what　have　you　learned　from　our　friend　today？〃
　〃There　is　a　good　possibility　that　I　may　soon　be　free　of　the　death　wish　that　has　governed　many　of　my　actions　since　I　was　a　child；〃　she　answered。
　〃Good；〃　Jacques　said。　〃And　how　is　this　to　e　about？〃
　〃He　is　teaching　me　the　yoga　exercises　for　childbearing。　It　will　give　me　control　over　my　entire　body。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how　that　will　help。　The　exercises　are　important　only　when　having　a　child。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said。
　Something　in　her　voice　made　him　look　at　her　in　the　mirror。　Her　face　was　impassive　as　she　held　the　position　of　meditation。　〃What　brought　that　subject　up？〃　he　asked。
　Her　eyes　flicked　up　at　him。　〃You；〃　she　said。　〃Doctor　Fornay　says　that　you　have　made　me　enceinte。〃
　Suddenly；　he　was　on　the　floor　beside　her；　holding　her　in　his　arms　and　kissing　her；　talking　of　divorcing　his　wife　so　that　the　child　would　be　born　at　the　family　villa　in　the　south　of　France。
　She　placed　a　finger　on　his　lips。　It　seemed　to　him　as　if　she　had　suddenly　bee　older　than　he。　〃e；　now；〃　she　said　gently。　〃You　are　acting　like　an　American；　with　stupid；　provincial　ideas。　We　both　know　that　a　divorce　would　ruin　your　career；　so　speak　no　more　about　it。　I　will　have　the　child　and　we　will　go　on　as　we　are。〃
　〃But　what　if　your　father　finds　out？〃
　She　smiled。　〃There　is　no　need　for　him　to　know。　When　I　go　home　for　a　visit；　I　will　merely　say　I　made　an　unfortunate　marriage　and　no　one　will　be　the　wiser。〃
　She　laughed　and　pushed　him　toward　the　bathroom。　〃Now　go。　Take　your　bath。　You　have　had　enough　excitement　for　one　day。　Did　you　get　the　Boston　papers　for　me？〃
　〃They're　in　my　brief　case。〃
　He　sank　into　the　tub。　The　water　was　warm　and　relaxing　and　gradually　he　could　feel　the　excited　tempo　of　his　heart　return　to　something　that　approximated　normal。　Slowly　and　with　a　feeling　of　great　strength　and　luxury；　he　began　to　lather　himself。
　He　came　out　of　the　bathroom；　tying　his　robe。　Rina　wasn't　in　the　bedroom　and　he　walked　through　into　the　living　room。　Something　in　the　way　she　was　sitting　at　the　table；　staring　down　at　the　newspaper；　sent　a　frightened　chill　racing　through　his　body。　〃Rina！〃
　She　turned　toward　him。　Slowly　her　eyes　lifted。　He　had　never　seen　such　depths　of　torture　in　his　life。　It　was　as　if　she　had　lost　all　hope　of　redemption。　〃I　can't　have　the　baby；　Jacques；〃　she　whispered　in　an　empty　voice。
　His　voice　grated　in　his　throat。　〃What？〃
　The　tears　were　beginning　to　well　into　her　eyes。　〃I　must　go　home；〃　she　whispered。
　〃Why？〃　he　cried；　the　hurt　already　beginning。
　She　gestured　to　the　paper；　and　he　walked　over　and　looked　down　over　her　shoulder。
　A　banner　headline　streamed　across　the　entire　page：
　HARRISON　MARLOWE　INDICTED
　FIFTH…GENERATION　BOSTON　BANKER
　CRIMINALLY　IMPLICATED　IN　FAILURE
　OF　FAMILY　BANK
　Below　was　a　three…column　picture　of　Harrison　Marlowe。
　He　caught　her　shoulders。　〃Oh；　my　darling！〃　he　said。
　He　could　barely　hear　her　whispered；　〃And　I　wanted　this　baby　so。〃
　He　knew　better　than　to　argue　with　her。　One　thing　he　understood　as　a　Frenchman　…　filial　duty。　〃We'll　have　another　baby；〃　he　said。　〃When　this　is　over；　you'll　return　to　France。〃
　He　could　feel　her　move　within　the　circle　of　his　arms。　〃No；〃　she　cried；　〃Doctor　Fornay　told　me　there　will　never　be　another　child！〃
　
　13
　
　THE　LARGE　OVERHEAD　FAN　DRONED　ON　AND　THE　AUGUST　HEAT　LAY　HEAVY　AND　HUMID　IN　THE　GOVERNOR'S　OFFICE。　The　slightly　built；　nervous　male　secretary　showed　Rina　to　a　chair　in　front　of　the　massive　desk。
　She　sat　down　and　watched　the　young　man；　standing　nervously　next　to　the　Governor；　pick　up　sheet　after　sheet　of　paper　as　the　Governor　signed　each　one。　At　last　he　was　finished　and　the　secretary　picked　up　the　last　sheet　of　paper　and　hurried　out；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　She　looked　at　the　Governor　as　he　reached　across　the　desk　and　took　a　cigar　from　a　humidor。　For　a　moment；　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　piercing　dark　eyes；　set　deep　in　a　handsome　face。　His　voice　was　slightly　husky。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　smoke；　Miss　Marlowe？〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　He　smiled；　taking　a　small　knife　and　carefully　trimming　the　end　of　the　cigar。　He　placed　it　in　his　mouth　and　struck　a　match。　The　flame　burned　brightly　yellow；　large　and　small；　with　his　breath　as　he　drew　on　the　cigar。　She　was　conscious　of　the　faintly　pleasant　smell　of　Havana　leaf　as　he　dropped　the　match　into　an　ash　tray。
　He　smiled　again。　〃One　of　the　few　pleasures　my　physician　still　allows　me；〃　he　said。　He　had　a　simple　yet　extraordinary　clear　voice　that　easily　filled　the　room；　though　he　spoke　quietly；　like　an　actor　trained　to　have　his　whispers　heard　in　the　far　reaches　of　the　second　balcony。　He　leaned　across　the　desk；　his　voice　lowering　to　a　confidential　whisper。　〃You　know；　I　expect　to　live　to　be　a　hundred　and　twenty…five　and　even　my　physician　thinks　I　might　make　it　if　I　cut　down　on　my　smoking。〃
　She　felt　the　convincing　warmth　and　intensity　flow　toward　her　and　for　the　moment；　she　believed　it；　too。　〃I'm　sure　you　will；　Governor。〃
　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　a　faintly　pleased　look　on　his　face。　〃Just　between　us；　I　don't　really　care　whether　I　live　that　long　or　not；〃　he　said。　〃It's　just　that　when　I　die；　I　don't　want　to　leave　any　enemies；　and　I　figure　the　only　way　I'll　ever　do　that　is　to　outlive　them　all。〃
　He　laughed　and　she　joined　him；　for　the　mom