jamesclavell.noblehouse-第179节

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　There　were　a　dozen　questions　Sir　Geoffrey　would　like　to　have　asked　but　he　asked　none　of　them。　From　long　experience　he　knew　he　was　not　a　good　liar；　so　the　less　he　knew　the　better。　〃Very　well。　Now；　what's　the　second　piece　of　'good'　news。　I　trust　this　will　be　better。〃
　〃We've　caught　the　mole；　sir。〃
　〃Ah！　Good。　Excellent！　Very　good。　Who？〃
　〃Senior　Superintendent　Kwok。〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　Crosse　kept　the　pleasure　off　his　face。　〃I　agree；　sir。　Even　so；　Superintendent　Kwok's　a　munist　mole　and　spy　for　the　PRC。〃　Crosse　related　how　Brian　Kwok's　cover　had　been　penetrated。　〃I　suggest　Superintendent　Armstrong　should　get　a　mendation　…　also　Spectacles　Wu。　I'm　taking　him　into　SI；　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　was　staring　out　of　the　window；　stunned。　〃Bless　my　soul！　Young　Brian！　Why？　He　would　have　been　an　assistant　missioner　in　a　year　or　two。　。。。　I　suppose　there's　no　mistake？〃
　〃No　sir。　As　I　said；　the　proof　is　irrefutable。　Of　course；　we　don't　know　the　how　or　the　why　yet　but　we　soon　will。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　heard　the　finality　and　he　saw　the　thin；　hard　face　and　cold　eyes　and　he　felt　very　sorry　for　Brian　Kwok；　whom　he　had　liked　for　many　years。　〃Keep　me　advised　about　him。　Perhaps　we　can　discover　what　makes　a　man　like　that　do　such　a　thing。　Good　God；　such　a　charming　chap　and　a　first…class　cricketer　too。　Yes；　keep　me　advised。〃
　〃Certainly；　sir。〃　Crosse　got　up。　〃Interesting。　I　could　never　understand　why　he　was　always　so　anti…American　…　it　was　his　only　flaw。　Now　it's　obvious。　I　should　have　spotted　that。　Sorry　sir；　and　sorry　to　interrupt　your　evening。〃
　〃You're　to　be　congratulated；　Roger。　If　the　Soviet　agent's　being　sent　to　London　perhaps　Brian　Kwok　should　go　too？　The　same　reasons　would　apply　to　him？〃
　〃No　sir。　No　I　don't　think　so。　We　can　deal　with　Kwok　here　much　quicker　and　better。　We're　the　ones　who　need　to　know　what　he　knows　…　London　wouldn't　understand。　Kwok's　a　threat　to　Hong　Kong；　not　to　Britain。　He's　a　PRC　asset　…　the　other　man's　Soviet。　The　two　don't　parallel。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　sighed　heavily；　knowing　Crosse　was　right。　〃I　agree。　This　has　really　been　a　quite　dreadful　day；　Roger。　First　the　bank　runs；　then　the　stock　market　。。。　the　deaths　last　night；　poor　Sir　Charles　Pennyworth　and　Toxe's　wife　。。。　and　this　morning　the　Aberdeen　mud…slide　deaths　。。。　the　Noble　House's　tottering　。。。　it　looks　as　though　this　storm　front's　developing　into　a　blasted　typhoon　which　will　probably　wreck　Saturday's　racing　。。。　and　now　all　your　news；　an　American　sailor　betrays　his　country　and　ship　and　honor　for　a　paltry　2；000？〃
　Crosse　smiled　his　thin　smile　again。　〃Perhaps　2；000　wasn't　paltry　to　him。〃
　We　live　in　terrible　times；　Sir　Geoffrey　was　going　to　say；　but　he　knew　it　was　not　the　times。　It　was　merely　that　people　were　people；　that　greed　pride　lust　avarice　jealousy　gluttony　anger　and　the　bigger　lust　for　power　or　money　ruled　people　and　would　rule　them　forever。　Most　of　them。
　〃Thank　you　for　ing；　Roger。　Again；　you're　to　be　congratulated。　I　will　so　inform　the　minister。　Good　night。〃
　He　watched　Crosse　walk　off；　tall；　confident　and　deadly。　When　the　iron　door　in　the　high　wall　had　been　bolted　behind　him　by　his　aide；　Sir　Geoffrey　Allison　allowed　the　real　unasked　question　to　surface　once　more。
　Who's　the　mole　in　my　police？
　AMG's　paper　was　quite　clear。　The　traitor's　a　Soviet　asset；　not　from　the　PRC。　Brian　Kwok　has　been　flushed　out　by　chance。　Why　didn't　Roger　point　out　the　obvious？
　Sir　Geoffrey　shuddered。　If　Brian　could　be　a　mole　anyone　could。　Anyone。
　
　50
　
　8：17　P。M。：
　Almost　before　he　took　his　finger　off　the　bell　the　door　swung　open。
　〃Oh；　Linc；〃　Orlanda　said　breathlessly；　her　happiness　spilling　over；　〃I'd　given　you　up。　Please　e　in！〃
　〃Sorry　to　be　late；〃　Bartlett　said；　taken　aback　by　her　beauty　and　marvelous　warmth。　〃The　traffic's　snarled　to　hell　and　the　ferries　jammed　and　I　couldn't　get　to　a　phone。〃
　〃You're　here　so　you're　not　late；　not　at　all。　I　was　just　afraid　that　。。。〃　Then　she　added　in　a　rush；　〃I　was　afraid　you　wouldn't　e　back　tonight　and　then　I'd've　been　shattered。　There；　I've　said　it　and　all　my　defenses　are　down　but　I'm　so　happy　to　see　you　I　don't　care。〃　She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　him　a　swift　happy　kiss；　took　his　arm　and　shut　the　door　behind　them。
　Her　perfume　was　delicate　and　barely　there　but　he　felt　it　as　a　physical　presence。　The　dress　she　wore　was　knee…length　white　chiffon　that　sighed　as　she　moved；　close　at　the　wrists　and　neck。　It　showed　but　somehow　didn't　quite　show　her　golden　skin。　〃I'm　so　happy　you're　here；〃　she　said　again　and　took　his　umbrella　and　put　it　into　a　rack。
　〃So　am　I。〃
　The　room　was　prettier　by　night；　mostly　candlelit；　the　tall　glass　doors　of　the　terrace　open　to　the　air。　They　were　just　below　the　overcast　and　the　city　sprawled　down　the　mountain　to　the　sea；　the　lights　misting　from　time　to　time　as　whiskers　of　the　low　clouds　passed　by。　Sea　level　was　seven　hundred　feet　below。　Kowloon　was　dim　and　the　harbor　dim　but　he　knew　the　ships　were　there　and　he　could　see　the　huge　carrier　at　the　wharf；　her　great　angled　deck　floodlit；　the　needle…nosed　jets　floodlit；　her　battle…gray　bridge　reaching　for　the　sky　…　the　Stars　and　Stripes　hanging　damp　and　listless。
　〃Hey；〃　he　said；　leaning　on　the　terrace　railing；　〃what　a　great　night；　Orlanda。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　it　is。　e　and　sit　down。〃
　〃I'd　rather　look　at　the　view；　if　it's　okay。〃
　〃Of　course；　anything　you　want's　fine；　anything。　That　suit's　great　on　you；　Linc；　and　I　love　your　tie。〃　She　said　it　happily；　wanting　to　pliment　him　even　though　she　did　not　think　the　tie　matched　too　well。　Never　mind；　she　thought；　he's　just　not　color　conscious　like　Quillan；　and　needs　helping。　I'll　do　what　Quillan　taught　me　to　do；　not　criticize　but　go　out　and　buy　one　I　like　and　give　it　to　him。　If　he　likes　it；　marvelous；　if　not　never　mind；　for　what　does　it　matter　…　he's　the　one　who's　wearing　it。　Blue；　blue　would　match　Linc's　eyes　and　go　better　with　that　shirt。　〃You　dress　very　well。〃
　〃Thanks；　so　do　you。〃　He　was　remembering　what　Casey　had　said　about　his　tie　and　how　furious　he　had　been　with　her　tonight　all　the　way　across　the　ferry；　all　the　time　waiting　for　a　cab；　and　the　old　woman　who　had　trod　on　his　foot　shoving　past　to　usurp　his　cab　but　he　had　foiled　her　and　cursed　her　back。
　It　was　only　now　that　his　rage…temperature　had　vanished。　It　was　Orlanda's　pleasure　at　seeing　me　that　did　it；　he　told　himself。　It's　years　since　Casey　lit　up　like　a　Christmas　tree　or　said　anything　when　I　。。。　the　hell　with　that。　I'm　not　going　to　worry　about　Casey　tonight。　〃The　view's　fantastic　and　you're　as　pretty　as　a　picture！〃
　She　laughed。　〃So're　you　and　。。。　oh　your　drink；　sorry　。。。〃　She　whirled　away　for　the　kitchen；　her　skirt　flying。　〃I　don't　know　why　but　you　make　me　feel　like　a　schoolgirl；〃　she　called　out。　In　a　moment　she　came　back。　On　the　tray　was　an　earthenware　pot　of　paté　and　rounds　of　fresh　toast　and　a　bottle　of　iced　beer。　〃I　hope　this's　right。〃
　It　was　Anweiser。　〃How　did　you　know　my　brand？〃
　〃You　told　me　this　morning；　don't　you　remember？〃　Her　warmth　flooded　over　again　at　his　obvious　pleasure。　〃Also　that　you　like　drinking　it　out　of　the　bottle。〃
　He　took　it　and　grinned　at　her。　〃Is　that　going　to　be　in　the　article　too？〃
　〃No。　No；　I've　decided　not　to　write　about　you。〃
　He　saw　her　sudden　seriousness。　〃Why？〃
　She　was　pouring　herself　a　glass　of　white　wine。　〃I　decided　I　could　never　do　you　justice　in　an　article　so　I　won't　write　one。　Besides；　I　don't　think　you'd　like　that　hanging　over　you。〃　Her　hand　went　to　her　heart。　〃Cross　my　heart　and　hope　to　die；　no　article；　everything　private。　No　article；　no　journalism；　I　swear　by　the　Madonna；〃　she　added；　meaning　it。
　〃Hey；　no　need　to　be　dramatic！〃
　She　was　leaning　with　her　back　against　the　railing；　an　eighty…foot　drop　to　the　concrete　below。　He　saw　the　sincerity　in　her　face　and　he　believed　her　pletely。　He　was　relieved。　The　article　had　been　the　only　flaw；　the　only　danger　point　for　him　…　that　and　her　being　a　journalist。　He　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her　lightly；　deliberately　lightly。　〃Sealed　with　a　kiss。　Thanks。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　They　watched　the　view　for　a　moment。
　〃Is　the　rain　over　for　good？〃
　〃I　hope　not；　Linc。　We　need　a　good　series　of　storms　to　fill　the　reservoirs。　Keeping　clean's　so　hard　and　we　still　only　get　water　one　day　in　four。〃　She　smiled　mischievously　as　a　child　would。　〃Last　night　during　the　torrent　I　stripped　and　bathed　here。　It　was　fantastic。　The　rain　was　even　heavy　enough　to　wash　my　hair。〃
　The　thought　of　her　naked；　here；　in　the　night；　touched　him。　〃You'd　better　be　careful；〃　he　said。　〃The　railing's　not　that　high。　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　slip。〃
　〃Strange；　I'm　frightened　to　death　of　the　sea　but　heights　don't　bother　me　a　bit。　You　certainly　saved　my　life。〃
　〃C'mon！　You　would　have　made　it　without　me。〃
　〃Perhaps；　but　you　certainly　saved　my　face。　Without　you　there　I　would　surely　have　disgraced　myself。　So　thanks　for　my　face。〃
　〃And　that's　more　important　than　life　out　here；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Sometimes；　yes；　yes　it　is。　Why　do　you　say　that？〃
　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　Dunross　and　Quillan　Gornt。　Those　two're　having　at　each　other；　mostly　over　face。〃
　〃Yes。　You're　right；　of　course。〃　She　added　thoughtfully；　〃They're　both　fine　men；　in　one　way；　both　devils　in　another。〃
　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　〃They're　both　ruthless；　both　very　very　strong；　very　hard；　adept　and　。。。　and　well　conversed　with　life。