jamesclavell.noblehouse-第228节

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s；　sir；　we　gotta　keep　this　secret　as　hell。　Meanwhile；　I'll　give　it　the　old　college　try。〃　Murtagh　was　trying　to　hide　his　nervousness。
　〃Please　do；　Mr。　Murtagh。　The　very　best　old　college　try　you　can。　How　about　joining　me　for　the　races　tomorrow？　Sorry；　I　can't　invite　you　to　lunch；　I'm　crammed　to　the　gills　and　overbooked；　but　here；　here's　a　pass　if　you're　free　to　join　us　from　2：30　on。〃
　〃Oh　Jesus；　tai…pan；　you　mean　it？〃
　Dunross　smiled　to　himself。　In　Hong　Kong　an　invitation　to　a　steward's　box　was　like　being　presented　at　court；　and　just　as　useful。
　〃Why　the　smile；　tai…pan？〃　Casey　asked；　shifting　slightly；　feeling　his　warmth。
　〃Because　all's　well；　at　the　moment；　in　the　world。　At　least　all　the　various　problems　are　in　their　partments。〃　Going　ashore　and　out　of　the　ferry　terminal　he　explained　his　theory　that　the　only　way　to　deal　with　problems　was　the　Asian　way；　to　put　them　into　individual　partments　and　take　them　up　only　when　ready　for　them。
　〃That's　good；　if　you　can　do　it；〃　she　said；　walking　close　beside　him　but　not　touching　now。
　〃If　you　can't　you'll　go　under　…　ulcers；　heart　attack；　old　before　your　time；　your　health　broken。〃
　〃A　woman　cries；　that's　her　safety　valve。　She　cries　and　then　she　feels　better。　。。。〃　Casey　had　wept　earlier；　before　leaving　the　V　and　A　to　meet　him。　Because　of　Linc　Bartlett。　Part　rage；　part　frustration；　part　longing；　and　part　need　…　physical　need。　It　was　six　months　since　she　had　had　one　of　her　rare；　very　casual　and　very　short　affairs。　When　the　need　became　too　strong　she　would　go　away　for　a　few　days；　skiing　or　sunning　and　she　would　choose　whom　she　would　allow　into　her　bed。　Then；　as　quickly；　she　would　forget　him。
　〃But　oh；　isn't　it　very　bad；　Ciran…chek；〃　her　mother　had　once　said；　〃to　be　so　callous？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Mama　darling；〃　she　had　told　her。　〃It's　a　fair　exchange。　I　enjoy　sex　…　I　mean　I　enjoy　it　when　I'm　in　the　mood；　though　I　try　to　keep　the　mood　as　infrequent　as　possible。　I　love　Linc　and　no　one　else。　But　I　th…　〃
　〃How　can　you　love　him　and　go　to　bed　with　someone　else？〃
　〃It's；　it's　not　easy；　in　fact；　it's　awful。　But　Mama；　I　work　hard　for　Linc　all　hours；　weekends　and　Sundays；　I　work　hard　for　all　of　us；　for　you　and　Uncle　Tashjian　and　Marian　and　the　kids；　I'm　the　wage　earner　now　that　Marian's　on　her　own　and　I　love　it；　truly　I　enjoy　it；　you　know　I　do。　But　sometimes　it　all　gets　too　much　so　I　just　go　away。　And　that's　when　I　choose　a　partner。　Honestly；　Mama；　it's　just　biological；　there's　no　difference　that　way　between　us　and　men；　and　now　that　we've　the　God…blessed　pill　we　can　choose。　It's　not　like　in　your　day；　thank　God；　my　darling　。。。〃
　Casey　stepped　aside　to　avoid　a　phalanx　of　oning　pedestrians　and　bumped　Dunross　slightly。　Automatically　she　took　his　arm。　He　did　not　withdraw。
　Since　she　had　asked　him　for　equality　this　afternoon　and　had　been　turned　down　。。。　No；　that's　not　fair；　Casey；　she　told　herself。　Ian　didn't　turn　me　down；　he　just　gave　me　the　truth　from　his　point　of　view。　From　mine？　I　don't　know。　I'm　not　sure。　But　the　one　thing　I'm　not　is　a　fool　and　so　tonight　I　dressed　carefully；　a　little　differently；　and　put　on　perfume　and　made　my　makeup　more　definite　and　tonight　I　bit　my　tongue　three　to　thirty　times　and　held　back；　not　giving　measure　for　measure；　playing　it　more　conventionally；　saying　sweetly；　〃That's　interesting！〃
　And　most　times　it　was。　He　was　attentive；　entertaining　and　receptive　and　I　felt　marvelous。　Ian's　certainly　one　helluva　man。　Dangerous　and　oh　so　tempting。
　The　wide　marble　steps　up　to　the　V　and　A　were　ahead。　Discreetly　she　let　go　of　his　arm　and　felt　nearer　to　him　because　of　her　understanding。　〃Ian；　you're　a　wise　man。　Do　you　think　it's　fair　to　make　love　to　someone　…　if　you　don't　love　them？〃
　〃Eh？〃　He　was　startled　out　of　the　pleasantness。　Then　he　said　lightly；　〃Love　is　a　Western　word；　lady。　Me；　I'm　China…man！〃
　〃Seriously。〃
　He　laughed。　〃I　don't　think　it's　time　to　be　serious。〃
　〃But　do　you　have　an　opinion？〃
　〃Always。〃
　They　went　up　the　stairs　into　the　foyer；　crowded　even　this　late。　At　once　he　felt　many　eyes　and　recognition　which　was　why　he　had　not　left　her　on　the　steps。　Every　little　helps；　he　thought。　I　must　seem　calm　and　confident。　The　Noble　House　is　inviolate！　I　will　not　and　cannot　allow　myself　the　luxury　of　normal　fear　…　it　would　spill　over　and　wreck　others　and　do　untold　damage。
　〃Would　you　like　a　nightcap？〃　she　asked。　〃I'm　not　sleepy。　Maybe　Linc'll　join　us　if　he's　in。〃
　〃Good　idea。　Tea　with　lemon　would　be　fine。〃　The　smiling　head…waiter　appeared　miraculously。　And　an　empty　table。　〃Evening；　tai…pan；〃
　〃Evening；　Nighttime　Gup。〃
　〃Tea　and　lemon's　fine　with　me　too；〃　she　said。　A　waiter　scurried　away。　〃I'll　just　check　my　messages。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Dunross　watched　her　walk　away。　Tonight；　from　the　first　moment　in　the　Mandarin　foyer；　he　had　noticed　how　much　more　feminine　she　had　seemed；　nothing　discernible；　just　a　subtle　change。　Interesting　woman。　A　sexuality　that's　waiting　to　explode。　How　the　devil　can　I　help　her　to　get　her　drop　dead　money　quickly？
　Nighttime　Gup　was　bustling　around　and　he　said　quietly　in　Cantonese；　〃Tai…pan；　we　certainly　hope　you　can　deal　with　the　stock　market　and　Second　Great　House。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　chatted　awhile；　exuding　confidence；　then　his　eyes　strayed　back　to　Casey　at　the　front　desk。
　Nighttime　Gup's　shrewd　old　eyes　twinkled。　〃The　gun…runner's　not　in　the　hotel；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃No。　He　left　early　with　a　girl。　Around　7：00　p。m。；　I'd　just　e　on　duty；〃　the　neat　old　man　said　airily。　〃The　gun…runner　was　dressed　very　casually。　For　a　sail　I　imagine。　A　girl　was　with　him。〃
　Dunross　concentrated　now。　〃There　are　many　girls　in　Hong　Kong；　Nighttime　Gup。〃
　〃Not　like　this　one；　tai…pan。〃　The　old　man　guffawed　carefully。　〃Once　she　was　the　mistress　of　Black　Beard。〃
　〃Eeeee；　old　man；　you　have　sharp　eyes　and　a　long　memory。　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Oh　very　sure！〃　Nighttime　Gup　was　delighted　with　the　way　his　news　was　received。　〃Yes；〃　he　added　loftily；　〃since　we　hear　the　Americans　may　be　joining　the　Noble　House　if　you　can　extricate　yourself　from　all　those　other　fornicators　it　might　be　good　for　you　to　know　that。　Also　that　Golden　Pubics　has　moved　her　ro…　〃
　〃Who？〃
　Nighttime　Gup　explained　the　reason　for　the　nickname。　〃Can　you　imagine；　tai…pan？〃
　Dunross　sighed；　astounded　as　always　at　how　fast　gossip　traveled。　〃She's　changed　her　room？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　it's　along　the　corridor；　276；　on　the　same　floor。　Eeeee；　tai…pan；　I　heard　she　was　weeping　in　the　night；　two　nights　ago；　and　again　this　evening　before　she　left。　Yes。　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　saw　her　crying　tonight。〃
　〃They　had　a　row？　She　and　the　gun…runner？〃
　〃Oh　no；　not　a　row；　no　shoutings。　But；　oh　ko；　if　Golden　Pubics　knows　about　the　Orlanda　flower　that's　cause　enough　for　dragons　to　belch。〃　Nighttime　Gup　smiled　toothily　at　Casey　as　she　came　back；　a　sheaf　of　cables　and　messages　in　her　hand。　Dunross　noticed　that　now　there　was　a　shadow　in　her　eyes。　No　message　from　Linc　Bartlett；　he　surmised；　getting　up。　Nighttime　Gup　solicitously　pulled　a　chair　away　for　her；　poured　her　tea；　continuing　in　his　gutter　Cantonese；　〃Never　mind；　tai…pan。　Golden　Pubics　or　not　it's　all　the　same　in　the　dark；　heya？〃　The　old　man　chuckled　and　left。
　Dunross　glanced　at　her　papers。　〃Trouble？〃
　〃Oh　no；　just　more　of　the　same。〃　She　looked　at　him　directly；　〃I've　got　them　all　partmentalized　for　tomorrow。　Tonight's　mine。　Linc's　not　back　yet。〃　She　sipped　her　tea；　enjoying　it。　〃So　I　can　monopolize　you。〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　doing　the　monopolizing。　Isn't　…　〃　He　stopped　as　he　noticed　Robert　Armstrong　and　Sinders　e　in　through　the　swing　doors。　The　two　men　stood　at　the　entrance；　looking　for　a　table。
　〃Your　police　work　overtime；〃　Casey　said；　and；　as　the　men's　gaze　fell　on　them；　waved　back　half…heartedly。　The　two　men　hesitated；　then　went　to　a　vacant　table　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　〃I　like　Armstrong；〃　she　said。　〃Is　the　other　man　police？〃
　〃I　imagine　so。　Where　did　you　meet　Robert？〃
　She　told　him。　〃Still　nothing　on　the　smuggled　guns。　Where　they　came　from　or　whatever。〃
　〃Rotten　business。〃
　〃Would　you　like　a　brandy？〃
　〃Why　not？　One　for　the　road；　then　I　must　be　going。　Waiter！〃　He　ordered　the　drinks。　〃The　car'll　be　here　tomorrow　at　twelve　sharp　to　pick　you　up。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Ian；　the　invitation　read；　'Ladies　Hats　and　Gloves。'　Do　you　really　mean　that？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　He　frowned。　〃Ladies　have　always　worn　hats　and　gloves　at　the　races。　Why？〃
　〃I'll　have　to　buy　a　hat。　I　haven't　worn　one　in　years。〃
　〃Actually；　I　like　ladies　in　hats。〃　Dunross　glanced　around　the　room。　Armstrong　and　Sinders　were　watching　him　covertly。　Is　it　a　coincidence　they're　here？　he　wondered。
　〃You　feel　the　eyes　too；　tai…pan？　Everyone　here　seems　to　know　you。〃
　〃It's　not　me；　it's　just　the　Noble　House　and　what　I　represent。〃
　The　brandy　came。　〃Health！〃　They　touched　glasses。
　〃Will　you　answer　my　question　now？〃
　〃The　answer's　yes。〃　He　swirled　the　brandy　in　the　glass　and　inhaled　it。
　〃Yes　what？〃
　Abruptly　he　grinned。　〃Yes　nothing；　yes　it's　not　fair　but　yes　it　happens　all　the　time　and　I'm　not　going　to　get　into　one　of　those　lovely　self…analyzing　'Have　you　stopped　beating　your　wife　recently？'　things；　though　I　do　hear　that　most　ladies　like　being　beaten　occasionally　but　with　great　care；　with　or　without　hats！〃
　She　laughed　and　most　of　her　shadows　vanished。　〃It　depends；　does　it？〃