jamesclavell.noblehouse-第229节

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re；　with　or　without　hats！〃
　She　laughed　and　most　of　her　shadows　vanished。　〃It　depends；　does　it？〃
　〃It　depends！〃　He　watched　her；　his　calm；　easy　smile　on　his　face　and　he　was　thinking　and　she　was　thinking　it　depends　on　who　and　when　and　where　and　timing；　circumstance　and　need；　and　right　now　it　would　be　grand。
　He　reached　out　with　his　glass　and　touched　hers。　〃Health；〃　he　said。　〃And　here's　to　Tuesday。〃
　She　smiled　back　and　lifted　her　glass；　her　heart　quickening。　〃Yes。〃
　〃Everything　can　wait　till　then。　Can't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　hope　so；　Ian。〃
　〃Well；　I'll　be　on　my　way。〃
　〃I　had　a　lovely　time。〃
　〃So　did　I。〃
　〃Thanks　for　inviting　me。　Tomorr…　〃　She　stopped　as　Nighttime　Gup　bustled　up　to　them。
　〃Excuse　me；　tai…pan；　telephone。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you。　I'll　be　right　there。〃　Dunross　sighed。　〃No　peace　for　the　wicked！　Casey；　shall　we？〃
　〃Sure；　sure；　tai…pan。〃　She　got　up　too；　her　heart　beating　strongly；　a　sad　sweet　ache　possessing　her。　〃I'll　take　care　of　the　check！〃
　〃Thanks；　but　that's　already　done。　They'll　just　send　it　on　to　the　office。〃　Dunross　left　a　tip　and　guided　her　toward　the　elevator；　both　of　them　conscious　of　the　eyes　following　them。　For　a　second　he　was　tempted　to　go　upstairs　with　her　just　to　set　the　tongues　wagging。　But　that'd　really　be　tempting　the　devil　and　I've　enough　devils　surrounding　me　already；　he　thought。　〃Good　night；　Casey；　see　you　tomorrow　and　don't　forget　cocktails　7：30　to　9：00　p。m。　Give　my　best　to　Linc！〃　He　waved　cheerily　and　walked　for　the　front　desk。
　She　watched　him　go；　tall；　immaculate　and　confident。　The　elevator　doors　closed。　If　this　wasn't　Hong　Kong　you　wouldn't　escape；　not　tonight；　Ian　Dunross。　Oh　no；　tonight　we'd　make　love。　Oh　yes；　yes　we　would。
　Dunross　stopped　at　the　front　desk　and　picked　up　the　phone。　〃Hello；　this　is　Dunross。〃
　〃Tai…pan？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Lim；〃　he　said；　recognizing　his　majordomo's　voice。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Mr。　Tip　Tok…toh　just　phoned；　sir。〃　Dunross's　heart　picked　up　tempo。　〃He　asked　me　to　try　to　reach　you　and　would　you　please　call　him　back。　He　said　you　could　call　him　any　time　before　two　o'clock　or　after　7：00　a。m。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Anything　else？〃
　〃Miss　Claudia　called　at　eight　and　said　she's　settled　your　guest　。。。〃　There　was　a　rustle　of　paper。　〃。。。　Mrs。　Gresserhoff　at　the　hotel　and　that　your　appointment　in　your　office　at　11：00　a。m。's　confirmed。〃
　〃Good。　Next？〃
　〃Missee　called　from　London　…　everything　fine　there　…　and　a　Dr。　Samson　from　London。〃
　〃Ah！〃　Kathy's　specialist。　〃Did　he　leave　a　number？〃　Lim　gave　it　to　him　and　he　scribbled　it　down。　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃No；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Is　Number　One　Daughter　back　yet？〃
　〃No；　tai…pan。　Number　One　Daughter　came　in　about　7：00　p。m。　for　a　few　minutes　with　a　young　man　and　then　they　left。〃
　〃Was　it　Martin　Haply？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　was。〃
　〃Thanks；　Lim。　I'll　call　Tiptop　then　get　a　ferry　home。〃
　He　hung　up。　Wanting　more　privacy；　he　went　to　the　phone　booth　that　was　near　the　stationer's。　He　dialed。
　〃Weyyyy？〃
　He　recognized　Tiptop's　voice。　〃Good　evening；　this's　Ian　Dunross。〃
　〃Ah；　tai…pan！　Just　a　minute。〃　There　was　the　sound　of　a　hand　being　put　over　the　mouthpiece　and　muffled　voices。　He　waited。　〃Ah；　sorry　to　keep　you　waiting。　I've　had　some　very　disquieting　news。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　It　seems　your　police　once　again　are　like　dog's　lungs　and　wolf's　heart。　They　have　falsely　arrested　a　very　good　friend　of　yours；　Superintendent　Brian　Kwok。　He…　〃
　〃Brian　Kwok？〃　Dunross　gasped。　〃But　why？〃
　〃I　understand　he's　been　falsely　accused　of　being　a　spy　for　the　PRC；　an…　〃
　〃Impossible！〃
　〃I　agree。　Ridiculous！　Chairman　Mao　has　no　need　of　capitalist　spies。　He　should　be　released　at　once；　at　once　…　and　if　he　wishes　to　leave　Hong　Kong　he　should　be　permitted　to　do　so　and　go　wherever　he　wishes　to　go　。。。　at　once！〃
　Dunross　tried　to　get　his　mind　working。　If　Tiptop　said　the　man　called　Brian　Kwok　was　to　be　released　at　once　and　permitted　to　leave　Hong　Kong　if　he　wished；　then　Brian　was　a　PRC　spy；　one　of　their　spies；　and　that　was　impossible　impossible　impossible。　〃I　。。。　I　don't　know　what　to　say；〃　he　said；　giving　Tiptop　the　opening　he　required。
　〃I　must　point　out　Old　Friends　could　hardly　be　expected　to　consider　assisting　Old　Friends　when　their　police　are　so　errored。　Heya？〃
　〃I　agree；〃　he　heard　himself　saying　with　the　right　amount　of　concern；　his　mind　shouting；　Christ　almighty；　they　want　to　trade　Brian　for　the　money！　〃I'll　。。。　I'll　talk　to　the　authorities　first　thing　tom…　〃
　〃Perhaps　you　could　do　something　tonight。〃
　〃It's　too　late　to　call　the　governor　now　but　。。。〃　Then　Dunross　remembered　Sinders　and　Armstrong　and　his　heart　leaped。　〃I'll　try。　At　once。　I'm　sure　there's　some　mistake；　Mr。　Tip。　Yes。　It　must　be　a　mistake。　In　any　event　I'm　sure　the　governor　will　be　helpful。　And　the　police。　Surely　such　a　。。。　a　mistake　could　be　handled　satisfactorily　…　like　the　Victoria's　request　for　the　temporary　use　of　the　illustrious　bank's　cash？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。　〃It's　possible　that　could　be　done。　It's　possible。　Old　Friends　should　assist　Old　Friends；　and　help　correct　mistakes。　Yes；　it　could　be　possible。〃
　Dunross　heard　the　unsaid　when　left　hanging　and　automatically　continued　the　negotiation；　most　of　his　mind　still　beset　by　what　he　had　been　told。　〃Did　you　happen　to　get　my　note；　Mr。　Tip？　I've　taken　care　of　everything　else。　By　the　way；　the　Victoria　will　certainly　assist　the　financing　of　the　thorium。〃　He　added　delicately；　〃Also　most　other　further　requests　…　at　advantageous　terms。〃
　〃Ah　yes；　thank　you。　Yes；　I　received　your　note　and　your　very　kind　invitation。　So　sorry　that　I　was　unwell。　Thank　you；　tai…pan。　How　long　would　your　government　require　the　cash　loan；　if　it　was　possible？〃
　〃I　imagine　thirty　days　would　be　more　than　enough；　perhaps　even　two　weeks。　But　it's　the　Victoria；　Blacs　and　the　other　banks　and　not　the　Hong　Kong　Government。　I　could　tell　you　that　tomorrow。　Do　we　have　the　privilege　of　seeing　you　at　the　races　for　lunch？〃
　〃I　regret　not　for　lunch　but　perhaps　after　lunch；　if　that's　possible。〃
　Dunross　smiled　grimly。　The　perfect　promise。　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　calling。　By　the　way；　Mr。　Yu　was　most　impressed　with　you；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Please　give　him　my　regards。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　him　soon。　In　Canton。〃
　〃I　was　astonished　to　read　your　brother…in…law's　ments　about　the　Middle　Kingdom。〃
　〃Yes。　So　was　I。　My　wife　and　her　brother　have　been　estranged　for　years。　His　views　are　alien；　enemy　and　totally　misguided。〃　Dunross　hesitated。　〃I　hope　to　neutralize　him。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　I　agree。　Thank　you。　Good　night。〃　The　phone　went　dead。
　Dunross　hung　up。　Christ！　Brian　Kwok！　And　I'd　almost　given　him　the　AMG　papers。　Christ！
　Collecting　his　wits　with　a　great　effort；　he　went　back　into　the　foyer。　Armstrong　and　Sinders　were　still　there。　〃Evening；　may　I　join　you　a　moment？〃
　〃Of　course；　Mr。　Dunross。　This　is　a　pleasant　surprise。　May　I　offer　you　a　drink？〃
　〃Tea；　Chinese　tea。　Thanks。〃
　Their　table　was　away　from　others　and　when　it　was　safe　Dunross　leaned　forward。　〃Robert；　I　hear　you've　arrested　Brian　Kwok；〃　he　said　still　hoping　it　wasn't　true。　The　two　men　stared　at　him。
　〃Who　told　you　that？〃　Armstrong　asked。
　Dunross　recounted　his　conversation。　Both　men　listened　nonmittally　though　from　time　to　time　he　saw　them　glance　at　one　another。　〃Obviously　it's　a　trade；〃　he　told　them。　〃Him　for　the　cash。〃
　Sinders　sipped　his　hot　chocolate。　〃How　important's　the　money？〃
　〃pletely　important；　urgent　and　the　sooner　the　better。〃　Dunross　mopped　his　brow。　〃The　cash　will　pletely　stop　the　bank　runs；　Mr。　Sinders。　We've　got　t…　〃　He　stopped；　aghast。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Sinders　asked。
　〃I　…　I　suddenly　remembered　what　AMG　wrote　in　the　intercepted　report。　That　the　'。。。　police　mole　may　or　may　not　be　part　of　Sevrin。'　Is　he？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃For　chrissake；　don't　play　with　me；〃　Dunross　said　angrily；　〃this's　serious。　You　think　I'm　a　bloody　fool？　There's　a　Sevrin　plant　in　Struan's。　If　Brian's　part　of　Sevrin　I've　a　right　to　know。〃
　〃I　quite　agree；〃　Sinders　said　calmly　though　his　eyes　had　bee　very　flinty。　〃The　moment　the　traitor's　uncovered　you　may　rest　assured　you'll　be　informed。　Have　you　any　idea　who　it　could　be　yet？〃
　Dunross　shook　his　head；　controlling　his　anger。
　Sinders　watched　him。　〃You　were　saying？　'We've　got　to　。。。'　Got　to　what；　Mr。　Dunross？〃
　〃We've　got　to　get　that　cash　at　once。　What's　Brian　done？〃　After　a　moment　Sinders　said；　〃Banks　don't　open　till　Monday。　So　Monday's　D　Day？〃
　〃I　imagine　the　banks　will　have　to　get　the　money　before　then　…　to　open　and　have　the　money　in　the　tills。　What　the　devil's　Brian　done？〃
　Sinders　lit　a　cigarette　for　himself　and　for　Armstrong。　〃If　this　person　Brian　actually　has　been　arrested　I　don't　think　that's　really　a　very　discreet　question；　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　〃I'd've　bet　anything；〃　the　tai…pan　said　helplessly；　〃anything；　but　Tiptop'd　never　suggest　a　trade　unless　it　was　true。　Never。　Brian　must　be　bloody　important　but　Christ；　what's　the　world　ing　to？　Will　you　handle　the　trade　or　will　Mr。　Crosse　…　I　suppose　the　governor's　approval　will　be　needed。〃
　Thoughtfully　the　chief　of　MI…6　blew　the　tip　of　his　cigarette。　〃I　doubt　if　there　will　be　a　trade；　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　〃Why　not？　The　money's　more　impor…　〃
　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；　Mr。　Dunross；　if　this　Brian　Kwok　actually　is　under　arrest。　In　any　event；　Her　Majesty's　Government　could　hardly　be　subject　to　blackmai