jamesclavell.noblehouse-第52节

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　〃Good；〃　she　said　and　they　laughed　together。
　〃Linc？〃
　They　looked　around　at　the　two　figures　silhouetted　in　the　shaft　of　light　from　the　doorway。　He　recognized　Casey's　voice　and　shape　at　once　but　not　the　man。　It　was　not　possible　from　where　they　were　to　see　against　the　light。
　〃Hi；　Casey！　How's　it　going？〃
　He　took　Adryon's　arm　casually　and　propelled　her　toward　the　silhouette。　〃I've　been　teaching　Adryon　the　finer　points　of　pool。〃
　Adryon　laughed。　〃That's　the　understatement　of　the　year；　Casey。　He's　super　at　it；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　Linc；　Quillan　Gornt　wanted　to　say　hi　before　he　left。〃
　Abruptly　Adryon　jerked　to　a　stop　and　the　color　left　her　face。　Linc　stopped；　startled。　〃What's　wrong？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃Evening；　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　Gornt　said；　moving　toward　them　into　the　light。　〃Hello；　Adryon。〃
　〃What're　you　doing　here？〃　she　said　in　a　tiny　voice。
　〃I　just　came　for　a　few　minutes；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Have　you　seen　Father？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　get　out。　Get　out　and　leave　this　house　alone。〃　Adryon　said　it　in　the　same　small　voice。
　Bartlett　stared　at　her。　〃What　the　hell's　up？〃
　Gornt　said　calmly；　〃It's　a　long　story。　It　can　wait　until　tomorrow　…　or　next　week。　I　just　wanted　to　confirm　our　dinner　on　Tuesday　…　and　if　you're　free　over　the　weekend；　perhaps　you　two　would　like　to　e　out　on　my　boat　for　the　day。　Sunday　if　the　weather's　good。〃
　〃Thanks；　I　think　so；　but　may　we　confirm　tomorrow？〃　Bartlett　asked；　still　nonplussed　by　Adryon。
　〃Adryon；〃　Gornt　said　gently；　〃Annagrey's　leaving　next　week；　she　asked　me　to　ask　you　to　give　her　a　call。〃　Adryon　did　not　answer；　just　stared　at　him；　and　Gornt　added　to　the　other　two；　〃Annagrey's　my　daughter。　They're　good　friends　…　they've　both　gone　to　the　same　schools　most　of　their　lives。　She's　off　to　university　in　California。〃
　〃Oh　…　then　if　there's　anything　we　could　do　for　her　。。。〃　Casey　said。
　〃That's　very　kind　of　you；〃　he　said。　〃You'll　meet　her　Tuesday。　Perhaps　we　can　talk　about　it　then。　I'll　say　g…　〃
　The　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　billiard　room　swung　open　and　Dunross　stood　there。
　Gornt　smiled　and　turned　his　attention　back　to　them。　〃Good　night；　Mr。　Bartlett　…　Ciranoush。　See　you　both　on　Tuesday。　Good　night；　Adryon。〃　He　bowed　slightly　to　them　and　walked　the　length　of　the　room　and　stopped。　〃Good　night；　Ian；〃　he　said　politely。　〃Thank　you　for　your　hospitality。〃
　〃　'Night；〃　Dunross　said；　as　politely；　and　stood　aside；　a　slight　smile　twisting　his　lips。
　He　watched　Gornt　walk　out　of　the　front　door　and　then　turned　his　attention　back　to　the　billiard　room。　〃Almost　time　for　dinner；〃　he　said；　his　voice　calm。　And　warm。　〃You　must　all　be　starving。　I　am。〃
　〃What　。。。　what　did　he　want？〃　Adryon　said　shakily。
　Dunross　came　up　to　her　with　a　smile；　gentling　her。　〃Nothing。　Nothing　important；　my　pet。　Quillan's　mellowing　in　his　old　age。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃
　〃Sure。〃　He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　gave　her　a　little　hug。　〃No　need　to　worry　your　pretty　head。〃
　〃Has　he　gone？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Bartlett　started　to　say　something　but　stopped　instantly　as　he　caught　Dunross's　eye　over　Adryon's　head。
　〃Yes。　Everything's　grand；　my　darling；〃　Dunross　was　saying　as　he　gave　her　another　little　hug；　and　Bartlett　saw　Adryon　gather　herself　within　the　warmth。　〃Nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　〃Linc　was　showing　me　how　he　played　pool　and　then　。。。　It　was　just　so　sudden。　He　was　like　an　apparition。〃
　〃You　could　have　knocked　me　down　with　a　feather　too　when　he　appeared　like　the　Bad　Fairy。〃　Dunross　laughed；　then　added　to　Bartlett　and　Casey；　〃Quillan　goes　in　for　dramatics。〃　Then　to　Bartlett　alone；　〃We'll　chat　about　that　after　dinner；　you　and　I。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Bartlett　said；　noticing　the　eyes　weren't　smiling。
　The　dinner　gong　sounded。　〃Ah；　thank　God！〃　Dunross　said。　〃e　along；　everyone；　food　at　long　last。　Casey；　you're　at　my　table。〃　He　kept　his　arm　around　Adryon；　loving　her；　and　guided　her　out　into　the　light。
　Casey　and　Bartlett　followed。
　
　Gornt　got　into　the　driver's　seat　of　the　black　Silver　Cloud　Rolls　that　he　had　parked　just　outside　the　Great　House。　The　night　was　good；　though　the　humidity　had　increased　again。　He　was　very　pleased　with　himself。　And　now　for　dinner　and　Jason　Plumm；　he　thought。　Once　that　bugger's　mitted；　Ian　Dunross's　as　good　as　finished　and　I　own　this　house　and　Struan's　and　the　whole　kit　and　caboodle！
　It　couldn't　have　been　better：　first　Casey　and　Ian　almost　at　once；　and　everything　laid　out　in　front　of　him　and　in　front　of　her。　Then　Havergill　and　Richard　Kwang　together。　Then　Bartlett　in　the　billiard　room　and　then　Ian　himself　again。
　Perfect！
　Now　Ian's　called；　Bartlett's　called；　Casey；　Havergill；　Richard　Kwang　and　so's　Plumm。　Ha！　If　they　only　knew。
　Everything's　perfect。　Except　for　Adryon。　Pity　about　her；　pity　that　children　have　to　inherit　the　feuds　of　the　fathers。　But　that's　life。　Joss。　Pity　she　won't　go　out　into　the　world　and　leave　Hong　Kong；　like　Annagrey　…　at　least　until　Ian　Dunross　and　I　have　settled　our　differences；　finally。　Better　she's　not　here　to　see　him　smashed　…　nor　Penelope　too。　Joss　if　they're　here；　joss　if　they're　not。　I'd　like　him　here　when　I　take　possession　of　his　box　at　the　races；　the　permanent　seat　on　all　boards；　all　the　sinecures；　the　legislature　…　oh　yes。　Soon　they'll　all　be　mine。　Along　with　the　envy　of　all　Asia。
　He　laughed。　Yes。　And　about　time。　Then　all　the　ghosts　will　sleep。　God　curse　all　ghosts！
　He　switched　on　the　ignition　and　started　the　engine；　enjoying　the　luxury　of　real　leather　and　fine　wood；　the　smell　rich　and　exclusive。　Then　he　put　the　car　into　gear　and　swung　down　the　driveway；　past　the　carpark　where　all　the　other　cars　were；　down　to　the　huge　wrought…iron　main　gates　with　the　Struan　arms　entwined。　He　stopped　for　passing　traffic　and　caught　sight　of　the　Great　House　in　his　rear　mirror。　Tall；　vast；　the　windows　ablaze；　weling。
　Soon　I　really　will　own　you；　he　thought。　I'll　throw　parties　there　that　Asia's　never　seen　before　and　never　will　again。　I　suppose　I　should　have　a　hostess。
　What　about　the　American　girl？
　He　chuckled。　〃Ah；　Ciranoush；　what　a　lovely　name；〃　he　said　out　loud　with　the　same；　perfect　amount　of　husky　charm　that　he　had　used　previously。　That　one's　a　pushover；　he　told　himself　confidently。　You　just　use　old　world　charm　and　great　wine；　light　but　excellent　food　and　patience　…　along　with　the　very　best　of　upper…class　English；　masculine　sophistication　and　no　swear　words　and　she'll　fall　where　and　when　you　want　her　to。　And　then；　if　you　choose　the　correct　moment；　you　can　use　gutter　English　and　a　little　judicious　roughness；　and　you'll　unlock　all　her　pent…up　passion　like　no　man　ever　has　done。
　If　I　read　her　correctly　she　needs　an　expert　pillowing　rather　badly。
　So　either　Bartlett's　inadequate　or　they're　really　not　lovers　as　the　confidential　report　suggested。　Interesting。
　But　do　you　want　her？　As　a　toy　…　perhaps。　As　a　tool　…　of　course。　As　a　hostess　no；　much　too　pushy。
　Now　the　road　was　clear　so　he　pulled　out　and　went　down　to　the　junction　and　turned　left　and　soon　he　was　on　Peak　Road　going　downhill　toward　Magazine　Gap　where　Plumm's　penthouse　apartment　was。　After　dinner　with　him　he　was　going　to　a　meeting；　then　to　Wanchai；　to　one　of　his　private　apartments　and　the　weling　embrace　of　Mona　Leung。　His　pulse　quickened　at　the　thought　of　her　violent　lovemaking；　her　barely　hidden　hatred　for　him　and　all　quai　loh　that　was　ever　in　perpetual　conflict　with　her　love　of　luxury；　the　apartment　that　was　on　loan　to　her　and　the　modest　amount　of　money　he　gave　her　monthly。
　〃Never　give　'em　enough　money；〃　his　father　William　had　told　him　early　on。　〃Clothes；　jewelry；　holidays　…　that's　fine。　But　not　too　much　money。　Control　them　with　dollar　bills。　And　never　think　they　love　you　for　you。　They　don't。　It's　only　your　money；　only　your　money　and　always　will　be。　Just　under　the　surface　they'll　despise　you；　always　will。　That's　fair　enough　if　you　think　about　it　…　we're　not　Chinese　and　never　will　be。〃
　〃There's　never　an　exception？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。　Not　for　a　quai　loh；　my　son。　I　don't　think　so。　Never　has　been　with　me　and　I've　known　a　few。　Oh　she'll　give　you　her　body；　her　children；　even　her　life；　but　she'll　always　despise　you。　She　has　to；　she's　Chinese　and　we're　quai　loh！〃
　Ayeeyah；　Gornt　thought。　That　advice's　proved　itself　time　and　time　again。　And　saved　me　so　much　anguish。　It'll　be　good　to　see　the　Old　Man；　he　told　himself。　This　year　I'll　give　him　a　fine　Christmas　present：　Struan's。
　He　was　driving　carefully　down　the　left　side　of　the　winding　road　hugging　the　mountainside；　the　night　good；　the　surface　fine　and　the　traffic　light。　Normally　he　would　have　been　chauffeur…driven　but　tonight　he　wanted　no　witnesses　to　his　meeting　with　Plumm。
　No；　he　thought。　Nor　any　witnesses　when　I　meet　Four　Finger　Wu。　What　the　hell　does　that　pirate　want？　Nothing　good。　Bound　to　be　dangerous。　Yes。　But　during　the　Korean　War　Wu　did　you　a　very　large　favor　and　perhaps　now　is　the　time　he　wants　the　favor　repaid。　There's　always　a　reckoning　sooner　or　later；　and　that's　fair　and　that's　Chinese　law。　You　get　a　present；　you　give　one　back　a　little　more　valuable。　You　have　a　favor　done　。。。
　In　1950　when　the　Chinese　munist　armies　in　Korea　were　battering　and　bleeding　their　way　south　from　the　Yalu　with　monstrous　losses；　they　were　desperately　short　of　all　strategic　supplies　and　very　willing　to　pay　mightily　those　who　could　slip　through　the　blockade　with　the　su