rl.thebourneidentity-第65部分

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nking　coffee　disguised　as　sour　mud。　Les　Classiques　was　a　waste　of　time；　it's　a　zoo。　The　monkeys　and　the　peacocks　put　on　a　hell　of。　a　show；　but　I　don't　think　anyone　really　knows　anything。　There's　one　outside　possibility；　but　he　could　simply　be　a　sharp　Frenchman　in　search　of　an　American　mark。'
　'He？'　asked　Marie；　her　trembling　diminished。
　'A　man　who　operated　the　switchboard；'　said　Bourne；　repelling　images　of　blinding　explosions　and　darkness　and　high　winds　as　he　pictured　the　face　he　did　not　know　but　he　knew　so　well。　That　man　now　was　only　a　device；　he　pushed　the　images　away。　'I　agreed　to　meet　him　around　midnight　at　the　bastringue　on　rue　de　Hautefeuille。'
　'What　did　he　say？'
　'Very　little；　but　enough　to　interest　me。　I　saw　him　watching　me　while　I　was　asking　questions。　The　place　was　fairly　crowded　so　I　could　move　around　pretty　freely；　talk　to　the　employees。'
　'Questions？　What　questions　did　you　ask？'
　'Anything　I　could　think　of。　Mainly　about　the　manager；　or　whatever　she's　called。　Considering　what　happened　this　afternoon；　if　she　were　a　direct　relay　to　Carlos　she　should　have　been　close　to　hysterics。　I　saw　her。　She　wasn't；　she　behaved　as　if　nothing　had　happened　except　a　good　day　in　the　shop。'
　'But　she　was　a　relay；　as　you　call　it。　D'Amacourt　explained　that。　The　fiche。'
　'Indirect。　She　gets　a　phone　call　and　is　told　what　to　say　before　making　another　call　herself。'　Actually；　Jason　thought；　the　invented　assessment　was　based　on　reality。　Jacqueline　Lavier　was；　indeed；　an　indirect　relay。
　'You　couldn't　just　walk　around　asking　questions　without　seeming　suspicious；'　protested　Marie。
　'You　can；〃　answered　Bourne；　'if　you're　an　American　writer　doing　an　article　on　the　boutiques　in　Saint…Honoree　for　a　national　magazine。'
　'That's　very　good；　Jason。'
　'It　worked。　No　one　wants　to　be　left　out。'
　'What　did　you　learn？'
　'Like　most　of　those　kinds　of　places；　Les　Classiques　has　its　own　clientele；　all　wealthy；　most　known　to　each　other　and　with　the　usual　marital　intrigues　and　adulteries　that　go　with　the　scene。　Carlos　knew　what　he　was　doing；　it's　a　regular　answering　service　over　there；　but　not　the　kind　listed　in　a　phone　book。'
　'People　told　you　that？'　asked　Marie；　holding　his　arms；　watching　his　eyes。
　'Not　in　so　many　words；〃　he　said；　aware　of　the　shadows　of　her　disbelief。　'The　accent　was　always　on　this　Bergeron's　talent；　but　one　thing　leads　to　another。　You　can　get　the　picture。　Everyone　seems　to　gravitate　to　that　manager。　From　what　I've　gathered；　she's　a　font　of　social　information；　although　she　probably　couldn't　tell　me　anything　except　that　she　did　someone　a　favour　…　an　acmodation　…　and　that　someone　will　turn　out　to　be　someone　else　who　did　another　favour　for　another　someone。　The　source　could　be　untraceable；　but　it's　all　I've　got。'
　'Why　the　meeting　tonight　at　the　bastringue？'
　'He　came　over　to　me　when　I　was　leaving　and　said　a　very　strange　thing。'　Jason　did　not　have　to　invent　this　part　of　the　lie。　He　had　read　the　words　on　a　note　in　an　elegant　restaurant　in　Argenteuil　less　than　an　hour　ago。　'He　said；　〃You　may　be　who　you　say　you　are；　and　then　again；　you　may　not。〃　That's　when　he　suggested　a　drink　later　on；　away　from　Saint…Honoree。'　Bourne　saw　her　doubts　receding。　He　had　done　it；　she　accepted　the　tapestry　of　lies。　And　why　not？　He　was　a　man　of　immense　skill　and　extremely　inventive。　The　appraisal　was　not　loathsome　to　him；　he　was　Cain。
　'He　may　be　the　one；　Jason。　You　said　you　only　needed　one；　he　could　be　it！'
　'We'll　see。'　Bourne　looked　at　his　watch。　The　countdown　to　his　departure　had　begun；　he　could　not　look　back。　'We've　got　almost　two　hours。　Where　did　you　leave　the　attaché　case？'
　'At　the　Meurice；　I'm　registered　there。'
　'Let's　pick　it　up　and　get　some　dinner。　You　haven't　eaten；　have　you？'
　'No。。。'　Marie's　expression　was　quizzical。　'Why　not　leave　the　case　where　it　is？　It's　perfectly　safe；　we　wouldn't　have　to　worry　about　it。'
　'We　would　if　we　had　to　get　out　of　here　in　a　hurry；'　he　said　almost　brusquely；　going　to　the　bureau。　Everything　was　a　question　of　degree　now；　traces　of　friction　gradually　slipping　into　speech；　into　looks；　into　touch。　Nothing　alarming；　nothing　based　in　false　heroics；　she　would　see　through　such　tactics。　Only　enough　so　that　later　she　would　understand　the　truth　when　she　read　his　words。　'It's　over。　I've　found　my　arrows；。。'
　'What's　the　matter；　darling？'
　'Nothing。'　The　chameleon　smiled。　'I'm　just　tired　and　probably　a　little　discouraged。'
　'Good　heavens；　why？　A　man　wants　to　meet　you　confidentially　late　at　night；　a　man　who　operates　a　switchboard。　He　could　lead　you　somewhere！　And　you're　convinced　you've　narrowed　Carlos's　contact　down　to　this　woman；　she's　bound　to　be　able　to　tell　you　something　…　whether　she　wants　to　or　not。　In　a　macabre　way；　I'd　think　you'd　be　elated。'
　'I'm　not　sure　I　can　explain　it；'　said　Jason；　now　looking　at　her　reflection　in　the　mirror。　'You'd　have　to　understand　what　I　found　there。〃
　'What　you　found？'　A　question。
　'What　I　found。'　A　statement。　'It's　a　different　world；〃　continued　Bourne；　reaching　for　the　bottle　of　Scotch　and　a　glass；　'different　people。　It's　soft　and　beautiful　and　frivolous；　with　lots　of　tiny　spotlights　and　dark　velvet。　Nothing's　taken　seriously　except　gossip　and　indulgence。　Any　one　of　those　giddy　people　…　including　that　woman　…　could　be　a　relay　for　Carlos　and　never　know　it；　never　even　suspect　it。　A　man　like　Carlos　would　use　such　people；　anyone　like　him　would；　including　me。。。　That's　what　I　found。　It's　discouraging。'
　'And　unreasonable。　Whatever　you　believe；　those　people　make　very　conscious　decisions。　That　indulgence　you　talk　of　demands　it；　they　think。　And　you　know　what　I　think？　I　think　you　are　tired；　and　hungry；　and　need　a　drink　or　two。　I　wish　you　could　put　off　tonight；　you've　been　through　enough　for　one　day。'
　'I　can't　do　that；'　he　said　sharply。
　'All　right；　you　can't；'　she　answered　defensively。
　'Sorry；　I'm　edgy。'
　'Yes。　I　know。'　She　started　for　the　bathroom。　I'll　freshen　up　and　we　can　go。。。　Pour　yourself　a　stiff　one；　darling。　Your　teeth　are　showing。〃
　'Marie？〃
　'Yes？'
　Try　to　understand。　What　I　found　there　upset　me。　I　thought　it　would　be　different。　Easier。〃
　'While　you　were　looking；　I　was　waiting；　Jason。　Not　knowing。　That　wasn't　easy　either。'
　'I　thought　you　were　going　to　call　Canada。　Didn't　you？。'
　She　held　her　place　for　a　moment。　'No；'　she　said。　'It　was　too　late。'
　The　bathroom　door　closed；　Bourne　walked　to　the　desk　across　the　room。　He　opened　the　drawer；　took　out　stationery；　picked　up　the　ballpoint　pen；　and　wrote　the　words。
　It's　over。　I've　found　my　arrows。　Go　back　to　Canada　and　say　nothing　for　both　our　sakes。　I　know　where　to　reach　you；
　He　folded　the　stationery；　inserted　it　into　an　envelope；　holding　the　flap　open　as　he　reached　for　his　wallet。　He　took　out　both　the　French　and　the　Swiss　notes；　slipping　them　behind　the　folded　paper；　and　sealed　the　envelope。　He　wrote　on　the　front：
　Marie。
　He　wanted　so　desperately　to　add：
　My　love；　my　dearest　love。
　He　did　not。　He　could　not。
　The　bathroom　door　opened。　He　put　the　envelope　in　his　jacket　pocket。　That　was　quick；'　he　said。
　'Was　it？　I　didn't　think　so。　What　are　you　doing？'
　'I　wanted　a　pen；'　he　answered；　picking　up　the　ballpoint。　'If　that　fellow　has　anything　to　tell　me　I　want　to　be　able　to　write　it　down。'
　Marie　was　by　the　bureau；　she　glanced　at　the　dry；　empty　glass。　'You　didn't　have　your　drink。'
　'I　didn't　use　the　glass。'
　'I　see。　Shall　we　go？'
　They　waited　in　the　corridor　for　the　rumbling　lift；　the　silence　between　them　awkward；　in　a　real　sense　unbearable。　He　reached　for　her　hand。　At　the　touch　she　gripped　his；　staring　at　him；　her　eyes　telling　him　that　her　control　was　being　tested　and　she　did　not　know　why。　Quiet　signals　had　been　sent　and　received；　not　loud　enough　or　abrasive　enough　to　be　alarms；　but　they　were　there　and　she　heard　them。　It　was　part　of　the　countdown；　rigid；　irreversible；　prelude　to　his　departure。
　Oh；　God；　I　love　you　so。　You　are　next　to　me　and　we　are　touching　and　I　am　dying。　But　you　cannot　die　with　me。　You　must　not。　I　am　Cain。
　'We'll　be　fine；'　he　said。
　The　metal　cage　vibrated　noisily　into　its　recessed　perch。　Jason　pulled　the　brass　grille　open；　then　suddenly　swore　under　his　breath。
　'Oh；　Christ；　I　forgot！'
　'What？'
　'My　wallet。　I　left　it　in　the　bureau