jamesclavell.noblehouse-第203部分

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　everything　about　the　others。　As　I　said；　our　roots　go　deep　here。　And　don't　forget　that　the　Chens；　Yuans　and　Sungs　are　Eurasian。　As　I　told　you；　Eurasians　marry　Eurasians；　so　we　should　know　who　we're　from。　We're　not　desired　by　British　or　Chinese　as　wives　or　husbands；　only　as　mistresses　or　lovers。〃　She　sipped　her　wine　and　he　was　awed　by　the　delicacy　of　her　movements；　her　grace。　〃It's　custom　for　Chinese　families　to　have　their　genealogy　written　down　in　the　village　book；　that's　the　only　legality　they　have　…　that　gives　them　continuity；　they've　never　had　birth　certificates。〃　She　smiled　up　at　him。　〃To　go　back　to　your　question。　Both　Ian　Dunross　and　Quillan　would　wele　your　money　and　your　inside　track　into　the　U。S。　market。　And　with　either　one　you'd　make　a　profit　here　…　if　you　were　content　to　be　a　silent　partner。〃
　Thoughtfully　Bartlett　let　his　eyes　stray　to　the　view。
　She　waited　patiently；　allowing　him　his　thoughts；　staying　motionless。　I'm　very　glad　Quillan　was　such　a　good　teacher　and　such　a　clever　man；　she　thought。　And　oh　so　wise。　He　was　right　again。
　This　morning　she　had　called　him　in　tears　on　his　private　line　to　report　what　had　happened　and；　〃Oh　Quillan；　I　think　I've　ruined　everything。　。。。〃
　〃What　did　you　say　and　what　did　he　say？〃
　She　had　told　him　exactly　and　he　had　reassured　her。　〃I　don't　think　you've　any　need　to　worry；　Orlanda。　He'll　e　back。　If　not　tonight；　tomorrow。〃
　〃Oh　are　you　sure？〃　she　had　said　so　gratefully。
　〃Yes。　Now　dry　those　tears　and　listen。〃　Then　he　had　told　her　what　to　do　and　what　to　wear　and　above　all　to　be　a　woman。
　Ah　how　happy　I　am　to　be　a　woman；　she　thought；　and　remembered　with　sadness　now　the　old　days　when　they　were　happy　together；　she　and　Quillan；　she　nineteen；　already　his　mistress　for　two　years　and　no　longer　shy　or　afraid　…　of　the　pillow　or　him　or　of　herself　…　how　sometimes　they　would　go　on　his　yacht　for　a　midnight　cruise；　just　the　two　of　them　and　he　would　lecture　her。　〃You're　a　woman　and　Hong　Kong　yan　so　if　you　want　to　have　a　good　life　and　pretty　things；　to　be　cherished　and　loved　and　pillowed　and　safe　in　this　world　be　female。〃
　〃How；　my　darling？〃
　〃Think　only　of　my　satisfaction　and　pleasure。　Give　me　passion　when　I　need　it；　quiet　when　I　need　it；　privacy　when　I　need　it；　and　happiness　and　discretion　all　the　time。　Cook　as　a　gourmet；　know　great　wine；　be　discreet　always；　protect　my　face　always　and　never　nag。〃
　〃But　Quillan；　you　make　it　sound　all　so　one…sided。〃
　〃Yes。　It　is；　of　course　it　is。　In　return　I　do　my　part　with　equal　passion。　But　that's　what　I　want　from　you；　nothing　less。　You　wanted　to　be　my　mistress。　I　put　it　to　you　before　we　began　and　you　agreed。〃
　〃I　know　I　did　and　I　love　being　your　mistress　but　。。。　but　sometimes　I'm　worried　about　the　future。〃
　〃Ah；　my　pet；　you　have　nothing　to　worry　about。　You　know　our　rules　were　set　in　advance。　We　will　renew　our　arrangement　yearly；　providing　you　want　to　until　you're　twenty…four；　and　then；　if　you　choose　to　leave　me　I　will　give　you　the　flat；　money　enough　for　reasonable　needs　and　a　handsome　dowry　for　a　suitable　husband。　We　agreed　and　your　parents　approved。　。。。〃
　Yes　they　did。　Orlanda　remembered　how　her　mother　and　father　had　enthusiastically　approved　the　liaison　…　had　even　suggested　it　to　her　when　she　had　just　e　back　from　school　in　America　when　they　told　her　that　Quillan　had　asked　if　he　might　approach　her；　saying　that　he　had　fallen　in　love　with　her。　〃He's　a　good　man；〃　her　father　had　said；　〃and　he's　promised　to　provide　well　for　you；　if　you　agree。　It's　your　choice；　Orlanda。　We　think　we　would　remend　it。〃
　〃But　Father；　I　won't　be　eighteen　until　next　month；　and　besides　I　want　to　go　back　to　the　States　to　live。　I'm　sure　I　can　get　a　Green　Card　to　remain　there。〃
　〃Yes；　you　can　go；　child；〃　her　mother　had　said；　〃but　you　will　be　poor。　We　can　give　you　nothing；　no　help。　What　job　will　you　get？　Who　will　support　you？　This　way　in　a　little　while　you　can　go　with　an　ine；　with　property　here　to　support　you。〃
　〃But　he's　so　old。　He's　。。。〃
　〃A　man　doesn't　wear　age　like　a　woman；〃　both　had　told　her。　〃He's　strong　and　respected　and　he's　been　good　to　us　for　years。　He's　promised　to　cherish　you　and　the　financial　arrangements　are　generous；　however　long　you　stay　with　him。〃
　〃But　I　don't　love　him。〃
　〃You　talk　nonsense　in　eight　directions！　Without　the　protection　of　the　lips　the　teeth　grow　cold！〃　her　mother　had　said　angrily。　〃This　opportunity　you　are　being　offered　is　like　the　hair　of　the　phoenix　and　the　heart　of　the　dragon！　What　do　you　have　to　do　in　return？　Just　be　a　woman　and　honor　and　obey　a　good　man　for　a　few　years　…　renewable　yearly　…　and　even　after　that　there's　no　end　to　the　years　if　you　choose　and　are　faithful　and　clever。　Who　knows？　His　wife　is　an　invalid　and　wasting。　If　you　satisfy　him　and　cherish　him　enough　why　wouldn't　he　marry　you？〃
　〃Marry　a　Eurasian？　Quillan　Gornt？〃　she　had　burst　out。
　〃Why　not？　You're　not　just　Eurasian；　you're　Portuguese。　He　has　British　sons　and　daughters　already；　heya？　Times　are　changing；　even　here　in　Hong　Kong。　If　you　do　your　best；　who　knows？　Bear　him　a　son；　in　a　year　or　two；　with　his　permission；　and　who　knows？　Gods　are　gods　and　if　they　want　they　can　make　thunder　from　a　clear　sky。　Don't　be　stupid！　Love？　What　is　that　word　to　you？〃
　Orlanda　Ramos　was　staring　down　at　the　city　now；　not　seeing　it。　How　stupid　and　naive　I　was　then；　she　thought。　Naive　and　very　stupid。　But　now　I　know　better。　Quillan　taught　me　very　well。
　She　glanced　up　at　Linc　Bartlett；　moving　just　her　eyes；　not　wanting　to　disturb　him。
　Yes；　I'm　trained　very　well；　she　told　herself。　I'm　trained　to　be　the　best　wife　any　man　could　ever　have；　that　Bartlett　will　ever　have。　No　mistakes　this　time。　Oh　no；　no　mistakes。　Quillan　will　guide　me。　He　will　help　remove　Casey。　I　will　be　Mrs。　Linc　Bartlett。　All　gods　and　all　devils　bear　witness；　that　is　what　must　happen。　。。。
　Soon　he　took　his　eyes　off　the　city；　having　thought　through　what　she　had　said。　She　was　watching　him；　wearing　a　little　smile　that　he　could　not　read。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I　was　thinking　how　lucky　I　was　to　meet　you。〃
　〃Do　you　always　pliment　a　man？〃
　〃No；　just　the　ones　who　please　me　…　and　they're　as　rare　as　the　hair　of　the　phoenix　or　the　heart　of　a　dragon。　Paté？〃
　〃Thanks。〃　He　accepted　it。　〃You're　not　eating？〃
　〃I'm　saving　for　dinner。　I　have　to　watch　my　diet；　I'm　not　like　you。〃
　〃I　work　out　daily。　Tennis　when　I　can；　golf。　You？〃
　〃I　play　a　little　tennis；　I'm　a　good　walker　but　I'm　still　taking　golf　lessons。〃　Yes；　she　thought；　I　try　very　hard　to　be　the　best　at　everything　I　do　and　I'm　the　best　for　you；　Linc　Bartlett；　in　the　whole　wide　world。　Her　tennis　was　very　good　and　golf　quite　good　because　Quillan　had　insisted　she　be　adept　at　both　…　because　he　enjoyed　them。　〃Are　you　hungry？〃
　〃Starving。〃
　〃You　said　Chinese　food。　Is　that　what　you　really　want？〃
　He　shrugged。　〃It　doesn't　matter　to　me。　Whatever　you　want。〃
　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Positive。　Why；　what　would　you　like？〃
　〃e　in　a　moment。〃
　He　followed　her。　She　opened　the　dining　room　door。　The　table　was　set　exquisitely　for　two。　Flowers；　and　a　bottle　of　Verdicchio　on　ice。　〃Linc；　I　haven't　cooked　for　anyone　for　such　a　long　time；〃　she　said　in　her　breathless　rush　that　he　found　so　pleasing。　〃But　I　wanted　to　cook　for　you。　If　you'd　like　it；　I　have　an　Italian　dinner　all　set　to　go。　Fresh　pasta　aglio　e　olio　…　garlic　and　oil　…　veal　piccata；　a　green　salad；　zabaglione；　espresso；　and　brandy。　How　does　that　sound？　It　will　only　take　me　twenty　minutes　and　you　can　read　the　paper　while　you　wait。　Then　afterwards　we　can　leave　everything　for　when　the　amah　es　back　and　go　dancing　or　drive。　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃Italian's　my　favorite　food；　Orlanda！〃　he　told　her　enthusiastically。　Then　a　vagrant　memory　surfaced；　and　for　a　moment　he　wondered　whom　he　had　told　about　Italian　being　his　favorite。　Was　it　Casey　…　or　was　it　Orlanda　this　morning？
　
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　8：32　P。M。：
　Brian　Kwok　jerked　out　of　sleep。　One　moment　he　was　in　a　nightmare；　the　next　awake　but　somehow　still　in　the　deep　dark　pit　of　sleep；　his　heart　pounding；　his　mind　disordered　and　no　change　between　sleep　and　awake。　Panic　swamped　him。　Then　he　realized　he　was　naked　and　still　in　the　same　warm　darkness　of　the　cell　and　remembered　who　he　was　and　where　he　was。
　They　must　have　drugged　me；　he　thought。　His　mouth　was　parched；　his　head　ached；　and　he　lay　b