jamesclavell.noblehouse-第24部分

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and　and　he　touched　it　and　felt　her　warmth。
　Gornt　saw　him　to　the　door　and　then　closed　it　and　came　back　to　his　desk　and　took　a　cigarette。　She　lit　the　match　for　him　and　blew　out　the　flame；　then　sat　in　the　chair　Bartlett　had　used。
　〃Nice…looking　man；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。　But　he's　American；　naive；　and　a　very　cocky　bastard　who　may　need　taking　down　a　peg。〃
　〃That's　what　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃Perhaps。　Did　you　read　his　dossier？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Very　interesting。〃　Orlanda　smiled。
　〃You're　not　to　ask　him　for　money；〃　Gornt　said　sharply。
　〃Ayeeyah；　Quillan；　am　I　that　dumb？〃　she　said　as　abrasively；　her　eyes　flashing。
　〃Good。〃
　〃Why　would　he　smuggle　guns　into　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Why　indeed；　my　dear？　Perhaps　someone　was　just　using　him。〃
　〃That　must　be　the　answer。　If　I　had　all　his　money　I　wouldn't　try　something　as　stupid　as　that。〃
　〃No；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Oh；　did　you　like　that　bit　about　my　being　a　free…lance　reporter？　I　thought　I　did　that　very　well。〃
　〃Yes；　but　don't　underestimate　him。　He's　no　fool。　He's　very　sharp。　Very。〃　He　told　her　about　the　Casale。　〃That's　too　much　of　a　coincidence。　He　must　have　a　dossier　on　me　too；　a　detailed　one。　Not　many　know　of　my　liking　for　that　place。〃
　〃Maybe　I'm　in　it　too。〃
　〃Perhaps。　Don't　let　him　catch　you　out。　About　the　free　lancing。〃
　〃Oh；　e　on；　Quillan；　who　of　the　tai…pans　except　you　and　Dunross　read　the　Chinese　papers　…　and　even　then　you　can't　read　all　of　them。　I've　already　done　a　column　or　two　。。。　'by　a　Special　Correspondent。'　If　he　grants　me　an　interview　I　can　write　it。　Don't　worry。〃　She　moved　the　ashtray　closer　for　him。　〃It　went　all　right；　didn't　it？　With　Bartlett？〃
　〃Perfectly。　You're　wasted。　You　should　be　in　the　movies。〃
　〃Then　talk　to　your　friend　about　me；　please；　please；　Quillan　dear。　Charlie　Wang's　the　biggest　producer　in　Hong　Kong　and　owes　you　lots　of　favors。　Charlie　Wang　has　so　many　movies　going　that　。。。　just　one　chance　is　all　I　need。　。。。　I　could　bee　a　star！　Please？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　he　asked　dryly。　〃But　I　don't　think　you're　his　type。〃
　〃I　can　adapt。　Didn't　I　act　exactly　as　you　wanted　with　Bartlett。　Am　I　not　dressed　perfectly；　American　style？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　you　are。〃　Gornt　looked　at　her；　then　said　delicately；　〃You　could　be　perfect　for　him。　I　was　thinking　you　could　perhaps　have　something　more　permanent　than　an　affair。　。。。〃
　All　her　attention　concentrated。　〃What？〃
　〃You　and　he　could　fit　together　like　a　perfect　Chinese　puzzle。　You're　good…humored；　the　right　age；　beautiful；　clever；　educated；　marvelous　at　the　pillow；　very　smart　in　the　head；　with　enough　of　an　American　patina　to　put　him　at　ease。〃　Gornt　exhaled　smoke　and　added；　〃And　of　all　the　ladies　I　know；　you　could　really　spend　his　money。　Yes；　you　two　could　fit　perfectly　。。。　he'd　be　very　good　for　you　and　you'd　brighten　his　life　considerably。　Wouldn't　you？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　she　said　at　once。　〃Oh　yes　I　would。〃　She　smiled　then　frowned。　〃But　what　about　the　woman　he　has　with　him？　They're　sharing　a　suite　at　the　Vic。　I　heard　she's　gorgeous。　What　about　her；　Quillan？〃
　Gornt　smiled　thinly。　〃My　spies　say　they　don't　sleep　together　though　they're　better　than　friends。〃
　Her　face　fell。　〃He's　not　queer；　is　he？〃
　Gornt　laughed。　It　was　a　good　rich　laugh。　〃I　wouldn't　do　that　to　you；　Orlanda！　No；　I'm　sure　he's　not。　He's　just　got　a　strange　arrangement　with　Casey。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　Gornt　shrugged。
　After　a　moment　she　said；　〃What　do　I　do　about　her？〃
　〃If　Casey　Tcholok's　in　your　way；　remove　her。　You've　got　claws。〃
　〃You're　。。。　Sometimes　I　don't　like　you　at　all。〃
　〃We're　both　realists；　you　and　I。　Aren't　we。〃　He　said　it　very　flat。
　She　recognized　the　undercurrent　of　violence。　At　once　she　got　up　and　leaned　across　the　desk　and　kissed　him　lightly。　〃You're　a　devil；〃　she　said；　placating　him。　〃That's　for　old　times。〃
　His　hand　strayed　to　her　breast　and　he　sighed；　remembering；　enjoying　the　warmth　that　came　through　the　thin　material。　〃Ayeeyah；　Orlanda；　we　had　some　good　times；　didn't　we？〃
　She　had　been　his　mistress　when　she　was　seventeen。　He　was　her　first　and　he　had　kept　her　for　almost　five　years　and　would　have　continued　but　she　went　with　a　youth　to　Macao　when　he　was　away　and　he　had　been　told　about　it。　And　so　he　had　stopped。　At　once。　Even　though　they　had　a　daughter　then；　he　and　she；　one　year　old。
　〃Orlanda；〃　he　had　told　her　as　she　had　begged　for　forgiveness；　〃there's　nothing　to　forgive。　I've　told　you　a　dozen　times　that　youth　needs　youth；　and　there'd　e　a　day。　。。。　Dry　your　tears；　marry　the　lad　…　I'll　give　you　a　dowry　and　my　blessing。　。。。〃　And　throughout　all　her　weepings　he　had　remained　firm。　〃We'll　be　friends；〃　he　had　assured　her；　〃and　I'll　take　care　of　you　when　you　need　it。　。。。〃
　The　next　day　he　had　turned　the　heat　of　his　covert　fury　on　the　youth；　an　Englishman；　a　minor　executive　in　Asian　Properties　and；　within　the　month；　he　had　broken　him。
　〃It's　a　matter　of　face；〃　he　had　told　her　calmly。
　〃Oh　I　know；　I　understand　but　。。。　what　shall　I　do　now？〃　she　had　wailed。　〃He's　leaving　tomorrow　for　England　and　he　wants　me　to　go　with　him　and　marry　him　but　I　can't　marry　now；　he's　got　no　money　or　future　or　job　or　money。　。。。〃
　〃Dry　your　tears；　then　go　shopping。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　Here's　a　present。〃　He　had　given　her　a　first…class；　return　ticket　to　London　on　the　same　airplane　that　the　youth　was　traveling　tourist。　And　a　thousand　pounds　in　crisp；　new　ten…pound　notes。　〃Buy　lots　of　pretty　clothes；　and　go　to　the　theater。　You're　booked　into　the　Connaught　for　eleven　days　…　just　sign　the　bill　…　and　your　return's　confirmed；　so　have　a　happy　time　and　e　back　fresh　and　without　problems！〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Quillan　darling；　oh　thank　you。　。。。　I'm　so　sorry。　You　forgive　me？〃
　〃There's　nothing　to　forgive。　But　if　you　ever　talk　to　him　again；　or　see　him　privately　。。。　I　won't　be　friendly　to　you　or　your　family　ever　again。〃
　She　had　thanked　him　profusely　through　her　tears；　cursing　herself　for　her　stupidity；　begging　for　the　wrath　of　heaven　to　descend　upon　whoever　had　betrayed　her。　The　next　day　the　youth　had　tried　to　speak　to　her　at　the　airport　and　on　the　plane　and　in　London　but　she　just　cursed　him　away。　She　knew　where　her　rice　bowl　rested。　The　day　she　left　London　he　mitted　suicide。
　When　Gornt　heard　about　it；　he　lit　a　fine　cigar　and　took　her　out　to　a　dinner　atop　the　Victoria　and　Albert　with　candelabra　and　fine　linen　and　fine　silver；　and　then；　after　he　had　had　his　Napoleon　brandy　and　she　her　crème　de　menthe；　he　had　sent　her　home；　alone；　to　the　apartment　he　still　paid　for。　He　had　ordered　another　brandy　and　stayed；　watching　the　lights　of　the　harbor；　and　the　Peak；　feeling　the　glory　of　vengeance；　the　majesty　of　life；　his　face　regained。
　〃Ayeeyah；　we　had　some　good　times；〃　Gornt　said　again　now；　still　desiring　her；　though　he　had　not　pillowed　with　her　from　the　time　he　had　heard　about　Macao。
　〃Quillan　。。。〃　she　began；　his　hand　warming　her　too。
　〃No。〃
　Her　eyes　strayed　to　the　inner　door。　〃Please。　It's　three　years；　there's　never　been　anyone　。。。〃
　〃Thank　you　but　no。〃　He　held　her　away　from　him；　his　hands　now　firm　on　her　arms　but　gentle。　〃We've　already　had　the　best；〃　he　said　as　a　connoisseur　would。　〃I　don't　like　second　best。〃
　She　sat　back　on　the　edge　of　the　desk；　watching　him　sullenly。　〃You　always　win；　don't　you。〃
　〃The　day　you　bee　lovers　with　Bartlett　I'll　give　you　a　present；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃If　he　takes　you　to　Macao　and　you　stay　openly　with　him　for　three　days　I'll　give　you　a　new　Jag。　If　he　asks　you　to　marry　him　you　get　the　apartment　and　everything　in　it；　and　a　house　in　California　as　a　wedding　present。〃
　She　gasped；　then　smiled　gloriously。　〃An　XK…E；　a　black　one；　Quillan；　oh　that　would　be　perfect！〃　Then　her　happiness　evaporated。　〃What's　so　important　about　him？　Why　is　he　so　important　to　you？〃
　He　just　stared　at　her。
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said；　〃sorry；　I　shouldn't　have　asked。〃　Thoughtfully　she　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　lit　it　and　leaned　over　and　gave　it　to　him。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　seeing　the　curve　of　her　breast；　enjoying　it；　yet　a　little　saddened　that　such　beauty　was　so　transient。　〃Oh；　by　the　way；　I　wouldn't　like　Bartlett　to　know　of　our　arrangement。〃
　〃Nor　would　I。〃　She　sighed　and　forced　a　smile。　Then　she　got　up　and　shrugged。　〃Ayeeyah；　it　would　never　have　lasted　with　us　anyway。　Macao　or　not　Macao。　You　would　have　changed　…　you'd　have　bee　bored；　men　always　do。〃
　She　checked　her