jamesclavell.noblehouse-第257部分

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the　stock　market　and　Second　Great　House。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Dunross　chatted　awhile；　exuding　confidence；　then　his　eyes　strayed　back　to　Casey　at　the　front　desk。
　Nighttime　Gup's　shrewd　old　eyes　twinkled。　〃The　gun…runner's　not　in　the　hotel；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃No。　He　left　early　with　a　girl。　Around　7：00　p。m。；　I'd　just　e　on　duty；〃　the　neat　old　man　said　airily。　〃The　gun…runner　was　dressed　very　casually。　For　a　sail　I　imagine。　A　girl　was　with　him。〃
　Dunross　concentrated　now。　〃There　are　many　girls　in　Hong　Kong；　Nighttime　Gup。〃
　〃Not　like　this　one；　tai…pan。〃　The　old　man　guffawed　carefully。　〃Once　she　was　the　mistress　of　Black　Beard。〃
　〃Eeeee；　old　man；　you　have　sharp　eyes　and　a　long　memory。　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Oh　very　sure！〃　Nighttime　Gup　was　delighted　with　the　way　his　news　was　received。　〃Yes；〃　he　added　loftily；　〃since　we　hear　the　Americans　may　be　joining　the　Noble　House　if　you　can　extricate　yourself　from　all　those　other　fornicators　it　might　be　good　for　you　to　know　that。　Also　that　Golden　Pubics　has　moved　her　ro…　〃
　〃Who？〃
　Nighttime　Gup　explained　the　reason　for　the　nickname。　〃Can　you　imagine；　tai…pan？〃
　Dunross　sighed；　astounded　as　always　at　how　fast　gossip　traveled。　〃She's　changed　her　room？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　it's　along　the　corridor；　276；　on　the　same　floor。　Eeeee；　tai…pan；　I　heard　she　was　weeping　in　the　night；　two　nights　ago；　and　again　this　evening　before　she　left。　Yes。　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　saw　her　crying　tonight。〃
　〃They　had　a　row？　She　and　the　gun…runner？〃
　〃Oh　no；　not　a　row；　no　shoutings。　But；　oh　ko；　if　Golden　Pubics　knows　about　the　Orlanda　flower　that's　cause　enough　for　dragons　to　belch。〃　Nighttime　Gup　smiled　toothily　at　Casey　as　she　came　back；　a　sheaf　of　cables　and　messages　in　her　hand。　Dunross　noticed　that　now　there　was　a　shadow　in　her　eyes。　No　message　from　Linc　Bartlett；　he　surmised；　getting　up。　Nighttime　Gup　solicitously　pulled　a　chair　away　for　her；　poured　her　tea；　continuing　in　his　gutter　Cantonese；　〃Never　mind；　tai…pan。　Golden　Pubics　or　not　it's　all　the　same　in　the　dark；　heya？〃　The　old　man　chuckled　and　left。
　Dunross　glanced　at　her　papers。　〃Trouble？〃
　〃Oh　no；　just　more　of　the　same。〃　She　looked　at　him　directly；　〃I've　got　them　all　partmentalized　for　tomorrow。　Tonight's　mine。　Linc's　not　back　yet。〃　She　sipped　her　tea；　enjoying　it。　〃So　I　can　monopolize　you。〃
　〃I　thought　I　was　doing　the　monopolizing。　Isn't　…　〃　He　stopped　as　he　noticed　Robert　Armstrong　and　Sinders　e　in　through　the　swing　doors。　The　two　men　stood　at　the　entrance；　looking　for　a　table。
　〃Your　police　work　overtime；〃　Casey　said；　and；　as　the　men's　gaze　fell　on　them；　waved　back　half…heartedly。　The　two　men　hesitated；　then　went　to　a　vacant　table　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　〃I　like　Armstrong；〃　she　said。　〃Is　the　other　man　police？〃
　〃I　imagine　so。　Where　did　you　meet　Robert？〃
　She　told　him。　〃Still　nothing　on　the　smuggled　guns。　Where　they　came　from　or　whatever。〃
　〃Rotten　business。〃
　〃Would　you　like　a　brandy？〃
　〃Why　not？　One　for　the　road；　then　I　must　be　going。　Waiter！〃　He　ordered　the　drinks。　〃The　car'll　be　here　tomorrow　at　twelve　sharp　to　pick　you　up。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Ian；　the　invitation　read；　'Ladies　Hats　and　Gloves。'　Do　you　really　mean　that？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　He　frowned。　〃Ladies　have　always　worn　hats　and　gloves　at　the　races。　Why？〃
　〃I'll　have　to　buy　a　hat。　I　haven't　worn　one　in　years。〃
　〃Actually；　I　like　ladies　in　hats。〃　Dunross　glanced　around　the　room。　Armstrong　and　Sinders　were　watching　him　covertly。　Is　it　a　coincidence　they're　here？　he　wondered。
　〃You　feel　the　eyes　too；　tai…pan？　Everyone　here　seems　to　know　you。〃
　〃It's　not　me；　it's　just　the　Noble　House　and　what　I　represent。〃
　The　brandy　came。　〃Health！〃　They　touched　glasses。
　〃Will　you　answer　my　question　now？〃
　〃The　answer's　yes。〃　He　swirled　the　brandy　in　the　glass　and　inhaled　it。
　〃Yes　what？〃
　Abruptly　he　grinned。　〃Yes　nothing；　yes　it's　not　fair　but　yes　it　happens　all　the　time　and　I'm　not　going　to　get　into　one　of　those　lovely　self…analyzing　'Have　you　stopped　beating　your　wife　recently？'　things；　though　I　do　hear　that　most　ladies　like　being　beaten　occasionally　but　with　great　care；　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　the