preston&child.thecabinetofcuriosities-第26部分

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way；　money　moved　hither　and　yon。　Gently。　Very　gently。
　He　depressed　a　button　on　his　inter；　and　spoke　in　a　mild　voice。　〃Mrs。　Surd；　would　you　be　so　good　as　to　tell　Mr。　Brisbane　I　should　like　to　see　him　at　his　convenience？〃
　〃Yes；　Dr。　Collopy。〃
　〃Thank　you　most　kindly；　Mrs。　Surd。〃
　He　released　the　button　and　settled　back。　Then　he　carefully　folded　up　the　New　York　Times　and　placed　it　out　of　sight；　in　the　〃To　Be　Filed〃　box　at　the　corner　of　his　desk。　And；　for　the　first　time　since　leaving　his　bedroom　that　morning；　he　smiled。
　
　ELEVEN
　　
　NORA　KELLY　KNEW　what　the　call　was　about。　She　had　seen　the　article　in　the　morning　paper；　of　course。　It　was　the　talk　of　the　Museum；　perhaps　of　all　New　York。　She　knew　what　kind　of　effect　it　would　have　on　a　man　like　Brisbane。　She　had　been　waiting　all　day　for　him　to　call　her；　and　now；　at　ten　minutes　to　five；　the　summons　had　finally　e。　He　had　waited　until　ten　minutes　to　five。　Letting　her　stew；　no　doubt。　She　wondered　if　that　meant　he　would　give　her　ten　minutes　to　clear　out　of　the　Museum。　It　wouldn't　surprise　her。
　The　nameplate　was　missing　from　Brisbane's　door。　She　knocked　and　the　secretary　called　her　in。
　〃Have　a　seat；　please；〃　said　a　haggard　older　woman　who　was　clearly　in　a　bad　mood。
　Nora　sat。　Goddamned　Bill；　she　thought。　What　could　he　have　been　thinking？　Admittedly；　the　guy　was　impulsive…he　tended　to　act　before　engaging　his　cerebral　cortex…but　this　was　too　much。　She'd　have　his　guts　for　garters；　as　her　father　used　to　say。　She'd　cut　off　his　balls；　fix　them　to　a　thong；　and　wear　them　around　her　waist　like　a　bola。　This　job　was　so　critical　to　her…yet　here　he　was；　practically　typing　out　the　pink　slip　himself。　How　could　he　have　done　this　to　her？
　The　secretary's　phone　buzzed。　〃You　may　go　in；〃　the　older　woman　said。
　Nora　entered　the　inner　office。　Brisbane　stood　in　front　of　a　mirror　placed　at　one　side　of　his　desk；　tying　a　bow　tie　around　his　neck。　He　wore　black　pants　with　a　satin　stripe　and　a　starched　shirt　with　mother…of…pearl　buttons。　A　tuxedo　jacket　was　draped　over　his　chair。　Nora　paused　inside　the　door；　waiting；　but　Brisbane　said　nothing　nor　in　any　way　acknowledged　her　presence。　She　watched　him　deftly　whip　one　end　of　the　tie　over　the　other；　snug　the　end　through。
　Then　he　spoke：　〃Over　the　past　few　hours；　I've　learned　a　great　deal　about　you；　Dr。　Kelly。〃
　Nora　remained　silent。
　〃About　a　disastrous　field　expedition　in　the　Southwestern　desert；　for　example；　in　which　your　leadership　and　even　scientific　abilities　were　called　into　question。　And　about　a　certain　William　Smithback。　I　didn't　know　you　were　quite　so　friendly　with　this　William　Smithback　of　the　Times。〃
　There　was　another　pause　while　he　tugged　on　the　ends　of　the　tie。　As　he　worked　he　craned　his　neck。　It　rose　out　of　his　collar；　as　pale　and　scrawny　as　a　chicken's。
　〃I　understand；　Dr。　Kelly；　that　you　brought　non…Museum　personnel　into　the　Archives；　in　direct　violation　of　the　rules　of　this　Museum。〃
　He　tightened　and　adjusted。　Nora　said　nothing。
　〃Furthermore；　you've　been　doing　outside　work　on　Museum　time；　assisting　this　FBI　agent。　Again；　a　clear　violation　of　the　rules。〃
　Nora　knew　it　would　be　futile　to　remind　Brisbane　that　he　himself；　however　grudgingly；　had　authorized　the　work。
　〃Finally；　it's　a　violation　of　Museum　rules　to　have　contact　with　the　press；　without　clearing　it　through　our　public　relations　office　first。　There　are　good　reasons　for　all　these　rules；　Dr。　Kelly。　These　are　not　mere　bureaucratic　regulations。　They　relate　to　the　Museum's　security；　to　the　integrity　of　its　collections　and　archives；　and　especially　its　reputation。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　Nora　looked　at　Brisbane；　but　could　find　no　words。
　〃Your　conduct　has　caused　a　great　deal　of　anxiety　here。〃
　〃Look；〃　she　said。　〃If　you're　going　to　fire　me；　get　it　over　with。〃
　Brisbane　looked　at　her　at　last；　his　pink　face　forming　an　expression　of　mock　surprise。　〃Who　said　anything　about　firing？　Not　only　will　we　not　fire　you；　but　you　are　forbidden　to　resign。〃
　Nora　looked　at　him　in　surprise。
　〃Dr。　Kelly；　you　will　remain　with　the　Museum。　After　all；　you're　the　hero　of　the　hour。　Dr。　Collopy　and　I　are　united　on　this。　We　wouldn't　dream　of　letting　you　go…not　after　that　self…serving；　self…aggrandizing　newspaper　piece。　You're　bulletproof。　For　now。〃
　Nora　listened；　her　surprise　slowly　turning　to　anger。
　Brisbane　patted　the　bow　tie；　examined　himself　one　last　time　in　the　mirror；　and　turned。　〃All　your　privileges　are　suspended。　No　access　to　the　central　collections　or　the　Archives。〃
　〃Am　I　allowed　to　use　the　girls'　room？〃
　〃No　contact　with　anyone　on　the　outside　involving　Museum　business。　And　especially　no　contact　with　that　FBI　agent　or　that　journalist；　Smithback。〃
　No　need　to　worry　about　Smithback；　Nora　thought；　furious　now。
　〃We　know　all　about　Smithback。　There's　a　file　on　him　downstairs　that's　a　foot　thick。　As　you　probably　know；　he　wrote　a　book　about　the　Museum　a　few　years　back。　That　was　before　my　time　and　I　haven't　read　it；　but　I've　heard　it　wasn't　exactly　Nobel　Prize　material。　He's　been　persona　non　grata　around　here　ever　since。〃
　He　looked　at　her　directly；　his　eyes　cold　and　unwavering。　〃In　the　meantime；　it's　business　as　usual。　Going　to　the　new　Primate　Hall　opening　tonight？〃
　〃I　wasn't　planning　to。〃
　〃Start　planning。　After　all；　you're　our　employee　of　the　week。　People　are　going　to　want　to　see　you　up　and　about；　looking　chipper。　In　fact；　the　Museum　will　be　issuing　a　press　release　about　our　own　heroic　Dr。　Kelly；　pointing　out　in　the　process　how　civic…minded　the　Museum　is；　how　we　have　a　long　history　of　doing　pro　bono　work　for　the　city。　Of　course；　you　will　deflect　any　further　questions　about　this　business　by　saying　that　all　your　work　is　pletely　confidential。〃　Brisbane　lifted　the　jacket　from　the　chair　and　daintily　shrugged　himself　into　it；　flicking　a　stray　thread　from　his　shoulders；　touching　his　perfect　hair。　〃I'm　sure　you　can　find　a　halfway　decent　dress　among　your　things。　Just　be　glad　it　isn't　one　of　the　fancy…dress　balls　the　Museum's　so　fond　of　these　days。〃
　〃What　if　I　say　no？　What　if　I　don't　get　with　your　little　program？〃
　Brisbane　shot　his　cuffs　and　turned　to　her　again。　Then　his　eyes　flicked　to　the　door；　and　Nora's　gaze　followed。
　Standing　in　the　doorway；　hands　folded　before　him；　was　Dr。　Collopy　himself。　The　director　cut　a　fearsome；　almost　sinister　figure　as　he　silently　walked　the　halls　of　the　Museum；　his　thin　frame　dressed　in　formal　severity；　his　profile　that　of　an　Anglican　deacon's；　his　posture　rigid　and　forbidding。　Collopy；　who　came　from　a　long　background　of　gentleman　scientists　and　inventors；　had　an　enigmatic　demeanor　and　a　quiet　voice　that　never　seemed　to　be　raised。　To　top　it　off；　the　man　owned　a　brownstone　on　West　End　Avenue　in　which　he　lived　with　a　gorgeous　new　wife；　forty　years　his　junior。　Their　relationship　was　the　subject　of　endless　ment　and　obscene　speculation。
　But　today；　Director　Collopy　was　almost　smiling。　He　took　a　step　forward。　The　angular　lines　of　his　pale　face　looked　much　softer　than　usual；　even　animated。　He　actually　took　her　hand　between　his　own　dry　palms；　eyes　looking　closely　into　hers；　and　Nora　felt　a　faint　and　wholly　unexpected　tingle。　She　abruptly　saw　what　that　young　wife　must　also　have　seen…a　very　vital　man　was　hidden　behind　that　normally　impenetrable　facade。　Now；　Collopy　did　smile…and　when　he　did　so；　it　was　as　if　a　heat　lamp　was　switched　on。　Nora　felt　bathed　in　a　radiance　of　charm　and　vigor。
　〃I　know　your　work；　Nora；　and　I've　been　following　it　with　tremendous　interest。　To　think　that　the　great　ruins　of　Chaco　Canyon　might　have　been　influenced；　if　not　built；　by　the　Aztecs…it's　important；　even　groundbreaking　stuff。〃
　〃Then…〃
　He　silenced　her　with　a　faint　pressure　to　her　hand。　〃I　wasn't　aware　of　the　cuts　in　your　department；　Nora。　We've　all　had　to　tighten　our　belts；　but　perhaps　we've　done　so　a　little　too　indiscriminately。〃
　Nora　couldn't　help　glancing　at　Brisbane；　but　his　face　had　shut　down　pletely：　it　was　unreadable。
　〃Fortunately；　we　are　in　a　position　to　restore　your　funding；　and　on　top　of　that　give　you　the　eighteen　thousand　you　need　for　those　critical　carbon…14　dates。　I　myself　have　a　personal　interest　in　the　subject。　I'll　never　forget；　as　a　boy；　visiting　those　magnificent　Chacoan　ruins　with　Dr。　Morris　himself。〃
　〃Thank　you；　but…〃