rl.thebourneultimatum-第31章

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　〃A　pleasure　to　make　your　acquaintance；　monsieur。〃　Both　men　shook　hands。　〃This　is　a　lovely　place；　is　it　not？〃
　〃Simply　beautiful。〃　Again　the　stranger　seemed　to　be　studying　him；　thought　Fontaine；　yet；　oddly　enough；　avoiding　any　prolonged　eye　contact。　〃Well；　I　must　be　on　my　way；〃　added　the　elderly　guest　in　the　brand…new　white　shoes。　〃Doctor's　orders。〃
　〃Moi　aussi；〃　said　Jean　Pierre；　purposely　speaking　French；　which　evidently　had　an　effect　on　the　stranger。　〃Toujours　le　médecin　а　notre　вge；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　〃All　too　true；〃　replied　the　old　man　with　the　bony　legs；　nodding　and　making　the　gesture　of　a　wave　as　he　turned　and　walked　rapidly　up　the　path。
　Fontaine　stood　motionless　watching　the　receding　figure；　waiting；　knowing　it　would　happen。　And　then　it　did。　The　old　man　stopped　and　slowly　turned　around。　From　a　distance　their　eyes　locked；　it　was　enough。　Jean　Pierre　smiled；　then　proceeded　down　the　concrete　path　toward　his　villa。
　It　was　another　warning；　he　mused；　and　a　far　more　deadly　one。　For　three　things　were　apparent：　first；　the　elderly　guest　in　the　foolish　white　cap　spoke　French；　second；　he　knew　that　〃Jean　Pierre　Fontaine〃　was　in　reality　someone　else…sent　to　Montserrat　by　someone　else；　third　。。。　he　had　the　mark　of　the　Jackal　in　his　eyes。　Mon　Dieu；　how　like　the　monseigneur！　Engineer　the　kill；　make　sure　it　is　done；　then　remove　all　physical　traces　that　could　lead　back　to　his　methods　of　operation；　in　particular　his　private　army　of　old　men。　No　wonder　the　nurse　had　said　that　after　his　orders　were　carried　out　they　could　remain　here　in　this　paradise　until　his　woman　died；　a　date　that　was　imprecise　at　best。　The　Jackal's　generosity　was　not　so　grand　as　it　appeared；　his　woman's　death；　as　well　as　his　own；　had　been　scheduled。
　John　St。　Jacques　picked　up　the　phone　in　his　office。　〃Yes？〃
　〃They　have　met；　sir！〃　said　the　excited　assistant　manager　at　the　front　desk。
　〃Who　have　met？〃
　〃The　great　man　and　his　illustrious　relative　from　Boston；　Massachusetts。　I　would　have　called　you　at　once；　but　there　was　a　mix…up　concerning　a　box　of　Belgian　chocolates…〃
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Several　minutes　ago；　sir；　I　saw　them　through　the　windows。　They　were　conferring　on　the　path。　My　esteemed　uncle；　the　deputy　director；　was　right　in　all　things！〃
　〃That's　nice。〃
　〃The　Crown　governor's　office　will　be　most　pleased；　and　I'm　certain　we　shall　be　mended；　as　will；　of　course；　my　brilliant　uncle。〃
　〃Good　for　all　of　us；〃　said　St。　Jacques　wearily。　〃Now　we　don't　have　to　concern　ourselves　about　them　any　longer；　do　we？〃
　〃Offhand　I　would　say　not；　sir。　。。。　Except　that　as　we　speak　the　honored　judge　is　walking　down　the　path　in　haste。　I　believe　he's　ing　inside。〃
　〃I　don't　think　he'll　bite　you；　he　probably　wants　to　thank　you。　Do　whatever　he　says。　There's　a　storm　ing　up　from　Basse…Terre　and　we'll　need　the　CG's　input　if　the　phones　go　out。〃
　〃I　myself　shall　perform　whatever　service　he　requires；　sir！〃
　〃Well；　there　are　limits。　Don't　brush　his　teeth。〃
　Brendan　Prefontaine　hurried　through　the　door　of　the　circular　glass…walled　lobby。　He　had　waited　until　the　old　Frenchman　had　turned　into　the　first　villa　before　reversing　direction　and　heading　straight　for　the　main　plex。　As　he　had　done　so　many　times　over　the　past　thirty　years；　he　was　forced　to　think　quickly　on　his　feet…usually　running　feet…building　plausible　explanations　that　would　support　a　number　of　obvious　possibilities　as　well　as　others　not　so　obvious。　He　had　just　mitted　an　unavoidable　yet　stupid　error；　unavoidable　because　he　was　not　prepared　to　give　Tranquility　Inn's　desk　a　false　name　in　case　identification　was　required；　and　stupid　because　he　had　given　a　false　name　to　the　hero　of　France。　。。。　Well；　not　stupid；　the　similarity　of　their　surnames　might　have　led　to　unwanted　plications　where　the　purpose　of　his　trip　to　Montserrat　was　concerned；　which　was　quite　simply　extortion…to　learn　what　so　frightened　Randolph　Gates　that　he　would　part　with　fifteen　thousand　dollars；　and　having　learned　it　perhaps　collect　a　great　deal　more。　No；　the　stupidity　was　in　not　taking　the　precautionary　step　he　was　about　to　take。　He　approached　the　front　desk　and　the　tall；　slender　clerk　behind　it。
　〃Good　evening；　sir；〃　fairly　yelled　the　inn's　employee；　causing　the　judge　to　look　around；　grateful　that　there　were　very　few　guests　in　the　lobby。　〃However　I　may　assist　you；　be　assured　of　my　perfection！〃
　〃I'd　rather　be　assured　of　your　keeping　your　voice　down；　young　man。〃
　〃I　shall　whisper；〃　said　the　clerk　inaudibly。
　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃How　may　I　help　you？〃　intoned　the　man；　now　sotto　voce。
　〃Let's　just　talk　quietly；　all　right？〃
　〃Certainly。　I　am　so　very　privileged。〃
　〃You　are？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Prefontaine。　〃I　have　a　favor　to　ask　of　you…〃
　〃Anything！〃
　〃Shhh！〃
　〃Naturally。〃
　〃Like　many　men　of　advanced　age　I　frequently　forget　things；　you　can　understand　that；　can't　you？〃
　〃A　man　of　your　wisdom　I　doubt　forgets　anything。〃
　〃What？　。。。　Never　mind。　I'm　traveling　incognito；　you　do　know　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Most　assuredly；　sir。〃
　〃I　registered　under　my　name；　Prefontaine…〃
　〃You　certainly　did；〃　interrupted　the　clerk。　〃I　know。〃
　〃It　was　a　mistake。　My　office　and　those　I've　told　to　reach　me　expect　to　ask　for　a　'Mr。　Patrick；'　my　middle　name。　It's　harmless　subterfuge　to　allow　me　some　much　needed　rest。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　said　the　clerk　confidentially；　leaning　over　the　counter。
　〃You　do？〃
　〃Of　course。　If　such　an　eminent　person　as　yourself　were　known　to　be　a　guest　here；　you　might　find　little　rest。　As　another；　you　must　have　plete　privvissy！　Be　assured；　I　understand。〃
　〃　'Privvissy'？　Oh；　good　Lord。　。。。〃
　〃I　shall　myself　alter　the　directory；　Judge。〃
　〃Judge。。。？　I　said　nothing　about　being　a　judge。〃　Consternation　was　apparent　on　the　man's　embarrassed　face。　〃A　slip　born　of　wishing　to　serve　you；　sir。〃
　〃And　of　something　else…someone　else。〃
　〃On　my　word；　no　one　here　other　than　the　owner　of　Tranquility　Inn　is　aware　of　the　confidential　nature　of　your　visit；　sir；〃　whispered　the　clerk；　again　leaning　over　the　counter。　〃All　is　total　privvissy！〃
　〃Holy　Mary；　that　asshole　at　the　airport…〃
　〃My　astute　uncle；〃　continued　the　clerk；　overriding　and　not　hearing　Prefontaine's　soft　monotone；　〃made　it　pletely　clear　that　we　were　privileged　to　be　dealing　with　illustrious　men　who　required　total　confidentiality。　You　see；　he　called　me　in　that　spirit…〃
　〃All　right；　all　right；　young　man；　I　understand　now　and　appreciate　everything　you're　doing。　Just　make　sure　that　the　name　is　changed　to　Patrick；　and　should　anyone　here　inquire　about　me；　he　or　she　is　to　be　given　that　name。　Do　we　understand　each　other？〃
　〃With　clairvoyance；　honored　Judge！〃
　〃I　hope　not。〃
　Four　minutes　later　the　harried　assistant　manager　picked　up　the　ringing　telephone。　〃Front　desk；〃　he　intoned；　as　if　giving　a　benediction。
　〃This　is　Monsieur　Fontaine　in　Villa　Number　Eleven。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　honor　is　mine　。。。　ours　。。。　everyone's！〃
　〃Merci。　I　wondered　if　you　might　help　me。　I　met　a　charming　American　on　the　path　perhaps　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago；　a　man　about　my　own　age　wearing　a　white　walking　cap。　I　thought　I　might　ask　him　for　an　aperitif　one　day；　but　I'm　not　sure　I　heard　his　name　correctly。〃
　He　was　being　tested；　thought　the　assistant　manager。　Great　men　not　only　had　secrets　but　concerned　themselves　with　those　guarding　them。　〃I　would　have　to　say　from　your　description；　sir；　that　you　met　the　very　charming　Mr。　Patrick。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；　I　believe　that　was　the　name。　An　Irish　name；　indeed；　but　he's　American；　is　he　not？〃
　〃A　very　learned　American；　sir；　from　Boston；　Massachusetts。　He's　in　Villa　Fourteen；　the　third　west　of　yours。　Simply　dial　seven…one…four。〃
　〃Yes；　well；　thank　you　so　much。　If　you　see　Monsieur　Patrick；　I'd　prefer　you　say　nothing。　As　you　know；　my　wife　is　not　well　and　I　must　extend　the　invitation　when　it　is　fortable　for　her。〃
　〃I　would　never　say　anything；　great　sir；　unless　told　to　do　so。　Where　you　and　the　learned　Mr。　Patrick　are　concerned；　we　follow　the　Crown　governor's　confidential　instructions　to　the　letter。〃
　〃You　do？　That's　most　mendable。　。。。　Adieu。〃
　He　had　done　it！　thought　the　assistant　manager；　hanging　up　the　phone。　Great　men　understood　subtleties；　and　he　had　been　subtle　in　ways　his　brilliant　uncle　would　appreciate。　Not　only　with　the　in