jamesclavell.noblehouse-第291章

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p。m。〃
　Neither　of　the　other　men　moved。　〃Why　8：30；　Mr。　Dunross？　Why　not　midnight　or　midday　tomorrow？〃　Sinders　asked；　unperturbed。　He　continued　to　puff　his　pipe　but　Dunross　noticed　that　the　tempo　had　been　interrupted　the　moment　he　laid　down　the　challenge。　That's　a　good　sign；　he　thought。
　〃I　have　to　call　Tiptop　then。　Thanks　for　seeing　me。〃　Dunross　turned　for　the　door。
　Crosse；　sitting　behind　the　desk；　glanced　at　Sinders。　The　older　man　nodded。　Obediently　Crosse　touched　the　switch。　The　bolts　sneaked　back　silently。　Dunross　jerked　to　a　stop；　startled；　but　recovered　quickly；　opened　the　door　and　went　out　without　a　ment；　closing　it　after　him。
　〃Cool　bugger；〃　Crosse　said；　admiring　him。　〃Too　cool。〃
　〃Not　too　cool。　He's　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃And　a　liar；　but　a　clever　one　and　quite　prepared　to　finesse　us。　Would　he　obliterate　'it'？〃
　〃Yes。　But　I　don't　know　if　H　hour's　8：30　p。m。〃　Crosse　lit　a　cigarette。　〃I'm　inclined　to　think　it　is。　They'd　put　immense　pressure　on　him　…　they　have　to　presume　we'd　thrust　the　client　into　interrogation。　They've　had　plenty　of　time　to　study　Soviet　techniques　and　they've　got　a　few　twists　of　their　own。　They　must　presume　we're　fairly　efficient　too。〃
　〃I'm　inclined　to　think　he　hasn't　got　any　more　files　and　'it'　is　genuine。　If　'it'　es　from　AMG　it　must　have　special　value。　What's　your　counsel？〃
　〃I　repeat　what　I　said　to　the　governor：　If　we　have　possession　of　the　client　until　Monday　at　noon　we'll　have　everything　of　importance　out　of　him。〃
　〃But　what　about　them？　What　can　he　tell　them　about　us　when　he　recovers？〃
　〃We　know　most　of　that　now。　Concerning　Hong　Kong；　we　can　certainly　cover　every　security　problem　from　today。　It's　standard　SI　policy　never　to　let　any　one　person　know　master　plans　an…　〃
　〃Except　you。〃
　Crosse　smiled。　〃Except　me。　And　you　in　the　UK　of　course。　The　client　knows　a　lot；　but　not　everything。　We　can　cover　everything　here；　change　codes　and　so　on。　Don't　forget；　most　of　what　he　passed　on's　routine。　His　real　danger's　over。　He's　uncovered；　fortunately　in　time。　Sure　as　God　made　little　apples；　he'd've　been　the　first　Chinese　missioner；　and　probably　head　of　SI　en　route。　That　would　have　been　catastrophic。　We　can't　recover　the　private　dossiers；　Fong…fong　and　others；　or　the　riot　and　counterinsurrection　plans。　A　riot　is　a　riot　and　there　are　only　so　many　contingency　plans。　As　to　Sevrin；　he　knows　no　more　than　we　knew　before　we　caught　him。　Perhaps　the　'it'　could　provide　keys；　possibly　keys　to　questions　we　should　put　to　him。〃
　〃That　occurred　to　me　instantly　too。　As　I　said；　Mr。　Dunross　is　too　bloody　cool。〃　Sinders　lit　another　match；　smoked　the　match　a　moment；　then　tamped　the　used…up　tobacco。　〃You　believe　him？〃
　〃About　the　files；　I　don't　know。　I　certainly　believe　he　has　an　'it'　and　that　AMG　came　back　from　the　dead。　Sorry　I　never　met　him。　Yes。　The　'it'　could　easily　be　more　important　than　this　client　…　after　Monday　at　noon。　He's　mostly　a　husk　now。〃
　Since　they　had　returned；　the　interrogation　of　Brian　Kwok　had　continued；　most　of　it　rambling　and　incoherent　but　details　here　and　there　of　value。　More　about　atomics　and　names　and　addresses　of　contacts　in　Hong　Kong　and　Canton；　security　risks　here　and　patterns　of　information　about　the　Royal　Mounted　Police；　along　with　an　immensely　interesting　reiteration　of　vast　Soviet　infiltration　into　Canada。
　〃Why　Canada；　Brian？〃　Armstrong　had　asked。
　〃Northern　border；　Robert　。。。　the　weakest　fence　in　the　world；　there　isn't　any。　Such　great　riches　in　Canada　。。。　ah　I　wish　。。。　there　was　this　girl　I　almost　married；　they　said　my　duty　。。。　if　Soviets　can　disrupt　Canadians　。。。　they're　so　gullible；　and　wonderful　up　there。　。。。　Can　I　have　a　cigarette　。。。　oh　thanks　。。。　Can　I　have　a　drink　my　。。。　So　we　have　counterespionage　cells　everywhere　to　disrupt　Soviet…cells　and　find　out　。。。　then　there's　Mexico　。。。　The　Soviets　are　making　a　big　push　there　too　。。。　Yes　they　have　plants　everywhere　。。。　did　you　know　Philby　。。。〃
　An　hour　had　been　enough。
　〃Curious　he　should　break　so　quickly；〃　Sinders　said。
　Crosse　was　shocked。　〃I　guarantee　that　he's　not　controlled；　not　lying；　that　he's　telling　absolutely　everything　he　believes；　what　has　happened　and　will　continue　to　do　so　un…　〃
　〃Yes　of　course；〃　Sinders　said　somewhat　testily。　〃I　meant　curious　that　a　man　of　his　quality　should　crumble　so　soon。　I'd　say　he'd　been　wavering　for　years；　that　his　dedication　was　now　nonexistent　or　very　small　and　he　was　probably　ready　to　e　over　to　us　but　somehow　couldn't　extract　himself。　Pity。　He　could　have　been　very　valuable　to　us。〃　The　older　man　sighed　and　lit　another　match。　〃After　a　time　it　always　happens　to　their　deep…cover　moles　in　our　societies。　There's　always　some　kindness；　or　girl　or　man　friend　or　freedom　or　happiness　that　turns　their　whole　world　upside　down；　poor　buggers。　That's　why　we'll　win；　in　the　end。　Even　in　Russia　the　tables'll　be　turned　and　the　KGB'll　get　their　euppance　…　from　Russians　…　that's　why　the　pressure　now。　No　Soviet　on　earth　can　survive　without　dictatorship；　secret　police；　injustice　and　terror。〃　He　tapped　out　his　pipe　into　the　ashtray。　The　dottle　was　wet　at　the　base。　〃Don't　you　agree；　Roger？〃
　Crosse　nodded　and　stared　back　at　the　intense；　pale　blue　eyes；　wondering　what　was　behind　them。　〃You'll　phone　the　minister　for　instructions？〃
　〃No。　I　can　take　the　responsibility　for　this　one。　We'll　decide　at　8：30。〃　Sinders　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Let's　get　back　to　Robert。　It's　almost　time　to　begin　again。　Good　fellow　that；　very　good。　Did　you　hear　that　he　was　a　big　winner？〃
　
　69
　
　8：05　P。M。：
　〃Ian？　Sorry　to　interrupt；〃　Bartlett　said。
　〃Oh　hello！〃　Dunross　turned　back　from　the　other　guests　he　was　chatting　with。　Bartlett　was　alone。　〃You　two　aren't　leaving；　I　hope　…　this'll　go　on　till　at　least　9：30。〃
　〃Casey's　staying　awhile。　I've　a　date。〃
　Dunross　grinned。　〃I　hope　she's　suitably　pretty。〃
　〃She　is；　but　that　es　later。　First　a　business　meeting。　Do　you　have　a　minute？〃
　〃Certainly；　of　course。　Excuse　me　a　moment；〃　Dunross　said　to　the　others　and　led　the　way　out　of　the　crowded　anteroom　to　one　of　the　terraces。　The　rain　had　lessened　in　strength　but　continued　implacably。　〃The　General　Stores　takeover's　almost　certain　at　our　figure；　without　any　overbid　from　Superfoods。　We　really　will　make　the　proverbial　bundle　…　if　I　can　stop　Gornt。〃
　〃Yes。　Monday　will　tell。〃
　Dunross　looked　at　him　keenly。　〃I'm　very　confident。〃
　Bartlett　smiled；　tiredness　and　concern　behind　the　smile。　〃I　noticed。　But　I　wanted　to　ask；　are　we　still　on　for　Taipei　tomorrow？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　suggest　we　should　postpone　it　till　next　week；　next　weekend？　Tomorrow　and　Monday　are　rather　important　for　both　of　us。　Is　that　all　right？〃
　Bartlett　nodded；　hiding　his　relief。　〃Fine　with　me。〃　And　that　solves　my　problem　about　Orlanda；　he　thought。　〃Well　then；　I　think　I'll　be　off。〃
　〃Take　the　car。　Just　send　Lim　back　when　you're　through　with　him。　You're　going　to　the　hill　climb　if　it's　on？　That's　at　10：00　a。m。　till　about　noon。〃
　〃Where　is　it？〃
　〃New　Territories。　I'll　send　the　car　for　you；　weather　permitting。　Casey　too　if　she　wants。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　Casey　tonight　…　I'll　see　she　gets　back　safely。　Is　she　free　afterwards？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃Good；　then　I'll　ask　her　to　join　us　…　a　few　of　us　are　going　for　a　Chinese　supper。〃　Dunross　studied　him。　〃No　problem？〃
　〃No。　Nothing　that　can't　be　handled。〃　Bartlett　grinned　and　walked　away；　girding　himself　for　the　next　onslaught　…　Armstrong。　He　had　cornered　Rosemont　a　few　moments　ago　and　told　him　about　the　meeting　with　Banastasio。
　〃Best　leave　it　with　us；　Linc；〃　Rosemont　had　said。　〃As　far　as　you're　concerned　we're　informed　officially。　The　consulate。　I'll　pass　it　on　to　whomever。　Leave　it　all　lie　…　tell　Casey；　okay？　If　Banastasio　calls　either　of　you；　stall　him；　call　us　and　we'll　work　out　a　scam。　Here's　my　card　…　it's　good　twenty…four　hours　a　day。〃
　Bartlett　was　outside　the　front　door　now　and　he　joined　the　others　waiting　impatiently　for　their　cars。
　〃Oh　hi；　Linc；〃　Murtagh　said；　hurriedly　getting　out　of　a　cab；　almost　knocking　him　over。　〃Sorry！　Party　still　going　on？〃
　〃Sure　it　is；　Dave。　What's　the　rush？〃
　〃Got　to　see　the　tai…pan！〃　Murtagh　dropped　his　voice；　his　excitement　showing。　〃There's　a　chance　that　head　office'll　go　for　it；　if　Ian'll　concede　a　little！　Casey　still　here？〃
　〃Sure；