jamesclavell.noblehouse-第101章

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ping　little　voice　when　he　came　back；　his　eyes　wide；　'that　really　was　the　very　best　I　ever　did。　Can　I　do　it　again！'　〃
　Ian　had　laughed。　〃That's　all　a　story；　I　don't　remember　that　at　all。　You're　making　it　up；　Granny！〃
　〃Whisht　on　you！　You　were　five　or　six　and　the　next　day　we　went　into　the　glade　and　picked　the　new　tree；　the　one　you'll　see　tomorrow；　lassie；　and　blessed　it　in　the　clan's　name　and　I　told　young　Ian　to　be　a　mite　more　careful　next　time！〃
　They　had　laughed　together　and　then；　later　that　night；　she　had　woken　up　to　find　Ian　gone　and　his　crutches　gone。　She　had　watched　and　waited。　When　he　came　back　he　was　soaked　but　tired　and　at　peace。　She　pretended　sleep　until　he　was　in　bed　again。　Then　she　turned　to　him　and　gave　him　all　the　warmth　she　had。
　〃Remember；　lassie；〃　Granny　Dunross　had　said　to　her　privately　the　day　they　left；　〃if　ye　want　to　keep　your　marriage　sweet；　make　sure　this　Dunross　always　has　a　Shrieking　Tree　nearby。　Dinna　be　afeared。　Pick　one；　always　pick　one　wherever　you　go。　This　Dunross　needs　a　Shrieking　Tree　close　by　though　he'll　never　admit　it　and　will　never　use　it　but　rarely。　He's　like　the　Dirk。　He's　too　strong。　。。。〃
　So　wherever　they　had　gone　they　had　had　one。　Penelope　had　insisted。　Once；　in　Chungking；　where　Dunross　had　been　sent　to　be　an　Allied　liaison　officer　after　he　was　well　again；　she　had　made　a　bamboo　their　Shrieking　Tree。　Here　in　Hong　Kong　it　was　a　huge　jacaranda　that　dominated　the　whole　garden。　〃Don't　you　think　you　should　pay　her　a　wee　visit？〃　The　tree　was　always　a　her　for　him　and　a　him　for　her。　Everyone　should　have　a　Shrieking　Tree；　Penelope　thought。　Everyone。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　okay　now。〃
　〃How　did　Granny　Dunross　have　so　much　wisdom　and　stay　so　marvelous　after　so　much　tragedy　in　her　life？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Perhaps　they　built　them　stronger　in　those　days。〃
　〃I　miss　her。〃　Granny　Dunross　was　eighty…five　when　she　died。　She　was　Agnes　Struan　when　she　married　her　cousin　Dirk　Dunross　…　Dirk　McCloud　Dunross；　whom　his　mother　Winifred；　Dirk　Struan's　only　daughter；　had　named　after　her　father　in　remembrance。　Dirk　Dunross　had　been　fourth　tai…pan　and　he　had　been　lost　at　sea　in　Sunset　Cloud　driving　her　homeward。　He　was　only　forty…two　when　he　was　lost；　she　thirty…one。　She　never　married　again。　They　had　had　three　sons　and　one　daughter。　Two　of　her　sons　were　killed　in　World　War　I；　the　eldest　at　Gallipoli　at　twenty…one；　the　other　gassed　at　Ypres　in　Flanders；　nineteen。　Her　daughter　Anne　had　married　Gaston　deVille；　Jacques's　father。　Anne　had　died　in　the　London　bombing　where　all　the　deVilles　had　fled　except　Jacques　who　had　stayed　in　France　and　fought　the　Nazis　with　the　Maquis。　Colin；　the　last　of　her　sons；　Ian's　father；　also　had　three　sons　and　a　daughter；　Kathren。　Two　sons　also　were　killed　in　World　War　II。　Kathren's　first　husband；　Ian's　squadron　leader；　was　killed　in　the　Battle　of　Britain。　〃So　many　deaths；　violent　deaths；〃　Penelope　said　sadly。　〃To　see　them　all　born　and　all　die　。。。　terrible。　Poor　Granny！　Yet　when　she　died　she　seemed　to　go　so　peacefully　with　that　lovely　smile　of　hers。〃
　〃Perhaps　it　was　joss。　But　the　others；　that　was　joss　too。　They　only　did　what　they　had　to；　Penn。　After　all；　our　family　history's　ordinary　in　that。　We're　British。　War's　been　a　way　of　life　for　centuries。　Look　at　your　family　…　one　of　your　uncles　was　lost　at　sea　in　the　navy　in　the　Great　War；　another　in　the　last　at　El　Alamein；　your　parents　killed　in　the　blitz　。。。　all　very　ordinary。〃　His　voice　hardened。　〃It's　not　easy　to　explain　to　any　outsider；　is　it？〃
　〃No。　We　all　had　to　grow　up　so　quickly；　didn't　we；　Ian？〃　He　nodded　and　after　a　moment　she　said；　〃You'd　better　dress　for　dinner；　dear；　you'll　be　late。〃
　〃e　on；　Penn；　for　God's　sake；　you　take　an　hour　longer　than　me。　We'll　put　in　a　quick　appearance　and　leave　directly　after　chow。　Wh…　〃　The　phone　rang　and　he　picked　it　up。　〃Yes？　Oh　hello；　Mr。　Deland。〃
　〃Good　evening；　tai…pan。　I　wish　to　report　about　Mme。　deVille's　daughter　and　son…in…law；　M。　Escary。〃
　〃Yes；　please　go　ahead。〃
　〃I　am　sad　to　have　the　dishonor　of　bringing　such　bad　tidings。　The　accident　was　a；　how　do　you　say；　sideswipe　on　the　upper　Corniche　just　outside　Eze。　The　driver　of　the　other　car　was　drunk。　It　was　at　two　in　the　morning　about；　and　when　the　police　arrived；　M。　Escary　was　already　dead　and　his　wife　unconscious。　The　doctor　says　she　will　mend；　very　well；　but　he　is　afraid　that　her；　her　internal　organs；　her　childbearing　organs　may　have　permanent　hurt。　She　may　require　an　operation。　He　…　〃
　〃Does　she　know　this？〃
　〃No；　m'sieu；　not　yet；　but　Mme。　deVille　was　told；　the　doctor　told　her。　I　met　her　as　you　ordered　and　have　taken　care　of　everything。　I　have　asked　for　a　specialist　in　these　things　from　Paris　to　consult　with　the　Nice　Hospital　and　he　arrives　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Is　there　any　other　damage？〃
　〃Externally；　non。　A　broken　wrist；　a　few　cuts；　nothing。　But　。。。　the　poor　lady　is　distraught。　It　was　glad　。。。　I　was　glad　that　her　mother　came；　that　helped；　has　helped。　She　stays　at　the　Métropole　in　a　suite　and　I　met　her　airplane。　Of　course　I　will　be　in　the　constant　touch。〃
　〃Who　was　driving？〃
　〃Mme。　Escary。〃
　〃And　the　other　driver？〃
　There　was　a　hesitation。　〃His　name　is　Charles　Sessonne。　He's　a　baker　in　Eze　and　he　was　ing　home　after　cards　and　an　evening　with　some　friends。　The　police　have　。。。　Mme。　Escary　swears　his　car　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road。　He　cannot　remember。　Of　course　he　is　very　sorry　and　the　police　have　charged　him　with　drunk　driving　an…　〃
　〃Is　this　the　first　time？〃
　〃Non。　Non；　once　before　he　was　stopped　and　fined。〃
　〃What'll　happen　under　French　law？〃
　〃There　will　be　a　court　and　then　。。。　I　do　not　know；　m'sieu。　There　were　no　other　witnesses。　Perhaps　a　fine；　perhaps　jail；　I　do　not　know。　Perhaps　he　will　remember　he　was　on　the　right　side；　who　knows？　I'm　sorry。〃
　Dunross　thought　a　moment。　〃Where　does　this　man　live？〃
　〃Rue　de　Verte　14；　Eze。〃
　Dunross　remembered　the　village　well；　not　far　from　Monte　Carlo；　high　above；　and　the　whole　of　the　C？te　d'Azur　below　and　you　could　see　beyond　Monte　Carlo　into　Italy；　and　beyond　Cap　Ferrat　to　Nice。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Deland。　I've　telexed　you　10；000　U。S。　for　Mme。　deVille's　expenses　and　anything　else。　Whatever's　necessary　please　do　it。　Call　me　at　once　if　there's　anything　。。。　yes　and　ask　the　specialist　to　call　me　immediately　after　he's　examined　Mme。　Escary。　Have　you　talked　with　Mr。　Jacques　deVille？〃
　〃No；　tai…pan。　You　did　not　instruct　this。　Should　I　phone？〃
　〃No。　I'll　call　him。　Thank　you　again。〃　Dunross　hung　up　and　told　Penelope　everything；　except　about　the　internal　injuries。
　〃How　awful！　How　。。。　how　senseless！〃
　Dunross　was　looking　out　at　the　sunset。　It　was　at　his　suggestion　the　young　couple　had　gone　to　Nice　and　Monte　Carlo　where　he　and　Penelope　had　had　so　much　fun；　and　marvelous　food；　marvelous　wine　and　a　little　gambling。　Joss；　he　thought；　then　added；　Christ　all　bloody　mighty！
　He　dialed　Jacques　deVille's　house　but　he　was　not　there。　He　left　a　message　for　him　to　return　the　call。　〃I'll　see　him　at　the　dinner　tonight；〃　he　said；　the　champagne　now　tasteless。　〃Well；　we'd　better　get　changed。〃
　〃I'm　not　going；　dear。〃
　〃Oh　but　。。。〃
　〃I've　lots　to　do　to　get　ready　for　tomorrow。　You　can　make　an　excuse　for　me　…　of　course　you　have　to　go。　I'll　be　ever　so　busy。　There's　Glenna's　school　things　…　and　Duncan　gets　back　on　Monday　and　his　school　things　have　to　be　sorted。　You'll　have　to　put　him　on　the　aircraft；　make　sure　he　has　his　passport　。。。　You　can　easily　make　an　excuse　for　me　tonight　as　I'm　leaving。〃
　He　smiled　faintly。　〃Of　course；　Penn；　but　what's　the　real　reason？〃
　〃It's　going　to　be　a　big　do。　Robin's　bound　to　be　there。〃
　〃They're　not　back　till　tomorrow！〃
　〃No；　it　was　in　the　Guardian's　Extra。　They　arrived　this　afternoon。　The　whole　delegation。　They're　sure　to　be　invited。〃　The　banquet　was　being　given　by　a　multimillionaire　property　developer；　Sir　Shi…teh　T'Chung；　partially　to　celebrate　the　knighthood　he　had　received　in　the　last　Honors　List；　but　mostly　to　launch　his　latest　charity　drive　for　the　new　wing　of　the　new　Elizabeth　Hospital。　〃I've　really　no　wish　to　go；　and　so　long　as　you're　there；　everything'll　be　all　right。　I　really　want　an　early　night　too。　Please。〃
　〃All　right。　I'll　deal　with　these　calls；　then　I'll　be　off。　I'll　see　you　though　before　I　go。〃　Dunross　walked　upstairs　and　went　into　his　study。　Lim　was　waiting　there；　on　guard。　He　wore　a　white　tunic　and　black　pants　and　soft　shoes。　〃Evening；　Lim；〃　Dunross　said　in　Cantonese。
　〃Good　evening；　tai…pan。〃　Quietly　the　old　man　motioned　him　to　the　window。　Dunross　could　see　two　men；　Chinese；　loitering　across　the　street　outside　the　high　wall　that　surrounded　the　Great　House；　near　the　tall；　open　iron　gates。　〃They've　been　there　some　time；　tai…pan。〃
　Dunross　watched　them　a　moment；　disquieted。　His　own　guard　had　just　been　dismissed　and　Brian　Kwok；　who　was　also　a　guest　at　Sir　Shi…teh's　tonight；　would　e　by　shortly　and　go　with　him；　acting　as　a　substitute。　〃If　they　don't　go　away　by　dusk　call　Superintendent　Crosse's　office。〃　He　wrote　the　number　down；　then　added　in　Cantonese；　his　voice　abruptly　hard；　〃While　I　think　of　it；　Lim；　if　I　want　any　foreign　devil　car　interfered　with；　I　will　order　it。〃　He　saw　the　old　eyes　staring　back　at　him　impassively。　Lim　Chu　had　been　with　the　family　since　he　was　seven；　like　his　father　before　him；　and　his　father；　the　first　of　his　line　who；　in　the　very　old　days；　before　Hong　Kong　had　existed；　had　been　Number　One　Boy　and　looked　after　the　Struan　mansion　in　Macao。
　〃I　don't　understand；　tai…pan。〃
　〃You　cannot　wrap　fire　in　paper。　The　police　are　clever　and　old　Black　Beard's　a　great　supporter　of　police。　Experts　can　examine　brakes　and　deduce　all　sorts　of　information。''
　〃I　know　nothing　of　police。〃　The　old　man　shrugged　then　beamed。　〃Tai…pan；　I　do　not　climb　trees　to　find　a　fish。　Nor　do　you。　May　I　mention　that　in　the　night　I　could　not　sleep　and　I　came　here。　There　was　a　shadow　on　the　veranda　balcony。　The　moment　I　opened　the　study　door　the　shadow　slid　down　the　drainpipe　and　vanished　into　the　shrubs。〃　The　old　man　took　out　a　torn　piece　of　cloth。　〃This　was　on　the　drainpipe。〃　The　cloth　was　nondescript。
　Dunross　studied　it；　perturbed。　He　glanced　at　Dirk　Struan's　oil　painting　over　the　fireplace。　It　was　perfectly　in　position。　He　moved　it　away　and　saw　that　the　hair　he　had　delicately　balanced　on　a　hinge　of　the　safe　was　untouched。　Satisfied；　he　replaced　the　picture；　then　checked　the　locks　on　the　French　windows。　The　two　men　were　still　loitering。　For　the　first　time　Dunross　was　very　glad　that　he　had　an　SI　guard。
　
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　7：58　P。M。：
　It　was　hot　and　humid　in　Phillip　Chen's　study　and　he　was　sitting　beside　the　phone　staring　at　it　nervously。　The　door　swung　open　and　he　jumped。　Dianne　sailed　in。
　〃There's　no　point　in　waiting　anymore；　Phillip；〃　she　said　irritably。　〃You'd　better　go　and　change。　That　devil　Werewolf　won't　call　tonight。　Something　must　have　happened。　Do　e　along！〃　She　wore　an　evening　chong…sam　in　the　latest；　most　expensive　fashion；　her　hair　bouffant；　and　she　was　bejeweled　like　a　Christmas　tree。　〃Yes。　Something　must　have　happened。　Perhaps　the　police　。。。　huh；　it's　too　much　to　expect　they　caught　him。　More　likely　that　fang　pi　devil's　playing　with　us。　You'd　better　change　or　we'll　be　late。　If　you　hurr…　〃
　〃I　really　don't　want　to　go；〃　he　snapped　back　at　her。　〃Shitee　T'Chung's　a　bore　and　now　that　he's　Sir　Shitee　he's　a　double　one。〃　Years　ago