jamesclavell.noblehouse-第178章

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've　already　had　one　unofficial　official　scream。〃
　Johnjohn　winced。　〃Oh　God；　not　from　Tiptop？〃
　〃Of　course　from　Tiptop。　He　said；　in　that　calm　silky　voice　of　his；　'Your　Excellency；　when　our　peers　in　Peking　read　how　important　members　of　your　great　English　Parliament　view　the　Middle　Kingdom；　I　think　they　will　be　really　quite　angry。'　I'd　say　our　chances　of　getting　the　temporary　use　of　their　money　now　is　nil。〃
　Another　wave　of　anger　went　over　Johnjohn。
　〃That　damned　man　implied　his　views　were　the　mittee's　views；　which　is　totally　untrue！　Ridiculous　to　inflame　China　under　any　circumstances。　Without　China's　benevolence　our　position　here　is　totally　untenable。　Totally！　Bloody　fool！　And　we　all　went　out　of　our　way　to　explain！〃　The　governor　took　out　a　handkerchief　and　blew　his　nose。　〃Where　are　the　others？〃
　〃Superintendent　Crosse　and　Mr。　Sinders　are　using　my　office　for　a　moment。　Ian's　on　his　way。　What　about　Ian　and　Grey；　sir；　Grey　being　Ian's　brother…in…law？　Eh？〃
　〃Extraordinary。〃　Since　Grey　had　mentioned　it　in　response　to　a　question　this　afternoon　he　had　had　a　dozen　calls　about　it。　〃Astonishing　that　Ian　never　mentioned　it。〃
　〃Or　Penelope！　Very　odd。　Do　you　th…　〃　Johnjohn　glanced　up　and　stopped。　Dunross　was　walking　toward　them。
　〃Evening；　sir。〃
　〃Hello；　Ian。　I　put　the　time　back　to　7：00　p。m。　to　give　me　a　chance　to　see　Sinders　and　Stanley　Rosemont。〃　The　governor　held　up　the　paper。　〃You've　seen　this？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　The　Chinese　evening　papers　are　so　incensed；　I'm　surprised　every　edition's　not　on　fire　and　all　of　Central　with　them。〃
　〃I'd　try　them　for　treason；〃　Johnjohn　said；　his　face　sour。　〃What　the　devil　can　we　do；　Ian？〃
　〃Pray！　I've　already　spoken　to　Guthrie；　the　Liberal　MP；　and　some　of　the　Tories。　One　of　the　Guardian's　top　reporters　is　interviewing　them　right　now　and　their　opposite　opinions　will　be　the　morning　headlines　refuting　all　this　poppycock。〃　Dunross　wiped　his　hands。　He　could　feel　the　sweat　on　his　back　as　well。　The　bination　of　Grey；　Tiptop；　Jacques；　Phillip　Chen；　the　coin　and　the　AMG　files　was　unnerving　him。　Christ　Jesus；　he　thought；　what　next？　His　meeting　with　Murtagh　of　the　Royal　Belgium　had　been　what　Casey　had　forecast　…　a　long　shot　but　a　good　one。　ing　out　of　that　meeting　someone　had　given　him　the　afternoon　papers　and　the　bombshell　that　such　ill…advised　remarks　was　going　to　create　had　almost　knocked　him　over。　〃We'll　have　to　just　dismiss　the　whole　thing　publicly；　and　privately　work　like　hell　to　make　sure　Grey's　bill　to　bring　Hong　Kong　down　to　Britain's　level　never　gets　to　a　vote；　or　is　voted　down；　and　Labour　never　gets　elected。〃　He　felt　his　bile　rising。　〃Broadhurst　was　just　as　bad　if　not　worse。〃
　〃Ian；　have　you　talked　to　Tiptop？〃
　〃No；　Bruce。　His　line's　still　busy　though　I　did　send　a　message　around。〃　He　told　them　what　he　had　arranged　with　Phillip　Chen。　Then　the　governor　related　Tiptop's　plaint。　Dunross　was　aghast。　〃When　did　he　call；　sir？〃
　〃Just　before　six。〃
　〃He　would　have　had　our　message　by　then。〃　Dunross　felt　his　heart　thumping。　〃After　this　。。。　this　debacle；　I'd　lay　heavy　odds　there's　no　chance　for　Chinese　money。〃
　〃I　agree。〃
　Dunross　was　acutely　aware　they　had　not　mentioned　Grey's　relationship　to　him。　〃Robin　Grey's　worse　than　a　fool；〃　he　said；　thinking　he　might　just　as　well　bring　it　out　into　the　open。　〃My　god…cursed　brother…in…law　could　not　have　done　better　for　the　Soviets　if　he　was　a　member　of　the　Politburo。　Broadhurst　as　well。　Stupid！〃
　After　a　pause　the　governor　said；　〃As　the　Chinese　say；　'The　devil　gives　you　your　relations；　thank　all　gods　you　can　choose　your　friends。'　〃
　〃You're　so　right。　Fortunately；　the　mittee's　due　to　leave　Sunday。　With　the　races　tomorrow　and　all　the　。。。　all　the　other　problems；　perhaps　it'll　all　get　lost　in　the　shuffle。〃　Dunross　mopped　his　brow。　〃It's　close　in　here；　isn't　it？〃
　The　governor　nodded；　then　added　testily；　〃Is　everything　ready；　Johnjohn？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　The　va…　〃　In　the　hall　the　elevator　opened　and　Roger　Crosse　and　Edward　Sinders；　chief　of　MI…6；　came　out。
　〃Ah；　Sinders；〃　the　governor　said　as　they　both　came　into　the　anteroom；　〃I'd　like　you　to　meet　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　sir。〃　Sinders　shook　hands　with　Dunross。　He　was　a　middle…aged；　middle　height；　nondescript　man　with　crumpled　clothes。　His　face　was　thin　and　colorless；　the　stubble　of　his　beard　gray。　〃Please　excuse　my　rumpledness；　sir；　but　I　haven't　been　to　the　hotel　yet。〃
　〃Sorry　about　that；〃　Dunross　replied。　〃This　could　certainly　have　waited　until　tomorrow。　Evening；　Roger。〃
　〃Evening；　sir。　Evening；　Ian；〃　Crosse　said　crisply。　〃As　we're　all　here；　perhaps　we　could　proceed？〃
　Obediently　Johnjohn　began　to　lead　the　way　but　Dunross　said；　〃Just　a　moment。　Sorry；　Bruce；　could　you　excuse　us　a　moment？〃
　〃Oh　certainly。〃　Johnjohn　covered　his　surprise；　wondering　what　this　was　all　about　and　who　Sinders　was；　but　much　too　wise　to　ask。　He　knew　they　would　tell　him　if　they　wanted　him　to　know。　The　door　closed　behind　him。
　Dunross　glanced　at　the　governor。　〃Do　you　attest；　sir；　formally；　this　is　Edward　Sinders；　head　of　MI…6？〃
　〃I　do。〃　The　governor　handed　him　an　envelope。　〃I　believe　you　wanted　it　in　writing。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　To　Sinders；　Dunross　said；　〃Sorry；　but　you　understand　my　reluctance。〃
　〃Of　course。　Good；　then　that's　settled。　Shall　we　go；　Mr。　Dunross？〃
　〃Who's　Mary　McFee？〃
　Sinders　was　shocked。　Crosse　and　the　governor　stared　at　him；　perplexed；　then　at　Dunross。　〃You　have　friends　in　high　places；　Mr。　Dunross。　May　I　ask　who　told　you　that？〃
　〃Sorry。〃　Dunross　kept　his　gaze　on　him。　Alastair　Struan　had　got　the　information　from　some　VIP　in　the　Bank　of　England　who　had　approached　someone　high　up　in　the　government。　〃All　we　want　to　do　is　to　be　sure　Sinders　is　who　he　pretends　to　be。〃
　〃Mary　McFee's　a　friend；〃　Sinders　said　uneasily。
　〃Sorry；　that's　not　good　enough。〃
　〃A　girl　friend。〃
　〃Sorry；　neither's　that。　What's　her　real　name？〃
　Sinders　hesitated；　then；　his　face　chalky；　he　took　Dunross　by　the　arm　and　guided　him　to　the　far　end　of　the　room。　He　put　his　lips　very　close　to　Dunross's　ear。　〃Anastasia　Kekilova；　First　Secretary　of　the　Czechoslovak　Embassy　in　London；〃　he　whispered；　his　back　to　Crosse　and　the　governor。
　Dunross　nodded；　satisfied；　but　Sinders　held　on　to　his　arm　with　surprising　strength　and　whispered　even　more　softly；　〃You'd　better　forget　that　name。　If　the　KGB　ever　suspect　you　know　they'll　get　it　out　of　you。　Then　she's　dead；　I'm　dead　and　so're　you。〃
　Dunross　nodded。　〃Fair　enough。〃
　Sinders　took　a　deep　breath；　then　turned　and　nodded　at　Crosse。　〃Now　let's　have　this　done　with；　Roger。　Your　Excellency？〃
　Tensely　they　all　followed　him。　Johnjohn　was　waiting　at　the　elevator。　Three　floors　below　were　the　vaults。　Two　plainclothes　guards　waited　in　the　small　hallway　in　front　of　the　heavy　iron　gates；　one　man　CID；　the　other　SI。　Both　saluted。　Johnjohn　unlocked　the　gates　and　let　everyone　through　except　the　guards；　then　relocked　them。　〃Just　a　bank　custom。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　had　a　break…in？〃　Sinders　asked。
　〃No；　though　the　Japanese　did　force　the　gates　when　the　keys　were；　er；　lost。〃
　〃Were　you　here　then；　sir？〃
　〃No。　I　was　lucky。〃　After　Hong　Kong　capitulated；　at　Christmas　1941；　the　two　British　banks；　Blacs　and　the　Victoria；　became　prime　Japanese　targets　and　were　ordered　to　be　liquidated。　All　the　executives　were　separated　and　kept　under　guard　and　forced　to　assist　the　process。　Over　the　months　and　years　they　were　all　subjected　to　extreme　pressures。　They　were　forced　to　issue　bank　notes　illegally。　And　then　the　Kampeitai；　the　hated　and　feared　Japanese　secret　police；　had　bee　involved。　〃The　Kampeitai　executed　several　of　our　fellows　and　made　the　lives　of　the　rest　miserable；〃　Johnjohn　said。　〃The　usual：　no　food；　beatings；　privation；　shut　up　in　cages。　Some　died　of　malnutrition　…　starvation's　the　real　word　…　and　both　Blacs　and　we　lost　our　chief　execs。〃　Johnjohn　unlocked　another　grille。　Beyond　were　rows　and　rows　of　safe　deposit　boxes　in　several　interconnecting　concrete；　reinforced　cellars。　〃Ian？〃
　Dunross　took　out　his　passkey。　〃It's　16。85。94。〃
　Johnjohn　led　the　way。　Very　unfortable；　he　inserted　his　bank　key　in　one　lock。　Dunross　did　the　same　with　his。　They　turned　both　keys。　The　lock　clicked　open。　Now　all　eyes　were　on　the　box。　Johnjohn　took　out　his　key。　〃I'll　。。。　I'll　be　waiting　at　the　gate；〃　he　said；　glad　it　was　over；　and　left。
　Dunross　hesitated。　〃There　are　other　things　in　here；　private　papers。　Do　you　mind？〃
　Crosse　did　not　move。　〃Sorry　but　either　Mr。　Sinders　or　myself　should　ensure　we　get　possession　of　all　the　files。〃
　Dunross　noticed　the　sweat　on　both　men。　His　own　back　was　wet。　〃Your　Excellency；　would　you　mind　watching？〃
　〃Not　at　all。〃
　Reluctantly　the　two　other　men　retreated。　Dunross　waited　until　they　were　well　away；　then　opened　the　box。　It　was　large。　Sir　Geoffrey's　eyes　widened。　The　box　was　empty　but　for　the　blue　covered　files。　Without　ment　he　accepted　them。　There　were　eight。　Dunross　slammed　the　box　closed　and　the　lock　clicked　home。
　Crosse　came　forward；　his　hand　out。　〃Shall　I　take　them　for　you；　sir？〃
　〃No。〃
　Crosse　stopped；　startled；　and　bit　back　a　curse。　〃But；　Exce…　〃
　〃The　minister　set　up　a　procedure　…　approved　by　our　American　friends　…　which　I　agreed　to；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　said。　〃We　will　all　go　back　to　my　office。　We　will　all　witness　the　photocopying。　Two　copies　only。　One　for　Mr。　Sinders；　one　for　Mr。　Rosemont。　Ian；　I　have　been　directly　ordered　by　the　Minister　to　give　Mr。　Rosemont　copies。〃
　Dunross　shrugged；　desperately　hoping　that　he　still　appeared　unconcerned。　〃If　that's　what　the　minister　wants；　that's　perfectly　all　right。　When　you've　photocopied　the　originals；　sir；　please　burn　them。〃　He　saw　them　look　at　him　but　he　was　watching　Crosse　and　he　thought　he　saw　an　instant　of　pleasure。　〃If　the　files're　so　special　then　it's　better　they　shouldn't　exist　…　except　in　the　correct　hands；　MI…6　and　the　CIA。　Certainly　I　shouldn't　have　a　copy。　If　they're　not　special　…　then　never　mind。　Most　of　poor　old　AMG　was　too　far…fetched　and　now　that　he's　dead　I　must　confess　I　don't　consider　the　files　special　so　long　as　they're　in　your　hands。　Please　burn　or　shred　them；　Excellency。〃
　〃Very　well。〃　The　governor　turned　his　pale　blue　eyes　on　Roger　Crosse。　〃Yes；　Roger？〃
　〃Nothing；　sir。　Shall　we　go？〃
　Dunross　said；　〃I've　got　to　get　some　corporate　papers　to　check　while　I'm　here。　No　need　to　wait　for　me。〃
　〃Very　well。　Thank　you；　Ian；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　said　and　left　with　the　other　two　men。
　When　he　was　quite　alone　Dunross　went　to　another　bank　of　boxes　in　the　adjoining　vault。　He　took　out　his　key　ring　and　selected　two　keys；　grimly　aware　that　Johnjohn　would　have　a　coronary　if　he　knew　he　had　a　duplicate　master　key。　The　lock　sprang　back　soundlessly。　This　box　was　one　of　dozens　the　Noble　House　possessed　under　different　names。　Inside　were　bundles　of　U。S。　100　notes；　ancient　deeds　and　papers。　On　top　was　a　loaded　automatic。　As　always；　Dunross's　psyche　was　unsettled；　hating　guns；　hating　Hag　Struan；　admiring　her。　In　her　〃Instructions　to　Tai…pans；〃　written　just　before　her　death　in　1917；　that　was　part　of　her　last　will　and　testament　and　in　the　tai…pan's　safe；　she　had　laid　down　more　rules　and　one　of　them　was　that　there　should　always　be　substantial　amounts　of　secret　cash　for　the　tai…pan's　use；　on　hand；　and　another　that　there　should　be　at　least　four　loaded　handguns　perpetually　available　in　secret　places。　She　wrote：　〃I　abhor　guns　but　I　know　them　to　be　ne