jamesclavell.noblehouse-第73章

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　〃Father；〃　Adryon　said　in　her　usual　rush；　〃sorry　to　interrupt　but　Mother　wanted　to　know　what　time　you'd　be　in　for　dinner。〃
　〃I'll　be　late。　Ask　her　to　go　ahead。　I'll　get　something　on　the　run。　What　time　did　you　get　in　last　night？〃　he　asked；　remembering　that　he　had　heard　her　car　return　just　before　dawn。
　〃Early；〃　she　said；　and　he　was　going　to　give　her　both　barrels　but　he　heard　unhappiness　under　her　voice。
　〃What's　up；　pet？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing　really。　I　had　a　grand　day；　had　lunch　with　your　Linc　Bartlett　…　we　went　shopping　but　that　twit　Martin　stood　me　up。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　I　waited　a　bloody　hour　for　him。　We　had　a　date　to　go　to　the　V　and　A　for　tea　but　he　never　showed　up。　Rotten　twit！〃
　Dunross　beamed。　〃You　just　can't　rely　on　some　people；　can　you；　Adryon？　Fancy！　Standing　you　up！　What　cheek！〃　he　told　her；　suitably　grave；　delighted　that　Haply　was　going　to　get　what　for。
　〃He's　a　creep！　A　twenty…four…carat　creep！〃
　The　door　opened。　Crosse　and　Brian　Kwok　came　in。　He　nodded　to　them；　beckoned　them。　Claudia　shut　the　door　after　them。
　〃Got　to　go；　darling。　Hey　pet；　love　you！　'Bye！〃　He　put　the　phone　down。　〃Evening；〃　he　said；　no　longer　perturbed。
　〃The　files　please；　Ian。〃
　〃Certainly；　but　first　we've　got　to　see　the　governor。〃
　〃First　I　want　those　files。〃　Crosse　pulled　out　the　warrant　as　Dunross　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed。　He　waited　only　a　moment。　〃Evening；　sir。　Superintendent　Crosse's　here　。。。　yes　sir。〃　He　held　out　the　phone。　〃For　you。〃
　Crosse　hesitated；　hard…faced；　then　took　it。　〃Superintendent　Crosse；〃　he　said　into　the　phone。　He　listened　a　moment。　〃Yes　sir。　Very　well；　sir。〃　He　replaced　the　phone。　〃Now；　what　the　hell　shenanigans　are　you　up　to？〃
　〃None。　Just　being　careful。〃
　Crosse　held　up　the　warrant。　〃If　I　don't　get　the　files；　I've　clearance　from　London　to　serve　this　on　you　at　six　p。m。　today；　governor　or　no。〃
　Dunross　stared　back　at　him；　just　as　hard。　〃Please　go　ahead。〃
　〃You're　served；　Ian　Struan　Dunross！　Sorry；　but　you're　under　arrest！〃
　Dunross's　jaw　jutted　a　little。　〃All　right。　But　first　by　God　we　will　see　the　governor！〃
　
　24
　
　6：20　P。M。：
　The　tai…pan　and　Roger　Crosse　were　walking　across　the　white　pebbles　toward　the　front　door　of　the　Governor's　Palace。　Brian　Kwok　waited　beside　the　police　car。　The　front　door　opened　and　the　young　equerry　in　Royal　Navy　uniform　greeted　them　politely；　then　ushered　them　into　an　exquisite　antechamber。
　His　Excellency；　Sir　Geoffrey　Allison；　D。S。O。；　O。B。E。；　was　a　sandy…haired　man　in　his　late　fifties；　neat；　soft…spoken　and　very　tough。　He　sat　at　an　antique　desk　and　watched　them。　〃Evening；〃　he　said　easily　and　waved　them　to　seats。　His　equerry　closed　the　door；　leaving　them。　〃It　seems　we　have　a　problem；　Roger。　Ian　has　some　rather　private　property　that　he　legally　owns　and　is　reluctant　to　give　you　…　that　you　want。〃
　〃Legally　want；　sir。　I've　London's　authority　under　the　Official　Secrets　Act。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know　that；　Roger。　I　talked　to　the　minister　an　hour　ago。　He　said；　and　I　agree；　we　can　hardly　arrest　Ian　and　go　through　the　Noble　House　like　a　dose　of　salts。　That　really　wouldn't　be　very　proper；　or　very　sensible；　however　serious　we　are　in　obtaining　the　AMG　files。　And；　equally；　it　wouldn't　be　very　proper　or　sensible　to　acquire　them　with　cloaks　and　daggers　…　that　sort　of　thing。　Would　it？〃
　Crosse　said；　〃With　Ian's　cooperation　none　of　that　would　be　necessary。　I've　pointed　out　to　him　that　Her　Majesty's　Government　was　pletely　involved。　He　just　doesn't　seem　to　get　the　message；　sir。　He　should　cooperate。〃
　〃I　quite　agree。　The　minister　said　the　same。　Of　course　when　Ian　came　here　this　morning　he　did　explain　his　reasons　for　being　so；　so　cautious　。。。　quite　proper　reasons　if　I　may　say　so！　The　minister　agrees　too。〃　The　gray　eyes　became　piercing。　〃Just　exactly　who　is　the　deep…cover　munist　agent　in　my　police？　Who　are　the　Sevrin　plants？〃
　There　was　a　vast　silence。　〃I　don't　know；　sir。〃
　〃Then　would　you　be　kind　enough　to　find　out　very　quickly。　Ian　was　kind　enough　to　let　me　read　the　AMG　report　you　rightly　intercepted。〃　The　governor's　face　mottled；　quoting　from　it；　〃　'。。。　this　information　should　be　leaked　privately　to　the　police　missioner　or　governor　should　they　be　considered　loyal　。。。'　Bless　my　soul！　What's　going　on　in　the　world？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　sir。〃
　〃Well　you're　supposed　to；　Roger。　Yes。〃　The　governor　watched　them。　〃Now。　What　about　the　mole？　What　sort　of　man　would　he　be？〃
　〃You；　me；　Dunross；　Havergill；　Armstrong　…　anyone；〃　Crosse　said　at　once。　〃But　with　one　characteristic：　I　think　this　one's　so　deep　that　he's　probably　almost　forgotten　who　he　really　is；　or　where　his　real　political　interest　and　loyalty　lie。　He'd　be　very　special　…　like　all　of　Sevrin。〃　The　thin…faced　man　stared　at　Dunross。　〃They　must　be　special　…　SI's　checks　and　balances　are　really　very　good；　and　the　CIA's；　but　we've　never　had　a　whiff　of　Sevrin　before；　not　a　jot　or　a　tittle。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃How're　you　going　to　catch　him？〃
　〃How're　you　going　to　catch　your　plant　in　Struan's？〃
　〃I've　no　idea。〃　Would　the　Sevrin　spy　be　the　same　as　the　one　who　betrayed　our　secrets　to　Bartlett？　Dunross　was　asking　himself　uneasily。　〃If　he's　top　echelon；　he's　one　of　seven　…　all　unthinkable。〃
　〃There　you　have　it；〃　Crosse　said。　〃All　unthinkable；　but　one's　a　spy。　If　we　get　one；　we　can　probably　break　the　others　out　of　him　if　he　knows　them。〃　Both　the　other　men　felt　icy　at　the　calm　viciousness　in　his　voice。　〃But　to　get　the　one；　someone　has　to　make　a　slip；　or　we　have　to　get　a　little　luck。〃
　The　governor　thought　a　moment。　Then　he　said；　〃Ian　assures　me　there's　nothing　in　the　previous　reports　that　names　anyone　…　or　gives　any　clues。　So　the　other　reports　wouldn't　help　us　immediately。〃
　〃They　could；　sir；　in　other　areas；　sir。〃
　〃I　know。〃　The　words　were　quietly　spoken　but　they　said　Shut　up；　sit　down　and　wait　till　I've　finished。　Sir　Geoffrey　let　the　silence　hang　for　a　while。　〃So　our　problem　seems　to　be　simply　a　matter　of　asking　Ian　for　his　cooperation。　I　repeat；　I　agree　that　his　caution　is　justified。〃　His　face　tightened。　〃Philby；　Burgess　and　Maclean　taught　us　all　a　fine　lesson。　I　must　confess　every　time　I　make　a　call　to　London　I　wonder　if　I'm　talking　to　another　bloody　traitor。〃　He　blew　his　nose　in　a　handkerchief。　〃Well；　enough　of　that。　Ian；　kindly　tell　Roger　the　circumstances　under　which　you'll　hand　over　the　AMG　copies。〃
　〃I'll　hand　them；　personally；　to　the　head　or　deputy　head　of　MI…6　or　MI…5；　providing　I　have　his　Excellency's　guarantee　in　writing　that　the　man　I　give　them　to　is　who　he　purports　to　be。〃
　〃The　minister　agrees　to　this；　sir？〃
　〃If　you　agree；　Roger。〃　Again　it　was　said　politely　but　the　undercurrent　said　You'd　better　agree；　Roger。
　〃Very　well；　sir。　Has　Mr。　Sinders　agreed　to　the　plan？〃
　〃He　will　be　here　on　Friday；　BOAC　willing。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Roger　Crosse　glanced　at　Dunross。　〃I'd　better　keep　the　files　then　until　then。　You　can　give　me　a　sealed　pa…　〃
　Dunross　shook　his　head。　〃They're　safe　until　I　deliver　them。〃
　Crosse　shook　his　head。　〃No。　If　we　know；　others'd　know。　The　others're　not　so　clean…handed　as　we　are。　We　must　know　where　they　are　…　we'd　better　have　a　guard；　around　the　clock。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　nodded。　〃That's　fair　enough；　Ian？〃
　Dunross　thought　a　moment。　〃Very　well。　I've　put　them　in　a　vault　at　the　Victoria　Bank。〃　Crosse's　neck　became　pink　as　Dunross　produced　a　key　and　laid　it　on　the　desk。　The　numbers　were　carefully　defaced。　〃There're　about　a　thousand　safety　deposit　boxes。　I　alone　know　the　number。　This's　the　only　key。　If　you'll　keep　it；　Sir　Geoffrey。　Then　。。。　well；　that's　about　the　best　I　can　do　to　avoid　risks。〃
　〃Roger？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　If　you　agree。〃
　〃They're　certainly　safe　there。　Certainly　not　possible　to　break　open　all　of　them。　Good；　then　that's　all　settled。　Ian；　the　warrant's　canceled。　You　do　promise；　Ian；　to　deliver　them　to　Sinders　the　moment　he　arrives？〃　Again　the　eyes　became　piercing。　〃I　have　really　gone　to　a　lot　of　trouble　over　this。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Then　that's　settled。　Nothing　yet　on　poor　John　Chen；　Roger？〃
　〃No　sir；　we're　trying　everything。〃
　〃Terrible　business。　Ian；　what's　all　this　about　the　Ho…Pak？　Are　they　really　in　trouble？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Will　they　go　under？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　The　word　seems　to　be　they　will。〃
　〃Damnable！　I　don't　like　that　at　all。　Very　bad　for　our　image。　And　the　Par…Con　deal？〃
　〃It　looks　good。　I　hope　to　have　a　favorable　report　for　you　next　week；　sir。〃
　〃Excellent。　We　could　use　some　big　American　firms　here。〃　He　smiled。　〃I　understand　the　girl's　a　stunner！　By　the　way；　the　Parliamentary　Trade　Delegation's　due　from　Peking　tomorrow。　I'll　entertain　them　Thursday　…　you'll　e　of　course。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Will　the　dinner　be　stag？〃
　〃Yes；　good　idea。〃
　〃I'll　invite　them　to　the　races　Saturday　…　the　overflow　can　go　into　the　bank's　box；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Thank　you；　Ian。　Roger；　if　you'll　spare　me　a　moment。〃
　Dunross　got　up　and　shook　hands　and　left。　Though　he　had　e　with　Crosse　in　the　police　car；　his　own　Rolls　was　waiting　for　him。　Brian　Kwok　intercepted　him。　〃What's　the　poop；　Ian？〃
　〃I　was　asked　to　let　your　boss　tell　you；〃　he　said。
　〃Fair　enough。　Is　he　going　to　be　long？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Everything's　all　right；　Brian。　No　need　to　worry。　I　think　I　dealt　with　the　dilemma　correctly。〃
　〃Hope　so。　Sorry　…　bloody　business。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Dunross　got　into　the　back　of　the　Silver　Cloud。　〃Golden　Ferry；〃　he　said　crisply。
　
　Sir　Geoffrey　was　pouring　the　fine　sherry　into　two　exquisite；　eggshell　porcelain　cups。　〃This　AMG　business　is　quite　frightening；　Roger；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　still　not　inured　to　treachery；　betrayal　and　the　rotten　lengths　the　enemy　will　go　to　…　even　after　all　this　time。〃　Sir　Geoffrey　had　been　in　the　Diplomatic　Corps　all　of　his　working　life；　except　for　the　war　years　when　he　was　a　staff　officer　in　the　British　Army。　He　spoke　Russian；　Mandarin；　French　and　Italian。　〃Dreadful。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Crosse　watched　him。　〃You're　sure　you　can　trust　Ian？〃
　〃On　Friday　you　won't　need　London's　clearance　to　proceed。　You　have　an　Order　in　Council。　On　Friday　we　take　possession。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Crosse　accepted　the　porcelain　cup；　its　fragility　bothering　him。　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　〃I　suggest　you　have　two　men　in　the　bank　vaults　at　all　times；　one　SI；　one　CID　for　safety；　and　a　plainclothes　guard　on　the　tai…pan　…　quietly；　of　course。〃
　〃I'll　arrange　about　the　bank　before　I　leave。　I've　already　put　him　under　blanket　surveillance。〃
　〃You've　already　done　it？〃
　〃On　him？　Yes　sir。　I　presumed　he'd　manipulate　the　situation　to　suit　his　purposes。　Ian's　a　very　tricky　fellow。　After　all；　the　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House　is　never　a　fool。〃
　〃No。　Health！〃　They　touched　glasses　delicately。　The　ring　of　the　pottery　was　beautiful。　〃This　tai…pan's　the　best　I've　dealt　with。〃
　〃Did　Ian　mention　if　he'd　reread　all　the　files　recently；　sir？　Last　night；　for　instance？〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　frowned；　rethinking　their　conversation　this　morning。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Wait　a　minute；　he　did　say　。。。　exactly　he　said；　'When　I　first　read　the　reports　I　thought　some　of　AMG's　ideas　were　too　farfetched。　But　now　…　and　now　that　he's　dead；　I've　changed　my　mind　。。。'　That　could　imply　he's　reread　them　recently。　Why？〃
　Crosse　was　examining　the　paper…thin　porcelain　cup　against　the　light。　〃I've　often　heard　he's　got　a　remarkable　memory。　If　the　files　in　the　vaults　are　untouchable　。。。　well；　I　wouldn't　want　the　KGB　tempted　to　snatch