jamesclavell.noblehouse-第75章

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at　that　was　the　Dunross　family　home　address。〃　Crosse　pulled　out　his　silver　cigarette　case。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　smoke；　sir？〃
　〃No；　please　go　ahead。〃
　〃Thank　you。　That　was　a　month　or　so　ago。　I　thought　it　important　enough　for　him　to　follow　up　the　information。　It　took　us　relatively　little　time　to　establish　that　Mrs。　Dunross　really　was　his　sister　and　next　of　kin。　As　far　as　we　know　now；　Mrs。　Dunross　quarreled　with　her　brother　just　after　the　war。　Captain　Grey　was　a　POW　in　Changi；　caught　in　Singapore　in　1942。　He　got　home　in　the　later　part　of　1945　…　by　the　way　their　parents　were　killed　in　the　London　blitz　in　'43。　At　that　time　she　was　already　married　to　Dunross　…　they'd　married　in　1943；　sir；　just　after　he　was　shot　down　…　she　was　a　WAAF。　We　know　brother　and　sister　met　when　Grey　was　released。　As　far　as　we　can　tell　now；　they've　never　met　again。　Of　course　it's　none　of　our　affair　anyway；　but　the　quarrel　must　have　been　…　〃
　Crosse　stopped　as　there　was　a　discreet　knock　and　Sir　Geoffrey　called　out　testily；　〃Yes？〃
　The　door　opened。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　his　aide　said　politely；　〃Lady　Allison　asked　me　to　tell　you　that　the　water's　just　gone　on。〃
　〃Oh；　marvelous！　Thank　you。〃　The　door　closed。　At　once　Crosse　got　up　but　the　governor　waved　him　back　to　his　seat。　〃No；　please　finish；　Roger。　A　few　minutes　won't　matter；　though　I　must　confess　I　can　hardly　wait。　Would　you　like　to　shower　before　you　go？〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；　but　we've　our　own　water　tanks　at　police　HQ。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　I　forgot。　Go　on。　You　were　saying　…　the　quarrel？〃
　〃The　quarrel　must　have　been　pretty　serious　because　it　seems　to　have　been　final。　A　close　friend　of　Grey　told　one　of　our　people　a　few　days　ago　that　as　far　as　he　knew；　Robin　Grey　had　no　living　relatives。　They　really　must　hate　each　other。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　stared　at　his　cup；　not　seeing　it。　Suddenly　he　was　remembering　his　own　rotten　childhood　and　how　he　had　hated　his　father；　hated　him　so　much　that　for　thirty　years　he　had　never　called　him；　or　written　to　him；　and；　when　he　was　dying　last　year；　had　not　bothered　to　go　to　him；　to　make　peace　with　the　man　who　had　given　him　life。　〃People　are　terrible　to　each　other；〃　he　muttered　sadly。　〃I　know。　Yes。　Family　quarrels　are　too　easy。　And　then；　when　it's　too　late；　you　regret　it；　yes；　you　really　regret　it。　People　are　terrible　to　each　other　。。。〃
　Crosse　watched　and　waited；　letting　him　ramble；　letting　him　reveal　himself；　cautious　not　to　make　the　slightest　movement　to　distract　him；　wanting　to　know　the　man's　secrets；　and　skeletons。　Like　Alan　Medford　Grant；　Crosse　collected　secrets。　Goddamn　that　bastard　and　his　god…cursed　files！　God　curse　Dunross　and　his　devilry！　How　in　the　name　of　Christ　can　I　get　those　files　before　Sinders？
　Sir　Geoffrey　was　staring　into　space。　Then　the　water　gurgled　delightedly　in　the　pipes　somewhere　in　the　walls　and　he　came　back　into　himself。　He　saw　Crosse　watching　him。　〃Hmmm；　thinking　aloud！　Bad　habit　for　a　governor；　eh？〃
　Crosse　smiled　and　did　not　fall　into　the　trap。　〃Sir？〃
　〃Well。　As　you　said；　it's　really　none　of　our　business。〃　The　governor　finished　his　drink　with　finality　and　Crosse　knew　that　he　was　dismissed。　He　got　up。　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　When　he　was　alone　the　governor　sighed。　He　thought　a　moment　then　picked　up　the　special　phone　and　gave　the　operator　the　minister's　private　number　in　London。
　〃This　is　Geoffrey　Allison。　Is　he　in　please？〃
　〃Hello；　Geoffrey！〃
　〃Hello；　sir。　I've　just　seen　Roger。　He　assures　me　that　the　hiding　place　and　Dunross　will　be　pletely　guarded。　Is　Mr。　Sinders　en　route？〃
　〃He'll　be　there　on　Friday。　I　presume　there　have　been　no　repercussions　from　that　seaman's　unfortunate　accident？〃
　〃No　sir。　Everything　seems　to　be　under　control。〃
　〃The　P。M。　was　most　concerned。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　governor　added；　〃About　the　1…4a　。。。　perhaps　we　shouldn't　mention　anything　to　our　friends；　yet。〃
　〃I've　already　heard　from　them。　They　were　distressingly　irritated。　So　were　our　fellows。　All　right；　Geoffrey。　Fortunately　it's　a　long　weekend　this　week　so　I'll　inform　them　Monday　and　draft　his　reprimand　then。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃
　〃Geoffrey；　that　American　senator　you　have　with　you　at　the　moment。　I　think　he　should　be　guided。〃
　The　governor　frowned。　Guided　was　a　code　word　between　them；　meaning　〃watched　very　carefully。〃　Senator　Wilf　Tillman；　a　presidential　hopeful；　was　visiting　Hong　Kong　en　route　to　Saigon　for　a　well…publicized　fact…finding　mission。
　〃I'll　take　care　of　it　as　soon　as　I'm　off　the　phone。　Was　there　anything　else；　sir？〃　he　asked；　impatient　now　to　bathe。
　〃No；　just　give　me　a　private　minute　on　what　the　senator's　program　has　been。〃　Program　was　another　code　which　meant　to　furnish　the　Colonial　Office　with　detailed　information。　〃When　you've　time。〃
　〃I'll　have　it　on　your　desk　Friday。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Geoffrey。　We'll　chat　at　the　usual　time　tomorrow。〃　The　line　went　dead。
　The　governor　replaced　the　phone　thoughtfully。　Their　conversation　would　have　been　electronically　scrambled　and；　at　either　end；　unscrambled。　Even　so；　they　were　guarded。　They　knew　the　enemy　had　the　most　advanced　and　sophisticated　eavesdropping　equipment　in　the　world。　For　any　really　classified　conversation　or　meeting　he　would　go　to　the　permanently　guarded；　concrete；　cell…like　room　in　the　basement　that　was　meticulously　rechecked　by　security　experts　for　possible　electronic　bugs　every　week。
　Bloody　nuisance；　Sir　Geoffrey　thought。　Bloody　nuisance　all　this　cloak…and…dagger　stuff！　Roger？　Unthinkable；　even　so；　once　there　was　Philby。
　
　25
　
　6：20　P。M。：
　Captain　Gregor　Suslev　waved　jauntily　to　the　police　at　the　dockyard　gates　in　Kowloon；　his　two　plainclothes　detectives　fifty　yards　in　tow。　He　was　dressed　in　well…cut　civilians　and　he　stood　by　the　curb　a　moment　watching　the　traffic；　then　hailed　a　passing　taxi。　The　taxi　took　off　and　a　small　gray　Jaguar　with　Sergeant　Lee；　CID；　and　another　plainclothes　CID　man　driving；　followed　smartly。
　The　taxi　went　along　Chatham　Road　in　the　usual　heavy　traffic；　southward；　skirting　the　railway　line；　then　turned　west　along　Salisbury　Road　on　the　southmost　tip　of　Kowloon；　passing　the　railway　terminus；　near　the　Golden　Ferry　Terminal。　There　it　stopped。　Suslev　paid　it　off　and　ran　up　the　steps　of　the　Victoria　and　Albert　Hotel。　Sergeant　Lee　followed　him　as　the　other　detective　parked　the　police　Jag。
　Suslev　walked　with　an　easy　stride　and　he　stood　for　a　moment　in　the　immense；　crowded　foyer　with　its　high　ceilings；　lovely　and　ornate；　and　old…fashioned　electric　fans　overhead；　and　looked　for　an　empty　table　among　the　multitude　of　tables。　The　whole　room　was　alive　with　the　clink　of　ice　in　cocktail　glasses　and　conversation。　Mostly　Europeans。　A　few　Chinese　couples。　Suslev　wandered　through　the　people；　found　a　table；　loudly　ordered　a　double　vodka；　sat　and　began　to　read　his　paper。　Then　the　girl　was　standing　near　him。
　〃Hello；〃　she　said。
　〃Ginny；　doragaya！〃　he　said　with　a　great　beam　and　hugged　her；　lifting　her　off　her　little　feet　to　the　shocked　disapproval　of　every　woman　in　the　place　and　the　covert　envy　of　every　man。　〃It's　been　a　long　time；　golubchik。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　she　said　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　her　short　hair　dancing；　and　sat　down；　conscious　of　the　stares；　enjoying　them；　hating　them。　〃You　late。　Wat　for　you　keep　me　wait？　A　lady　no　like　wait　in　Victoria　by　her　self；　heya？〃
　〃You're　right；　golubchik！〃　Suslev　pulled　out　a　slim　package　and　gave　it　to　her　with　another　beam。　〃Here；　all　the　way　from　Vladivostok！〃
　〃Oh！　How　thank　you？〃　Ginny　Fu　was　twenty…eight　and　most　nights　she　worked　at　the　Happy　Drinkers　Bar　in　an　alley　off　Mong　Kok；　half　a　mile　or　so　to　the　north。　Some　nights　she　went　to　the　Good　Luck　Ballroom。　Most　days　she　would　pinch…hit　for　her　friends　behind　the　counter　of　tiny　shops　within　shops　when　they　were　with　a　client。　White　teeth　and　jet　eyes　and　jet　hair　and　golden　skin；　her　gaudy　chong…sam　slit　high　on　her　long；　stockinged　thighs。　She　looked　at　the　present　excitedly。　〃Oh　thank；　Gregor；　thank　very　much！〃　She　put　it　in　her　large　purse　and　grinned　at　him。　Then　her　eyes　went　to　the　waiter　who　was　strolling　up　with　Suslev's　vodka；　along　with　the　smug；　open　contempt　reserved　by　all　Chinese　for　all　young　Chinese　women　who　sat　with　quai　loh。　They　must　of　course　be　third…class　whores　…　who　else　would　sit　with　a　quai　loh　in　a　public　place；　particularly　in　the　foyer　of　the　Vic？　He　set　down　the　drink　with　practiced　insolence　and　stared　back　at　her。
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　your　pig…swill　ancestors；〃　she　hissed　in　gutter　Cantonese。　〃My　husband　here　is　a　489　in　the　police　and　if　I　say　the　word　he'll　have　those　insignificant　peanuts　you　call　your　balls　crushed　off　your　loathsome　body　an　hour　after　you　leave　work　tonight！〃
　The　waiter　blanched。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Hot　tea！　Bring　me　fornicating　hot　tea　and　if　you　spit　in　it　I'll　get　my　husband　to　put　a　knot　in　that　straw　you　call　your　stalk！〃
　The　waiter　fled。
　〃What　did　you　say　to　him？〃　Suslev　asked；　understanding　only　a　few　words　of　Cantonese；　though　his　English　was　very　good。
　Ginny　Fu　smiled　sweetly。　〃I　just　ask　him　bring　tea。〃　She　knew　the　waiter　would　automatically　spit　in　her　tea　now；　or　more　probably；　for　safety；　get　a　friend　to　do　it　for　him；　so　she　would　not　drink　it　and　thus　cause　him　to　lose　even　more　face。　Dirty　dog　bone！　〃Next　time　no　like　meet　here；　lotsa　nasty　peoples；〃　she　said　imperiously；　looking　around；　then　crinkled　her　nose　at　a　group　of　middle…aged　Englishwomen　who　were　staring　at　her。　〃Too　much　body　stinky；〃　she　added　loudly；　tossing　her　hair　again；　and　chortled　to　herself　seeing　them　flush　and　look　away。　〃This　gift；　Gregy。　Thank　so　very！〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Suslev　said。　He　knew　she　would　not　open　the　gift　now　…　or　in　front　of　him　…　which　was　very　good；　sensible　Chinese　manners。　Then；　if　she　did　not　like　the　gift　or　was　disappointed　or　cursed　aloud　that　what　was　given　was　the　wrong　size；　or　wrong　color；　or　at　the　miserliness　of　the　giver　or　bad　taste　or　whatever；　then　he　could　not　lose　face　and　she　could　not　lose　face。　〃Very　sensible！〃
　〃Wat？〃
　〃Nothing。〃
　〃You　looks　good。〃
　〃You　too。〃　It　was　three　months　since　his　last　visit　and　though　his　mistress　in　Vladivostok　was　a　Eurasian　with　a　White　Russian　mother　and　Chinese　father；　he　enjoyed　Ginny　Fu。
　〃Gregy；〃　she　said；　then　dropped　her　voice；　her　smile　saucy。　〃Finish　drink。　We　begin　holiday！　I　got　vodka　。。。　I　got　other　things！〃
　He　smiled　back　at　her。　〃That　you　have；　golubchik！〃
　〃How　many　day　you　got？〃
　〃At　least　three　but　。。。〃
　〃Oh！〃　She　tried　to　hide　her　disappointment。
　〃。。。　I'm　back　and　forth　to　my　ship。　We've　tonight；　most　of　it；　and　tomorrow　and　all　tomorrow　night。　And　the　stars　will　shine！〃
　〃Three　month　long　time；　Gregy。〃
　〃I'll　be　back　soon。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Ginny　Fu　put　away　her　disappointment　and　became　pragmatic　again。　〃Finish　drink　and　we　begin！〃　She　saw　the　waiter　hurrying　with　her　tea。　Her　eyes　ground　into　the　man　as　he　put　it　down。　〃Huh！　Clearly　it's　cold　and　not　fresh！〃　she　said　disgustedly。　〃Who　am　I！　A　dirty　lump　of　foreign　devil　dogmeat？　No；　I'm　a　civilized　person　from　the　Four　Provinces　who；　because　her　rich　father　gambled　away　all　his　money；　was　sold　by　him　into　concubinage　to　bee　Number　Two　Wife　for　this　chief　of　police　of　the　foreign　devils！　So　go　piss　in　your　hat！〃　She　got　up。
　The　waiter　backed　off　a　foot。
　〃What's　up？〃　Suslev　asked。
　〃Don't　pay　for　teas；　Gregy。　Not　hot！〃　she　said　imperiously。　〃No　give　tip！〃
　Nonetheless　Suslev　p