iam fleming.for your eyes only-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


at　sparkled　with　mischievous　fun。　Knowing　Wales；　he　guessed　that　she　had　Welsh　blood　in　her；　and　this　was　confirmed　by　her　name；　Rhoda　Llewellyn；　which；　when　he　went　to　wash　his　hands　before　luncheon；　he　found　printed　at　the　bottom　of　the　crew　list　above　the　magazine　rack　beside　the　lavatory　door。　He　speculated　deeply　about　her。　She　would　be　near　him　now　for　nearly　two　days；　but　how　could　he　get　to　see　her　again？　She　must　have　hundreds　of　admirers。　She　might　even　be　married。　Did　she　fly　all　the　time？　How　many　days　off　did　she　get　between　trips？　Would　she　laugh　at　him　if　he　asked　her　out　to　dinner　and　a　theatre？　Might　she　even　plain　to　the　captain　of　the　aircraft　that　one　of　the　passengers　was　getting　fresh？　A　sudden　vision　came　to　Masters　of　being　turned　off　the　plane　at　Aden；　a　plaint　to　the　Colonial　Office；　his　career　ruined。〃
　〃Luncheon　came；　and　reassurance。　When　she　fitted　the　little　tray　across　his　knees；　her　hair　brushed　his　cheek。　Masters　felt　that　he　had　been　touched　by　a　live　electric　wire。　She　showed　him　how　to　deal　with　the　plicated　little　cellophane　packages；　how　to　get　the　plastic　lid　off　the　salad　dressing。　She　told　him　that　the　sweet　was　particularly　good　…　a　rich　layer　cake。　In　short　she　made　a　fuss　of　him；　and　Masters　couldn't　remember　when　it　had　ever　happened　before；　even　when　his　mother　had　looked　after　him　as　a　child。〃
　〃At　the　end　of　the　trip；　when　the　sweating　Masters　had　screwed　up　his　courage　to　ask　her　out　to　dinner；　it　was　almost　an　anticlimax　when　she　readily　agreed。　A　month　later　she　resigned　from　Imperial　Airways　and　they　were　married。　A　month　after　that；　Master's　leave　was　up　and　they　took　ship　for　Bermuda。〃
　Bond　said：　〃I　fear　the　worst。　She　married　him　because　his　life　sounded　exciting　and　'grand'。　She　liked　the　idea　of　being　the　belle　of　the　tea　parties　at　Government　House。　I　suppose　Masters　had　to　murder　her　in　the　end？〃
　〃No；〃　said　the　Governor　mildly。　〃But　I　daresay　you're　right　about　why　she　married　him；　that　and　being　tired　of　the　grind　and　danger　of　flying。　Perhaps　she　really　meant　to　make　a　go　of　it；　and　certainly　when　the　young　couple　arrived　and　settled　into　their　bungalow　on　the　outskirts　of　Hamilton　we　were　all　favourably　impressed　by　her　vivacity　and　her　pretty　face　and　by　the　way　she　made　herself　pleasant　to　everyone。　And；　of　course；　Masters　was　a　changed　man。　Life　had　bee　a　fairytale　for　him。　Looking　back；　it　was　almost　pitiful　to　watch　him　try　to　spruce　himself　up　so　that　he　could　live　up　to　her。　He　took　trouble　about　his　clothes；　put　some　dreadful　brilliantine　on　his　hair　and　even　grew　a　military…type　moustache；　presumably　because　she　thought　it　looked　distinguished。　At　the　end　of　the　day；　he　would　hurry　back　to　the　bungalow；　and　it　was　always　Rhoda　this　and　Rhoda　that　and　when　do　you　think　Lady　Burford　…　who　was　the　Governor's　wife　…　is　going　to　ask　Rhoda　to　lunch？〃
　〃But　he　worked　hard　and　everyone　liked　the　young　couple；　and　things　went　along　like　a　marriage　bell　for　six　months　or　so。　Then；　and　now　I'm　only　guessing；　the　occasional　word　began　to　drop　like　acid　in　the　happy　little　bungalow。　You　can　imagine　the　sort　of　thing：　'Why　doesn't　the　Colonial　Secretary's　wife　ever　take　me　out　shopping　with　her？　How　long　must　we　wait　before　we　can　give　another　cocktail　party？　You　know　we　can't　afford　to　have　a　baby。　When　are　you　due　for　promotion？　It's　awfully　dull　here　all　day　with　nothing　to　do。　You'll　have　to　get　the　dinner　tonight。　I　simply　can't　be　bothered。　You　have　such　an　interesting　time。　It's　all　right　for　you　。　。　。'　and　so　on　and　so　forth。　And　of　course；　the　cosseting　quickly　went　by　the　board。　Now　it　was　Masters；　and　of　course　he　was　delighted　to　do　it；　who　brought　the　air　hostess　breakfast　in　bed　before　he　went　off　to　work。　It　was　Masters　who　tidied　up　the　house　when　he　came　back　in　the　evening　and　found　cigarette　ash　and　chocolate　papers　all　over　the　place。　It　was　Masters　who　had　to　give　up　smoking　and　his　occasional　drink　to　buy　her　new　clothes　so　that　she　could　live　up　to　the　other　wives。　Some　of　this　showed；　at　any　rate　to　me　who　knew　Masters　well　in　the　Secretariat。　The　preoccupied　frown；　the　occasional　enigmatic；　over…solicitous　telephone　call　in　office　hours；　the　ten　minutes　stolen　at　the　end　of　the　day　so　that　he　could　take　Rhoda　to　the　cinema；　and；　of　course；　the　occasional　half　joking　questions　about　marriage　in　general：　What　do　other　wives　do　all　day　long？　Do　most　women　find　it　a　bit　hot　out　here？　I　suppose　women　（he　almost　added　'God　bless　'em'）　are　much　more　easily　upset　than　men。　And　so　forth。　The　trouble；　or　at　least　most　of　it；　was　that　Masters　was　besotted。　She　was　his　sun　and　his　moon　and　if　she　was　unhappy　or　restless　it　was　all　his　fault。　He　cast　about　desperately　for　something　that　would　occupy　her　and　make　her　happy；　and　finally；　of　all　things；　he　settled　…　or　rather　they　settled　together　…　on　golf。　Golf　is　very　much　the　thing　in　Bermuda。　There　are　several　fine　links　…　including　the　famous　Mid…Ocean　Club　where　all　the　quality　play　and　get　together　at　the　club　afterwards　for　gossip　and　drinks。　It　was　just　what　she　wanted　…　a　smart　occupation　and　high　society。　God　knows　how　Masters　saved　up　enough　to　join　and　buy　her　the　clubs　and　the　lessons　and　all　the　rest；　but　somehow　he　did　it　and　it　was　a　roaring　success。　She　took　to　spending　all　day　at　the　Mid…Ocean。　She　worked　hard　at　her　lessons　and　got　a　handicap　and　met　people　through　the　little　petitions　and　the　monthly　medals；　and　in　six　months　she　was　not　only　playing　a　respectable　game　but　had　bee　quite　the　darling　of　the　men　members。　I　wasn't　surprised。　I　remember　seeing　her　there　from　time　to　time；　a　delicious；　sunburned　little　figure　in　the　shortest　of　shorts　with　a　white　eyeshade　with　a　green　lining；　and　a　trim　pact　swing　that　flattered　her　figure；　and　I　can　tell　you；〃　the　Governor　twinkled　briefly；　〃she　was　the　prettiest　thing　I've　ever　seen　on　a　golf　course。　Of　course　the　next　step　didn't　take　long。　There　was　a　mixed…foursome　petition。　She　was　partnered　with　the　oldest　Tattersall　boy　…　they're　the　leading　Hamilton　merchants　and　more　or　less　the　ruling　clique　in　Bermudan　society。　He　was　a　young　hellion　…　handsome　as　be　damned；　a　beautiful　swimmer　and　a　scratch　golfer；　with　an　open　MG　and　a　speedboat　and　all　the　trimmings。　You　know　the　type。　Got　all　the　girls　he　wanted；　and；　if　they　didn't　sleep　with　him　pretty　quickly；　they　didn't　get　the　rides　in　the　MG　or　the　Chriscraft　or　the　evenings　in　the　local　night　clubs。　The　couple　won　the　petition　after　a　hard　fight　in　the　final　and　Philip　Masters　was　in　the　fashionable　crowd　round　the　eighteenth　green　to　cheer　them　home。　That　was　the　last　time　he　cheered　for　many　a　long　day；　perhaps　for　all　his　life。　Almost　at　once　she　started　'going'　with　young　Tattersall；　and　once　started　she　went　like　the　wind。　And　believe　me；　Mr　Bond〃　…　the　Governor　closed　a　fist　and　brought　it　softly　down　on　the　edge　of　the　drinks　table　…　〃it　was　ghastly　to　see。　She　didn't　make　the　smallest　attempt　to　soften　the　blow　or　hide　the　affair　in　any　way。　She　just　took　young　Tattersall　and　hit　Masters　in　the　face　with　him；　and　went　on　hitting。　She　would　e　home　at　any　hour　of　the　night　…　she　had　insisted　that　Masters　should　move　into　the　spare　room；　some　pretext　about　it　being　too　hot　to　sleep　together　…　and　if　she　ever　tidied　the　house　or　cooked　him　a　meal　it　was　only　makeshift　and　to　keep　up　some　kind　of　appearance。　Of　course；　in　a　month；　the　whole　thing　was　public　property　and　poor　Masters　was　wearing　the　biggest　pair　of　horns　that　had　ever　been　seen　in　the　Colony。　Lady　Burford　finally　stepped　m　and　gave　Rhoda　Masters　a　talking　to　…　said　she　was　ruining　her　husband's　career　and　so　forth　But　the　trouble　was　that　Lady　Burford　found　Masters　a　pretty　dull　dog；　and　having　perhaps　had　one　or　two　escapades　in　her　own　youth　…　she　was　still　a　handsome　woman　with　a　twinkle　in　her　eye　…　she　was　probably　a　bit　too　lenient　with　the　girl。　Of　course　Masters　himself；　as　he　was　to　tell　me　later；　went　through　the　usual　dreary　sequence　…　remonstrance；　bitter　quarrel；　furious　rage；　violence　（he　told　me　he　damned　nearly　throttled　her　one　night）　and；　finally；　icy　withdrawal　and　sullen　misery。〃　The　Governor　paused。　〃I　don't　know　if　you've　ever　seen　a　heart　being　broken；　Mr　Bond；　broken　slowly　and　deliberately。　Well；　that's　what　I　saw　happening　to　Philip　Masters；　and　it　was　a　dreadful　thing　to　watch。　There　he　had　been；　a　man　with　Paradise　in　his　face；　and；　within　a　year　of　his　arrival　in　Bermuda；　Hell　was　written　all　over　it。　Of　course　I　did　my　best；　we　all　did　in　one　way　or　another；　but　once　it　had　happened；　on　that　eighteenth　green　at　the　Mid…Ocean；　there　was　really　nothing　to　do　but　try　and　pick　up　the　bits。　But　Masters　was　like　a　wounded　dog。　He　just　drew　away　from　us　into　a　corner　and　snarled　when　anyone　tried　to　e　near　him。　I　even　went　to　the　length　of　writing　him　one　or　two　letters。　He　later　told　me　he　had　torn　them　up　without　reading　them。　One　day；　several　of　us　got　together　and　asked　him　to　a　stag　party　in　my　bungalow。　We　tried　to　get　him　drunk。　We　got　him　drunk　all　right。　The　next　thing　that　happened　was　a　crash　from　the　bathroom。　Masters　had　tried　to　cut　his　wrists　with　my　razor。　That　broke　our　nerve　and　I　was　deputed　to　go　and　see　the　Governor　about　the　whole　business。　The　Governor　knew　about　it；　of　course；　but　had　hoped　he　wouldn't　have　to　interfere。　Now　the　question　was　whether　Masters　could　even　stay　on　in　the　Service。　His　work　had　gone　to　pieces。　His　wife　was　a　public　scandal。　He　was　a　broken　man。　Could　we　stick　the　bits　together　again？　The　Governor　was　a　fine　man。　Once　action　had　been　forced　on　him；　he　was　determined　to　make　a　last　effort　to　stave　off　the　almost　inevitable　report　to　Whitehall　which　would　finally　smash　what　remained　of　Masters。　And　Providence　stepped　in　to　lend　a　hand。　The　very　next　day　after　my　interview　with　the　Governor；　there　was　a　dispatch　from　the　Colonial　Office　saying　there　was　to　be　a　meeting　in　Washington　to　delineate　off…shore　fishing　rights；　and　that　Bermuda　and　the　Bahamas　had　been　invited　to　send　representatives　of　their　Governments。　The　Governor　sent　for　Masters；　spoke　to　him　like　a　Dutch　uncle；　told　him　that　he　was　being　sent　to　Washington；　and　that　he　had　better　have　his　domestic　affairs　settled　one　way　or　the　other　in　the　next　six　months；　and　packed　him　off。　Masters　left　in　a　week　and　sat　in　Washington　talking　fish　for　five　months；　and　we　all　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　and　cut　Rhoda　Masters　whenever　we　could　find　an　opportunity　to　do　it。〃
　The　Governor　stopped　speaking　and　it　was　silent　in　the　big　brightly　lit　drawing…room。　He　took　out　a　handkerchief　and　wiped　it　over　his　face。　His　memories　had　excited　him　and　his　eyes　were　bright　in　the　flushed　face。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　poured　a　whisky　and　soda　for　Bond；　and　one　for　himself。
　Bond　said：　〃What　a　mess。　I　suppose　something　like　that　was　bound　to　happen　sooner　or　later；　but　it　was　bad　luck　on　Masters　that　it　had　to　happen　so　soon　She　must　have　been　a　hard…hearted　little　bitch。　Did　she　show　any　signs　of　being　sorry　for　what　she'd　done？〃
　The　Governor　had　finished　lighting　a　fresh　cigar。　He　looked　at　the　glowing　tip　and　blew　on　it。　He　said：　〃Oh　no。　She　was　having　a　wonderful　time。　She　probably　knew　it　wouldn't　last　for　ever；　but　it　was　what　she　had　dreamed　about　…　what　the　readers　of　women's　magazines　dream　about；　and　she