rl.thebourneidentity-第42部分

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do　so　when　his　eyes　fell　on　the　edge　of　an　index　card。　It　was　only　the　edge；　the　rest　was　concealed　under　the　telephone　itself。　And　there　was　something　else　…　dull；　barely　discernible。　A　strip　of　transparent　tape；　running　along　the　edge　of　the　card；　holding　it　in　place。　The　tape　itself　was　relatively　new；　recently　stuck　over　the　heavy　paper　and　the　gleaming　wood；　it　was　clean；　no　smudges　or　coiled　borders　or　signs　of　having　been　there　very　long。
　Instinct。
　Bourne　picked　up　the　telephone　to　move　it　aside。　It　rang；　the　bell　vibrating　through　his　hand；　the　shrill　sound　unnerving。　He　replaced　it　on　the　desk　and　stepped　away　as　a　man　in　shirtsleeves　rushed　through　the　open　door　from　the　corridor。　He　stopped；　staring　at　Bourne；　his　eyes　alarmed　but　nonmittal。　The　telephone　rang　a　second　time；　the　man　walked　rapidly　to　the　desk　and　picked　up　the　receiver。
　'Allo？'　There　was　silence　as　the　intruder　listened；　head　down；　concentration　on　the　caller。　He　was　a　tanned；　muscular　man　of　indeterminate　age；　the　sun…drenched　skin　disguising　the　years。　His　face　was　taut；　his　lips　thin；　his　close…cropped　hair　thick；　dark　brown　and　disciplined。　The　sinews　of　his　bare　arms　moved　under　the　flesh　as　he　transferred　the　phone　from　one　hand　to　the　other；　speaking　harshly。　'Pas　id　maintenant。　Je　ne　sais　pas　la　expanse。　Appelez　encore。'　He　hung　up　and　looked　at　Jason。　'Oil　est　Jacqueline？'
　4A　little　slower；　please；'　said　Bourne；　lying　in　English。　'My　French　is　limited。'
　'Sorry；'　replied　the　bronzed　man。　〃I　was　looking　for　Madame　Lavier。'
　The　owner？'
　'The　title　will　suffice。　Where　is　she？'
　'Depleting　my　funds。'　Jason　smiled；　raising　his　glass　to　his　lips。
　'Oh？　And　who　are　you；　Monsieur？'
　'Who　are　you？'
　The　man　studied　Bourne。　'Rone〃　Bergeron。'
　'Oh；　Lord！'　exclaimed　Jason。　'She's　looking　for　you。　You're　very　good；　Mr　Bergeron。　She　said　I　was　to　look　upon　your　designs　as　the　work　of　an　emerging　master。'　Bourne　smiled　again。　'You're　the　reason　I　may　have　to　wire　the　Bahamas　for　a　great　deal　of　money。'
　'You're　most　kind；　Monsieur。　And　I　apologize　for　barging　in。'
　'Better　that　you　answered　that　phone　than　me。　Berlitz　considers　me　a　failure。'
　'Buyers；　suppliers；　all　screaming　idiots。　To　whom；　Monsieur；　do　I　have　the　honour　of　speaking？'
　'Briggs；'　said　Jason；　having　no　idea　where　the　name　came
　from；　astonished　that　it　came　so　quickly；　so　naturally。　'Charles　Briggs。'
　'A　pleasure　to　know　you。'　Bergeron　extended　his　hand；　the　grip　was　firm。　'You　say　Jacqueline　was　looking　for　me？'
　'On　my　behalf；　I'm　afraid。'
　'I　shall　find　her。'　The　designer　left　quickly。
　Bourne　moved　quickly　to　the　desk；　his　eyes　on　the　door；　his　hand　on　the　telephone。　He　moved　it　to　the　side；　exposing　the　index　card。　There　were　two　telephone　numbers；　the　first　recognizable　as　a　Zurich　exchange；　the　second　obviously　Paris。
　Instinct。　He　had　been　right；　a　strip　of　transparent　tape　the　only　sign　he　had　needed。　He　stared　at　the　numbers；　memorizing　them；　then　moved　the　telephone　back　into　place；　and　stepped　away。
　He　had　barely　managed　to　clear　the　desk　when　Madame　Lavier　swept　back　into　the　room；　a　hall　dozen　dresses　over　her　arm。　'I　met　Rene　on　the　steps。　He　approves　of　my　selections　most　enthusiastically。　He　also　tells　me　your　name　is　Briggs；　Monsieur。'
　'I　would　have　told　you　myself；'　said　Bourne；　smiling　back；　countering　the　pout　in　Lavier's　voice。　'But　I　don't　think　you　asked。'
　'〃Spoors　in　the　forest〃；　Monsieur。　Here；　I　bring　you　a　feast！'　She　separated　the　dresses；　placing　them　carefully　over　several　chairs。　'I　truly　believe　these　are　among　the　finest　creations　Rene　has　brought　us。'
　'Brought　you？'　replied　Jason。　'He　doesn't　work　here　then？'
　'A　figure　of　speech：　his　studio's　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　but　it　is　a　holy　sacristy。　Even　I　tremble　when　I　enter。'
　'They're　magnificent；'　continued　Bourne；　going　from　one　to　another。　'But　I　don't　want　to　overwhelm　her；　just　pacify　her；'　he　added；　pointing　out　three　garments。　I'll　take　these。'
　'A　fine　selection；　Monsieur　Briggs！'
　'Box　them　with　the　others；　if　you　will。'
　'Of　course。　She　is；　indeed；　a　fortunate　lady。'
　'A　good　panion；　but　a　child'。　A　spoiled　child；　I'm　afraid。　However；　I've　been　away　a　lot　and　haven't　paid　much　attention　to　her；　so　I　feel　I　should　make　peace。　It's　one　reason　I　sent　her　to　Cap　Ferrat。'　He　smiled；　taking　out　his　Louis　Vuitton　wallet。　'Lafacture；　s'il　vous　plait？〃
　I'll　have　one　of　the　girls　expedite　everything。'　Mme　Lavier　pressed　a　button　on　the　inter　next　to　the　telephone。　Jason　watched　closely；　prepared　to　ment　on　the　call　Bergeron　had　answered　in　the　event　the　woman's　eyes　settled　on　a　slightly　out…of…place　phone。　'Envoyez　Janine　id　avec　Us　vetements　sur　ptoir　cinq。　Aussi　la　facture。'　She　stood　up。　'Another　brandy；　Monsieur　Briggs？'
　'Merci　bien。'　Bourne　extended　his　glass；　she　took　it　and　walked　to　the　bar。　Jason　knew　the　time　bad　not　yet　arrived　for　what　he　had　in　mind；　it　would　e　soon　…　as　soon　as　he　parted　with　money　…　but　not　now。　He　could；　however；　continue　building　a　foundation　with　the　managing　partner　of　Les　Classiques。　'That　fellow；　Bergeron；'　he　said；　'you　say　he's　under　exclusive　contract　to　you？'
　Madame　Lavier　turned；　the　glass　in　her　hand。　'Oh；　yes'。　We　are　a　closely　knit　family　here。'
　Bourne　accepted　the　brandy；　nodded　his　thanks；　and　sat　down　in　an　armchair　in　front　of　the　desk。　That's　a　constructive　arrangement；'　he　said　pointlessly。
　The　tall；　gaunt　clerk　he　had　first　spoken　to　came　into　the　office；　a　salesbook　in　her　hand。　Instructions　were　given　rapidly；　figures　entered；　the　garments　gathered　and　separated　as　the　salesbook　exchanged　hands。　Lavier　held　it　out　for　Jason's　perusal。　'Lafacture；'　she　said。
　Bourne　shook　his　head；　dismissing　inspection。　'bien？'　he　asked。
　'Vingt　mille　soixante　francs；　monsieur；'　answered　the　Les　Classiques　partner；　watching　his　reaction　with　the　expression　of　a　large；　wary　bird。
　There　was　none。　Jason　merely　removed　six　five…thousand　franc　notes　and　handed　them　to　her。　She　nodded　and　gave　them　in　turn　to　the　slender　salesgirl；　who　walked　cadaverously　out　of　the　office　with　the　dresses。
　'Everything　will　be　packaged　and　brought　up　here　with　your　change。'　Lavier　went　to　her　desk　and　sat　down。　'You're　on　your　way　to　Ferret；　then。　It　should　be　lovely。'
　He　had　paid；　the　time　had　e。　'A　last　night　in　Paris　before　I　go　back　to　kindergarten；'　said　Jason；　raising　his　glass　in　a　toast　of　self…mockery。
　'Yes；　you　mentioned　that　your　friend　is　quite　young。'
　'A　child　is　what　I　said；　and　that's　what　she　is。　She's　a　good　panion；　but　I　think　I　prefer　the　pany　of　more　mature　women。'
　'You　must　be　very　fond　of　her；'　contested　Lavier；　touching　her　perfectly　coiffed　hair；　the　flattery　accepted。　'You　buy　her　such　lovely　…　and；　frankly　…　expensive　things。'
　'A　minor　price　considering　what　she　might　try　to　opt　for。'
　'Really。'
　'She's　my　wife；　my　third　to　be　exact；　and　there　are　appearances　to　be　kept　in　the　Bahamas。　But　all　that's　neither　here　nor　there；　my　life's　quite　in　order。'
　'I'm　sure　it　is；　Monsieur。'
　'Speaking　of　the　Bahamas；　a　thought　occurred　to　me　a　few　minutes　ago。　It's　why　I　asked　you　about　Bergeron。'
　'What　is　that？'
　'You　may　think　I'm　impetuous；　I　assure　you　I'm　not。　But　when　something　strikes　me；　I　like　to　explore　it。。。　Since　Bergeron's　yours　exclusively；　have　you　ever　given　any　thought　to　opening　a　branch　in　the　islands？'
　The　Bahamas？'
　'And　points　south。　Into　the　Caribbean；　perhaps。'
　'Monsieur；　Saint…Honore'　by　itself　is　often　more　than　we　can　handle！　Untended　farmland　generally　goes　fallow；　as　they　say。'
　'It　wouldn't　have　to　be　tended；　not　in　the　way　that　you　think。　A　concession　here；　one　there；　the　designs　exclusive；　local　ownership　on　a　percentage…franchise　basis。　Just　a　boutique　or　two；　spreading；　of　course；　cautiously。'
　That　takes　considerable　capital；　Monsieur　Briggs。'
　'Key　prices；　initially。　What　you　might　call　entrance　fees。　They're　high；　but　not　prohibitive。　In　the　finer　hotels　and　clubs　it　usually　depends　on　how　well　you　know　the　managements。'
　'And　you　know　them？'
　'Extremely　well。　As　I　say；　I'm　just　exploring；　but　I　think　the　idea　has　merit。　Your　labels　would　have　a　certain　distinction。　Les　Classiques；　Paris；　Grand　Bahama。。。　Cancel　Bay；　perhaps。'　Bourne　swallowed　the　rest　of　his　brandy。　'But　you　probably　think　I'm　crazy。　Consider　it　just　talk。。。　Although　I've　made　a　dollar　or　two　on　risks　that　simply　struck　me　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。'
　'Risks？'　Jacqueline　Lavier　touched　her　hair　again。
　'I　don't　give　ideas　away；　Madame。　I　generally　back　them。'
　'Yes；　I　understand。　As　you　say；　the　idea　does　have　merit'
　'I　think　so。　Of　course；　I'd　like　to　see　what　kind　of　agreement　you　have　with　Bergeron。'
　'It　could　be　produced；　Monsieur。'
　Tell　you　what；'　said　Jason。　'If　you're　free；　let's　talk　about　it　over　drinks　and　dinner。　It's　my　only　night　in　Paris。'
　'And　you　prefer　the　pany　of　more　mature　women；'　concluded　Jacqueline　Lavier；　the　mask　cracked　into　a　smile　again；　the　white　ice　breaking　beneath　eyes　now　more　in　concert。
　'D'accord；　madame。'
　'It　can　be　arranged；'　she　said；　reaching　for　the　phone。
　The　phone。　Carlos。
　He　would　break　her；　thought　Bourne。　Kill　her　if　he　had　to。　He　would　learn　the　truth。
　Marie　walked　through　the　crowd　towards　the　box　in　the　telephone　plex　on　rue　Vaugirard。　She　had　taken　a　room　at　the　Meurice；　left　the　attaché　case　at　the　front　desk　and　sat　alone　in　the　room　for　exactly　twenty…two　minutes。　Until　she　could　not　stand　it　any　longer。　She　had　sat　in　a　chair　facing　a　blank　wall　thinking　about　Jason；　about　the　madness　of　the　last　eight　days　that　had　propelled　her　into　an　insanity　beyond　her　understanding。　Jason。　Considerate；　frightening；　bewildered　Jason　Bourne。　A　man　with　so　much　violence　in　him；　and　yet；　oddly；　so　much　passion。　And　too　terribly　capable　in　dealing　with　a　world　ordinary　men　knew　nothing　about。　Where　had　he　sprung　from；　this　love　of　hers？　Who　had　taught　him　to　find　his　way　through　the　dark　back　streets　of　Paris；　Marseilles　and　Zurich。。。　as　far　away　as　the　Orient；　perhaps？　What　was　the　Far　East　to　him？　How　did　he　know　the　languages？　What　were　the　languages？　Or　language？
　Too。
　Che…sah。
　Tarn　Quan。
　Another　world；　and　she　knew　nothing　of　it。　But　she　knew　Jason　Bourne；　o