ss.iftomorrowcomes-第49部分

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　〃Yes。〃　Jeff's　tone　was　rueful。　〃His　gun　went　off　and　shot　him　in　a　very　sensitive　area。　It　was　one　of　those　stupid　things。〃　He　turned　to　Tracy。　〃Is　there　any　hope　that　he'll　ever　be　normal　again？〃
　
　Tracy　said　tonelessly；　〃I'm　sure　that　one　day　he'll　be　as　normal　as　you　are；　Mr。　Stevens。〃
　
　〃Oh；　good。　You　will　give　him　my　best　regards　when　you　talk　to　him；　won't　you；　Duchess？〃
　
　The　music　stopped。　The　Count　de　Matigny　apologized　to　Tracy。　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　my　dear；　I　have　a　few　hostly　duties　to　attend　to。〃　He　squeezed　her　hand。　〃Don't　forget　you're　seated　at　my　table。〃
　
　As　the　count　moved　away；　Jeff　said　to　his　panion；　〃Angel；　you　put　some　aspirin　in　your　bag；　didn't　you？　Could　you　get　one　for　me？　I'm　afraid　I'm　getting　a　terrible　headache。〃
　
　〃Oh；　my　poor　darling。〃　There　was　an　adoring　look　in　her　eyes。　〃I'll　be　right　back；　sweetheart。〃
　
　Tracy　watched　her　slink　across　the　floor。　〃Aren't　you　afraid　she'll　give　you　diabetes？〃
　
　〃She　is　sweet；　isn't　she？　And　how　have　you　been　lately；　Duchess？〃
　
　Tracy　smiled　for　the　benefit　of　those　around　them。　〃That's　really　none　of　your　concern；　is　it？〃
　
　〃Ah；　but　it　is。　In　fact；　I'm　concerned　enough　to　give　you　some　friendly　advice。　Don't　try　to　rob　this　chateau。〃
　
　〃Why？　Are　you　planning　to　do　it　first？〃
　
　Jeff　took　Tracy's　arm　and　walked　her　over　to　a　deserted　spot　near　the　piano；　where　a　dark…eyed　young　man　was　soulfully　massacring　American　show　tunes。
　
　Only　Tracy　could　hear　Jeff's　voice　over　the　music。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　was　planning　a　little　something；　but　it's　too　dangerous。〃
　
　〃Really？〃　Tracy　was　beginning　to　enjoy　the　conversation。
　
　It　was　a　relief　to　be　herself；　to　stop　playacting。　The　Greeks　had　the　right　word　for　it；　Tracy　thought。　Hypocrite　was　from　the　Greek　word　for　〃actor。〃
　
　〃Listen　to　me；　Tracy。〃　Jeff's　tone　was　serious。　〃Don't　try　this。　First　of　all；　you'd　never　get　through　the　grounds　alive。　A　killer　guard　dog　is　let　loose　at　night。〃
　
　Suddenly；　Tracy　was　listening　intently。　Jeff　was　planning　to　rob　the　place。
　
　〃Every　window　and　door　is　wired。　The　alarms　connect　directly　to　the　police　station。　Even　if　you　did　manage　to　get　inside　the　house；　the　whole　place　is　crisscrossed　with　invisible　infrared　beams。〃
　
　〃I　know　all　that。〃　Tracy　was　a　little　smug。
　
　〃Then　you　must　also　know　that　the　beam　doesn't　sound　the　alarm　when　you　step　into　it。　It　sounds　the　alarm　when　you　step　out　of　it。　It　senses　the　heat　change。　There's　no　way　you　can　get　through　it　without　setting　it　off。〃
　
　She　had　not　known　that。　How　had　Jeff　learned　of　It？
　
　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　all　this？〃
　
　He　smiled；　and　she　thought　he　had　never　looked　more　attractive。　〃I　really　don't　want　you　to　get　caught；　Duchess。　I　like　having　you　around。　You　know；　Tracy；　you　and　I　could　bee　very　good　friends。〃
　
　〃You're　wrong；〃　Tracy　assured　him。　She　saw　Jeff's　date　hurrying　toward　them。　〃Here　es　Ms。　Diabetes。　Enjoy　yourself。〃
　
　As　Tracy　walked　away；　she　heard　Jeff's　date　say；　〃I　brought　you　some　champagne　to　wash　it　down　with；　poor　baby。〃
　
　The　dinner　was　sumptuous。　Each　course　was　acpanied　by　the　appropriate　wine；　impeccably　served　by　white…gloved　footmen。　The　first　course　was　a　native　asparagus　with　a　white　truffle　sauce；　followed　by　a　consommé　with　delicate　morels。　After　that　came　a　saddle　of　lamb　with　an　assortment　of　fresh　vegetables　from　the　count's　gardens。　A　crisp　endive　salad　was　next。　For　dessert　there　were　individually　molded　ice…cream　servings　and　a　silver　epergne；　piled　high　with　petite　fours。　Coffee　and　brandy　came　last。　Cigars　were　offered　to　the　men；　and　the　women　were　given　Joy　perfume　in　a　Baccarat　crystal　flacon。
　
　After　dinner；　the　Count　de　Matigny　turned　to　Tracy。　〃You　mentioned　that　you　were　interested　in　seeing　some　of　my　paintings。　Would　you　like　to　take　a　look　now？〃
　
　〃I'd　love　to；〃　Tracy　assured　him。
　
　The　picture　gallery　was　a　private　museum　filled　with　Italian　masters；　French　Impressionists；　and　Picassos。　The　long　hall　was　ablaze　with　the　bewitching　colors　and　forms　painted　by　immortals。　There　were　Monets　and　Renoirs；　Canalettos　and　Guardis　and　Tintorettos。　There　was　an　exquisite　Tiepolo　and　Guercino　and　a　Titian；　and　there　was　almost　a　full　wall　of　Cézannes。　There　was　no　calculating　the　value　of　the　collection。
　
　Tracy　stared　at　the　paintings　a　long　time；　savoring　their　beauty。　〃I　hope　these　are　well　guarded。〃
　
　The　count　smiled。　〃On　three　occasions　thieves　have　tried　to　get　at　my　treasures。　One　was　killed　by　my　dog；　the　second　was　maimed；　and　the　third　is　serving　a　life　term　in　prison。　The　chateau　is　an　invulnerable　fortress；　Duchess。〃
　
　〃I'm　so　relieved　to　hear　that；　Count。〃
　
　There　was　a　bright　flash　of　light　from　outside。　〃The　fireworks　display　is　beginning；〃　the　count　said。　〃I　think　you'll　be　amused。〃　He　took　Tracy's　soft　hand　in　his　papery；　dry　one　and　led　her　out　of　the　picture　gallery。　〃I'm　leaving　for　Deauville　in　the　morning；　where　I　have　a　villa　on　the　sea。　I've　invited　a　few　friends　down　next　weekend。　You　might　enjoy　it。〃
　
　〃I'm　sure　I　would；〃　Tracy　said　regretfully；　〃but　I'm　afraid　my　husband　is　getting　restless。　He　insists　that　I　return。〃
　
　The　fireworks　display　lasted　for　almost　an　hour；　and　Tracy　took　advantage　of　the　distraction　to　reconnoiter　the　house。　What　Jeff　had　said　was　true：　The　odds　against　a　successful　burglary　were　formidable；　but　for　that　very　reason　Tracy　found　the　challenge　irresistible。　She　knew　that　upstairs　in　the　count's　bedroom　were　2　million　in　jewels；　and　half　a　dozen　masterpieces；　including　a　Leonardo。
　
　The　chateau　is　a　treasure　house；　Gunther　Hartog　had　told　her；　and　it's　guarded　like　one。　Don't　make　a　move　unless　you　have　a　foolproof　plan。
　
　Well；　I've　worked　out　a　plan；　Tracy　thought。　Whether　it's　foolproof　or　not；　I'll　know　tomorrow。
　
　**********
　
　The　following　night　was　chilly　and　cloudy；　and　the　high　walls　around　the　chateau　appeared　grim　and　forbidding　as　Tracy　stood　in　the　shadows；　wearing　black　coveralls；　gum…soled　shoes；　and　supple　black　kid　gloves；　carrying　a　shoulder　bag。　For　an　unguarded　moment　Tracy's　mind　embraced　the　memory　of　the　walls　of　the　penitentiary；　and　she　gave　an　involuntary　shiver。
　
　She　had　driven　the　rented　van　alongside　the　stone　wall　at　the　back　of　the　estate。　From　the　other　side　of　the　wall　came　a　low；　fierce　growl　that　developed　into　a　frenzied　barking；　as　the　dog　leapt　into　the　air；　trying　to　attack。　Tracy　visualized　the　Doberman's　powerful；　heavy　body　and　deadly　teeth。
　
　She　called　out　softly　to　someone　in　the　van；　〃Now。〃
　
　A　slight；　middle…aged　man；　also　dressed　in　black；　with　a　rucksack　on　his　back；　came　out　of　the　van　holding　onto　a　female　Doberman。　The　dog　was　in　season；　and　the　tone　of　barking　from　the　other　side　of　the　stone　wall　suddenly　changed　to　an　excited　whine。
　
　Tracy　helped　lift　the　bitch　to　the　top　of　the　van；　which　was　almost　the　exact　height　of　the　wall。
　
　〃One；　two；　three；〃　she　whispered。
　
　And　the　two　of　them　tossed　the　bitch　over　the　wall　into　the　grounds　of　the　estate。　There　were　two　sharp　barks；　followed　by　a　series　of　snuffling　noises；　then　the　sound　of　the　dogs　running。　After　that　all　was　quiet。
　
　Tracy　turned　to　her　confederate。　〃Let's　go。〃
　
　The　man；　Jean　Louis；　nodded。　She　had　found　him　in　Antibes。　He　was　a　thief　who　had　spent　most　of　his　life　in　prison。　Jean　Louis　was　not　bright；　but　he　was　a　genius　with　locks　and　alarms；　perfect　for　this　job。
　
　Tracy　stepped　from　the　roof　of　the　van　onto　the　top　of　the　wall。　She　unrolled　a　scaling　ladder　and　hooked　it　to　the　edge　of　the　wall。　They　both　moved　down　it　onto　the　grass　below。　The　estate　appeared　vastly　different　from　the　way　it　had　looked　the　evening　before；　when　it　was　brightly　lit　and　crowded　with　laughing　guests。　Now；　everything　was　dark　and　bleak。
　
　Jean　Louis　trailed　behind　Tracy；　keeping　a　fearful　watch　for　the　Dobermans。
　
　The　chateau　was　covered　with　centuries…old　ivy　clinging　to　the　wall　up　to　the　rooftop。　Tracy　had　casually　tested　the　ivy　the　evening　before。　Now；　as　she　put　her　weight　on　a　vine；　it　held。　She　began　to　climb；　scanning　the　grounds　below。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　dogs。　l　hope　they　stay　busy　for　a　long　time；　she　prayed。
　
　When　Tracy　reached　the　roof；　she　signaled　to　Jean　Louis　and　waited　until　he　climbed　up　beside　her。　From　the　pinpoint　light　Tracy　switched　on；　they　saw　a　glass　skylight；　securely　locked　from　below。　As　Tracy　watched；　Jean　Louis　reached　into　the　rucksack　on　his　back　and　pulled　out　a　small　glass　cutter。　It　took　him　less　than　a　minute　to　remove　the　glass。
　
　Tracy　glanced　down　and　saw　that　their　way　was　blocked　by　a　spiderweb　of　alarm　wires。　〃Can　you　handle　that；　Jean？〃　she　whispered。
　
　〃Je　peux　faire　？a。　No　problem。〃　He　reached　into　his　pack　and　pulled　out　a　foot…long　wire　with　an　alligator　clamp　on　each　end。　Moving　slowly；　he　traced　the　beginning　of　the　alarm　wire；　stripped　it；　and　connected　the　alligator　clamp　to　the　end　of　the　alarm。　He　pulled　out　a　pair　of　pliers　and　carefully　cut　the　wire。　Tracy　tensed　herself；　waiting　for　the　sound　of　the　alarm；　but　all　was　quiet。　Jean　Louis　looked　up　and　grinned。　〃Voilà。　Fini。〃
　
　Wrong；　Tracy　thought。　This　is　just　the　beginning。
　
　They　used　a　second　scaling　ladder　to　climb　down　through　the　skylight。　So　far　so　good。　They　had　made　it　safely　into　the　attic。　But　when　Tracy　thought　of　what　lay　ahead；　her　heart　began　to　pound。
　
　She　pulled　out　two　pairs　of　red…lens　goggles　and　handed　one　of　them　to　Jean　Louis。　〃Put　these　on。〃
　
　She　had　figured　out　a　way　to　distract　the　Doberman；　but　the　infrared…ray　alarms　had　proved　to　be　a　more　difficult　problem　to　solve。　Jeff　had　been　correct：　The　house　was　crisscrossed　with　invisible　beams。　Tracy　took　several　long；　deep　breaths。　Center　your　energy；　your　chi。　Relax。　She　forced　her　mind　into　a　crystal　clarity：　When　a　person　moves　into　a　beam；　nothing　happens；　but　the　instant　the　person　moves　out　of　the　beam；　the　sensor　detects　the　difference　in　temperature　and　the　alarm　is　set　off。　It　has　been　set　to　go　off　before　the　burglar　opens　the　safe；　leaving　him　no　time　to　do　anything　before　the　police　arrive。
　
　And　there；　Tracy　had　decided；　was　the　weakness　in　the　system。