ss.iftomorrowcomes-第51部分

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　He　raised　a　reassuring　hand。　〃I　can　afford　it。　In　fact；　I　am　on　the　verge　of　being　able　to　afford　anything　in　the　world。〃
　
　〃Really？〃　Tracy　gave　him　a　small　smile。　〃How　nice　for　you。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　Zuckerman　ordered　a　bottle　of　Bollinger；　then　turned　to　Tracy。　〃The　most　extraordinary　thing　has　happened　to　me。　I　really　should　not　be　discussing　this　with　a　stranger；　but　it　is　too　exciting　to　keep　to　myself。〃　He　leaned　closer　and　lowered　'his　voice。　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　am　a　simple　school…teacher…　or　I　was；　until　recently。　I　teach　history。　It　is　most　enjoyable；　you　understand；　but　not　too　exciting。〃
　
　She　listened；　a　look　of　polite　interest　on　her　face。
　
　〃That　is　to　say；　it　was　not　exciting　until　a　few　months　ago。〃
　
　〃May　I　ask　what　happened　a　few　months　ago；　Professor　Zuckerman？〃
　
　〃I　was　doing　research　on　the　Spanish　Armada；　looking　for　odd　bits　and　pieces　that　might　make　the　subject　more　interesting　for　my　students；　and　in　the　archives　of　the　local　museum；　I　came　across　an　old　document　that　had　somehow　gotten　mixed　in　with　other　papers。　It　gave　the　details　of　a　secret　expedition　that　Prince　Philip　sent　out　in　1588。　One　of　the　ships；　loaded　with　gold　bullion；　was　supposed　to　have　sunk　in　a　storm　and　vanished　without　a　trace。〃
　
　Tracy　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　〃Supposed　to　have　sunk？〃
　
　〃Exactly。　But　according　to　these　records；　the　captain　and　crew　deliberately　sank　the　ship　in　a　deserted　cove；　planning　to　e　back　later　and　retrieve　the　treasure；　but　they　were　attacked　and　killed　by　pirates　before　they　could　return。　The　document　survived　only　because　none　of　the　sailors　on　the　pirate　ship　could　read　or　write。　They　did　not　know　the　significance　of　what　they　had。〃　His　voice　was　trembling　with　excitement。　〃Now〃…　he　lowered　his　voice　and　looked　around　to　make　sure　it　was　safe　to　continue…　〃I　have　the　document；　with　detailed　instructions　on　how　to　get　to　the　treasure。〃
　
　〃What　a　fortunate　discovery　for　you；　Professor。〃　There　was　a　note　of　admiration　in　her　voice。
　
　〃That　gold　bullion　is　probably　worth　fifty　million　dollars　today；〃　Zuckerman　said。　〃All　I　have　to　do　is　bring　it　up。〃
　
　〃What's　stopping　you？〃
　
　He　gave　an　embarrassed　shrug。　〃Money。　I　must　outfit　a　ship　to　bring　the　treasure　to　the　surface。〃
　
　〃I　see。　How　much　would　that　cost？〃
　
　〃A　hundred　thousand　dollars。　I　must　confess；　I　did　something　extremely　foolish。　I　took　twenty　thousand　dollars…　my　life's　savings…　and　I　came　to　Biarritz　to　gamble　at　the　casino；　hoping　to　win　enough　to。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off。
　
　〃And　you　lost　it。〃
　
　He　nodded。　Tracy　saw　the　glint　of　tears　behind　his　spectacles。
　
　The　champagne　arrived；　and　the　captain　popped　the　cork　and　poured　the　golden　liquid　into　their　glasses。
　
　〃Bonne　chance；〃　Tracy　toasted。
　
　〃Thank　you。〃
　
　They　sipped　their　drinks　in　contemplative　silence。
　
　〃Please　forgive　me　for　boring　you　with　all　this；〃　Zuckerman　said。　〃I　should　not　be　telling　a　beautiful　lady　my　troubles。〃
　
　〃But　I　find　your　story　fascinating；〃　she　assured　him。　〃You　are　sure　the　gold　is　there；　oui？〃
　
　〃Beyond　a　shadow　of　a　doubt。　I　have　the　original　shipping　orders　and　a　map　drawn　by　the　captain；　himself。　I　know　the　exact　location　of　the　treasure。〃
　
　She　was　studying　him　with　a　thoughtful　expression　on　her　face。　〃But　you　need　a　hundred　thousand　dollars？〃
　
　Zuckerman　chuckled　ruefully。　〃Yes。　For　a　treasure　worth　fifty　million。〃　He　took　another　sip　of　his　drink。
　
　〃C'est　possible。。。〃　She　stopped。
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Have　you　considered　taking　in　a　partner？〃
　
　He　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　〃A　partner？　No。　I　planned　to　do　this　alone。　But　of　course　now　that　I've　lost　my　money。。。〃　His　voice　trailed　off　again。
　
　〃Professor　Zuckerman；　suppose　I　were　to　give　you　the　hundred　thousand　dollars？〃
　
　He　shook　his　head。　〃Absolutely　not；　Baroness。　I　could　not　permit　that。　You　might　lose　your　money。〃
　
　〃But　if　you're　sure　the　treasure　is　there…？〃
　
　〃Oh；　of　that　I　am　positive。　But　a　hundred　things　could　go　wrong。　There　are　no　guarantees。〃
　
　〃In　life；　there　are　few　guarantees。　Your　problem　is　très　intéressant。　Perhaps　if　I　help　you　solve　it；　it　could　be　lucrative　for　both　of　us。〃
　
　〃No；　I　could　never　forgive　myself　if　by　any　remote　chance　you　should　lose　your　money。〃
　
　〃I　can　afford　it；〃　she　assured　him。　〃And　I　would　stand　to　make　a　great　deal　on　my　investment；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　
　〃Of　course；　there　is　that　side　of　it；〃　Zuckerman　admitted。　He　sat　there　weighing　the　matter；　obviously　torn　with　doubts。　Finally；　he　said；　〃If　that　is　what　you　wish；　you　will　be　a　fifty…fifty　partner。〃
　
　She　smiled；　pleased。　〃D'accord。　I　accept。〃
　
　The　professor　added　quickly；　〃After　expenses；　of　course。〃
　
　〃Naturellement。　How　soon　can　we　get　started？〃
　
　〃Immediately。〃　The　professor　was　charged　with　a　sudden　vitality。　〃I　have　already　found　the　boat　I　want　to　use。　It　has　modern　dredging　equipment　and　a　crew　of　four。　Of　course；　we　will　have　to　give　them　a　small　percentage　of　whatever　we　bring　up。〃
　
　〃Bien　s？r。〃
　
　〃We　should　get　started　as　quickly　as　possible；　or　we　might　lose　the　boat。〃
　
　〃I　can　have　the　money　for　you　in　five　days。〃
　
　〃Wonderful！〃　Zuckerman　exclaimed。　〃That　will　give　me　time　to　make　all　the　preparations。　Ah；　this　was　a　fortuitous　meeting　for　both　of　us；　was　it　not？〃
　
　〃Oui。　Sans　doute。〃
　
　〃To　our　adventure。〃　The　professor　raised　his　glass。
　
　Tracy　raised　hers　and　toasted；　〃May　it　prove　to　be　as　profitable　as　I　feel　it　will　be。〃
　
　They　clinked　glasses。　Tracy　looked　across　the　room　and　froze。　At　a　table　in　the　far　corner　was　Jeff　Stevens；　watching　her　with　an　amused　smile　on　his　face。　With　him　was　an　attractive　woman　ablaze　with　jewels。
　
　Jeff　nodded　to　Tracy；　and　she　smiled；　remembering　how　she　had　last　seen　him　outside　the　De　Matigny　estate；　with　that　silly　dog　beside　him。　That　was　one　for　me；　Tracy　thought　happily。
　
　〃So；　if　you　will　excuse　me；〃　Zuckerman　was　saying；　〃I　have　much　to　do。　I　will　be　in　touch　with　you。〃　Tracy　graciously　extended　her　hand；　and　he　kissed　it　and　departed。
　
　**********
　
　〃I　see　your　friend　has　deserted　you；　and　I　can't　imagine　why。　You　look　absolutely　terrific　as　a　blonde。〃
　
　Tracy　glanced　up。　Jeff　was　standing　beside　her　table。　He　sat　down　in　the　chair　Adolf　Zuckerman　had　occupied　a　few　minutes　earlier。
　
　〃Congratulations；〃　Jeff　said。　〃The　De　Matigny　caper　was　ingenious。　Very　neat。〃
　
　〃ing　from　you；　that's　high　praise；　Jeff。〃
　
　〃You're　costing　me　a　lot　of　money；　Tracy。〃
　
　〃You'll　get　used　to　it。〃
　
　He　toyed　with　the　glass　in　front　of　him。　〃What　did　Professor　Zuckerman　want？〃
　
　〃Oh；　you　know　him？〃
　
　〃You　might　say　that。〃
　
　〃He。。。　er。。。　just　wanted　to　have　a　drink。〃
　
　〃And　tell　you　all　about　his　sunken　treasure？〃
　
　Tracy　was　suddenly　wary。　〃How　do　you　know　about　that？〃
　
　Jeff　looked　at　her　in　surprise。　〃Don't　tell　me　you　fell　for　it？　It's　the　oldest　con　game　in　the　world。〃
　
　〃Not　this　time。〃
　
　〃You　mean　you　believed　him？〃
　
　Tracy　said　stiffly；　〃I'm　not　at　liberty　to　discuss　it；　but　the　professor　happens　to　have　some　inside　information。〃
　
　Jeff　shook　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃Tracy；　he's　trying　to　take　you。　How　much　did　he　ask　you　to　invest　in　his　sunken　treasure？〃
　
　〃Never　mind；〃　Tracy　said　primly。　〃It's　my　money　and　my　business。〃
　
　Jeff　shrugged。　〃Right。　Just　don't　say　old　Jeff　didn't　try　to　warn　you。''
　
　〃It　couldn't　be　that　you're　interested　in　that　gold　for　yourself；　could　it？〃
　
　He　threw　up　his　hands　in　mock　despair。　〃Why　are　you　always　so　suspicious　of　me？〃
　
　〃It's　simple；〃　Tracy　replied。　〃I　don't　trust　you。　Who　was　the　woman　you　were　with？〃　She　instantly　wished　she　could　have　withdrawn　the　question。
　
　〃Suzanne？　A　friend。〃
　
　〃Rich；　of　course。〃
　
　Jeff　gave　her　a　lazy　smile。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　think　she　does　have　a　bit　of　money。　If　you'd　like　to　join　us　for　luncheon　tomorrow；　the　chef　on　her　two…hundred…fifty…foot　yacht　in　the　harbor　makes　a…〃
　
　Thank　you。　I　wouldn't　dream　of　interfering　with　your　lunch。　What　are　you　selling　her？〃
　
　〃That's　personal。〃
　
　〃I'm　sure　it　is。〃　It　came　out　harsher　than　she　had　intended。
　
　Tracy　studied　him　over　the　rim　of　her　glass。　He　really　was　too　damned　attractive。　He　had　clean；　regular　features；　beautiful　gray　eyes　with　long　lashes；　and　the　heart　of　a　snake。　A　very　intelligent　snake。
　
　〃Have　you　ever　thought　of　going　into　a　legitimate　business？〃　Tracy　asked。　〃You'd　probably　be　very　successful。〃
　
　Jeff　looked　shocked。　〃What？　And　give　up　all　this？　You　must　be　joking！〃
　
　〃Have　you　always　been　a　con　artist？〃
　
　〃Con　artist？　I'm　an　entrepreneur；〃　he　said　reprovingly。
　
　〃How　did　you　bee　a…　an…　entrepreneur？〃
　
　〃I　ran　away　from　home　when　I　was　fourteen　and　joined　a　carnival。〃
　
　〃At　fourteen？〃　It　was　the　first　glimpse　Tracy　had　had　into　what　lay　beneath　the　sophisticated；　charming　veneer。
　
　〃It　was　good　for　ma…　I　learned　to　cope。　When　that　wonderful　war　in　Vietnam　came　along；　I　joined　up　as　a　Green　Beret　and　got　an　advanced　education。　I　think　the　main　thing　I　learned　was　that　that　war　was　the　biggest　con　of　all。　pared　to　that；　you　and　I　are　amateurs。〃　He　changed　the　subject　abruptly。　〃Do　you　like　pelota？〃
　
　〃If　you're　selling　it；　no　thank　you。〃
　
　〃It's　a　game；　a　variation　of　jai　alai。　I　have　two　tickets　for　tonight；　and　Suzanne　can't　make　it。　Would　you　like　to　go？〃
　
　Tracy　found　herself　saying　yes。
　
　**********
　
　They　dined　at　a　little　restaurant　in　the　town　square；　where　they　had　a　local　wine　and　confit　de　canard　à　l'　ail…　roast　duck　simmered　in　its　own　juices　with　roasted　potatoes　and　garlic。　It　was　delicious。
　
　〃The　specialty　of　the　house；〃　Jeff　informed　Tracy。
　
　They　discussed　politics　and　books　and　travel；　and　Tracy　found　Jeff　surprisingly　knowledgeable。
　
　〃When　you're　on　your　own　at　fourteen；〃　Jeff　told　her；　〃you　pick　up　things　fast。　First　you　learn　what　motivates　you；　then　you　learn　what　motivates　other　people。　A　con　game　is　similar　to　ju　jitsu。　In　ju　jitsu　you　use　your　opponent's　strength　to　win。　In　a　con　game；　you　use　his　greed。　You　make　the　first　move；　and　he　does