rl.thebourneidentity- 第12节

　He　doubled　back　into　the　Bahnhofstrasse；　instinctively　knowing　that　the　Gemeinschaft　Bank　was　a　nearby　building　of　off…white　stone；　it　had　been　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street　on　which　he　had　just　walked；　he　had　passed　it　deliberately。　He　approached　the　heavy　glass　doors　and　pushed　the　centre　plate　forward。　The　right…hand　door　swung　open　easily　and　he　was　standing　on　a　floor　of　brown　marble；　he　had　stood　on　it　before；　but　the　image　was　not　as　strong　as　others。　He　had　the　unfortable　feeling　that　the　Gemeinschaft　was　to　be　avoided。
　It　was　not　to　be　avoided　now。
　'Puis…je　vous　aider；　monsieur？　The　man　asking　the　question　was　dressed　in　a　cutaway；　the　red　boutonniere　his　symbol　of　authority。　The　use　of　French　was　explained　by　the　client's　clothes；　even　the　subordinate　gnomes　of　Zurich　were　observant。
　'I　have　personal　and　confidential　business　to　discuss。！　replied　J。　Bourne　in　English；　once　again　mildly　startled　by　the　words　he　spoke　so　naturally。　The　reason　for　the　English　was　twofold：　he　wanted　to　watch　the　gnome's　expression　at　his　error；　and　he　wanted　no　possible　misinterpretation　of　anything　said　during　the　next　hour。
　'Pardon；　sir；'　said　the　man；　his　eyebrows　arched　slightly；　studying　the　client's　topcoat。　'The　lift　to　your　left；　first　floor。　The　receptionist　will　assist　you。〃
　The　receptionist　referred　to　was　a　middle…aged　man　with　close…cropped　hair　and　tortoiseshell　glasses；　his　expression　was　set；　his　eyes　rigidly　curious。　'Do　you　currently　have　personal　and　confidential　business　with　us；　sir？'　he　asked；　repeating　the　new　arrival's　words。
　'I　do。'
　'Your　signature；　please！　said　the　official；　holding　out　a　sheet　of　Gemeinschaft　stationery　with　two　blank　lines　centred　in　the　middle　of　the　page。
　The　client　understood；　no　name　was　required。　The　hand　written　numbers　take　the　place　of　a　name。。。　they　constitute　the　signature　of　the　account　holder。　Standard　procedure。　Wash…burn。
　The　patient　wrote　out　the　numbers；　relaxing　his　hand　so　the　writing　would　be　free。　He　handed　the　stationery　back　to　the　receptionist；　who　studied　it；　rose　from　the　chair　and　gestured　to　a　row　of　narrow　doors　with　frosted　glass　panels。　'If　you'll　wait　in　the　fourth　room；　sir；　someone　will　be　with　you　shortly。〃　〃The　fourth　room？'
　'The　fourth　door　from　the　left。　It　will　lock　automatically。'　'Is　that　necessary？'
　The　receptionist　glanced　at　him；　startled。　'It　is　in　line　with　your　own　request；　sir；〃　he　said　politely；　an　undertone　of　surprise　beneath　his　courtesy。　'This　is　a　three…zero　account。　It's　customary　at　the　Gemeinschaft　for　holders　of　such　accounts　to　telephone　in　advance　so　that　a　private　entrance　can　be　made　available。'
　'I　know　that；'　lied　Washburn's　patient　with　a　casualness　he　did　not　feel。　'It's　just　that　I'm　in　a　hurry。'　'I'll　convey　that　to　Verifications；　sir。'
　'Verifications？'　Mr。　J。　Bourne　of　New　York　City；　U。S。A。　could　not　help　himself；　the　word　had　the　sound　of　an　alarm。
　'Signature　Verifications；　sir。'　The　man　adjusted　his　glasses；　the　movement　covered　his　taking　a　step　nearer　his　desk；　his　lower　hand　inches　from　a　console。　'I　suggest　you　wait　in　Room　Four；　sir。'　The　suggestion　was　not　a　request；　it　was　an　order；　the　mand　in　the　praetorian's　eyes。
　'Why　not？　Just　tell　them　to　hurry；　will　you？'　The　patient　crossed　to　the　fourth　door；　opened　it　and　walked　inside。　The　door　closed　automatically；　he　could　hear　the　click　of　the　lock。　J。　Bourne　looked　at　the　frosted　panel；　it　was　no　simple　pane　of　glass；　for　there　was　a　network　of　thin　wires　webbed　beneath　the　surface。　Undoubtedly　if　cracked；　an　alarm　would　be　triggered；　he　was　in　a　cell；　waiting　to　be　summoned。
　The　rest　of　the　small　room　was　panelled　and　furnished　tastefully；　two　leather　armchairs　next　to　each　other　opposite　a　miniature　couch　flanked　by　antique　tables。　At　the　far　end　was　a　second　door；　startling　in　its　contrast；　it　was　made　of　grey　steel。　Up…to…date　magazines　and　newspapers　in　three　languages　were　on　the　tables。　The　patient　sat　down　and　picked　up　the　Paris　edition　of　the　Herald…Tribune。　He　read　the　printed　words　but　absorbed　nothing。　The　summons　would　e　any　moment　now；　his　mind　was　consumed　by　thoughts　of　manoeuvre。　Manoeuvre　without　memory；　only　by　instinct。
　Finally；　the　steel　door　opened；　revealing　a　tall　slender　man　with　aquiline　features　and　meticulously　groomed　grey　hair。　His　face　was　patrician；　eager　to　serve　an　equal　who　needed　his　expertise。　He　extended　his　hand；　his　English　refined；　mellifluous　under　his　Swiss　intonation。
　'So　very　pleased　to　meet　you。　Forgive　the　delay；　it　was　rather　humorous；　in　fact'
　'In　what　way？'
　'I'm　afraid　you　rather　startled　Heir　Koenig。　It's　not　often　a　three…zero　account　arrives　without　prior　notice。　He's　quite　set　in　his　ways；　you　know；　the　unusual　ruins　his　day。　On　the　other　hand；　it　generally　makes　mine　more　pleasant　I'm　Walther　Apfel。　Please；　e　in。'
　The　bank　officer　released　the　patient's　hand　and　gestured　towards　the　steel　door。　The　room　beyond　was　a　V…shaped　extension　of　the　cell。　Dark　panelling；　heavy　fortable　furniture　and　a　wide　desk；　that　stood　in　front　of　a　wider　window　overlooking　the　Bahnhofstrasse。
　'I'm　sorry　I　upset　him；'　said　J。　Bourne。　'It's　just　that　I　have　very　little　time。'
　'Yes；　he　relayed　that。'　Apfel　walked　around　the　desk；　nodding　at　the　leather　armchair　in　front。　'Do　sit　down。　One　or　two　formalities　and　we　can　discuss　the　business　at　hand。'　Both　men　sat；　the　instant　they　did　so　the　bank　officer　picked　up　a　white　clipboard　and　leaned　across　his　desk；　handing　it　to　the　Gemeinschaft　client。　Secured　in　place　was　another　sheet　of　stationery；　but　instead　of　two　blank　lines　there　were　ten；　starting　below　the　letterhead　and　extending　to　within　an　inch　of　the　bottom　border。　'Your　signature；　please。　A　minimum　of　five　will　be　sufficient！
　'I　don't　understand。　I　just　did　this。'
　'And　very　successfully。　Verification　confirmed　it'
　Then　why　again？'
　'A　signature　can　be　practised　to　the　point　where　a　single　rendition　is　acceptable。　However；　successive　repetitions　will　result　in　flaws　if　it's　not　authentic。　A　graphological　scanner　will　pick　them　up　instantly；　but　then　I'm　sure　that's　no　concern　of　yours。'　Apfel　smiled　as　he　placed　a　pen　at　the　edge　of　the　desk。　'Nor　of　mine；　frankly；　but　Koenig　insists。'
　'He's　a　cautious　man；'　said　the　patient；　taking　the　pen　and　starting　to　write。　He　had　begun　the　fourth　set　when　the　banker　stopped　him。
　That　will　do；　the　rest　really　is　a　waste　of　time。'　Apfel　held　out　his　hand　for　the　clipboard。　'Verifications　said　you　weren't　even　a　borderline　case。　Upon　receipt　of　this；　the　account　will　be　delivered。'　He　inserted　the　sheet　of　paper　into　the　slot　of　a　metal　case　on　the　right　side　of　his　desk　and　pressed　a　button；　a　shaft　of　bright　light　flared　and　then　went　out　This　transmits　the　signatures　directly　to　the　scanner；'　continued　the　banker。　'Which；　of　course；　is　programmed。　Again；　frankly；　it's　all　a　bit　foolish。　No　one　forewarned　of　our　precautions　would　consent　to　the　additional　signatures　if　he　were　an　impostor。'　'Why　not？　As　long　as　he'd　gone　this　far；　why　not　chance　it？'　'There　is　only　one　entrance　to　this　office；　conversely　one　exit　I'm　sure　you　heard　the　lock　snap　shut　in　the　waiting　room。'　'And　saw　the　wire　mesh　in　the　glass；'　added　the　patient　Then　you　understand。　A　certified　impostor　would　be　trapped。'
　'Suppose　he　had　a　gun？'　'You　don't'　'No　one　searched　me。'
　The　lift　did。　From　four　different　angles。　If　you　had　been　armed；　the　machinery　would　have　stopped　between　the　first　and　second　floors。'　'You're　all　cautious。'
　'We　try　to　be　of　service。！　The　telephone　rang。　Apfel　answered。　'Yes？。。。　e　in。'　The　banker　glanced　at　his　client　'Your　account　file's　here。'　That　was　quick。'
　'Heir　Koenig　signed　for　it　several　minutes　ago；　he　was　merely　waiting　for　the　scanner　release。'　Apfel　opened　a　drawer　and　took　out　a　ring　of　keys。　'I'm　sure　he's　disappointed。　He　was　quite　certain　something　was　amiss。'
　The　steel　door　opened　and　the　receptionist　entered　carrying　a　black　metal　container；　which　he　placed　on　the　desk　next　to　a　tray　that　held　a　bottle　of　Pettier　and　two　glasses。
　'Are　you　enjoying　your　stay　in　Zurich？'　asked　the　banker；　obviously　to　fill　in　the　silence。
　'Very　much　so。　My　room　overlooks　the　lake。　It's　a　nice　v