"Alexei Panshin - New Celebrations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Panshin Alexei)

Godwin looked at him across the narrow table. “And my tailor is at hand?”

Villiers shrugged and played a card. “I merely agreed to ask for his name. I have no ambitions for such a
striking appearance as yours. As you see, I have neither your size nor your dash.”

“You say he prefers my taste and your company. Do you think he would prefer my company if I
encouraged him?”

“Very likely,” said Villiers.
The hand ended then with Villiers technically the winner. In money, he was slightly the poorer since
Godwin had scored two crevasses, but the deal passed to his hands, giving him a slight advantage. He
dealt methodically, with none of the slickness that Godwin had displayed.

“However,” Villiers said, “I suppose that I would prefer that you reserved your favor.”

Godwin raised his eyebrows.

“I suspect you might become irritated with Mr. Adams and find it necessary to kill him.”

Godwin laughed. “You needn’t worry, Villiers. I’ve made a resolution to avoid trouble this year. As
Shirabi said, five men last year was excessive and one led to complications. A Naval ship put in to
investigate. Quite naturally I was vindicated, but the answering of questions was a bore. And I agree—I
would soon become irritated with Adams.Mr. Adams.”

Godwin leaned forward and picked up a discard. “Thank you. You know, there are several things about
you that puzzle me.” He played a card. “You are an enigmatic man, sir.”

“Not at all,” said Villiers. “If anything, I have a reputation for being altogether too open.”

“Perhaps, perhaps.” Godwin looked at him directly. “But you do dress well. No, no—you do. Your
manners are—shall we say—better than my own. Your baggage is both expensive and of considerable
size. Yet you travel with no servant. Do you not admit that this seems strange?”

Godwin played his last card and Villiers laid his hand down.

“You play well, Mr. Godwin. Shall we have a third hand?”

“If you like. But I’m afraid that it must be the last.”

As Godwin dealt, Villiers said, “There is no puzzle, I’m afraid. My man and I have temporarily been
separated by circumstance. I expect him to arrive on the next ship from Morian.”

“Quite simple indeed,” Godwin said. “Then tell me if you will why you insisted so genteelly on this
game?”

“Again there is no puzzle. I have no objection to losing money at the gaming table. It is a normal living
expense. However, I prefer the random games that I play to actually have a random element. If it is
lacking then, in your words, I prefer to lose to a man rather than a machine.”