jamesclavell.noblehouse-第105节

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　〃Good　idea；　but　why　don't　I　meet　you　Hong　Kong　side。　The　Golden　Ferry　Terminal　in　an　hour。〃
　〃Excellent。　My　car's　a　Jag　…　license's　8888。　I'll　be　by　the　taxi　rank。〃
　He　hung　up　and　stared　at　the　phone　a　moment；　then　went　back　to　his　table。
　〃Not　bad　news　I　hope；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃Er；　no；　no　not　at　all。　Thank　you。〃
　〃Some　more　of　your　special　coffee？　It's　freshly　made。〃
　〃No；　no　thank　you。　I'd　like　a　half　bottle　of　the　Taittinger　Blanc　de　Blancs。　The　'55。〃　He　sat　back　feeling　very　strange。　His　enemy　was　almost　in　his　grasp　…　if　the　American's　facts　were　true　and　if　the　American　was　to　be　trusted　and　not　in　some　devious　plot　with　Dunross。
　The　wine　came　but　he　hardly　tasted　it。　His　whole　being　was　concentrated；　sifting；　preparing。
　
　Gornt　saw　the　tall　American　e　through　the　crowds　and；　for　a　moment；　he　envied　him　his　lean；　trim　figure　and　the　easy；　careless　dress　…　jeans；　open…neck　shirt；　sports　coat　…　and　his　obvious　confidence。　He　saw　the　elaborate　camera；　smiled　sardonically；　then　looked　for　Casey。　When　it　was　obvious　Bartlett　was　alone　he　was　disappointed。　But　this　disappointment　did　not　touch　the　glorious　anticipation　that　had　possessed　him　ever　since　he　had　put　the　phone　down。
　Gornt　leaned　over　and　opened　the　side　door。　〃Wele　Hong　Kong　side；　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　he　said　with　forced　joviality；　starting　the　engine。　He　drove　off　along　Gloucester　Road　toward　Glessing's　Point　and　the　Yacht　Club。　〃Your　inside　information's　astonishing。〃
　〃Without　spies　you　can't　operate；　can　you？〃
　〃You　can；　but　then　that's　amateur。　How's　Miss　Casey？　I　thought　she'd　be　with　you。〃
　〃She's　not　in　this。　Not　yet。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃No。　No；　she's　not　in　on　the　initial　attack。　She's　more　valuable　if　she　knows　nothing。〃
　〃She　knows　nothing　of　this？　Not　even　your　call　to　me？〃
　〃No。　Nothing　at　all。〃
　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃I　thought　she　was　your　executive　VP　。。。　your　right　arm　you　called　her。〃
　〃She　is；　but　I'm　boss　of　Par…Con；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　Gornt　saw　the　level　eyes　and；　for　the　first　time；　felt　that　that　was　true　and　that　his　original　estimation　was　wrong。　〃I've　never　doubted　it；〃　he　said；　waiting；　his　senses　honed；　waiting　him　out。
　Then　Bartlett　said；　〃Is　there　somewhere　we　can　park　…　I've　got　something　I　want　to　show　you。〃
　〃Certainly。〃　Gornt　was　driving　along　the　sea　front　on　Gloucester　Road　in　the　usual　heavy　traffic。　In　a　moment　he　found　a　parking　place　near　Causeway　Bay　typhoon　shelter　with　its　massed；　floating　islands　of　boats　of　all　sizes。
　〃Here。〃　Bartlett　handed　him　a　typed　folder。　It　was　a　detailed　copy　of　Struan's　balance　sheet　for　the　year　before　the　pany　went　public。　Gornt's　eyes　raced　over　the　figures。　〃Christ；〃　he　muttered。　〃So　Lasting　Cloud's　cost　them　12　million？〃
　〃It　almost　broke　them。　Seems　they　had　all　sorts　of　wild…assed　cargo　aboard。　Jet　engines　for　China；　uninsured。〃
　〃Of　course　they'd　be　uninsured　…　how　the　hell　can　you　insure　contraband？〃　Gornt　was　trying　to　take　in　all　the　plicated　figures。　His　mind　was　dazed。　〃If　I'd　known　half　of　this　I'd've　got　them　the　last　time。　Can　I　keep　it？〃
　〃When　we've　made　a　deal　I'll　give　you　a　copy。〃　Bartlett　took　the　folder　back　and　gave　him　a　paper。　'Try　this　one　on　for　size。〃　It　showed；　graphically；　Struan's　stockholdings　in　Kowloon　Investments　and　detailed　how；　through　nominee　panies；　the　tai…pan　of　Struan's　exercised　plete　control　over　the　huge　insurance…property…wharfing　pany　that　was　supposedly　a　pletely　separate　pany　and　quoted　as　such　on　the　stock　exchange。
　〃Marvelous；〃　Gornt　said　with　a　sigh；　awed　by　the　beauty　of　it。　〃Struan's　have　only　a　tiny　proportion　of　the　stock　publicly　held　but　retain　100　percent　control；　and　perpetual　secrecy。〃
　〃In　the　States　whoever　figured　this　out'd　be　in　jail。〃
　〃Thank　God　Hong　Kong　laws　aren't　the　same；　and　that　this's　all　perfectly　legal；　if　a　trifle　devious。〃　The　two　men　laughed。
　Bartlett　pocketed　the　paper。　〃I've　got　similar　details　of　the　rest　of　their　holdings。〃
　〃Bluntly；　what　have　you　in　mind；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃A　joint　attack　on　Struan's；　starting　today。　A　blitzkrieg。　We　go　50…50　on　all　spoils。　You　get　the　Great　House　on　the　Peak；　the　prestige；　his　yacht　…　and　100　percent　of　the　box　at　the　Turf　Club　including　his　stewardship。〃
　Gornt　glanced　at　him　keenly。　Bartlett　smiled。　〃We　know　that's　kind　of　special　to　you。　But　everything　else　right　down　the　middle。〃
　〃Except　their　Kai　Tak　operations。　I　need　that　for　my　airline。〃
　〃All　right。　But　then　I　want　Kowloon　Investments。〃
　〃No；〃　Gornt　said；　immediately　on　guard。　〃We　should　split　that　50…50；　and　everything　50…50。〃
　〃No。　You　need　Kai　Tak；　I　need　Kowloon　Investments。　It'll　be　a　great　nucleus　for　Par…Con's　jump　into　Asia。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　all　great　fortunes　in　Hong　Kong　are　based　on　property。　K。　I。　will　give　me　a　perfect　base。〃
　〃For　further　raids？〃
　〃Sure；〃　Bartlett　said　easily。　〃Your　friend　Jason　Plumm's　next　on　the　list。　We　could　swallow　his　Asian　Properties　easy。　50…50。　Right？〃
　Gornt　said　nothing　for　a　long　time。　〃And　after　him？〃
　〃Hong　Kong　and　Lan　Tao　Farms。〃
　Again　Gornt's　heart　leapt。　He　had　always　hated　Dunstan　Barre　and　that　hatred　was　tripled　last　year　when　Barre　had　been　given　a　knighthood　in　the　Queen's　Birthday　Honors　List　…　an　honor　maneuvered；　Gornt　was　sure；　with　judicious　contributions　to　the　Conservative　Party　fund。　〃And　how　would　you　swallow　him？〃
　〃There's　always　a　time　when　any　army；　any　country；　any　pany's　vulnerable。　Every　general　or　pany　president　has　to　take　chances；　sometime；　to　stay　ahead。　You've　got　to；　to　stay　ahead。　There's　always　some　enemy　snapping　at　your　heels；　wanting　yours；　wanting　your　place　in　the　sun；　wanting　your　territory。　You've　got　to　be　careful　when　you're　vulnerable。〃
　〃Are　you　vulnerable　now？〃
　〃No。　I　was　two　years　ago　but　not　now。　Now　I've　the　muscle　I　need　…　we　need。　If　you're　in。〃
　A　flock　of　seabirds　were　dipping　and　weaving　and　cawing　overhead。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃You're　the　pathfinder；　the　spearhead。　I　defend　the　rear。　Once　you've　punched　a　hole　through　his　defense；　I'll　deliver　the　knockout。　We　sell　Struan's　short　…　I　guess　you've　already　taken　a　position　on　the　Ho…Pak？〃
　〃I've　sold　short；　yes。　Modestly。〃　Gornt　told　the　lie　easily。
　〃Good。　In　the　States　you　could　get　their　own　accountants　to　leak　the　cash　flow　facts　to　the　right　big　mouth。　That'd　soon　be　all　over　town。　Could　the　same　ploy　work　here？〃
　〃Probably。　But　you'd　never　get　their　accountants　to　do　that。〃
　〃Not　for　the　right　fee？〃
　〃No。　But　rumors　could　be　started。〃　Gornt　smiled　grimly。　〃It's　very　bad　of　Dunross　to　hide　his　inept　position　from　his　shareholders。　Yes。　That's　possible。　And　then？〃
　〃You　sell　Struan's　short；　as　soon　as　the　market　opens。　Big。〃
　Gornt　lit　a　cigarette。　〃I　sell　short；　and　what　do　you　do？〃
　〃Nothing　openly。　That's　our　ace　in　the　hole。〃
　〃Perhaps　it　really　is；　and　I'm　being　set　up；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃What　if　I　cover　all　losses？　Would　that　be　proof　enough　I'm　with　you？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　pay　all　losses　and　take　half　the　profit　for　today；　tomorrow　and　Friday。　If　we　haven't　got　him　on　the　run　by　Friday　afternoon　you　buy　back　in；　just　before　closing；　and　we've　failed。　If　it　looks　like　we've　got　him；　we　sell　heavily；　to　the　limit；　just　before　closing。　That'll　sweat　him　out　over　the　weekend。　Monday　I　jerk　the　rug　and　our　blitzkrieg's　on。　It's　infallible。〃
　〃Yes。　If　you're　to　be　trusted。〃
　〃I'll　put　2　million　in　any　Swiss　bank　you　name　by　ten　o'clock　today。　That's　10　million　HK　which　sure　as　hell's　enough　to　cover　any　shorting　losses　you　might　have。　2　million　with　no　strings；　no　paper；　no　promissory　note；　just　your　word　it's　to　cover　any　losses；　that　if　we　win　we　split　profits　and　the　rest　of　the　deal　as　it's　been　laid　out　…　50…50　except　Kowloon　Investments　for　me；　Struan's　at　Kai　Tak　Airport　for　you；　and　for　Casey　and　me；　voting　membership　at　the　Turf　Club。　We'll　put　it　to　paper　Tuesday　…　after　he's　crashed。〃
　〃You'll　put　up　2　million　U。S。；　and　it's　my　decision　as　to　when　I　buy　to　cover　any　losses？〃　Gornt　was　incredulous。
　〃Yes。　2　million's　the　extent　of　my　gamble。　So　how　can　you　get　hurt？　You　can't。　And　because　he　knows　how　you　feel　about　him；　if　you　mount　the　attack　he　won't　be　suspicious；　won't　be　prepared　for　a　flanking　blitz　from　me。〃
　〃This　all　depends　on　whether　your　figures　are　correct　…　the　amounts　and　the　dates。〃
　〃Check　them　out。　There　must　be　a　way　you　can　do　that　…　enough　to　convince　yourself。〃
　〃Why　the　sudden　change；　Mr。　Bartlett？　You　said　you'd　wait　till　Tuesday　…　perhaps　later。〃
　〃We've　done　some　checking　and　I　don't　like　the　figures　I've　e　up　with。　We　owe　Dunross　nothing。　We'd　be　crazy　to　go　with　him　when　he's　so　weak。　As　it　is；　what　I'm　offering　you　is　a　great　gamble；　great　odds：　the　Noble　House　against　2　lousy　million。　If　we　win　that'd　be　parlayed　into　hundreds　of　millions。〃
　〃And　if　we　fail？〃
　Bartlett　shrugged。　〃Maybe　I'll　go　home。　Maybe　we'll　work　out　a　Rothwell…Gornt…Par…Con　deal。　You　win　sometimes　and　you　lose　a　lot　more　times。　But　this　raid's　too　good　not　to　try　it。　Without　you　it'd　never　work。　I've　seen　enough　of　Hong　Kong　to　know　it　has　its　own　special　rules。　I've　no　time　to　learn　them。　Why　should　I　…　when　I've　got　you。〃
　〃Or　Dunross？〃
　Bartlett　laughed　and　Gornt　read　no　guile　in　him。　〃You're　not　stretched；　you're　not　vulnerab