jamesclavell.noblehouse-第130节

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s　intimates。　But　even　then；　whenever　she　would　meet　him　in　public；　like　tonight；　it　would　always　be　Mr。　Havergill。　He's　not　a　bad　man；　she　told　herself；　remembering　that　though　most　of　his　girls　never　liked　him；　they　fawned　on　him　for　he　was　reasonably　generous　and　could　always　arrange　a　sudden　loan　at　low　interest　for　a　friend　through　one　of　his　banking　associates；　but　never　at　the　Vic。
　Wise；　she　thought；　amused；　and　a　matter　of　face。　Ah；　but　I　could　write　such　a　book　about　them　all　if　I　wanted　to。　I　never　will　…　I　don't　think　I　ever　will。　Why　should　I；　there's　no　reason。　Even　after　Macao　I've　always　kept　the　secrets。　That's　another　thing　Quillan　taught　me　…　discretion。
　Macao。　What　a　waste！　I　can　hardly　remember　what　that　young　man　looked　like　now；　only　that　he　was　awful　at　the　pillow　and；　because　of　him；　my　life　was　destroyed。　The　fool　was　only　a　sudden；　passing　fancy；　the　very　first。　It　was　only　loneliness　because　Quillan　was　away　a　month　and　everyone　away；　and　it　was　lust　for　youth　…　just　the　youth…filled　body　that　had　attracted　me　and　proved　to　be　so　useless。　Fool！　What　a　fool　I　was！
　Her　heart　began　fluttering　at　the　thought　of　all　those　nightmares：　being　caught；　being　sent　to　England；　having　to　fight　the　youth　off；　desperate　to　please　Quillan；　then　ing　back　and　Quillan　so　cool　and　never　pillowing　with　him　again。　And　then　the　greater　nightmare　of　adjusting　to　a　life　without　him。
　Terrifying　days。　That　awful　unquenchable　desire。　Being　alone。　Being　excluded。　All　the　tears　and　the　misery　then　trying　to　begin　again　but　cautiously；　always　hoping　he　would　relent　if　I　was　patient。　Never　anyone　in　Hong　Kong；　always　alone　in　Hong　Kong；　but　when　the　urge　was　too　much；　going　away　and　trying　but　never　satisfied。　Oh　Quillan；　what　a　lover　you　were！
　Not　long　ago　his　wife　had　died　and　then；　when　the　time　was　right；　Orlanda　had　gone　to　see　him。　To　seduce　him　back　to　her。　That　night　she　had　thought　that　she　had　succeeded　but　he　had　only　been　toying　with　her。　〃Put　your　clothes　on；　Orlanda。　I　was　just　curious　about　your　body；　I　wanted　to　see　if　it　was　still　as　exquisite　as　it　was　in　my　day。　I'm　delighted　to　tell　you　it　is　…　you're　still　perfection。　But；　so　sorry；　I　don't　desire　you。〃　And　all　her　frantic　weepings　and　pleadings　made　no　difference。　He　just　listened　and　smoked　a　cigarette　then　stubbed　it　out。　〃Orlanda；　please　don't　ever　e　here　again　uninvited；〃　he　had　said　so　quietly。　〃You　chose　Macao。〃
　And　he　was　right；　I　did；　I　took　his　face　away。　Why　does　he　still　support　me？　she　asked　herself；　her　eyes　wandering　the　guests；　seeking　Bartlett。　Do　you　have　to　lose　something　before　you　find　its　true　value？　Is　that　what　life　is？
　〃Orlanda！〃
　She　stopped；　startled；　as　someone　stepped　in　her　way。　Her　eyes　focused。　It　was　Richard　Hamilton　Pugmire。　He　was　slightly　shorter　than　she　was。　〃May　I　introduce　Charles　Biltzmann　from　America；〃　he　was　saying　with　a　leer；　his　nearness　making　her　skin　crawl。　〃Charles's　going　to　be；　the；　er；　the　new　tai…pan　of　General　Stores。　Chuck；　this's　Orlanda　Ramos！〃
　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　ma'am！〃
　〃How　are　you？〃　she　said　politely；　instantly　disliking　him。　〃I'm　sorry　…　〃
　〃Call　me　Chuck。　It's　Orlanda？　Say；　that's　a　mighty　pretty　name；　mighty　pretty　dress！〃　Biltzmann　produced　his　visiting　card　with　a　flourish。　〃Old　Chinese　custom！〃
　She　accepted　it　but　did　not　reciprocate。　〃Thank　you。　Sorry；　Mr。　Biltzmann；　would　you　excuse　me？　I　have　to　join　my　friends　an…　〃　Before　she　could　prevent　it；　Pugmire　took　her　arm；　led　her　aside　a　pace　and　whispered　throatily；　〃How　about　dinner？　You　look　fantas…　〃
　She　jerked　her　arm　away　trying　not　to　be　obvious。　〃Go　away；　Pug。〃
　〃Listen；　Orlan…　〃
　〃I've　told　you　politely　fifty　times　to　leave　me　alone！　Now　dew　neh　loh　moh　on　you　and　all　your　line！〃　she　said　and　Pugmire　flushed。　She　had　always　detested　him；　even　in　the　old　days。　He　was　always　looking　at　her　behind　Quillan's　back；　leching；　and　when　she　had　been　discarded；　Pugmire　had　pestered　her　and　tried　every　way　to　get　her　into　bed　…　still　did。　〃If　you　ever　call　or　talk　to　me　again　I'll　tell　all　Hong　Kong　about　you　and　your　peculiar　habits。〃　She　nodded　politely　to　Biltzmann；　let　his　card　drop　unnoticed　and　walked　off。　After　a　moment；　Pugmire　went　back　to　the　American。
　〃What　a　body！〃　Biltzmann　said；　his　eyes　still　following　her。
　〃She's　…　she's　one　of　our　well…known　whores；〃　Pugmire　said　with　a　sneer。　〃I　wish　to　Christ　they'd　hurry　up　with　the　food。　I'm　starving。〃
　〃She's　a　tramp？〃　Biltzmann　gaped　at　him。
　〃You　can　never　tell　here。〃　Pugmire　added；　keeping　his　voice　down；　〃I'm　surprised　Shitee　T'Chung　invited　her。　Still；　I　don't　suppose　he　gives　a　shit　now　that　his　knighthood's　dubbed　and　paid　for。　Years　ago；　Orlanda　used　to　be　a　girlfriend　of　a　friend　but　she　was　up　to　her　old　tricks　of　selling　it　on　the　side。　He　caught　her　at　it　and　gave　her　the　Big　E。〃
　〃The　Big　E？〃
　〃The　Elbow　…　the　shove。〃
　Biltzmann　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　her。　〃Jesus；〃　he　muttered；　〃I　don't　know　about　the　Big　E　but　I'd　sure　as　hell　like　to　give　her　the　Big　One。〃
　〃That's　just　a　matter　of　money　but　I　can　assure　you；　old　chap；　she's　not　worth　it。　Orlanda's　dreadful　in　the　sack；　I　know；　and　nowadays　you　can　never　tell　who's　been　there　before；　eh？〃　Pugmire　laughed　at　the　American's　expression。　〃Never　fancied　her　myself　after　the　first　time；　but　if　you　dip　your　wick　there　you'd　better　use　precautions。〃
　
　Dunross　had　just　arrived　and　he　was　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　Richard　Kwang　who　was　talking　grandly　about　the　deals　he　had　made　to　stave　off　the　run；　and　how　foul　certain　people　were　to　spread　such　rumors。
　〃I　quite　agree；　Richard；〃　Dunross　said；　wanting　to　join　the　visiting　MPs；　who　were　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　〃There　really　are　a　lot　of　bastards　around。　If　you'll　excuse　me　。。。〃
　〃Of　course；　tai…pan。〃　Richard　Kwang　dropped　his　voice　but　could　not　prevent　some　of　his　anxiety　showing。　〃I　might　need　a　hand。〃
　〃Anything；　of　course；　except　money。〃
　〃You　could　talk　to　Johnjohn　at　the　Vic　for　me。　He'd　…　〃
　〃He　won't；　you　know　that；　Richard。　Your　only　chance　is　one　of　your　Chinese　friends。　What　about　Smiler　Ching？〃
　〃Huh；　that　old　crook　…　wouldn't　ask　him　for　any　of　his　dirty　money！〃　Richard　Kwang　said　with　a　sneer。　Smiler　Ching　had　reneged　on　their　deal　and　had　refused　to　lend　him　money　…　or　credit。　〃That　old　crook　deserves　prison！　There's　a　run　on　him　too；　but　that's　what　he　deserves！　I　think　it's　all　started　by　the　munists；　they're　trying　to　ruin　us　all。　The　Bank　of　China！　Did　you　hear　about　the　queues　at　the　Vic　in　Central？　There're　more　at　Blacs。　Old　Big　Belly　Tok's　Bank　of　East　Asia　and　Japan's　gone　under。　They　won't　open　their　doors　tomorrow。〃
　〃Christ；　are　you　sure？〃
　〃He　called　me　tonight　asking　for　20　million。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　tai…pan；　unless　we　all　get　help　Hong　Kong's　going　under。　We've　。。。〃　Then　he　saw　Venus　Poon　in　the　doorway　on　the　arm　of　Four　Finger　Wu　and　his　heart　skipped　eight　beats。　This　evening　she　had　been　furious　when　he　did　not　arrive　with　the　mink　coat　that　he　had　promised　her。　She　had　wept　and　shouted　and　her　amah　had　wailed　and　they　would　not　accept　his　excuse　that　his　furrier　had　let　him　down　and　they　both　had　gone　on　and　on　until　he　promised　without　fail　that　before　the　races　he　would　bring　her　the　gift　that　he　had　promised。
　〃Are　you　taking　me　to　Shi…teh's？〃
　〃My　wife　changed　her　mind　and　now　she's　going；　so　I　can't；　but　afterwards　we'll　go　…　〃
　〃Afterwards　I'll　be　tired！　First　no　present　and　now　I　can't　go　to　the　party！　Where's　the　aquamarine　pendant　you　promised　me　last　month？　Where　did　my　mink　go？　On　your　wife's　back　I'll　bet！　Ayeeyah；　my　hairdresser　and　her　hairdresser　are　friends　so　I'll　find　out　if　it　did。　Oh　woe　woe　woe　you　don't　really　love　your　Daughter　anymore。　I'll　have　to　kill　myself　or　accept　Four　Finger　Wu's　invitation。〃
　〃Wat？〃
　Richard　Kwang　remembered　how　he　had　almost　had　a　hemorrhage　then　and　there；　and　he　had　ranted　and　raved　and　screamed　that　her　apartment　cost　him　a　fortune　and　her　clothes　cost　thousands　a　week　and　she　had　ranted　and　raved　and　screamed　back。　〃And　what　about　the　run　on　the　bank？　Are　you　solvent？　What　about　my　savings？　Are　they　safe　heya？〃
　〃Ayeeyah　you　miserable　whore；　what　savings？　The　savings　I　am　going　to　put　there　for　you？　Huh！　Of　course　they're　safe；　safe　as　the　Bank　of　England！〃
　〃Woe　woe　woe　I'm　penniless　now。　Your　poor　destitute　Daughter！　I'll　have　to　sell　myself　or　mit　suicide。　Yes；　that's　it！　Poison　。。。　that's　it！　I　think　I'll　take　an　overdose　of　。。。　of　aspirins。　Ah　Poo！　Bring　me　an　overdose　of　aspirins！〃
　So　he　had　begged　and　pleaded　and　eventually　she　had　relented　and　allowed　him　to　take　away　the　aspirins　and　he　had　promised　to　rush　back　to　the　apartment　the　very　moment　the　banquet　was　over　and　now　his　eyes　were　almost　staring　out　of　his　head　because　there；　at　the　doorway；　was　Venus　Poon　on　the　arm　of　Four　Finger　Wu；　both　resplendent；　he　puffed　with　pride；　and　she　demure　and　innocent；　wearing　the　dress　he'd　just　paid　for。
　〃What's　up；　Richard？〃　Dunross　asked；　concerned。
　Richard　Kwang　tried　to　speak；　couldn't；　just　tottered　away　toward　his　wife　who　tore　her　baleful　eyes　off　Venus　Poon　and　put　them　back　on　him。
　〃Hello；　dear；〃　he　said；　his　backbone　jelly。
　〃Hello；　dear；〃　Mai…ling　Kwang　replied　sweetly。　〃Who's　tha