jamesclavell.noblehouse-第15节

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a　sighed　and　smoothed　a　crease　in　her　neat　dark　blue　chong…sam。　〃Master　John　didn't　e　back　last　night　…　not　that　that's　anything　out　of　the　ordinary。　But　it's　10：10　now　and　I　can't　find　him　either。　It　seems　he　wasn't　at　Morning　Prayers。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know。　Since　he　dealt　with　Bartlett　last　night　I　told　him　to　skip　them。〃　Morning　Prayers　was　the　jocular　way　that　insiders　in　Struan's　referred　to　the　daily　obligatory　8：00　a。m。　meeting　with　the　tai…pan　of　all　managing　directors　of　all　Struan's　subsidiaries。　〃No　need　for　him　to　e　today；　there's　nothing　for　him　to　do　until　lunch。〃　Dunross　pointed　out　of　the　window　at　the　harbor。　〃He's　probably　on　his　boat。　It's　a　great　day　for　a　sail。〃
　〃Her　temperature's　very　high；　tai…pan；　even　for　her。〃
　〃Her　temperature's　always　high；　poor　bugger！　John's　on　his　boat　…　or　at　Ming…li's　flat。　Did　you　try　her　flat？〃
　She　sniffed。　〃Your　father　used　to　say　a　closed　mouth　catches　no　wee　beasties。　Even　so；　I　suppose　I　can　tell　you　now；　Ming…li's　been　Number　Two　Girl　Friend　for　almost　two　months。　The　new　favorite　calls　herself　Fragrant　Flower；　and　she　occupies　one　of　his　'private　flats'　off　Aberdeen　Main　Road。〃
　〃Ah；　conveniently　near　his　mooring！〃
　〃Oh　very　yes。　She's　a　flower　all　right；　a　Fallen　Flower　from　the　Good　Luck　Dragon　Dance　Hall　in　Wanchai。　But　she　doesn't　know　where　Master　John　is　either。　He　didn't　visit　either　of　them　though　he　had　a　date　with　Miss　Fallen　Flower；　so　she　says；　at　midnight。〃
　〃How　did　you　find　out　all　this？〃　he　asked；　filled　with　admiration。
　〃Power；　tai…pan　…　and　a　network　of　relations　built　up　over　five　generations。　How　else　do　we　survive；　heya？〃　She　chuckled。　〃Of　course　if　you　want　a　little　real　scandal；　John　Chen　doesn't　know　she　wasn't　the　virgin　she　and　the　broker　claimed　she　was　when　he　first　pillowed　her。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃No。　He　paid　the　broker　。。。〃　One　of　the　phones　rang　and　she　picked　it　up　and　said　〃Please　hold　one　moment；〃　clicked　on　the　hold　button　and　continued　happily　in　the　same　breath；　〃。。。　500　cash；　U。S。　dollars；　but　all　her　tears　and　all　the；　er；　evidence；　was　a　pretend。　Poor　fellow；　but　it　serves　him　right；　eh；　tai…pan？　What　should　a　man　like　him　at　his　age　want　virginity　to　nourish　the　yang　for　…　he's　only　forty…two；　heya？〃　She　pressed　the　on　connection。　〃Tai…pan's　office；　good　morning；〃　she　said　attentively。
　He　watched　her。　He　was　amused　and　bemused；　astounded　as　always　at　her　sources　of　information；　pithy　and　otherwise；　and　her　delight　in　knowing　secrets。　And　passing　them　on。　But　only　to　clan　members　and　special　insiders。
　〃Just　one　moment　please。〃　She　clicked　the　hold　button。　〃Superintendent　Armstrong　would　like　to　see　you。　He's　downstairs　with　Superintendent　Kwok。　He's　sorry　to　e　without　an　appointment　but　could　you　spare　them　a　moment？〃
　〃Ah；　the　guns。　Our　police're　getting　more　efficient　every　day；〃　he　said　with　a　grim　smile。　〃I　didn't　expect　them　till　after　lunch。〃
　At　seven　this　morning　he　had　had　a　detailed　report　from　Phillip　Chen　who　had　been　called　by　one　of　the　police　sergeants　who　made　the　raid　and　was　a　relation　of　the　Chens。
　〃You'd　better　put　all　our　private　sources　on　finding　out　the　who　and　the　why；　Phillip；〃　he　had　said；　very　concerned。
　〃I　already　have。　It's　too　much　of　a　coincidence　that　guns　should　be　on　Bartlett's　plane。〃
　〃It　could　be　highly　embarrassing　if　we're　found　to　be　connected　with　it　in　any　way。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　saw　Claudia　waiting　patiently。　〃Ask　Armstrong　to　give　me　ten　minutes。　Bring　them　up　then。〃
　She　dealt　with　that；　then　said；　〃If　Superintendent　Kwok's　been　brought　in　so　soon；　it　must　be　more　serious　than　we　thought；　heya；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Special　Branch　or　Special　Intelligence　has　to　be　involved　at　once。　I'll　bet　the　FBI　and　CIA　have　already　been　contacted。　Brian　Kwok's　logical　because　he's　an　old　mate　of　Armstrong's　…　and　one　of　the　best　they've　got。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Claudia　agreed　proudly。　〃Eeeee　what　a　lovely　husband　he'd　make　for　someone。〃
　〃Provided　she's　a　Chen　…　all　that　extra　power；　heya？〃　It　was　mon　knowledge　that　Brian　Kwok　was　being　groomed　to　be　the　first　Chinese　assistant　missioner。
　〃Of　course　such　power　has　to　be　kept　in　the　family。〃　The　phone　rang。　She　answered　it。　〃Yes；　I'll　tell　him；　thank　you。〃　She　replaced　the　phone　huffily。　〃The　governor's　equerry　…　he　called　to　remind　you　about　cocktails　at　6：00　p。m。　…　huh；　as　if　I'd　forget！〃
　Dunross　picked　up　one　of　the　phones　and　dialed。
　〃Weyyyy？〃　came　the　coarse　voice　of　the　amah；　the　Chinese　servant。　Hello？
　〃Chen　tai…tai；〃　he　said　into　the　phone；　his　Cantonese　perfect。　〃Mrs。　Chen　please；　this　is　Mr。　Dunross。〃
　He　waited。　〃Ah；　Barbara；　good　morning。〃
　〃Oh　hello；　Ian。　Have　you　heard　from　John　yet？　Sorry　to　bother　you；〃　she　said。
　〃No　bother。　No；　not　yet。　But　the　moment　I　do　I'll　get　him　to　call　you。　He　might　have　gone　down　to　the　track　early　to　watch　Golden　Lady　work　out。　Have　you　tried　the　Turf　Club？〃
　〃Yes；　but　they　don't　remember　him　breakfasting　there；　and　the　workout's　between　5：00　and　6：00。　Damn　him！　He's　so　inconsiderate。　Ayeeyah；　men！〃
　〃He's　probably　out　on　his　boat。　He's　got　nothing　here　until　lunch　and　it's　a　great　day　for　a　sail。　You　know　how　he　is　…　have　you　checked　the　mooring？〃
　〃I　can't；　Ian；　not　without　going　there；　there's　no　phone。　I　have　a　hairdressing　appointment　which　I　simply　can't　break　…　all　Hong　Kong　will　be　at　your　party　tonight　…　I　simply　can't　go　rushing　off　to　Aberdeen。〃
　〃Send　one　of　your　chauffeurs；〃　Dunross　said　dryly。
　〃Tang's　off　today　and　I　need　Wu…chat　to　drive　me　around；　Ian。　I　simply　can't　send　him　over　to　Aberdeen　…　that　could　take　an　hour　and　I've　a　mah…jong　game　from　two　till　four。〃
　〃I'll　get　John　to　call　you。　It'll　be　around　lunch。〃
　〃I　won't　be　back　till　five　at　the　earliest。　When　I　catch　up　with　him　he's　going　to　get　what　for　never　mind。　Oh　well；　thanks；　sorry　to　bother　you。　'Bye。〃
　'〃Bye。〃　Dunross　put　the　phone　down　and　sighed。　〃I　feel　like　a　bloody　nursemaid。〃
　〃Talk　to　John's　father；　tai…pan；〃　Claudia　Chen　said。　〃I　have。　Once。　And　that's　enough。　It's　not　all　John's　fault。　That　lady's　enough　to　drive　anyone　bonkers。〃　He　grinned。　〃But　I　agree　her　temperature's　gone　to　the　moon　…　this　time　it's　going　to　cost　John　an　emerald　ring　or　at　least　a　mink　coat。〃
　The　phone　rang　again。　Claudia　picked　it　up。　〃Hello；　the　tai…pan's　office！　Yes？　Oh！〃　Her　happiness　vanished　and　she　hardened。　〃Just　a　moment；　please。〃　She　punched　the　hold　button。　〃It's　a　person　to　person　from　Hiro　Toda　in　Yokohama。〃
　Dunross　knew　how　she　felt　about　him；　knew　she　hated　the　Japanese　and　loathed　the　Noble　House's　connection　with　them。　He　could　never　forgive　the　Japanese　either　for　what　they　had　done　to　Asia　during　the　war。　To　those　they　had　conquered。　To　the　defenseless。　Men；　women　and　children。　The　prison　camps　and　unnecessary　deaths。　Soldier　to　soldier　he　had　no　quarrel　with　them。　None。　War　was　war。
　His　own　war　had　been　against　the　Germans。　But　Claudia's　war　had　been　here　in　Hong　Kong。　During　the　Japanese　Occupation；　because　she　was　Eurasian；　she　had　not　been　put　into　Stanley　Prison　with　all　European　civilians。　She　and　her　sister　and　brother　had　tried　to　help　the　POWs　with　food　and　drugs　and　money；　smuggling　it　into　the　camp。　The　Kampeitai；　the　Japanese　military　police；　had　caught　her。　Now　she　could　have　no　children。　〃Shall　I　say　you're　out？〃　she　asked。
　〃No。〃　Two　years　before　Dunross　had　mitted　an　enormous　amount　of　capital　to　Toda　Shipping　Industries　of　Yokohama　for　two　giant　bulk　ships　to　build　up　the　Struan　fleet　that　had　been　decimated　in　the　war。　He　had　chosen　this　Japanese　shipyard　because　their　product　was　the　finest；　their　terms　the　best；　they　guaranteed　delivery　and　all　the　things　the　British　shipyards　would　not；　and　because　he　knew　it　was　time　to　forget。　〃Hello；　Hiro；〃　he　said；　liking　the　man　personally。　〃Nice　to　hear　from　you。　How's　Japan？〃
　〃Please　excuse　me　for　interrupting　you；　tai…pan。　Japan's　fine　though　hot　and　humid。　No　change。〃
　〃How're　my　ships　ing　along？〃
　〃Perfectly；　tai…pan。　Everything　is　as　we　arranged。　I　just　wanted　to　advise　you　that　I　will　be　ing　to　Hong　Kong　on　Saturday　morning　for　a　business　trip。　I　will　be　staying　for　the　weekend；　then　on　to　Singapore　and　Sydney；　back　in　time　for　our　closing　in　Hong　Kong。　You'll　still　be　ing　to　Yokohama　for　both　launchings？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Yes；　absolutely。　What　time　do　you　arrive　Saturday？〃
　〃At　11：10；　Japan　Air　Lines。〃
　〃I'll　send　a　car　to　meet　you。　What　about　ing　directly　to　Happy　Valley　to　the　races？　You　could　join　us　for　lunch；　then　my　car　will　take　you　to　the　hotel。　You're　staying　at　the　Victoria　and　Albert？〃
　〃This　time　at　the　Hilton；　Hong　Kong　side。　Tai…pan；　please　excuse　me；　I　do　not　wish　to　put　you　to　any　trouble；　so　sorry。〃
　〃It's　nothing。　I'll　have　one　of　my　people　meet　you。　Probably　Andrew　Gavallan。〃
　〃Ah；　very　good。　Then　thank　you；　tai…pan。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　you；　so　sorry　to　inconvenience　you。〃
　Dunross　put　the　phone　down。　I　wonder　why　he　called；　the　real　reason？　he　asked　himself。　Hiro　Toda；　managing　director　of　the　most　go…ahead　shipbuilding　plex　in　Japan；　never　does　anything　suddenly　or　unpremeditated。
　Dunross　thought　about　the　closing　of　their　ship　deal　and　the　three　payments　of　2　million　each　that　were　due　imminently　on　September　1；　11　and　15；　the　balance　in　ninety　days。　12　million　U。S。　in