jamesclavell.noblehouse-第16节

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　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　all　that　he　didn't　have　at　the　moment。　Or　the　charterer's　signed　contract　that　was　necessary　to　support　the　bank　loan　that　he　did　not　have；　yet。　〃Never　mind；〃　he　said　easily；　〃everything's　going　to　be　fine。〃
　〃For　them；　yes；〃　Claudia　said。　〃You　know　I　don't　trust　them；　tai…pan。　Any　of　them。〃
　〃You　can't　fault　them；　Claudia。　They're　only　trying　to　do　economically　what　they　failed　to　do　militarily。〃
　〃By　pricing　everyone　out　of　the　world　markets。〃
　〃They're　working　hard；　they're　making　profits　and　they'll　bury　us；　if　we　let　them。〃　His　eyes　hardened　too。　〃But　after　all；　Claudia；　scratch　an　Englishman　…　or　a　Scot　…　and　find　a　pirate。　If　we're　such　bloody　fools　to　allow　it　we　deserve　to　go　under　…　isn't　that　what　Hong　Kong's　all　about？〃
　〃Why　help　the　enemy？〃
　〃They　were　the　enemy；〃　he　said　kindly。　〃But　that　was　only　for　twenty…odd　years　and　our　connections　there　go　back　a　hundred。　Weren't　we　the　first　traders　into　Japan？　Didn't　Hag　Struan　buy　us　the　first　plot　offered　for　sale　in　Yokohama　in　1860？　Didn't　she　order　that　it　be　a　cornerstone　of　Struan's　policy　to　have　the　China…Japan…Hong　Kong　triangle？〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan；　but　don't　you　thi…　〃
　〃No；　Claudia；　we've　dealt　with　the　Todas；　the　Kasigis；　the　Toranagas　for　a　hundred　years；　and　right　now　Toda　Shipping's　very　important　to　us。〃
　The　phone　rang　again。　She　answered　it。　〃Yes；　I'll　phone　him　back。〃　Then　to　Dunross。　〃It's　the　caterers　…　about　your　party　tonight。〃
　〃What's　the　problem？〃
　〃None；　tai…pan　…　they're　moaning。　After　all；　it's　the　tai…pan's　twentieth　wedding　anniversary。　All　Hong　Kong　will　be　there　and　all　Hong　Kong　better　be　impressed。〃　Again　the　phone　rang。　She　picked　it　up。　〃Ahh　good！　Put　him　through。　。。。　It's　Bill　Foster　from　Sydney。〃
　Dunross　took　the　phone。　〃Bill　。。。　no；　you　were　top　of　the　list。　Have　you　closed　on　the　Woolara　Properties　deal　yet？　。。。　What's　the　holdup？　。。。　I　don't　care　about　that。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃It's　just　past　noon　your　time。　Call　them　right　now　and　offer　them　fifty　cents　Australian　more　a　share；　the　offer　good　till　the　close　of　business　today。　Get　on　to　the　bank　in　Sydney　at　once　and　tell　them　to　demand　full　repayment　of　all　their　loans　at　the　close　of　business　today。　。。。　I　couldn't　care　less；　they're　thirty　days　overdue　already。　I　want　control　of　that　pany　now。　Without　it　our　new　bulk…carrier　charter　deal　will　fall　apart　and　we'll　have　to　begin　all　over　again。　And　catch　the　Qantas　Flight　543　on　Thursday。　I'd　like　you　here　for　a　conference。〃　He　put　the　phone　down。　〃Get　Linbar　up　here　as　soon　as　the　Tcholok　meeting's　over。　Book　him　on　Qantas　716　for　Sydney　on　Friday　morning。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。〃　She　made　a　note　and　handed　him　a　list。　〃Here're　your　appointments　for　today。〃
　He　glanced　at　it。　Four　board　meetings　of　some　subsidiary　panies　this　morning：　Golden　Ferry　at　10：30；　Struan's　Motor　Imports　of　Hong　Kong　at　11：00；　Chong…Li　Foods　at　11：15　and　Kowloon　Investments　at　11：30。　Lunch　with　Lincoln　Bartlett　and　Miss　Casey　Tcholok　12：40　to　2：00　P。M。　More　board　meetings　this　afternoon；　Peter　Marlowe　at　4：00　P。M。；　Phillip　Chen　at　4：20；　cocktails　at　6：00　with　the　governor；　his　anniversary　party　beginning　at　8：00；　a　reminder　to　call　Alastair　Struan　in　Scotland　at　11：00；　and　at　least　fifteen　other　people　to　phone　throughout　Asia　during　the　day。
　〃Marlowe？〃　he　asked。
　〃He's　a　writer；　staying　at　the　Vic　…　remember；　he　wrote　for　an　appointment　a　week　ago。　He's　researching　a　book　on　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃Oh　yes　…　the　ex…RAF　type。〃
　〃Yes。　Would　you　like　him　put　off？〃
　〃No。　Keep　everything　as　arranged；　Claudia。〃　He　took　out　a　thin　black　leather　memo…card　case　from　his　back　pocket　and　gave　her　a　dozen　cards　covered　with　his　shorthand。　〃Here're　some　cables　and　telexes　to　send　off　at　once　and　notes　for　the　various　board　meetings。　Get　me　Jen　in　Taipei；　then　Havergill　at　the　bank；　then　run　down　the　list。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。　I　hear　Havergill's　going　to　retire。〃
　〃Marvelous。　Who's　taking　over？〃
　〃No　one　knows　yet。〃
　〃Let's　hope　it's　Johnjohn。　Put　your　spies　to　work。　A　hundred　says　I　find　out　before　you　do！〃
　〃Done！〃
　〃Good。〃　Dunross　held　out　his　hand　and　said　sweetly；　〃You　can　pay　me　now。　It's　Johnjohn。〃
　〃Eh？〃　She　stared　at　him。
　〃We　decided　it　last　night　…　all　the　directors。　I　asked　them　to　tell　no　one　until　eleven　today。〃
　Reluctantly　she　took　out　the　hundred…dollar　note　and　offered　it。　〃Ayeeyah；　I　was　particularly　attached　to　this　note。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dunross　said　and　pocketed　it。　〃I'm　particularly　attached　to　that　one　myself。〃
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　〃Yes？〃　he　said。
　The　door　was　opened　by　Sandra　Yi；　his　private　secretary。　〃Excuse　me；　tai…pan；　but　the　market's　up　two　points　and　Holdbrook's　on　line　two。〃　Alan　Holdbrook　was　head　of　their　in…house　stockbroking　pany。
　Dunross　punched　the　line　two　button。　〃Claudia；　soon　as　I'm　through　bring　in　Armstrong。〃　She　left　with　Sandra　Yi。
　〃Yes；　Alan？〃
　〃Morning；　tai…pan。　First：　There's　a　heavy　rumor　that　we're　going　to　make　a　bid　for　control　of　Asian　Properties。〃
　〃That's　probably　put　out　by　Jason　Plumm　to　boost　his　shares　before　their　annual　meeting。　You　know　what　a　canny　bastard　he　is。〃
　〃Our　stock's　gone　up　ten　cents；　perhaps　on　the　strength　of　it。〃
　〃Good。　Buy　me　20；000　at　once。〃
　〃On　margin？〃
　〃Of　course　on　margin。〃
　〃All　right。　Second　rumor：　We've　closed　a　multimillion…dollar　deal　with　Par…Con　Industries　…　huge　expansion。〃
　〃Pipe　dreams；〃　Dunross　said　easily；　wondering　furiously　where　the　leaks　were。　Only　Phillip　Chen　…　and　in　Edinburgh；　Alastair　Struan　and　old　Sean　MacStruan　…　was　supposed　to　know　about　the　ploy　to　smash　Asian　Properties。　And　the　Par…Con　deal　was　top　secret　to　the　Inner　Court　only。
　〃Third：　someone's　buying　large　parcels　of　our　stock。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　But　there's　something　smelly　going　on；　tai…pan。　The　way　our　stock's　been　creeping　up　the　last　month　。。。　There's　no　reason　that　I　know　of；　except　a　buyer；　or　buyers。　Same　with　Rothwell…Gornt。　I　heard　a　block　of　200；000　was　bought　offshore。〃
　〃Find　out　who。〃
　〃Christ；　I　wish　I　knew　how。　The　market's　jittery；　and　very　nervous。　A　lot　of　Chinese　money's　floating　around。　Lots　of　little　deals　going　on　。。。　a　few　shares　here；　a　few　there；　but　multiplied　by　a　hundred　thousand　or　so　。。。　the　market　might　start　to　fall　apart　。。。　or　to　soar。〃
　〃Good。　Then　we'll　all　make　a　killing。　Give　me　a　call　before　the　market　closes。　Thanks；　Alan。〃　He　put　the　phone　down；　feeling　the　sweat　on　his　back。　〃Shit；〃　he　said　aloud。　〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃
　In　the　outer　office　Claudia　Chen　was　going　over　some　papers　with　Sandra　Yi　who　was　her　niece　on　her　mother's　side　…　and　smart；　very　good　to　look　at；　twenty…seven　with　a　mind　like　an　abacus。　Then　she　glanced　at　her　watch　and　said　in　Cantonese；　〃Superintendent　Brian　Kwok's　downstairs；　Little　Sister；　why　don't　you　fetch　him　up　…　in　six　minutes。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　yes；　Elder　Sister！〃　Sandra　Yi　hastily　checked　her　makeup　and　swished　away。　Claudia　smiled　after　her　and　thought　Sandra　Yi　would　be　perfect　…　a　perfect　choice　for　Brian　Kwok。　Happily　she　sat　behind　her　desk　and　began　to　type　the　telexes。　Everything's　done　that　should　be　done；　she　told　herself。　No；　something　the　tai…pan　said　。。。　what　was　it？　Ah　yes！　She　dialed　her　home　number。
　〃Weyyyyy？〃　said　her　amah；　Ah　Sam。
　〃Listen；　Ah　Sam；〃　she　said　in　Cantonese；　〃isn't　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　at　the　Vic　your　cousin　three　times　removed？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　Mother；〃　Ah　Sam　replied；　using　the　Chinese　politeness　of　servant　to　mistress。　〃But　she's　four　times　removed；　and　from　the　Fung…tats；　not　the　Fung…sams　which　is　my　branch。〃
　〃Never　mind　that；　Ah　Sam。　You　call　her　and　find　out　all　you　can　about　two　foreign　devils　from　the　Golden　Mountain。　They're　in　Fragrant　Spring　suite。〃　Patiently　she　spelled　their　names；　then　added　delicately；　〃I　hear　they　have　peculiar　pillow　habits。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　if　anyone　can　find　out；　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　can。　Ha！　What　peculiars？〃
　〃Strange　peculiars；　Ah　Sam。　You　get　on　with　it；　little　oily　mouth。〃　She　beamed　and　hung　up。
　The　elevator　doors　opened　and　Sandra　Yi　ushered　the　two　police　officers　in；　then　left　reluctantly。　Brian　Kwok　watched　her　go。　He　was　thirty…nine；　tall　for　a　Chinese；　just　over　six　feet；　very　handsome；　with　blue…black　hair。　Both　men　wore　civilian　clothes。　Claudia　chatted　with　them　politely；　but　the　moment　she　saw　the　light　on　line　two　go　out　she　ushered　them　in　and　closed　the　door。
　〃Sorry　to　e　without　an　appointment；〃　Armstrong　said。
　〃No　sweat；　Robert。　You　look　tired。〃
　〃A　heavy　night。　It's　all　the　villainy　that　goes　on　in　Hong　Kong；〃　Armstrong　said　easily。　〃Nasties　abound　and　saints　get　crucified。〃
　Dunross　smiled；　then　glanced　across　at　Kwok。　〃How's　life　treating　you；　Brian？〃
　Brian　Kwok　smiled　back。　〃Very　good；　thanks；　Ian。　Stock　market's　up　…　I've　a　few　dollars　in　the　bank；　my　Porsche　hasn't　fallen　apart　yet；　and　ladies　will　be　ladies。〃
　〃Thank　God　for　that！　Are　you　doing　the　hill　climb　on　Sunday？〃
　〃If　I　can　get　Lulu　in　shape。　She's　missing　an　offside　hydraulic　coupling。〃
　〃Have　you　tried　our　shop？〃
　〃Yes。　No　joy；　tai…pan。　Are　you　going？〃
　〃Depen