jamesclavell.noblehouse-第212节

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　second　key　and　how；　at　dinner　the　night　of　the　tai…pan's　party；　he　had　suddenly　had　a　premonition　about　his　oh　so　secret　safe　buried　in　the　garden　and　how；　after　digging　it　up；　he　had　discovered　the　worst。　He　even　told　the　tai…pan　about　his　quarrel　with　Dianne　and　how　they　thought　the　coin　might　be　on　John　Chen　somehow；　and　how；　when　the　Werewolf　phoned；　she　suggested　calling　his　cousin；　Four　Finger　Wu；　to　get　his　street　fighters　to　follow　him；　then　to　follow　them。　。。。
　Dunross　gasped　but　Phillip　Chen　did　not　notice　it；　rambling　on　in　tears；　telling　how　he　had　lied　to　the　police　and　had　paid　over　the　ransom　to　the　Werewolf　youths　he　would　never　recognize　again　and　how　the　street　fighters　of　Four　Fingers　who　were　supposed　to　be　guarding　him　had　not　intercepted　the　Werewolves　or　recaptured　John　or　recaptured　his　money。　〃That's　the　truth；　tai…pan；　all　of　it；〃　he　whimpered；　〃there's　no　more　。。。　nothing。　Nothing　until　this　morning　and　my　poor　son's　body　at　Sha　Tin　with　that　filthy　sign　on　his　chest。　。。。〃
　Helplessly　Dunross　was　trying　to　collect　his　wits。　He　had　not　known　that　Four　Fingers　was　Phillip's　cousin；　nor　could　he　fathom　how　the　old　seaman　could　have　got　the　coin　…　unless　he　was　the　chief　Werewolf　or　in　league　with　them；　or　in　league　with　John　Chen　who　had　masterminded　a　supposed　kidnapping　to　squeeze　money　out　of　the　father　he　hated　and　then　Four　Fingers　and　John　Chen　had　quarreled　or　。。。　or　what？　〃How　did　John　know　our　secrets；　get　all　those　secrets　to　pass　them　over　to　Bartlett　…　how　the　House's　structured？　Eh？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　the　old　man　lied。
　〃You　must　have　told　John　…　there's　only　you；　Alastair；　my　father；　Sir　Ross；　Gavallan；　deVille　or　me　who　know；　and　of　those；　only　the　first　four　know　the　structure！〃
　〃I　didn't　tell　him　…　I　swear　I　didn't。〃
　Dunross's　blinding　rage　began　to　swell　again　but　once　more　he　held　it　into　place。
　Be　logical；　he　told　himself。　Phillip's　more　Chinese　than　European。　Deal　with　him　as　a　Chinese！　Where's　the　link？　The　missing　part　of　the　jigsaw？
　While　he　was　trying　to　work　out　the　problem；　his　eyes　bored　into　the　old　man。　He　waited；　knowing　that　silence　too　was　a　vast　weapon；　in　defense　or　attack。　What's　the　answer？　Phillip　would　never　tell　John　anything　that　secret；　therefore　。。。
　〃Jesus　Christ！〃　he　burst　out　at　the　sudden　thought。　〃You've　been　keeping　records！　Private　records！　That's　how　John　found　out！　From　your　safe！　Eh？〃
　Petrified　by　the　tai…pan's　devil　rage；　Phillip　blurted　out　before　he　could　stop　himself；　〃Yes　。。。　yes　。。。　I　had　to　agree　。。。〃　He　stopped；　fighting　for　control。
　〃Had　to？　Why？　e　on　goddamnit！〃
　〃Because　。。。　because　my　father；　before　he　。。。　he　passed　the　House　over　to　me　and　the　coin　to　me　。。。　made　me　swear　to　keep　。。。　to　record　the　private　dealings　of　。。。　of　the　Noble　House　to　protect　the　House　of　Chen。　It　was　just　that；　tai…pan；　never　to　use　against　you　or　the　House；　just　a　protection。　。。。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　him；　hating　him；　hating　John　Chen　for　selling　Struan's　out；　hating　his　mentor　Chen…chen　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　sick　with　rage　at　so　many　betrayals。　Then　he　remembered　one　of　Chen…chen's　admonitions　years　ago　when　Dunross　was　almost　weeping　with　anger　at　the　unfair　way　his　father　and　Alastair　were　treating　him：　〃Don't　get　angry；　young　Ian；　get　even。　I　told　Culum　the　same　thing；　and　the　Hag　when　they　were　equally　young　…　Culum　never　listened　but　the　Hag　did。　That's　the　civilized　way：　Don't　get　angry；　get　even！　〃So　Bartlett　has　our　structure；　our　balance　sheets。　What　else's　he　got？〃
　Phillip　Chen　just　shivered　and　stared　back　blankly。
　〃e　on　for　chrissake；　Phillip；　think！　We've　all　got　skeletons；　a　lot　of　skeletons！　So've　you；　the　Hag；　Chen…chen；　Shitee　T'Chung；　Dianne　。。。　for　chrissake；　how　much　more's　documented　that　John　could　have　passed　over？〃　A　wave　of　nausea　went　through　him　as　he　remembered　his　theory　about　the　connection　between　Banastasio；　Bartlett；　Par…Con；　the　Mafia　and　the　guns。　Christ；　if　our　secrets　get　into　the　wrong　hands！　〃Eh？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know　。。。　What；　what　did　Bartlett　ask？　For　the　coin？〃　Then　Phillip　cried　out；　〃It's　mine；　it　belongs　to　me！〃
　He　saw　the　uncontrollable　trembling　of　Phillip's　hands　and　a　sudden　tinge　of　gray　in　his　face。　There　was　brandy　and　whiskey　in　decanters　on　the　sideboard　and　Dunross　fetched　some　brandy　and　gave　it　to　him。　Gratefully　the　old　man　drank；　choking　a　little。　〃Than　。。。　thank　you。〃
　〃Go　home　and　fetch　everything　and　th…　〃　Dunross　stopped　and　stabbed　an　inter　button。　〃Andrew？〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan？〃　Gavallan　said。
　〃Would　you　e　up　a　second？　I　want　you　to　go　home　with　Phillip；　he's　not　feeling　too　well　and　there're　some　papers　to　bring　back。〃
　〃On　my　way。〃
　Dunross's　eyes　had　never　left　Phillip's。
　〃Tai…pan；　what　did；　did　Bar…　〃
　〃Stay　away　from　them　on　your　life！　And　give　Andrew　everything　…　John's　letters；　Bartlett's　letters；　everything；〃　he　said；　his　voice　chilling。
　〃Tai…pan　。。。〃
　〃Everything。〃　His　head　ached；　he　had　so　much　rage　in　him。　He　was　going　to　add；　I'll　decide　about　you　and　the　House　of　Chen　over　the　weekend。　But　he　did　not　say　it。　〃Don't　get　mad；　get　even〃　kept　ringing　in　his　ears。
　*　*　*
　Casey　came　in。　Dunross　met　her　halfway。　She　carried　an　umbrella　and　was　again　wearing　her　pale　green　dress　that　set　off　her　hair　and　eyes　perfectly。　Dunross　noticed　the　shadows　behind　her　eyes。　They　made　her　somehow　more　desirable。　〃Sorry　to　keep　you　waiting。〃　His　smile　was　warm　but　he　enjoyed　none　of　its　warmth。　He　was　still　appalled　over　Phillip　Chen。
　Casey's　hand　was　cool　and　pleasant。　〃Thanks　for　seeing　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　you're　busy　so　I'll　e　to　the　point。〃
　〃First　tea。　Or　would　you　like　a　drink？〃
　〃No　liquor　thanks；　but　I　don't　want　to　put　you　to　any　trouble。〃
　〃No　trouble；　I'm　going　to　have　tea　anyway。　4：40's　tea　time。〃　As　though　by　magic　the　door　opened　and　a　liveried　houseboy　brought　in　a　silver　tray　with　tea　for　two　…　with　thin　buttered　toast　and　hot　scones　in　a　silver　warmer。　The　man　poured　and　left。　The　tea　was　dark　brown　and　strong。　〃It's　Darjeeling；　one　of　our　House　blends。　We've　been　trading　it　since　1830；〃　he　said　sipping　it　gratefully；　as　always　thanking　the　unknown　genius　Englishman　who　had　invented　afternoon　tea；　which；　somehow；　always　seemed　to　settle　the　cares　of　the　day　and　put　the　world　into　perspective。　〃I　hope　you　like　it。〃
　〃It's　great；　maybe　a　mite　too　strong　for　me。　I　had　some　around　2：00　a。m。；　and　it　certainly　woke　me　up。〃
　〃Oh？　You　still　on　jet　lag？〃
　She　shook　her　head　and　told　him　about　Peter　Marlowe。
　〃Oh！　What　bad　joss！〃　He　stabbed　the　inter。　〃Claudia；　call　the　Nathan　Nursing　Home　and　see　how　Mrs。　Marlowe　is。　And　send　some　flowers。　Thanks。〃
　Casey　frowned。　〃How'd　you　know　she　was　at　the　Nathan？〃
　〃Doc　Tooley　always　uses　that　place　in　Kowloon。〃　He　was　watching　her　closely；　astonished　that　she　seemed　so　friendly　when　obviously　Par…Con　was　trying　to　sabotage　their　deal。　If　she's　been　up　most　of　the　night；　that　accounts　for　the　shadows；　he　thought。　Well；　shadows　or　not；　watch　out；　young　lady；　we　shook　on　the　deal。　〃Another　cup？〃　he　asked　solicitously。
　〃No　thanks；　this's　fine。〃
　〃I　remend　the　scones。　We　eat　them　like　this：　a　big　dollop　of　Devonshire　clotted　cream　on　top；　a　teaspoon　of　homemade　strawberry　jam　in　the　center　of　the　cream　and　。。。　magic！　Here！〃
　Reluctantly　she　took　it。　The　scone　was　just　bite…sized。　It　vanished。　〃Fantastic；〃　she　gasped；　wiping　a　touch　of　the　cream　off　her　mouth。　〃But　all　those　calories！　No；　really；　no　more；　thanks。　I've　done　nothing　but　eat　since　I　got　here。〃
　〃It　doesn't　show。〃
　〃It　will。〃　He　saw　her　smile　back　at　him。　She　was　sitting　in　one　of　the　deep　high…backed　leather　chairs；　the　tea　table　between　them。　Again　she　crossed　her　legs　and　Dunross　thought　once　more　that　Gavallan　had　been　right　about　her　…　that　her　Achilles'　heel　was　impatience。　〃May　I　start　now？〃　she　asked。
　〃You're　sure　you　don't　want　some　more　tea？〃　he　asked；　deliberately　to　throw　her　off　balance　again。
　〃No　thanks。〃
　〃Then　tea's　over。　What's　cooking？〃
　Casey　took　a　deep　breath。　〃It　seems　that　Struan's　is　way　out　on　a　limb　and　about　to　go　under。〃
　〃Please　don't　concern　yourself　about　that。　Struan's　really　is　in　very　fine　shape。〃
　〃You　may　be；　tai…pan；　but　it　doesn't　look　that　way　to　us。　Or　to　outsiders。　I've　checked。　Most　everyone　seems　to　think　Gornt；　and　or　the　Victoria；　will　make　the　raid　stick。　It's　almost　a　general　thumbs　down。　Now　our　deal's　…　〃
　〃We　have　a　deal　till　Tuesday。　That's　what　we　agreed；〃　he　said；　his　voice　sharpening。　〃Do　I　understand　you　want　to　renege　or　change　it？〃
　〃No。　But　in　the　present　state　you're　in；　it'd　be　crazy　and　bad　business　to　proceed。　So　we've　two　alternatives：　It's　either　Rothwell…Gornt；　or　we've　to　help　you　with　some　kind　of　bail…out　operation。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　I've　a　plan；　a　partial　plan　for　how　you　could　maybe　extricate　yourself　and　make　us　all　a　fortune。　Okay？　You're　the　best　for　us　…　long…term。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　not　believing　her；　all　attention；　well　aware　that　any　concession　she　offered　was　going　to　be　prohibitively　expensive。
　〃Try　this　on　for　size。　Our　bankers　are　the　First　Central　New　York　…　the　hated　bank　here。　They　want　back　into　Hong　Kong　so　much　it　hurts；　but　they'll　never　get　a　new　charter；　right？〃
　Dunross's　inter