jamesclavell.noblehouse-第240节

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　I　have　to　kill　Noble　Star。〃
　〃No　need　to　do　that；　Alexi。　I'm　rather　fond　of　that　horse。〃
　〃Tai…pan；　listen；　perhaps　a　favor？　I've　a　problem。　Can　I　see　you　tonight　or　Sunday；　Sunday　or　Monday　late；　say　at　Sinclair　Towers？〃
　〃Why　there？〃
　〃We　made　our　deal　there；　I'd　like　to　talk　there。　But　if　it's　not　all　right　the　day　after。〃
　〃You're　going　to　leave　us？〃
　〃Oh　no；　no　it's　not　that。　If　you've　time。　Please。〃
　〃All　right　but　it　can't　be　tonight；　or　Sunday　or　Monday；　I'm　going　to　Taipei。　I　could　see　you　Tuesday　at　10：00　p。m。　How's　that？〃
　〃Fine；　Tuesday's　fine　yes；　thank　you。〃
　〃I'll　be　down　after　the　next　race。〃
　Alexi　watched　the　tai…pan　walk　for　the　elevators。　He　was　near　tears；　an　overwhelming　affection　for　Dunross　possessing　him。
　His　eyes　went　to　Suslev　who　was　in　the　general　stands　nearby。　Trying　to　appear　casual　he　held　up　the　prearranged　number　of　fingers：　one　for　tonight；　two　for　Sunday；　three　Monday；　four　Tuesday。　His　eyes　were　very　good　and　he　saw　Suslev　acknowledge　the　signal。　Matyeryebyets；　he　thought。　Betrayer　of　Mother　Russia　and　all　us　Russians；　you　and　all　your　KGB　brethren！　I　curse　you　in　the　name　of　God；　for　me　and　all　Russians　if　the　truth　be　known。
　Never　mind　that！　I'm　going　to　ride　Noble　Star；　he　told　himself　grimly；　one　way　or　another。
　Dunross　got　into　the　elevator　amid　more　congratulations　and　much　envy。　At　the　top　floor　Gavallan　and　Jacques　were　waiting　for　him。　〃Is　everything　ready？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Gavallan　replied。　〃Gornt's　there；　and　the　others　you　wanted。　What's　cooking？〃
　〃e　along　and　you'll　see。　By　the　way；　Andrew；　I'm　switching　Jacques　and　David　MacStruan。　Jacques　will　take　over　Canada　for　a　year；　David　…　〃
　Jacques's　face　lit　up。　〃Oh　thank　you　tai…pan。　Yes；　thanks　very　much。　I'll　make　Canada　very　profitable；　I　promise。〃
　〃What　about　the　changeover？〃　Gavallan　asked。　〃Do　you　want　Jacques　to　go　there　first　or　will　David　e　here？〃
　〃He　arrives　Monday。　Jacques；　you　hand　over　everything　to　David；　then　next　week　you　can　both　go　back　together　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　You　go　via　France；　eh？　Pick　up　Susanne　and　Avril；　she　should　be　well　enough　by　then。　There's　nothing　urgent　in　Canada　at　the　moment　…　it's　more　urgent　here。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　ma　foi！　Yes；　yes　thank　you；　tai…pan。〃
　Gavallan　said　thoughtfully；　〃It'll　be　good　to　see　old　David。〃　He　liked　David　MacStruan　very　much　but　he　was　still　wondering　why　the　change；　and　did　this　mean　that　Jacques　was　out　of　the　running　to　inherit　the　tai…pan's　mantle　and　David　in　and　his　own　position　changed；　changing　or　threatened　…　if　there　was　anything　left　to　inherit　after　Monday。　And　what　about　Kathy？
　Joss；　he　told　himself。　What　is　to　be　will　be。　Oh　goddamn　everything！
　〃You　two　go　on　ahead；〃　Dunross　said。　〃I'll　get　Phillip。〃　He　turned　into　the　Chen　box。　By　ancient　custom　the　pradore　of　the　Noble　House　was　automatically　a　steward。　Perhaps　for　the　last　year；　Dunross　thought　grimly。　If　Phillip　doesn't　deliver　help　in　the　form　of　Four　Finger　Wu；　Lando　Mata；　Tightfist　or　something　tangible　by　Sunday　at　midnight　he's　blackballed。
　〃Hello；　Phillip；〃　he　said；　his　voice　friendly；　greeting　the　other　guests　in　the　packed　box。　〃You　ready？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes；　tai…pan。〃　Phillip　Chen　was　looking　older。　〃Congratulations　on　the　win。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan；　a　marvelous　omen　…　we're　all　praying　for　the　fifth！〃　Dianne　Chen　called　out；　trying　equally　hard　to　hide　her　apprehension；　Kevin　beside　her；　echoing　her。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Dunross　said；　sure　that　Phillip　Chen　had　told　her　about　their　meeting。　She　wore　a　hat　with　bird　of　paradise　feathers；　and　too　many　jewels。
　〃Champagne；　tai…pan？〃
　〃No　thanks；　later　perhaps。　Sorry；　Dianne；　have　to　borrow　Phillip　for　a　moment　or　two。　Won't　be　long。〃
　Outside　in　the　corridor　he　stopped　a　moment。　〃Any　luck；　Phillip？〃
　〃I've　。。。　I've　talked　to　all　the　。。。　all　of　them。　They're　meeting　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Where？　Macao？〃
　〃No；　here。〃　Phillip　Chen　dropped　his　voice　even　more。　〃I'm　sorry　about　。。。　about　all　the　mess　my　son's　caused　。。。　yes；　very　sorry；〃　he　said；　meaning　it。
　〃I　accept　your　apology。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　your　carelessness　and　treachery；　we'd　never　have　bee　that　vulnerable。　Christ　Jesus；　if　Gornt　gets　our　balance　sheets　for　the　last　few　years　and　our　interlocking　corporate　structures；　we're　up　the　creek　without　a　paddle。〃
　〃I　。。。　I　had　a　thought；　tai…pan；　how　to　extract　our　…　how　to　extract　the　House。　After　the　races；　could　I　。。。　a　little　time；　please？〃
　〃You're　ing　for　drinks　tonight？　With　Dianne？〃
　〃Yes；　if　。。。　yes　please。　May　I　bring　Kevin？〃
　Dunross　smiled　fleetingly　to　himself。　The　heir　apparent；　officially　and　so　soon。　Karma。　〃Yes。　e　along。〃
　〃What's　this　all　about；　tai…pan？〃
　〃You'll　see。　Please　say　nothing；　do　nothing；　just　accept　…　with　great　confidence　…　that　you're　part　of　the　package；　and　when　I　leave　follow　me；　spread　the　word　and　good　cheer。　If　we　fail；　the　House　of　Chen　fails　first；　e　hell；　high　water　or　typhoon！〃　He　turned　into　the　McBride　box。　There　were　more　immediate　congratulations　and　many　said　it　was　great　joss。
　〃Good　God；　tai…pan；〃　McBride　said；　〃if　Noble　Star　wins　the　fifth；　wouldn't　it　be　marvelous！〃
　〃Pilot　Fish　will　beat　Noble　Star；〃　Gornt　said　confidently。　He　was　at　the　bar　with　Jason　Plumm　getting　a　drink。　〃10；000　says　he'll　finish　ahead　of　your　filly。〃
　〃Taken；〃　Dunross　said　at　once。　There　were　cheers　and　hoots　of　derision　from　the　thirty…odd　guests　and　once　more　Bartlett　and　Casey；　who　had　by　arrangement　with　Dunross　ostensibly　just　wandered　in　a　few　minutes　ago　to　visit　Peter　Marlowe；　were　inwardly　staggered　at　the　festive　air　and　Dunross's　high…flying　confidence。
　〃How're　you　doing；　Dunstan？〃　Dunross　asked。　He　paid　Casey　and　Bartlett　no　attention；　concentrating　on　the　big　florid　man　who　was　more　florid　than　usual；　a　double　brandy　in　his　hand。
　〃Very　well；　thank　you；　Ian。　Got　the　first；　and　Buccaneer　…　made　a　bundle　on　Buccaneer；　but　blew　my　damned　quinella。　Lucky　Court　let　me　down。〃　The　room　was　the　same　size　as　the　Struan　box　but　not　as　well　decorated；　though　equally　well　filled　with　many　of　the　Hong　Kong　elite；　some　invited　here　a　moment　ago　by　Gavallan　and　McBride　for　Dunross。　Lando　Mata；　Holdbrook　…　Struan's　in…house　stockbroker　…　Sir　Luis　Basilic　…　head　of　the　stock　exchange　…　Johnjohn；　Havergill；　Southerby　…　chairman　of　Blacs　…　Richard　Kwang；　Pugmire；　Biltzmann；　Sir　Dunstan　Barre；　young　Martin　Haply　of　the　China　Guardian。　And　Gornt。　Dunross　looked　at　him。　〃Did　you　get　the　winner　of　the　last　race　too？〃
　〃No。　I　didn't　fancy　any　runner。　What's　all　this　about；　Ian？〃　Gornt　said；　and　everyone's　attention　soared。　〃You　want　to　make　an　announcement？〃
　〃Yes；　as　a　courtesy　I　thought　you　should　know；　along　with　other　VIPs。〃　Dunross　turned　to　Pugmire。　〃Pug；　the　Noble　House　is　formally　contesting　the　American　Superfoods　takeover　of　your　H。K。　General　Stores。〃
　There　was　a　vast　silence　and　everyone　stared　at　him。　Pugmire　had　gone　white。　〃What？〃
　〃We're　offering　5　a　share　more　than　Superfoods；　we'll　further　improve　their　bid　by　making　it　30　percent　cash　and　70　percent　stock；　everything　done　within　thirty　days！〃
　〃You've　gone　mad；〃　Pugmire　burst　out。　Didn't　I　sound　everyone　out　first；　he　wanted　to　shout；　including　you？　Didn't　you　and　everyone　approve　or　at　least　not　disapprove？　Isn't　that　the　way　it's　done　here　for　God's　sake　…　private　chats　at　the　Club；　here　at　the　races；　over　a　private　dinner　or　wherever？　〃You　can't　do　that；〃　he　muttered。
　〃I　already　have；〃　Dunross　said。
　Gornt　said　harshly；　〃All　you've　done；　Ian；　is　to　make　an　announcement。　How　are　you　going　to　pay？　In　thirty　or　three　hundred　days。〃
　Dunross　just　looked　at　him。　〃The　bid's　public。　We　plete　in　thirty　days。　Pug；　you'll　get　the　official　papers　by　9：30　a。m。　Monday；　with　a　cash　down　payment　to　cement　the　tender。〃
　Momentarily　he　was　drowned　out　as　others　began　talking；　asking　questions；　everyone　immediately　concerned　how　this　astonishing　development　would　affect　them　personally。　No　one　had　ever　contested　a　prearranged　takeover　before。　Johnjohn　and　Havergill　were　furious　that　this　had　been　done　without　consultation；　and　the　other　banker；　Southerby　of　Blacs；　who　was　merchant…banking　the　Superfoods　takeover；　was　equally　upset　that　he　had　been　caught　off　balance。　But　all　the　bankers；　even　Richard　Kwang；　were　counting　possibilities；　for　if　the　stock　market　was　normal　and　Struan's　stock　at　its　normal　level；　the　Struan　bid　could　be　very　good　for　both　sides。　Everyone　knew　that　Struan's　management　could　revitalize　the　rich　but　stagnant　hong；　and　the　acquisition　would　strengthen　the　Noble　House　immeasurably；　put　their　end…of…year　gross　up　at　least　20　percent　and　of　course　increase　their　dividends。　On　top　of　all　that；　the　takeover　would　keep　all　the　profits　in　Hong　Kong；　and　not　have　them　trickle　away　to　an　outsider。　Particularly　Biltzmann。
　Oh　my　God；　Barre　was　thinking　with　vast　admiration　and　not　a　little　envy；　for　Ian　to　make　the　tender　here；　in　public；　on　a　Saturday；　with　never　the　breath　of　a　rumor　that　he　was　contemplating　the　unthinkable；　with　nothing　to　give　you　an　inkling　so　that　you　could　have　bought　in　quietly　last　week　at　bottom　to　make　a　fortune　with　one　phone　call；　was　brilliant。　Of　course　Pug's　General　Stores　shares　will　soar　first　thing　on　Monday。　But　how　in　the　hell　did　Ia