jamesclavell.noblehouse-第245节
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arefully bumping Pilot Fish into the rails； putting him off his stride； and now into the straight； ripping into the straight； Pilot Fish behind； winning post ahead 。。。 e on e on 。。。 winning。 。。。
〃We have to decide； tai…pan。 It's time。〃
Dunross came back slowly； bile in his mouth。 〃Yes。 You ride；〃 he said； putting the House before himself。
And now that he had said it he put the rest aside and clapped Travkin warmly on the shoulders。 〃Win； Alexi； win by God。〃
The older man； gnarled and leathery； peered up at him。 He nodded once； then walked off to change。 As he went he noticed Suslev in the stands watching him through binoculars。 A tremor went through him。 Suslev had promised that this Christmas Nestorova would e to Hong Kong； she would be allowed to join him in Hong Kong … and stay in Hong Kong … at Christmas。 If he cooperated。 If he cooperated and did what was asked。
Do you believe that？ No。 No； not at all； those matyeryebyets are liars and betrayers but maybe this time 。。。 Christ Jesus why should I be ordered to meet Dunross at Sinclair Towers by night； late at night？ Why？ Christ Jesus； what should I do？ Don't think； old man。 You're old and soon you'll be dead but your first duty is to win。 If you win； the tai…pan will do your bidding。 If you lose？ If you win or lose； how can you live with the shame of betraying the man who befriended you and trusts you？
He went into the jockeys' room。
Behind him Dunross had turned to glance at the tote。 The odds had shortened； the total amount at risk already two and a half million。 Butterscotch Lass was 3 to 1； Noble Star 7 to 1； still no jockey listed。 Pilot Fish 5 to 1； Golden Lady 7 to 1。 Early yet； he thought； and so much time left to gamble。 Travkin will shorten the odds。 A cold shaft took him。 I wonder if there's a deal going on right now； a deal among the trainers and jockeys？ Christ； we all better be watching this one very carefully indeed。
〃Ah Ian！〃
〃Oh hello； sir。〃 Dunross smiled at Sir Geoffrey who came up to him then looked at Havergill who was with the governor。 〃Pity about Winwell Stag； Paul； I thought he ran a grand race。〃
〃Joss；〃 Havergill said politely。 〃Who's riding Noble Star？〃
〃Travkin。〃
The governor's face lit up。 〃Ah； very good choice。 Yes； he'll make a good race of it。 For a moment； Ian； I was afraid you might be tempted。〃
〃I was。 Still am； sir。〃 Dunross smiled faintly。 〃If Alexi gets hit by a bus between now and then； I'm riding her。〃
〃Well； for the sake of all of us and the Noble House； let's hope that doesn't happen。 We can't afford to have you hurt。 The going looks terrible。〃 Another swirl of rain came and passed by。 〃We've been very lucky so far。 No bad accidents。 If the rain starts in earnest； it might be worthwhile considering abandoning。〃
〃We've already discussed it； sir。 We're running a little late。 The race'll be delayed ten minutes。 So long as the weather holds for this race most people will be satisfied。〃
Sir Geoffrey watched him。 〃Oh by the way； Ian； I tried the minister a few minutes ago but I'm afraid he was already in meetings。 I left word and he'll call back the moment he can。 It seems the ramifications of this damned Profumo scandal are once more tearing at the very roots of the Conservative government。 The press are screaming； quite rightly； in case there have been breaches of security。 Until the mission of Enquiry es out next month； settling once and for all security aspects and rumors that others in the government are implicated or not； there'll be no peace。〃
〃Yes；〃 Havergill said。 〃But surely the worst's over； sir。 As to the report； certainly it won't be adverse。〃
〃Adverse or not； this scandal will wreck the Conservatives；〃 Dunross said soberly； remembering AMG's forecast in the last report。
〃Good God； I hope not。〃 Havergill was aghast。 〃Those two twits； Grey and Broadhurst； in power amongst all the other Socialist shower？ If their press conference was any indication； we might as well all go home。〃
〃We are home； and it all es home to roost。 Eventually；〃 Sir Geoffrey said sadly。 〃Anyway； Ian made the correct decision； not to ride。〃 He glanced at Havergill and his gaze sharpened。 〃As I said； Paul； it's important to make correct decisions。 It would be a very poor show if the Ho…Pak's depositors were wiped out； perhaps just because of poor judgment by Richard Kwang and the lack of a benevolent decision by those who could avoid such a disaster if they wished … perhaps to great profit。 Eh？〃
〃Yes sir。〃
Sir Geoffrey nodded and left them。
Dunross said； 〃What was that about？〃
〃The governor thinks we should rescue the Ho…Pak；〃 Havergill said offhandedly。
〃Why don't you？〃
〃Let's talk about the General Stores takeover。〃
〃First let's finish the Ho…Pak。 The governor's right； it would benefit all of us； Hong Kong … and the bank。〃
〃You'd be in favor？〃
〃Yes； of course。〃
〃You'll approve； you and your block will approve making the takeover？〃
〃I don't have a block but certainly I'll support a reasonable takeover。〃
Paul Havergill smiled thinly。 〃I was thinking of 20 cents on the dollar on Richard's holdings。〃
Dunross whistled。 〃That's not much。〃
〃By Monday night he'll have zero。 He'll probably settle for that … his holdings would give the bank control。 We could easily stand surety for 100 percent of his depositors。〃
〃He's got that amount of securities？〃
〃No； but with the normalization of the market and our judicious management； over a year or two it's true the acquisition of the Ho…Pak could greatly benefit us。 Oh yes。 And there's a desperate need to restore confidence。 Such a takeover would help immeasurably。〃
〃This afternoon would be a perfect announcement time。〃
〃I agree。 Anything on Tiptop？〃
Dunross studied him。 〃Why the sudden change around； Paul？ And why discuss it with me？〃
〃There's no change around。 I've considered the Ho…Pak very carefully。 The acquisition would be good bank policy。〃 Havergill watched him。 〃We'll give him face and offer him a seat on our board。〃
〃So the rumors about the Big Bank are true？〃
〃Not to my knowledge；〃 the banker said coldly。 〃As to why discuss it with you？ Because you're a director of the bank； presently the most important one； with substantial influence on the board。 That's a sensible thing to do； isn't it？〃
〃Yes； but。〃
Havergill's eyes became colder。 〃The interests of the bank have nothing to do with my distaste for you； or your methods。 But you were right about Superfoods。 You made a good offer at a perfect time and sent a wave of confidence soaring through everyone here。 It's bound to spread over all Hong Kong。 It was brilliant timing and now if we follow it up and announce we've assumed all the Ho…Pak responsibilities to its depositors； that's another immense vote of confidence。 All we need to do is get back confidence。 If Tiptop es to our assistance with his cash； Monday is boom day for Hong Kong。 So first thing on Monday morning； Ian； we buy Struan's heavily。 By Monday evening we'll assume control。 However I'll make you a deal right now： we'll put up the 2 million for General Foods in return for half your bank stock。〃
〃No thanks。〃
〃We'll have it all by next weekend。 We'll guarantee that 2 million in any event to cover the takeover and guarantee the overall offer you made to Pug … if you fail to avoid your own takeover。〃
〃I won't。〃
〃Of course。 But you don't mind if I mention it to him and to that nosy little cretin Haply？〃
〃You're a bastard； aren't you？〃
Havergill's thin lips twisted with his smile。 〃This is business … I want your block of bank stock。 Your forebears bought it for nothing； practically stole it from the Brocks after smashing them。 I want to do the same。 And I want control of the Noble House。 Of course。 Like a great number of others。 Probably even your American friend Bartlett if the truth were known。 Where's the 2 million ing from？〃
〃It's manna from heaven。〃
〃We'll find out sooner or later。 We're your bankers and you owe us rather a lot of money！ Will Tiptop bail us out？〃
〃I can't be sure but I talked to him last night。 He was encouraging。 He agreed to e here after lunch but he hasn't arrived yet。 That's ominous。〃
〃Yes。〃 Havergill brushed some drizzle off his nose。 〃We've had a very positive response from the Trade Bank of Moscow。〃
〃Even you're not that fat…headed！〃
〃It's a last resort； Ian。 A serious last resort。〃
〃You'll call an immediate board meeting to discuss the Ho…Pak takeover？〃
〃Good lord； no。〃 Havergill was sardonic。 〃You think I'm that much of a fool？ If we did that you could table the other directors about an extension of your loan。 No； Ian； I propose to ask them individually； like you。 With your agreement I have a majority already； the others of course fall into line。 I do have your agreement？〃
〃At 20 cents on the dollar and full payout of investors； yes。〃
〃I might need leeway to go to 30 cents。 Agreed？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Your word？〃
〃Oh yes； you have my word。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃But you'll call a board meeting before Monday's opening？〃
〃I agreed to consider it。 Only。 I've considered it and the answer now is no。 Hong Kong's a freebooting society where the weak fail and the strong keep the fruits of their labors。〃 Havergill smiled
