jamesclavell.noblehouse-第27节

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le　English　boy；　his　fair　hair　tied　in　a　queue。　〃That　a　Quance？　An　Aristotle　Quance？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；〃　Dunross　said；　barely　covering　his　surprise。
　Bartlett　walked　over　and　looked　at　it。　〃This　the　original？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　much　about　art？〃
　〃No；　but　Casey　told　me　about　Quance　as　we　were　ing　out　here。　She　said　he's　almost　like　a　photographer；　really　a　historian　of　the　early　times。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　he　is。〃
　〃If　I　remember　this　one's　supposed　to　be　a　portrait　of　a　girl　called　May…may；　May…may　T'Chung；　and　the　child　is　one　of　Dirk　Struan's　by　her？〃
　Dunross　said　nothing；　just　watched　Bartlett's　back。
　Bartlett　peered　a　little　closer。　〃Difficult　to　see　the　eyes。　So　the　boy　is　Gordon　Chen；　Sir　Gordon　Chen　to　be？〃　He　turned　and　looked　at　Dunross。
　〃I　don't　know　for　certain；　Mr。　Bartlett。　That's　one　story。〃
　Bartlett　watched　him　for　a　moment。　The　two　men　were　well　matched；　Dunross　slightly　taller　but　Bartlett　wider　in　the　shoulders。　Both　had　blue　eyes；　Dunross's　slightly　more　greenish；　both　wideset　in　lived…in　faces。
　〃You　enjoy　being　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　don't　know　for　a　fact　what　a　tai…pan's　powers　are；　but　in　Par…Con　I　can　hire　and　fire　anyone；　and　can　close　it　down　if　I　want。〃
　〃Then　you're　a　tai…pan。〃
　〃Then　I　enjoy　being　a　tai…pan　too。　I　want　in　in　Asia　…　you　need　an　in　in　the　States。　Together　we　could　sew　up　the　whole　Pacific　Rim　into　a　tote　bag　for　both　of　us。〃
　Or　a　shroud　for　one　of　us；　Dunross　thought；　liking　Bartlett　despite　the　fact　that　he　knew　it　was　dangerous　to　like　him。
　〃I've　got　what　you　lack；　you've　got　what　I　lack。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said。　〃And　now　what　we　both　lack　is　lunch。〃
　They　turned　for　the　door。　Bartlett　was　there　first。　But　he　did　not　open　it　at　once。　〃I　know　it's　not　your　custom　but　since　I'm　going　with　you　to　Taipei；　could　you　call　me　Linc　and　I　call　you　Ian　and　we　begin　to　figure　out　how　much　we're　gonna　bet　on　the　golf　match？　I'm　sure　you　know　my　handicap's　thirteen；　officially；　and　I　know　yours's　ten；　officially；　which　probably　means　at　least　one　stroke　off　both　of　us　for　safety。〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Dunross　said　at　once。　〃But　here　we　don't　normally　bet　money；　just　balls。〃
　〃I'm　goddamned　if　I'm　betting　mine　on　a　golf　match。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　〃Maybe　you　will；　one　day。　We　usually　bet　half　a　dozen　golf　balls　here　…　something　like　that。〃
　〃It's　a　bad　British　custom　to　bet　money；　Ian？〃
　〃No。　How　about　five　hundred　a　side；　winning　team　take　all？〃
　〃U。S。　or　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Hong　Kong。　Among　friends　it　should　be　Hong　Kong。　Initially。〃
　
　Lunch　was　served　in　the　directors'　private　dining　room　on　the　nineteenth　floor。　It　was　an　L…shaped　corner　room；　with　a　high　ceiling　and　blue　drapes；　mottled　blue　Chinese　carpets　and　large　windows　from　which　they　could　see　Kowloon　and　the　airplanes　taking　off　and　landing　at　Kai　Tak　and　as　far　west　as　Stonecutters　Island　and　Tsing　Yi　Island；　and；　beyond；　part　of　the　New　Territories。　The　great；　antique　oak　dining　table　which　could　seat　twenty　easily　was　laid　with　placemats　and　fine　silver；　and　Waterford's　best　crystal。　For　the　six　of　them；　there　were　four　silent；　very　well…trained　waiters　in　black　trousers　and　white　tunics　embroidered　with　the　Struan　emblem。
　Cocktails　had　been　started　before　Bartlett　and　Dunross　arrived。　Casey　was　having　a　dry　vodka　martini　with　the　others　…　except　for　Gavallan　who　had　a　double　pink　gin。　Bartlett；　without　being　asked；　was　served　an　ice…cold　can　of　Anweiser；　on　a　Georgian　silver　tray。
　〃Who　told　you？〃　Bartlett　said；　delighted。
　〃pliments　of　Struan　and　pany；〃　Dunross　said。　〃We　heard　that's　the　way　you　like　it。〃　He　introduced　him　to　Gavallan；　deVille　and　Linbar　Struan；　and　accepted　a　glass　of　iced　Chablis；　then　smiled　at　Casey。　〃How　are　you？〃
　〃Fine；　thanks。〃
　〃Excuse　me；〃　Bartlett　said　to　the　others；　〃but　I　have　to　give　Casey　a　message　before　I　forget。　Casey；　will　you　call　Johnston　in　Washington　tomorrow　…　find　out　who　our　best　contact'd　be　at　the　consulate　here。〃
　〃Certainly。　If　I　can't　get　him　I'll　ask　Tim　Diller。〃
　Anything　to　do　with　Johnston　was　code　for：　how's　the　deal　progressing？　In　answer：　Diller　meant　good；　Tim　Diller　very　good；　Jones　bad；　George　Jones　very　bad。
　〃Good　idea；〃　Bartlett　said　and　smiled　back；　then　to　Dunross；　〃This　is　a　beautiful　room。〃
　〃It's　adequate；〃　Dunross　said。
　Casey　laughed；　getting　the　underplay。　〃The　meeting　went　very　well；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　she　said。　〃We　came　up　with　a　proposal　for　your　consideration。〃
　How　American　to　e　out　with　it　like　that　…　no　finesse！　Doesn't　she　know　business　is　for　after　lunch；　not　before。　〃Yes。　Andrew　gave　me　the　outline；〃　Dunross　replied。　〃Would　you　care　for　another　drink？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I　think　the　proposal　covers　everything；　sir。　Are　there　any　points　you'd　like　me　to　clarify？〃
　〃I'm　sure　there　will　be；　in　due　course；〃　Dunross　said；　privately　amused；　as　always；　by　the　sir　that　many　American　women　used　conversationally；　and　often；　incongruously；　to　waiters。　〃As　soon　as　I've　studied　it　I'll　get　back　to　you。　A　beer　for　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　he　added；　once　more　trying　to　divert　business　until　later。　Then　to　Jacques；　〃？a　va？〃
　〃Oui　merci。　A　rien。〃　Nothing　yet。
　〃Not　to　worry；〃　Dunross　said。　Yesterday　Jacques's　adored　daughter　and　her　husband　had　had　a　bad　car　accident　while　on　holiday　in　France　…　how　bad　he　was　still　waiting　to　hear。　〃Not　to　worry。〃
　〃No。〃　Again　the　Gallic　shrug；　hiding　the　vastness　of　his　concern。
　Jacques　was　Dunross's　first　cousin　and　he　had　joined　Struan's　in　'45。　His　war　had　been　rotten。　In　1940　he　had　sent　his　wife　and　two　infants　to　England　and　had　stayed　in　France。　For　the　duration。　Maquis　and　prison　and　condemned　and　escaped　and　Maquis　again。　Now　he　was　fifty…four；　a　strong；　quiet　man　but　vicious　when　provoked；　with　a　heavy　chest　and　brown　eyes　and　rough　hands　and　many　scars。
　〃In　principle　does　the　deal　sound　okay？〃　Casey　asked。
　Dunross　sighed　inwardly　and　put　his　full　concentration　on　her。　〃I　may　have　a　counterproposal　on　a　couple　of　minor　points。　Meanwhile；〃　he　added　decisively；　〃you　can　proceed　on　the　assumption　that；　in　general　terms；　it's　acceptable。〃
　〃Oh　fine；〃　Casey　said　happily。
　〃Great；〃　Bartlett　said；　equally　pleased；　and　raised　his　can　of　beer。　〃Here's　to　a　successful　conclusion　and　big　profits　…　for　you　and　for　us。〃
　They　drank　the　toast；　the　others　reading　the　danger　signs　in　Dunross；　wondering　what　the　tai…pan's　counterproposal　would　be。
　〃Will　it　take　you　long　to　finalize；　Ian？〃　Bartlett　asked；　and　all　of　them　heard　the　Ian。　Linbar　Struan　winced　openly。
　To　their　astonishment；　Dunross　just　said；　〃No；〃　as　though　the　familiarity　was　quite　ordinary；　adding；　〃I　doubt　if　the　solicitors　will　e　up　with　anything　insurmountable。〃
　〃We're　seeing　them　tomorrow　at　eleven　o'clock；〃　Casey　said。　〃Mr。　deVille；　John　Chen　and　I。　We've　already　gotten　their　advance　go…through　。。。　no　problems　there。〃
　〃Dawson's　very　good　…　particularly　on　U。S。　tax　law。〃
　〃Casey；　maybe　we　should　bring　out　our　tax　guy　from　New　York；〃　Bartlett　said。
　〃Sure；　Linc；　soon　as　we're　set。　And　Forrester。〃　To　Dunross　she　said；　〃He's　head　of　our　foam　division。〃
　〃Good。　And　that's　enough　shoptalk　before　lunch；〃　Dunross　said。　〃House　rules；　Miss　Casey：　no　shop　with　food；　it's　very　bad　for　the　digestion。〃　He　beckoned　Lim。　〃We　won't　wait　for　Master　John。〃
　Instantly　waiters　materialized　and　chairs　were　held　out　and　there　were　typed　place　names　in　silver　holders　and　the　soup　was　ladled。
　The　menu　said　sherry　with　the　soup；　Chablis　with　the　fish　…　or　claret　with　the　roast　beef　and　Yorkshire　pudding　if　you　preferred　it　…　boiled　string　beans　and　boiled　potatoes　and　boiled　carrots。　Sherry　trifle　as　dessert。　Port　with　the　cheese　tray。
　〃How　long　will　you　be　staying；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃　Gavallan　asked。
　〃As　long　as　it　takes。　But　Mr。　Gavallan；　since　it　looks　as　though　we're　going　to　be　in　business　together　a　long　time；　how　about　you　dropping　the　'Mr。'　Bartlett　and　the　'Miss'　Casey　and　calling　us　Linc　and　Casey。〃
　Gavallan　kept　his　eyes　on　Bartlett。　He　would　have　liked　to　have　said；　Well　Mr。　Bartlett；　we　prefer　to　work　up　to　these　things　around　here　…　it's　one　of　the　few　ways　you　tell　your　friends　from　your　acquaintances。　For　us　first　names　are　a　private　thing。　But　as　the　tai…pan　hasn't　objected　to　the　astonishing　〃Ian〃　there's　not　a　thing　I　can　do。　〃Why　not；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃　he　said　blandly。　〃No　need　to　stand　on　ceremony。　Is　there？〃
　Jacques　deVille　and　Struan　and　Dunross　chuckled　inside　at　the　〃Mr。　Bartlett；〃　and　the　way　Gavallan　had　neatly　turned　the　unwanted　acceptance　into　a　put…down　and　a　loss　of　face　that　neither　of　the　Americans　would　ever　understand。
　〃Thanks；　Andrew；〃　Bartlett　said。　Then　he　added；　〃Ian；　may　I　bend　the　rules　and　ask　one　more　question　before　lunch：　Can　you　finalize　by　next　Tuesday；　one　way　or　another？〃
　Instantly　the　currents　in　the　room　reversed。　Lim　and　the　other　servants　hesitated；　shocked。　All　eyes　went　to　Dunross。　Bartlett　thought　he　had　gone　too　far　and　Casey　was　sure　of　it。　She　had　been　watching　Dunross。　His　expression　had　not　changed　but　his　eyes　had。　Everyone　in　the　room　knew　that　the　tai…pan　had　been　called　as　a　man　will　call　another　in　a　poker　game。　Put　up　or　shut　up。　By　next　Tuesday。
　They　waited。　The　silence　seemed　to　hang。　And　hang。
　Then　Dunross