jamesclavell.noblehouse-第279节

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　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　I　was　having　a　kip　and　didn't　know　you　were　here。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　tai…pan。〃　Dave　Murtagh　was　haggard。　〃The　old　biddy　threatened　the　hell　out　of　me　if　I　so　much　as　murmured　but　it　didn't　matter；　I　dropped　off。〃　He　stretched　wearily；　stifling　a　yawn　and　shook　his　head　to　try　to　clear　it。　〃Jesus；　sorry　to　e　uninvited　but　it's　better　than　on　the　phone。〃
　Dunross　held　his　aching　disappointment　off　his　face。　It　must　be　a　turndown；　he　thought。　〃Whiskey？〃
　〃Sure；　with　soda。　Thanks。　Jesus　I'm　tired。〃
　Dunross　went　to　the　decanter　and　poured；　and　a　brandy　and　soda　for　himself。　〃Health；〃　he　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　ask。
　They　touched　glasses。
　〃Health。　And　you　got　your　deal！〃　The　young　man's　face　cracked　into　an　enormous　grin。　〃We　did　it！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃They　screamed　and　they　hollered　but　an　hour　ago　they　agreed。　We　got　everything！　120　percent　of　the　ships　and　a　50　million　U。S。　revolving　fund；　cash's　up　Wednesday；　but　you　can　mit　Monday　at　10：00　a。m。；　the　offer　of　the　tanker　deals　was　the　clincher。　Jesus；　we　did　it　for　chrissake！〃
　It　took　all　of　Dunross's　training　to　hold　in　his　bellow　of　triumph　and　keep　the　joy　off　his　face　and　say　calmly；　〃Oh；　jolly　good；〃　and　take　another　sip　of　his　brandy。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　seeing　the　shock　on　the　younger　man's　face。
　Murtagh　shook　his　head　and　slumped　down　exhaustedly。　〃You　limeys're　something　else！　I'll　never　understand　you。　I　give　you　a　hundred　percent　parole　with　the　sweetest　deal　God　ever　gave　man　and　all　you　say　is　'Oh　jolly　good。'　〃
　Dunross　laughed。　It　was　a　great　bellow　of　laughter　and　all　his　happiness　spilled　out。　He　pummeled　Murtagh's　hand　and　thanked　him。　〃How's　that？〃　he　asked；　beaming。
　〃That's　better！〃　He　grabbed　his　briefcase　and　opened　it　and　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　contracts　and　papers。　〃These're　just　as　we　agreed。　I　was　up　all　night　drafting　them。　Here's　the　main　loan　agreement；　this's　your　personal　guarantee；　these're　for　the　corporate　seal；　ten　copies　of　everything。〃
　〃I'll　initial　one　set　now　which　you　keep；　you　initial　one　which　I'll　keep　and　then　we'll　sign　formally　tomorrow　morning。　Can　you　meet　me　in　my　office　tomorrow　morning；　say　at　7：30？　We'll　chop　all　the　documents　an…　〃
　The　young　man　let　out　an　involuntary　moan。　〃How　'bout　8：00；　tai…pan；　or　8：30？　I　just　gotta　catch　up　on　some　sleep。〃
　〃7：30。　You　can　sleep　all　day。〃　Dunross　added　at　a　sudden　thought；　〃Tomorrow　night　your　evening's　reserved。〃
　〃It　is？〃
　〃Yes。　You　best　get　all　the　rest　you　can；　your　evening　will　be　busy。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃You're　not　married；　you're　not　attached；　so　an　entertaining　evening　wouldn't　be　bad。　Eh？〃
　〃Gee。〃　Murtagh　brightened　perceptibly。　〃It'd　be　terrific。〃
　〃Good。　I'll　send　you　to　a　friend　of　mine　at　Aberdeen。　Goldtooth　Wu。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃An　old　friend　of　the　family。　Perfectly　safe。　While　I　think　of　it；　lunch　at　the　races　next　week？〃
　〃Oh　Jesus；　thanks。　Yesterday　Casey　gave　me　a　hot　tip　and　I　won　a　bundle。　The　rumor　is　you're　going　to　ride　Noble　Star　Saturday。　Are　you？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Dunross　kept　his　eyes　on　him。　〃The　deal's　really　through？　No　chance　of　a　foul…up？〃
　〃Cross　my　heart　and　hope　to　die！　Oh　here　I　forgot。〃　He　handed　him　the　confirming　telex。　〃It's　as　we　agreed。〃　Murtagh　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃It's　6：00　a。m。　New　York　time　now　but　you're　to　call　S。　J。　Beverly；　our　chairman　of　the　board；　in　an　hour　…　he's　expecting　your　call。　Here's　his　number。〃　The　young　man　beamed。　〃They　made　me　VP　in　charge　of　all　Asia。〃
　〃Congratulations。〃
　Dunross　saw　the　time。　He　would　have　to　leave　soon　or　he　would　be　late　and　he　did　not　want　to　keep　Riko　waiting。　His　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　〃Let's　initial　now；　shall　we？〃
　Murtagh　was　already　sorting　the　papers。　〃Just　one　thing；　tai…pan；　S。J。　said　we　got　to　keep　this　secret。〃
　〃That's　going　to　be　difficult。　Who　typed　these？〃
　〃My　secretary　…　but　she's　American；　she's　as　tight　as　a　clam。〃　Dunross　nodded　but　inside　he　was　unconvinced。　The　telex　operator　…　didn't　Phillip　Chen　say　he　had　already　had　copies　of　some　of　the　telexes？　…　or　cleaners；　or　phone　operators；　it　would　be　impossible　to　gauge　who　but　the　news　would　be　mon　knowledge　soon；　whatever　he　or　Murtagh　did。　Now；　how　to　use　everything　to　the　best　advantage　while　it's　still　secret？　he　was　asking　himself；　hard　put　not　to　dance　with　joy；　the　fact　of　the　deal　unprecedented　and　almost　impossible　to　believe。　He　began　to　initial　his　set　of　papers；　Murtagh　another。　He　stopped　as　he　heard　the　front　door　open　and　slam。　Adryon　shrieked；　〃Ah　Tat！〃　and　followed　up　with　a　flood　of　amah　Cantonese　ending；　〃。。。　and　did　you　iron　my　new　blouse　by　all　the　gods？〃
　〃Blouse？　What　blouse。　Young　Miss　with　the　piercing　voice　and　no　patience？　The　red　one？　The　red　one　belonging　to　Chief　Wife　who　told　y…　〃
　〃Oh；　it's　mine　now；　Ah　Tat！　I　told　you　very　seriously　to　iron　it。〃　Murtagh　had　stopped　too；　listening　to　the　stream　of　screeching　Cantonese　from　both　of　them。　〃Jesus；〃　he　said　tiredly。　〃I'll　never　get　used　to　the　way　the　servants　go　on；　no　matter　what　you　tell　'em！〃
　Dunross　laughed　and　beckoned　him；　opening　the　door　softly。　Murtagh　gasped。　Adryon　had　her　hands　on　her　hips　and　she　was　going　at　Ah　Tat　who　gave　it　back　to　her；　both　of　them　raucous；　both　talking　over　the　other　and　neither　listening。
　〃Quiet！〃　Dunross　said。　Both　stopped。　〃Thank　you。　You　really　do　go　on　a　bit；　Adryon！〃　he　said　mildly。
　She　beamed。　〃Oh　hello；　Father。　Do　you　th…　〃　She　stopped；　seeing　Murtagh。　Dunross　noticed　the　instant　change。　A　warning　shaft　soared　through　him。
　〃Oh；　Adryon；　may　I　introduce　Dave　Murtagh；　Vice…President　for　Asia　of　the　Royal　Belgium　and　Far　East　Bank？〃　He　looked　at　Murtagh　and　saw　the　stunned　expression　on　his　face。　〃This　is　my　daughter；　Adryon。〃
　〃You；　er；　speak　Chinese；　Miss；　er；　Dunross？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course；　Cantonese。　Of　course。　You're　new　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Oh　no；　ma'am；　no；　I've；　er；　I've　been　here　half　a　year　or　more。〃
　Dunross　was　watching　both　of　them　with　growing　amusement；　knowing　that　for　the　moment　he　was　totally　forgotten。　Ah；　boy　meets　girl；　girl　meets　boy　and　maybe　this　one'd　be　the　perfect　foil　to　throw　into　Haply's　works。　〃Would　you　like　to　join　us　for　a　drink；　Adryon？〃　he　asked　casually；　the　moment　their　conversation　lapsed　and　she　prepared　to　leave。
　〃Oh。　Oh　thank　you；　Father；　but　I　don't　want　to　disturb　you。〃
　〃We're　just　finishing。　e　along。　How're　things？〃
　〃Oh　fine；　fine。〃　Adryon　turned　back　to　Ah　Tat　who　still　stood　there　solidly　…　she　too　had　noticed　the　instant　mutual　attraction。　〃You'll　iron　my　blouse！　Please；〃　she　said　imperiously　in　Cantonese。　〃I　have　to　leave　in　fifteen　minutes。〃
　〃Ayeeyah　on　your　fifteen　minutes；　Young　Empress。〃　Ah　Tat　huffed；　and　went　back　into　the　kitchen；　grumbling。
　Adryon　focused　on　Murtagh　who　blossomed　noticeably；　his　fatigue　vanished。　〃What　part　of　the　States　are　you　from？〃
　〃Texas；　ma'am；　though　I've　spent　time　in　Los　Angeles；　New　York　and　New　Orleans。　You　play　tennis？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　I　do。〃
　〃We've　some　good　courts　at　the　American　Club。　You；　maybe　you'd　like　a　game　next　week？〃
　〃I'd　love　that。　I've　played　there　before。　Are　you　good？〃
　〃Oh　no；　ma'am；　er；　Miss　Dunross；　just　college　class。〃
　〃College　class　could　mean　very　good。　Why　don't　you　call　me　Adryon？〃
　Dunross　gave　her　the　glass　of　sherry　he　had　poured　and　she　thanked　him　with　a　smile　though　still　concentrating　on　Murtagh。　You'd　better　be　top　of　your　class；　young　fellow；　he　thought；　knowing　how　petitive　she　was；　or　you're　in　for　a　drubbing。　Carefully　keeping　his　amusement　private；　he　went　back　to　the　papers。　When　he　finished　initialing　his　set；　he　watched　the　two　of　them　critically；　his　daughter　sitting　casually　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa；　beautiful　and　so　assured；　very　much　a　woman；　and　Murtagh　tall　and　well　mannered；　a　little　shy；　but　holding　his　own　very　well。
　Could　I　stand　a　banker　in　the　family？　I'd　better　check　up　on　him！　God　help　us；　an　American？　Well　he's　Texan；　and　that's　not　the　same；　is　it？　I　wish　Penn　were　back　here。
　〃。。。　oh　no；　Adryon；〃　Murtagh　was　saying。　〃I've　a　pany　apartment　over　at　West　Point。　It's　a　little　bitty　place　but　great。〃
　〃That　makes　such　a　difference；　doesn't　it？　I　live　here　but　I'm　going　to　have　my　own　apartment　soon。〃　She　added　pointedly；　〃Aren't　I；　Father？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Dunross　added　at　once；　〃After　university！　Here's　my　set；　Mr。　Murtagh；　do　you　think　you　could　sign　yours？〃
　〃Oh　yes　。。。　oh　sorry！〃　Murtagh　almost　ran　over；　hurriedly　initialed　his　set　with　a　flourish。　〃Here　you　are；　sir。　You；　er；　you　said　7：30　at　your　office　tomorrow　morning；　huh？〃
　Adryon　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃You'd　better　be　punctual；　Dave；　the　tai…pan's　unfortably　ornery　at　unpunctuality。〃
　〃Rubbish；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃I　love　you；　Father；　but　that's　not　rubbish！〃
　They　chatted　for　a　minute　then　Dunross　glanced　at　his　watch；　pretending　to　be　concerned。　〃Damn！　I've　got　to　make　a　phone　call　then　rush。〃　At　once　Murtagh　picked　up　his　briefcase　but　Dunross　added　blandly；　〃Adryon；　you　said　you　were　leaving　in　a　few　minutes。　I　wonder；　would　you　have　time　to　drop　Mr。　Murtagh？〃
　The　young　man　said　at　once；　〃Oh；　I　can　get　a　cab；　there's　no　need　to　trouble　yoursel…　〃
　〃Oh　it's　no　trouble；〃　she　said　happily；　〃no　trouble　at　all。　West　Point's　on　my　way。〃
　Dunross　said　good　night　and　left　t