jamesclavell.noblehouse-第285节

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　〃Yes；　yes　all　right。〃　Crosse　turned　and　hurried　off。　Rosemont　frowned　after　him；　then　looked　up　at　Rose　Court。　Lights　blazed　from　all　of　the　twelve　floors。　Again　the　American　put　his　eyes　back　on　Crosse；　a　small　figure　now　in　the　dark　as　he　turned　the　corner；　climbing　the　steep　curling　roadway。
　What's　with　Rog？　he　asked　himself　thoughtfully。　Something's　wrong。
　
　80
　
　8：10　P。M。：
　Roger　Crosse　got　out　of　the　elevator　on　the　fifth　floor；　his　face　taut；　and　went　through　the　open　door　into　the　Asian　Properties　apartment。　The　large　room　was　crowded　and　noisy。　He　stood　at　the　doorway；　his　eyes　ranging　the　guests；　seeking　Plumm　or　Dunross。　At　once　he　noticed　that　there　was　little　happiness　here；　an　air　of　gloom　over　most　of　the　guests；　and　this　added　to　his　disquiet。　Few　wives　were　present　…　the　few　that　were　stood　uneasily　grouped　together　at　the　far　end。　Everywhere　conversation　was　heated　about　the　ing　debacle　of　the　stock　market　crash　and　bank　runs。
　〃Oh　e　on　for　chrissake；　it's　all　very　well　for　the　Victoria　to　announce　a　multimillion　takeover　of　the　Ho…Pak　but　where's　the　cash　to　keep　us　all　afloat？〃
　〃It　was　a　merger；　not　a　takeover；　Dunstan；〃　Richard　Kwang　began；　〃the　Ho…Pak's　n…　〃
　Barre's　face　was　suddenly　choleric。　〃For　chrissake；　Richard；　we're　all　friends　here　and　we　all　know　there's　more　in　it　than　a　bail…out；　for　God's　sake。　Are　we　children？　My　point；〃　Barre　said；　raising　his　voice　louder　to　drown　Richard　Kwang　and　Johnjohn　out；　〃my　point；　old　boy；　is　that　merger　or　not；　we　the　businessmen　of　Hong　Kong；　can't　stay　afloat　if　all　you　bloody　banks　have　stupidly　run　out　of　cash。　Eh？〃
　〃It's　not　our　fault；　for　God's　sake；〃　Johnjohn　rapped。　〃It's　just　a　temporary　loss　of　confidence。〃
　〃Bloody　mismanagement　if　you　ask　me；〃　Barre　replied　sourly　to　general　agreement；　then　noticed　Crosse　trying　to　pass。　〃Oh；　oh　hello；　Roger！〃　he　said　with　a　pasty　smile。
　Roger　Crosse　saw　the　immediate　caution　that　was　normal　whenever　he　caught　anyone　unawares。　〃Is　Ian　here？〃
　〃No。　No；　not　yet；〃　Johnjohn　said　and　Crosse　exhaled；　wet　with　relief。　〃You're　sure？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Soon　as　he　arrives　I'm　leaving；〃　Dunstan　said　sourly。　〃Bloody　banks！　If　it　wasn't　…　〃
　Johnjohn　interrupted；　〃What　about　those　bloody　Werewolves；　Roger？〃　The　discovery　of　the　two　bodies　had　been　the　lead　item　of　Radio　Hong　Kong　and　all　Chinese　newspapers　…　there　being　no　afternoon　English　Sunday　papers。
　〃I　know　nothing　more　than　you　do；〃　Crosse　told　them。　〃We're　still　trying　to　identify　the　victims。〃　His　eyes　zeroed　in　on　Richard　Kwang；　who　quailed。　〃You　don't　know　of　any　sons　or　nephews；　missing　or　kidnapped；　do　you；　Richard？〃
　〃No；　no　sorry；　Roger；　no。〃
　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　I'd　better　see　our　host。〃　Crosse　pushed　his　way　through　the　crush。　〃Hello；　Christian；〃　he　said；　easing　past　the　tall；　thin　editor　of　the　Guardian。　He　saw　the　desolation　the　man　desperately　tried　to　hide。　〃Sorry　about　your　wife。〃
　〃Joss；〃　Christian　Toxe　said；　attempting　to　sound　calm；　and　stood　in　his　way。　〃Joss；　Roger。　She；　well；　she'd　。。。　life　has　to　go　on；　doesn't　it？〃　His　forced　smile　was　almost　grotesque。　〃The　Guardian　has　to　do　its　work；　eh？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Can　I　have　a　word　later？〃
　〃Certainly　…　off　the　record；　as　always？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　He　went　on；　passing　Pugmire　and　Sir　Luis　deep　in　conversation　about　the　General　Stores…Struan　takeover　and　noticed　Casey　in　the　center　of　a　group　on　the　wide　balcony　overlooking　the　harbor；　deVille　among　them；　Gornt　also　part　of　the　group；　looking　benign；　which　Crosse　found　strange。　〃Hello；　Jason；〃　he　said　ing　up　behind　Plumm　who　was　talking　with　Joseph　Stern　and　Phillip　Chen。　〃Thanks　for　inviting　me。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　hello；　Roger。　Glad　you　could　e。〃
　〃Evening；〃　he　said　to　the　others。　〃Jason；　where's　your　guest　of　honor？〃
　〃Ian　phoned　to　say　he'd　been　delayed　but　was　on　his　way。　He'll　be　here　any　moment。〃　Plumm's　tension　was　evident。　〃The；　er；　the　champagne's　ready；　and　my　little　speech。　Everything's　ready；〃　he　said；　watching　him。　〃e　along；　Roger；　let　me　get　you　a　drink。　It's　Perrier；　isn't　it？　I've　got　some　on　ice。〃
　Crosse　followed　him；　equally　glad　for　the　opportunity　to　talk　privately　but　just　as　they　reached　the　kitchen　door　there　was　a　momentary　hush。　Dunross　was　at　the　door　with　Riko；　Gavallan　beside　them。　All　three　were　beaming。
　〃Listen；　Jason；　I　…　〃　Crosse　stopped。　Plumm　had　already　turned　back　to　the　bar　and　if　he　hadn't　been　watching　very　carefully　he　would　never　have　seen　Plumm's　left　hand　deftly　break　the　tiny　vial　over　one　of　the　filled　champagne　glasses；　then　palm　the　shreds　back　into　his　pocket；　pick　up　the　tray　with　four　glasses　on　it　and　head　for　the　door。　Fascinated；　he　watched　Plumm　e　up　to　Dunross　and　offer　the　champagne。
　Dunross　let　Riko　take　a　glass；　then　Gavallan。　Without　any　apparent　prompting　Dunross　took　the　doctored　glass。　Plumm　took　the　last；　giving　the　tray　to　an　embarrassed　waiter。　〃Wele；　Ian；　and　congratulations　on　the　coup；〃　Plumm　said；　casually　toasting　him；　not　making　a　big　thing　of　it。　Those　nearby　politely　followed　suit。　Dunross　of　course　did　not　drink　his　own　toast。
　〃Now；　perhaps　you　should　toast　Richard　Kwang　and　Johnjohn　and　their　merger？〃　Plumm　said；　his　voice　sounding　strange。
　〃Why　not？〃　Dunross　replied　with　a　laugh　and　glanced　across　the　room　at　Johnjohn。　〃Bruce；〃　he　called　out；　raising　his　glass；　and　there　was　a　small　hole　in　the　general　level　of　noise。　〃Here's　to　the　Victoria！〃　His　voice　picked　up　power　and　cut　through　neatly。　Others　glanced　over　and　stopped　in　midsentence。　〃Perhaps　everyone　should　share　the　toast。　I've　just　heard　the　Bank　of　China's　agreed　to　lend　you　and　the　other　banks　half　a　billion　in　cash　in　good　time　for　Monday's　opening。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　vast　silence。　Those　on　the　balcony　came　into　the　room；　Gornt　to　the　fore。　〃What？〃
　〃I've　just　heard　the　Bank　of　China's　lending　Hong　Kong　…　lending　the　Vic　to　lend　to　other　banks　…　half　a　billion　in　cash　and　as　much　more　as　you　want。　All　bank　runs're　over！〃　Dunross　raised　his　glass。　〃To　the　Victoria！〃
　As　pandemonium　broke　out　and　everyone　started　asking　questions；　Crosse　got　his　feet　into　motion　and　the　moment　before　Dunross　could　drink；　appeared　to　stumble　and　collided　with　him；　knocking　the　glass　out　of　his　hand。　It　shattered　as　it　hit　the　parquet　flooring。　〃Oh　Christ；　I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　apologetically。
　Plumm　stared　at　him　appalled。　〃For　chrissa…　〃
　〃Ah；　Jason；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Crosse　overrode　him；　adding　more　quickly　as　a　waiter　hastily　retrieved　the　pieces；　〃Perhaps　you'd　get　Ian　another　glass。〃
　〃Er；　yes；　but　。。。〃　Numbly　Plumm　went　to　obey　but　stopped　as　Riko　said；　〃Oh；　here；　tai…pan；　please　to　take　mine。〃　Then　Johnjohn　shouted　over　the　uproar；　〃Quiet；　quiet　a　moment！〃　and　pushed　over　to　Dunross。　〃Ian；〃　he　said　in　the　utter　silence；　〃You're　sure？　Sure　about　the　cash？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunross　replied　leisurely；　sipping　Riko's　drink；　enjoying　the　moment。　〃Tiptop　called　me　personally。　It'll　be　on　the　nine　o'clock　news。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　great　cheer　and　more　questions　and　answers　and　Dunross　saw　Gornt　staring　at　him　from　across　the　room。　His　smile　hardened　and　he　raised　his　glass；　paying　no　attention　to　the　barrage　of　questions。　〃Your　health；　Quillan！〃　he　called　out；　mocking　him。　Quickly　conversation　died　again。　Everyone's　attention　zeroed　on　them。
　Gornt　toasted　him　back；　equally　mocking。　〃Your　health；　Ian。　We've　really　got　China's　money？〃
　〃Yes；　and　by　the　way；　I've　just　arranged　a　new　revolving　fund　of　50　million　U。S。　Now　the　Noble　House's　the　soundest　hong　in　the　Colony。〃
　〃Secured　by　what？〃　Gornt's　voice　slashed　through　the　abrupt　silence。
　〃The　honor　of　the　Noble　House！〃　With　a　nonchalance　he　did　not　feel；　Dunross　turned　on　Johnjohn。　〃The　loan's　from　the　Royal　Belgium；　a　subsidiary　of　First　Central　of　New　York　and　backed　by　them。〃　Deliberately　he　did　not　look　back　at　Gornt　as　he　repeated；　enjoying　greatly　the　sound；　〃50　million　U。S。　Oh　by　the　way；　Bruce；　tomorrow　I'm　retiring　your　loans　on　both　my　ships。　I　no　longer　need　the　Vic　loan　…　Royal　Belgium's　given　me　better　terms。〃
　Johnjohn　just　stared　at　him。
　〃You're　joking！〃
　〃No。　I've　just　talked　to　Paul。〃　Momentarily　Dunross　glanced　at　Plumm。　〃Sorry；　Jason；　that　was　why　I　was　late。　Naturally　I　had　to　see　him。　Bruce；　old　fellow；　Paul's　already　down　at　the　bank　making　arrangements　for　the　transfer　of　China's　cash　in　time　for　opening　　…　he　asked　if　you'd　go　there；　at　once。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃At　once。　Sorry。〃
　Johnjohn　stared　at　him　blankly；　started　to　talk；　stopped；　then　erupted　with　a　cheer　that　everyone　took　up；　and　rushed　out；　cheers　following　him。
　〃Christ；　tai…pan；　but　did　you　。。。〃
　〃Tiptop？　That　means　it's　real！　Don't　you　think　。。。〃
　〃First　Central　of　New　York？　Aren't　they　the　berks　who　。。。〃
　〃Christ；　I've　been　selling　short　。。。〃
　〃Me　too！　Shit；　I'd　better　buy　first　thing　or　。。。〃
　〃Or　I'll　be　wiped　out　and　。。。〃
　Dunross　saw　that　Sir　Luis；　Joseph　Stern　and　Phillip　Chen　had　their　heads　together；　Gornt　still　staring　at　him；　his　face　frozen。　Then　he　saw　Casey　smiling　at　him　so　happily　and　he　raised　his　glass　and　toasted　her。　She　toasted　him　back。　Gornt　saw　this　and　he　went　over　to　her　and　those　nearby　shivered　and　fell　silent。　〃First　Central's　Par…Con's　bank。　Isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；　Quillan；〃　she　said；　her　voice　s