jamesclavell.noblehouse-第75节

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y　usually　the　shelves　were　filled　with　neat　stacks　of　notes　and　paper　tubes　of　silver；　the　notes　clipped　together　in　their　hundreds　and　thousands　and　tens　of　thousands。　Sorting　the　money　after　closing　was　the　job　she　liked　best；　that　and　touching　the　sensuous　bundles　of　new；　crisp；　fresh　bills。
　〃Oh　this　is　terrible；　Honorable　Sung；〃　she　said　near　to　tears。　Her　thick　glasses　were　misted　and　her　hair　askew。
　〃It's　just　temporary；　just　temporary；　Miss　Cho。　Remember　what　the　Honorable　Haply　wrote　in　today's　Guardian！〃　He　cleared　the　last　shelf；　mitting　his　final　reserves；　cursing　the　consignment　that　had　not　yet　arrived。　〃Here。〃　He　gave　her　15；000　for　show；　made　her　sign　for　it；　and　took　15　for　each　of　the　other　two　tellers。　Now　the　vault　was　empty。
　When　he　came　into　the　main　room　there　was　a　sudden　electric；　exciting　hush　at　the　apparently　large　amount　of　money；　cash　money。
　He　gave　the　money　to　the　other　two　tellers；　then　vanished　into　his　office　again。
　Miss　Cho　was　stacking　the　money　neatly　in　her　drawer；　all　eyes　watching　her　and　the　other　tellers。　One　packet　of　1；000　she　left　on　the　desk。　She　broke　the　seal　and　methodically　counted　out　320；　and　three　ones　and　the　change；　recounted　it　and　slid　it　across　the　counter。　The　old　woman　stuffed　it　into　a　paper　bag；　and　the　next　in　line　irritably　shoved　forward　and　thrust　his　savings　book　into　Miss　Cho's　face。　〃Here；　by　all　the　gods。　I　want　seven　thous…　〃
　At　that　moment；　the　three　o'clock　bell　went　and　Mr。　Sung　appeared　instantly　and　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Sorry；　we　have　to　close　now。　All　tellers　close　your　…　〃　The　rest　of　his　words　were　drowned　by　the　angry　roar。
　〃By　all　gods　I've　waited　since　dawn　。。。〃
　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　I've　been　here　eight　hours。　。。。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　just　pay　me；　you've　enough　。。。〃
　〃Oh　please　please　please　please　。。。〃
　Normally　the　bank　would　just　have　shut　its　doors　and　served　those　within；　but　this　time；　obediently；　the　three　frightened　tellers　locked　their　tills　in　the　uproar；　put　up　their　CLOSED　signs　and　backed　away　from　the　outstretched　hands。
　Suddenly　the　crowd　within　the　bank　became　a　mob。
　Those　in　front　were　shoved　against　the　counter　as　others　fought　to　get　into　the　bank。　A　girl　shrieked　as　she　was　slammed　against　the　counter。　Hands　reached　out　for　the　grilles　that　were　more　for　decoration　than　protection。　Everyone　was　enraged　now。　One　old　seaman　who　had　been　next　in　line　reached　over　to　try　to　jerk　the　till　drawer　open。　The　old　amah　was　jammed　in　the　seething　mass　of　a　hundred　or　more　people　and　she　fought　to　get　to　one　side；　her　money　clasped　tightly　in　her　scrawny　hands。　A　young　woman　lost　her　footing　and　was　trampled　on。　She　tried　to　get　up　but　the　milling　legs　defied　her　so；　in　desperation；　she　bit　into　one　leg　and　got　enough　respite　to　scramble　up；　stockings　ripped；　chong…sam　torn　and　now　in　panic。　Her　panic　whipped　the　mob　further　then　someone　shouted；　〃Kill　the　motherless　whore's　son　。。。〃　and　the　shout　was　taken　up；　〃Killllllll！〃
　There　was　a　split　second　of　hesitation；　then；　as　one；　they　surged　forward。
　〃Stop！〃
　The　word　blasted　through　the　atmosphere　in　English　and　then　in　Haklo　and　then　in　Cantonese　and　then　in　English　again。
　The　silence　was　sudden　and　vast。
　The　uniformed　chief　inspector　stood　before　them；　unarmed　and　calm；　an　electric　megaphone　in　his　hand。　He　had　e　through　the　back　door　into　an　inner　office　and　now　he　was　looking　at　them。
　〃It's　three　o'clock；〃　he　said　softly　in　Haklo。　〃The　law　says　banks　close　at　three　o'clock。　This　bank　is　now　closed。　Please　turn　around　and　go　home！　Quietly！〃
　Another　silence；　angrier　this　time；　then　the　beginning　of　a　violent　swell　and　one　man　muttered　sullenly；　〃What　about　my　fornicating　money　。。。〃　and　others　almost　took　up　the　shout　but　the　police　officer　moved　fast；　very　fast；　directly　at　the　man；　fearlessly　lifted　the　countertop　and　went　straight　at　him　into　the　mob。　The　mob　backed　off。
　〃Tomorrow；〃　the　police　officer　said　gently；　towering　over　him。　〃You'll　get　all　your　money　tomorrow。〃　The　man　dropped　his　eyes；　hating　the　cold　blue　fish…eyes　and　the　nearness　of　a　foreign　devil。　Sullenly　he　moved　back　a　pace。
　The　policeman　looked　at　the　rest　of　them；　into　their　eyes。　〃You　at　the　back；〃　he　ordered；　instantly　selecting　the　man　with　unerring　care；　his　voice　manding　yet　with　the　same　quiet　confidence；　〃Turn　around　and　make　way　for　the　others。〃
　Obediently　the　man　did　as　he　was　ordered。　The　mob　became　a　crowd　again。　A　moment's　hesitation　then　another　turned　and　began　to　push　for　the　door。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　I　haven't　got　all　day；　hurry　up；〃　he　said　sourly。
　They　all　began　to　leave；　muttering；　furious　…　but　individually；　not　as　a　mob。　Sung　and　the　tellers　wiped　the　sweat　off　their　brows；　then　sat　trembling　behind　the　safety　of　the　counter。
　The　chief　inspector　helped　the　old　amah　up。　A　fleck　of　blood　was　at　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　〃Are　you　all　right；　Old　Lady？〃　he　asked　in　Haklo。
　She　stared　at　him　without　understanding。　He　repeated　it　in　Cantonese。
　〃Ah；　yes　。。。　yes；〃　she　said　hoarsely；　still　clasping　her　paper　bag　tight　against　her　chest。　〃Thank　you；　Honored　Lord。〃　She　scuttled　away　into　the　crowd　and　vanished。　The　room　emptied。　The　Englishman　went　out　to　the　sidewalk　after　the　last　person　and　stood　in　the　doorway；　whistling　tonelessly　as　he　watched　them　stream　away。
　〃Sergeant！〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃You　can　dismiss　the　men　now。　Have　a　detail　here　at　nine　tomorrow。　Put　up　barriers　and　let　the　buggers　into　the　bank　just　three　at　a　time。　Yourself　and　four　men'll　be　more　than　enough。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　sergeant　saluted。　The　chief　inspector　turned　back　into　the　bank。　He　locked　the　front　door　and　smiled　at　Manager　Sung。　〃Rather　humid　this　afternoon；　isn't　it？〃　he　said　in　English　to　give　Sung　face　…　all　educated　Chinese　in　Hong　Kong　prided　themselves　in　speaking　the　international　language。
　〃Yes　sir；〃　Sung　replied　nervously。　Normally　he　liked　him　and　admired　this　chief　inspector　greatly。　Yes；　he　thought。　But　this　was　the　first　time　he　had　actually　seen　a　quai　loh　with　the　Evil　Eye；　daring　a　mob；　standing　alone　like　a　malevolent　god　in　front　of　the　mob；　daring　it　to　move；　to　give　him　the　opportunity　to　spit　fire　and　brimstone。
　Sung　shuddered　again。　〃Thank　you；　Chief　Inspector。〃
　〃Let's　go　into　your　office　and　I　can　take　a　statement。〃
　〃Yes；　please。〃　Sung　puffed　himself　up　in　front　of　his　staff；　taking　mand　again。　〃The　rest　of　you　make　up　your　books　and　tidy　up。〃
　He　led　the　way　into　his　office　and　sat　down　and　beamed。　〃Tea；　Chief　Inspector？〃
　〃No　thank　you。〃　Chief　Inspector　Donald　C。　C。　Smyth　was　about　five　foot　ten　and　well　built；　fair　hair　and　blue　eyes　and　a　taut　sunburned　face。　He　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　papers　and　put　them　on　the　desk。　〃These　are　the　accounts　of　my　men。　At　nine　tomorrow；　you　will　close　their　accounts　and　pay　them。　They'll　e　to　the　back　door。〃
　〃Yes　of　course。　I　would　be　honored。　But　I　will　lose　face　if　so　many　valuable　accounts　leave　me。　The　bank　is　as　sound　as　it　was　yesterday；　Chief　Inspector。〃
　〃Of　course。　Meanwhile　tomorrow　at　nine。　In　cash　please。〃　He　handed　him　some　more　papers。　And　four　savings　books。　〃I'll　take　a　cashier's　check　for　all　of　these。　Now。〃
　〃But　Chief　Inspector；　today　was　extraordinary。　There's　no　problem　with　the　Ho…Pak。　Surely　you　could　。。。〃
　〃Now。〃　Smyth　smiled　sweetly。　〃Withdrawal　slips　are　all　signed　and　ready。〃
　Sung　glanced　at　them。　All　were　Chinese　names　that　he　knew　were　nominees　of　nominees　of　this　man　whose　nickname　was　the　Snake。　The　accounts　totaled　nearly　850；000　HK。　And　that's　just　in　this　branch　alone；　he　thought；　very　impressed　with　the　Snake's　acumen。　What　about　the　Victoria　and　Blacs　and　all　the　other　branches　in　Aberdeen？
　〃Very　well；〃　he　said　wearily。　〃But　I'll　be　very　sorry　to　see　so　many　accounts　leave　the　bank。〃
　Smyth　smiled　again。　〃The　whole　of　the　Ho…Pak's　not　broke　yet；　is　it？〃
　〃Oh　no；　Chief　Inspector；〃　Sung　said；　shocked。　〃We　have　published　assets　worth　a　billion　HK　and　cash　reserves　of　many　tens　of　millions。　It's　just　these　simple　people；　a　temporary　problem　of　confidence。　Did　you　see　Mr。　Haply's　column　in　the　Guardian？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Ah。〃　Sung's　face　darkened。　〃Malicious　rumors　spread　by　jealous　tai…pans　and　other　banks！　If　Haply　claims　that；　of　course　it's　true。〃
　〃Of　course！　Meanwhile　I　am　a　little　busy　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Yes。　Of　course。　I'll　do　it　at　once。　I；　er；　I　see　in　the　paper　you've　caught　one　of　those　evil　Werewolves。〃
　〃We've　a　triad　suspect；　Mr。　Sung；　just　a　suspect。〃
　Sung　shuddered。　〃Devils！　But　you'll　catch　them　all　。。。　devils；　sending　an　ear！　They　must　be　foreigners。　I'll　wager　they're　foreigners　never　mind。　Here；　sir；　I've　made　the　checks　。。。〃
　There　was　a　knock　on　the　door。　A　corporal　came　in　and　saluted。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　a　bank　truck's　outside。　They　say　they're　from　Ho…Pak's　Head　Office。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　Sung　said；　greatly　relieved；　〃and　about　time。　They　promised　the　delivery　at　two。　It's　more　money。〃
　〃How　much？〃　Smyth　asked。
　〃Half　a　million；〃　the　corporal　volunteered　at　once；　handing　over　the　manifest。　He　was　a　short；　bright　man　with　dancing　eyes。
　〃Good；〃　Smyth　said。　〃Well；　Mr。　Sung；　that'll　take　the　pressure　off　you；　won't　it。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　it　will。〃　Sung　saw　the　two　men　looking　at　him　and　he　said　at　once；　expansively；　〃If　it