jamesclavell.noblehouse-第86节

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Lady　Kwang　matters　to　me　oh　no！　Do　something！　Find　the　。。。〃
　Richard　Kwang　felt　the　sweat　running　down　his　back　but　he　kept　his　posure　and　tried　to　find　a　way　out　of　the　maze。　〃The　gold's　as　safe　as　it　could　be　and　so's　your　cash。　We've　been　Nelson　Trading's　bankers　since　the　beginning；　we've　never　had　a　sniff　of　trouble。　We　gambled　heavily　with　you　in　the　beginning　…　〃
　〃e　now；　Richard；〃　Mata　said；　keeping　his　loathing　hidden。　〃You　don't　gamble　on　gold。　Certainly　not　on　our　gold。〃　The　gold　belonged　to　the　Great　Good　Luck　pany　of　Macao　which　had　also　owned　the　gambling　monopoly　for　almost　thirty　years。　The　present　worth　of　the　pany　was　in　excess　of　two　billion　U。S。　Tightfist　Tung　owned　30　percent；　personally；　Lando　Mata　40　percent　personally　…　and　the　descendents　of　Smuggler　Mo；　who　had　died　last　year；　the　other　30　percent。
　And　between　us；　Mata　was　thinking；　we　own　50　percent　of　the　Ho…Pak　which　you；　you　stupid　lump　of　dog　turd；　have　somehow　put　into　jeopardy。　〃So　sorry；　Richard；　but　I　vote　Nelson　Trading　changes　its　bank　…　at　least　temporarily。　Tightfist　Tung　is　really　very　upset　。。。　and　I　have　the　Chin　family's　proxy。〃
　〃But　Lando；〃　Richard　Kwang　began；　〃there's　nothing　to　worry　about。〃　His　finger　stabbed　at　the　half…opened　newspaper；　the　China　Guardian；　that　lay　on　the　table。　〃Haply's　new　article　says　again　that　we're　sound　…　that　it's　all　a　storm　in　an　oyster　shell；　all　started　by　malicious　ban…　〃
　〃That's　possible。　But　Chinese　believe　rumors；　and　the　run's　a　fact；〃　Mata　said　sharply。
　〃My　old　man　believes　rumors；〃　Zeppelin　Tung　said　fervently。　〃He　also　believes　Four　Finger　Wu。　Four　Fingers　phoned　him　this　afternoon　telling　him　he'd　taken　out　all　his　money　and　suggested　he　do　the　same；　and　within　the　hour　we；　Lando　and　I；　we　were　in　our　Catalina　and　heading　here　and　you　know　how　I　hate　flying。　Richard；　you　know　jolly　well　if　the　old　man　wants　something　done　now；　it's　done　now。〃
　Yes；　Richard　Kwang　thought　disgustedly；　that　filthy　old　miser　would　climb　out　of　his　grave　for　fifty　cents　cash。　〃I　suggest　we　wait　a　day　or　so　。。。〃
　Dunross　was　letting　them　talk　for　face。　He　had　already　decided　what　to　do。　Nelson　Trading　was　a　wholly　owned　subsidiary　of　Struan's　so　the　other　directors　really　had　little　say。　But　even　though　Nelson　Trading　had　the　Hong　Kong　Government's　exclusive　gold…importing　license；　without　the　Great　Good　Luck　pany's　gold　business　…　which　meant　without　Tightfist　Tung　and　Lando　Mata's　favor　…　Nelson　Trading's　profits　would　be　almost　zero。
　Nelson　Trading　got　a　mission　of　one　dollar　an　ounce　on　every　ounce　imported　for　the　pany；　delivered　to　the　jetty　at　Macao；　a　further　one　dollar　an　ounce　on　exports　from　Hong　Kong。　As　a　further　consideration　for　suggesting　the　overall　Hong　Kong　scheme　to　the　pany；　Nelson　Trading　had　been　granted　10　percent　of　the　real　profit。　This　year　the　Japanese　Government　had　arbitrarily　fixed　their　official　rate　of　gold　at　55　dollars　an　ounce　…　a　profit　of　15　dollars　an　ounce。　On　the　black　market　it　would　be　more。　In　India　it　would　be　almost　98　dollars。
　Dunross　glanced　at　his　watch。　In　a　few　minutes　Crosse　would　arrive。
　〃We've　assets　over　a　billion；　Lando；〃　Richard　Kwang　repeated。
　〃Good；〃　Dunross　said　crisply　jumping　in；　finalizing　the　meeting。　〃Then；　Richard；　it　really　makes　no　difference　one　way　or　another。　There's　no　point　in　waiting。　I've　made　certain　arrangements。　Our　transfer　truck　will　be　at　your　side　door　at　eight　o'clock　precisely。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃Why　so　late；　tai…pan？〃　Mata　asked。　〃It's　not　six　o'clock　yet。〃
　〃It'll　be　dark　then；　Lando。　I　wouldn't　want　to　shift　50　tons　of　gold　in　daylight。　There　might　be　a　few　villains　around。　You　never　know。　Eh？〃
　〃My　God；　you　think　。。。　triads？〃　Zeppelin　Tung　was　shocked。　〃I'll　phone　my　father。　He'll　have　some　extra　guards。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Mata　said；　〃call　at　once。〃
　〃No　need　for　that；〃　Dunross　told　him。　〃The　police　suggested　that　we　don't　make　too　much　of　a　show。　They　said　they'll　be　there　in　depth。〃
　Mata　hesitated。　〃Well　if　you　say　so；　tai…pan。　You're　responsible。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Dunross　said　politely。
　〃How　do　we　know　the　Victoria's　safe？〃
　〃If　the　Victoria　fails　we　might　as　well　not　be　in　China。〃　Dunross　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　Johnjohn's　private　number　at　the　bank。　〃Bruce？　Ian。　We'll　need　the　vault　…　8：30　on　the　dot。〃
　〃Very　well。　Our　security　people　will　be　there　to　assist。　Use　the　side　door　…　the　one　on　Dirk's　Street。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　the　police　been　informed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　By　the　way；　Ian；　about　。。。　is　Richard　still　with　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Give　me　a　call　when　you　can　…　I'm　at　home　this　evening。　I've　been　checking　and　things　don't　look　very　good　at　all　for　him。　My　Chinese　banking　friends　are　all　very　nervous　…　even　the　Mok…tung　had　a　mini…run　out　at　Aberdeen；　so　did　we。　Of　course　we'll　advance　Richard　all　the　money　he　needs　against　his　securities；　bankable　securities；　but　if　I　were　you　I'd　get　any　cash　you　control　out。　Get　Blacs　to　deal　with　your　check　first　at　clearing　tonight。〃　All　bank　clearing　of　checks　and　bank　loans　was　done　in　the　basement　of　the　Bank　of　London；　Canton　and　Shanghai　at　midnight；　five　days　a　week。
　〃Thanks；　Bruce。　See　you　later。〃　Then　to　the　others；　〃That's　all　taken　care　of。　Of　course　the　transfer　should　be　kept　quiet。　Richard；　I'll　need　a　cashier's　check　for　Nelson　Trading　balance。〃
　〃And　I'll　have　one　for　my　father's　balance！〃　Zeppelin　echoed。
　Richard　Kwang　said；　〃I'll　send　the　checks　over　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Tonight；〃　Mata　said；　〃then　they　can　clear　tonight。〃　His　eyes　lidded　even　more。　〃And；　of　course；　another　for　my　personal　balance。〃
　〃There　isn't　enough　cash　to　cover　those　three　checks　…　no　bank　could　have　that　amount；〃　Richard　Kwang　exploded。　〃Not　even　the　Bank　of　England。〃
　〃Of　course。　Please　call　whomever　you　wish　to　pledge　some　of　your　securities。　Or　Havergill；　or　Southerby。〃　Mata's　fingers　stopped　drumming。　〃They're　expecting　your　call。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　I　talked　to　both　of　them　this　afternoon。〃
　Richard　Kwang　said　nothing。　He　had　to　find　a　way　to　avoid　giving　the　money　over　tonight。　If　not　tonight；　he　would　gain　a　day's　interest　and　by　tomorrow　perhaps　it　would　not　be　necessary　to　pay。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　quai　loh　and　half　quai　loh；　who're　worse！　His　smile　was　as　sweet　as　Mata's。　〃Well；　as　you　wish。　If　you'll　both　meet　me　at　the　bank　in　an　hour　。。。〃
　〃Even　better；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Phillip　will　go　with　you　now。　You　can　give　him　all　the　checks。　Is　that　all　right　with　you；　Phillip？〃
　〃Oh；　oh　yes；　yes；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Good；　thank　you。　Then　if　you'll　take　them　right　over　to　Blacs；　they'll　clear　at　midnight。　Richard；　that　gives　you　plenty　of　time。　Doesn't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　tai…pan；〃　Richard　Kwang　said；　brightening。　He　had　just　thought　of　a　brilliant　answer。　A　pretended　heart　attack！　I'll　do　it　in　the　car　going　back　to　the　bank　and　then　。。。
　Then　he　saw　the　coldness　in　Dunross's　eyes　and　his　stomach　twisted　and　he　changed　his　mind。　Why　should　they　have　so　much　of　my　money？　he　thought　as　he　got　up。　〃You　don't　need　me　for　anything　more　at　the　moment？　Good；　e　along；　Phillip。〃　They　walked　out。　There　was　a　vast　silence。
　〃Poor　Phillip；　he　looks　ghastly；〃　Mata　said。
　〃Yes。　It's　no　wonder。〃
　〃Dirty　triads；〃　Zeppelin　Tung　said　with　a　shudder。　〃The　Werewolves　must　be　foreigners　to　send　his　ear　like　that！〃　Another　shudder。　〃I　hope　they　don't　e　to　Macao。　There's　a　strong　rumor　Phillip's　dealing　with　them　already；　negotiating　with　the　Werewolves　in　Macao。〃
　〃There's　no　truth　to　that；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃He　wouldn't　tell　you　if　he　was；　tai…pan。　I'd　keep　that　secret　from　everyone　too。〃　Zeppelin　Tung　stared　gloomily　at　the　phone。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　kidnappers。〃
　〃Is　the　Ho…Pak　finished？〃　Mata　asked。
　〃Unless　Richard　Kwang　can　stay　liquid；　yes。　This　afternoon　Dunstan　closed　all　his　accounts。〃
　〃Ah；　so　once　again　a　rumor's　correct！〃
　〃Afraid　so！〃　Dunross　was　sorry　for　Richard　Kwang　and　the　Ho…Pak　but　tomorrow　he　would　sell　short。　〃His　stock's　going　to　plummet。〃
　〃How　will　that　affect　the　boom　you've　forecast？〃
　〃Have　I？〃
　〃You're　buying　Struan's　heavily；　so　I　hear。〃　Mata　smiled　thinly。　〃So　has　Phillip；　and　his　tai…tai；　and　her　family。〃
　〃Anyone's　wise　to　buy　our　stock；　Lando；　at　any　time。　It's　very　underpriced。〃
　Zeppelin　Tung　was　listening　very　carefully。　His　heart　quickened。　He　too　had　heard　rumors　about　the　Noble　House　Chens　buying　today。　〃Did　you　see　Old　Blind　Tung's　column　today？　About　the　ing　boom？　He　was　very　serious。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said　gravely。　When　he　had　read　it　this　morning　he　had　chortled；　and　his　opinion　of　Dianne　Chen's　influence　had　soared。　In　spite　of　himself　Dunross　had　reread　it　and　had　wondered　briefly　if　the　soothsayer　had　really　been　forecasting　his　own　opinion。
　〃Is　Old　Blind　Tung　a　relation；　Zep？〃　he　asked。
　〃No；　tai…pan；　no；　not　that　I　know　of。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　it's　hot　today。　I'll　be　glad　to　get　back　to　Macao　…　the　weather's　much　better　in　Macao。　Are　you　in　the　motor　race　this　year；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　I　hope　so。〃
　〃Good！　Damn　the　Ho…Pak！　Richard　will　give　us　our　checks；　won't　he？　My　old　man　will　bust　a　blood　vessel　if　one　penny　cash　is　missing。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　then　noticed　a　strangeness　in　Mata's　eyes。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Mata　glanced　at　Zeppelin。　〃Zep