jamesclavell.noblehouse-第107章

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　〃That's　just　a　matter　of　money　but　I　can　assure　you；　old　chap；　she's　not　worth　it。　Orlanda's　dreadful　in　the　sack；　I　know；　and　nowadays　you　can　never　tell　who's　been　there　before；　eh？〃　Pugmire　laughed　at　the　American's　expression。　〃Never　fancied　her　myself　after　the　first　time；　but　if　you　dip　your　wick　there　you'd　better　use　precautions。〃
　
　Dunross　had　just　arrived　and　he　was　listening　with　half　an　ear　to　Richard　Kwang　who　was　talking　grandly　about　the　deals　he　had　made　to　stave　off　the　run；　and　how　foul　certain　people　were　to　spread　such　rumors。
　〃I　quite　agree；　Richard；〃　Dunross　said；　wanting　to　join　the　visiting　MPs；　who　were　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　〃There　really　are　a　lot　of　bastards　around。　If　you'll　excuse　me　。。。〃
　〃Of　course；　tai…pan。〃　Richard　Kwang　dropped　his　voice　but　could　not　prevent　some　of　his　anxiety　showing。　〃I　might　need　a　hand。〃
　〃Anything；　of　course；　except　money。〃
　〃You　could　talk　to　Johnjohn　at　the　Vic　for　me。　He'd　…　〃
　〃He　won't；　you　know　that；　Richard。　Your　only　chance　is　one　of　your　Chinese　friends。　What　about　Smiler　Ching？〃
　〃Huh；　that　old　crook　…　wouldn't　ask　him　for　any　of　his　dirty　money！〃　Richard　Kwang　said　with　a　sneer。　Smiler　Ching　had　reneged　on　their　deal　and　had　refused　to　lend　him　money　…　or　credit。　〃That　old　crook　deserves　prison！　There's　a　run　on　him　too；　but　that's　what　he　deserves！　I　think　it's　all　started　by　the　munists；　they're　trying　to　ruin　us　all。　The　Bank　of　China！　Did　you　hear　about　the　queues　at　the　Vic　in　Central？　There're　more　at　Blacs。　Old　Big　Belly　Tok's　Bank　of　East　Asia　and　Japan's　gone　under。　They　won't　open　their　doors　tomorrow。〃
　〃Christ；　are　you　sure？〃
　〃He　called　me　tonight　asking　for　20　million。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　tai…pan；　unless　we　all　get　help　Hong　Kong's　going　under。　We've　。。。〃　Then　he　saw　Venus　Poon　in　the　doorway　on　the　arm　of　Four　Finger　Wu　and　his　heart　skipped　eight　beats。　This　evening　she　had　been　furious　when　he　did　not　arrive　with　the　mink　coat　that　he　had　promised　her。　She　had　wept　and　shouted　and　her　amah　had　wailed　and　they　would　not　accept　his　excuse　that　his　furrier　had　let　him　down　and　they　both　had　gone　on　and　on　until　he　promised　without　fail　that　before　the　races　he　would　bring　her　the　gift　that　he　had　promised。
　〃Are　you　taking　me　to　Shi…teh's？〃
　〃My　wife　changed　her　mind　and　now　she's　going；　so　I　can't；　but　afterwards　we'll　go　…　〃
　〃Afterwards　I'll　be　tired！　First　no　present　and　now　I　can't　go　to　the　party！　Where's　the　aquamarine　pendant　you　promised　me　last　month？　Where　did　my　mink　go？　On　your　wife's　back　I'll　bet！　Ayeeyah；　my　hairdresser　and　her　hairdresser　are　friends　so　I'll　find　out　if　it　did。　Oh　woe　woe　woe　you　don't　really　love　your　Daughter　anymore。　I'll　have　to　kill　myself　or　accept　Four　Finger　Wu's　invitation。〃
　〃Wat？〃
　Richard　Kwang　remembered　how　he　had　almost　had　a　hemorrhage　then　and　there；　and　he　had　ranted　and　raved　and　screamed　that　her　apartment　cost　him　a　fortune　and　her　clothes　cost　thousands　a　week　and　she　had　ranted　and　raved　and　screamed　back。　〃And　what　about　the　run　on　the　bank？　Are　you　solvent？　What　about　my　savings？　Are　they　safe　heya？〃
　〃Ayeeyah　you　miserable　whore；　what　savings？　The　savings　I　am　going　to　put　there　for　you？　Huh！　Of　course　they're　safe；　safe　as　the　Bank　of　England！〃
　〃Woe　woe　woe　I'm　penniless　now。　Your　poor　destitute　Daughter！　I'll　have　to　sell　myself　or　mit　suicide。　Yes；　that's　it！　Poison　。。。　that's　it！　I　think　I'll　take　an　overdose　of　。。。　of　aspirins。　Ah　Poo！　Bring　me　an　overdose　of　aspirins！〃
　So　he　had　begged　and　pleaded　and　eventually　she　had　relented　and　allowed　him　to　take　away　the　aspirins　and　he　had　promised　to　rush　back　to　the　apartment　the　very　moment　the　banquet　was　over　and　now　his　eyes　were　almost　staring　out　of　his　head　because　there；　at　the　doorway；　was　Venus　Poon　on　the　arm　of　Four　Finger　Wu；　both　resplendent；　he　puffed　with　pride；　and　she　demure　and　innocent；　wearing　the　dress　he'd　just　paid　for。
　〃What's　up；　Richard？〃　Dunross　asked；　concerned。
　Richard　Kwang　tried　to　speak；　couldn't；　just　tottered　away　toward　his　wife　who　tore　her　baleful　eyes　off　Venus　Poon　and　put　them　back　on　him。
　〃Hello；　dear；〃　he　said；　his　backbone　jelly。
　〃Hello；　dear；〃　Mai…ling　Kwang　replied　sweetly。　〃Who's　that　whore？〃
　〃Which　one？〃
　〃That　one。〃
　〃Isn't　that　the　。。。　what's　her　name　。。。　the　TV　starlet？〃
　〃Isn't　her　name　Itch…in…her…drawers　Poon；　the　VD　starlet？〃
　He　pretended　to　laugh　with　her　but　he　wanted　to　tear　all　his　hair　out。　The　fact　that　his　latest　mistress　had　e　with　someone　else　would　not　be　lost　on　all　Hong　Kong。　Everyone　would　interpret　it　as　an　infallible　sign　that　he　was　in　absolute　financial　trouble　and　that　she　had；　wisely；　left　the　sinking　junk　for　a　safer　haven。　And　ing　with　his　uncle；　Four　Finger　Wu；　was　even　worse。　That　would　confirm　that　all　Wu's　wealth　had　been　removed　from　the　Ho…Pak；　and　therefore　most　probably　Lando　Mata　and　the　gold　syndicate　had　done　the　same。　All　the　civilized　population　that　counted　were　sure　that　Wu　was　the　syndicate's　prime　smuggler　now　that　Smuggler　Mo　was　dead。　Woe　woe　woe！　Troubles　never　e　singly。
　〃Eh？〃　he　asked　wearily。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　said；　is　the　tai…pan　going　to　approach　the　Victoria　for　us？〃
　He　switched　into　Cantonese　as　Europeans　were　nearby。　〃Regretfully　that　son　of　a　whore's　in　trouble　himself。　No；　he　won't　help　us。　We're　in　great　trouble　which　is　not　our　fault。　The　day　has　been　terrible；　except　for　one　thing：　we　made　a　fine　profit　today。　I　sold　all　our　Noble　House　stock。〃
　〃Excellent。　At　what　price？〃
　〃We　made　2。70　a　share。　It's　all　in　gold　now　in　Zurich。　I'm　putting　it　all　in　our　joint　account；〃　he　added　carefully；　twisting　the　truth；　all　the　while　trying　to　figure　out　a　ploy　to　get　his　wife　out　of　the　room　so　he　could　go　over　to　Four　Finger　Wu　and　Venus　Poon　to　pretend　to　everyone　that　everything　was　fine。
　〃Good。　Very　good。　That's　better。〃　Mai…ling　was　toying　with　her　huge　aquamarine　pendant。　Suddenly　Richard　Kwang's　testicles　chilled。　This　was　the　pendant　he　had　promised　Venus　Poon。　Oh　woe　woe　woe　。。。
　〃Are　you　feeling　all　right？〃　Mai…ling　asked。
　〃I；　er；　I　must　have　eaten　some　bad　fish。　I　think　I　need　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃You'd　better　go　now。　I　suppose　we'll　eat　soon。　Shitee's　always　so　late！〃　She　noticed　him　take　a　nervous　sidelong　look　at　Venus　Poon　and　Uncle　Wu　and　her　eyes　turned　baleful　again。　〃That　whore's　really　quite　fascinating。　I'm　going　to　watch　her　until　you　get　back。〃
　〃Why　don't　we　go　together？〃　He　took　her　arm　and　guided　her　down　the　stairs　to　the　door　that　led　to　the　bathrooms；　greeting　friends　here　and　there；　trying　to　exude　confidence。　The　moment　she　was　launched　into　the　ladies'　room　he　rushed　back　up；　walked　over　to　Zeppelin　Tung　who　was　near　them。　He　chatted　a　moment；　then　pretended　to　see　Four　Fingers。　〃Oh　hello；　Honored　Uncle；〃　he　said　expansively。　〃Thank　you　for　bringing　her　here。　Hello；　little　oily　mouth。〃
　〃What？〃　the　old　man　said　suspiciously。　〃I　brought　her　for　me　not　for　you。〃
　〃Yes；　and　don't　you　oily　mouth　me；〃　Venus　Poon　hissed　and　deliberately　took　the　old　man's　arm　and　Richard　Kwang　almost　spat　blood。　〃I　talked　to　my　hairdresser　tonight！　My　mink　on　her　back！　And　isn't　that　my　aquamarine　pendant　too；　the　one　she's　wearing　right　now！　To　think　I　almost　mitted　suicide　tonight　because　I　thought　I'd　displeased　my　Honored　Father　。。。　and　all　the　time　it　was　lies　lies　lies。　Oh　I　almost　want　to　mit　suicide　again。〃
　〃Eh；　don't　do　that　yet；　Little　Mealy　Mouth；〃　Four　Finger　Wu　whispered　anxiously；　having　already　negotiated　a　deal　in　excess　of　Smiler　Ching's　offer。　〃Go　away；　Nephew；　you're　giving　her　indigestion。　She　won't　be　able　to　perform！〃
　Richard　Kwang　forced　a　glazed　smile；　muttered　a　few　pleasantries　and　went　off　shakily。　He　headed　for　the　staircase　to　wait　for　his　wife；　and　someone　said；　〃I　see　a　certain　filly's　left　the　paddock　for　more　manured　grass！〃
　〃What　nonsense！〃　he　replied　at　once。　〃Of　course　I　asked　the　old　fool　to　bring　her　since　my　wife　is　here。　Why　else　would　she　be　with　him？　Is　that　old　fool　hung　like　a　bullock？　Or　even　a　bantam　cock？　No。　Ayeeyah；　not　even　Venus　Poon　with　all　the　technique　I　taught　her　can　get　up　what　has　no　thread！　It's　good　for　his　face　to　pretend　otherwise；　heya？　Of　course；　and　she　wanted　to　see　her　Old　Father　and　to　be　seen　too！〃
　〃Eeeee；　that's　clever；　Banker　Kwang！〃　the　man　said；　and　turned　away　and　whispered　it　to　another；　who　said　caustically；　〃Huh；　you'd　swallow　a　bucket　of　shit　if　someone　said　it　was　stewed　beef　with　black　bean　sauce！　Don't　you　know　old　Four　Fingers's　Stalk's　nurtured　by　the　most　expensive　salves　and　ointments　and　ginseng　that　money　can　buy？　Why　only　last　month　his　Number　Six　Concubine　gave　birth　to　a　son！　Eeeee；　don't　worry　about　him。　Before　he's　through　tonight；　Venus　Poon's　in　for　a　drubbing　that'll　make　her　Golden　Gulley　cry　out　for　mercy　in　eight　dialects。　。。。〃
　
　*　*　*
　
　〃Are　you　staying　for　dinner；　tai…pan？〃　Brian　Kwok　asked；　intercepting　him。　〃When　and　if　it　arrives。〃
　〃Yes。　Why？〃
　〃Sorry　I've　got　to　go　back　to　work。　But　there'll　be　someone　else　to　chaperone　you　home。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　Brian；　aren't　you　overreacting？〃　Dunross　said　as　quietly。
　Brian　Kwok　kept　his　voice　down。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I've　just　phoned　Crosse　to　see　what　happened　about　those　two　loiterers　outside　your　house。　The　moment　our　fellows　arrived　they　took　to　their　heels。〃
　〃Perhaps　they　were　just　thugs　who　don't　like　police。〃
　Brian　Kwok　shook　his　head。　〃Crosse　asked　again　that　you　give　us　the　AMG　papers　right　now。〃
　〃Friday。〃
　〃He　told　me　to　tell　you　there's　a　Soviet　spy　ship　in　port。　There's　already　been　one　killing　…　one　of　their　agents；　knifed。〃
　Dunross　was　shocked。　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　me？〃
　〃You　know　that　better　than　we　do。　You　know　what's　in　those　reports。　Must　be　quite　serious　or　you　wouldn't　be　so　difficult　…　or　careful　…　yourself。　Crosse　said　。。。　Never　mind　him！　Ian；　look；　we're　old　friends。　I'm　really　very　worried。〃　Brian　Kwok　switched　to　Cantonese。　〃Even　the　wise　can　fall　into　thorns　…　poisoned　thorns。〃
　〃In　two　days　the　police　Mandarin　arrives。　Two　days　is　not　long。〃
　〃True。　But　in　two　days　the　spy　may　hurt　us　very　much。　Why　tempt　the　gods？　It　is　my　ask。〃
　〃No。　Sorry。〃
　Brian　Kwok　hardened。　In　English　he　said；　〃Our　American　friends　have　asked　us　to　take　you　into　protective　custody。〃
　〃What　nonsense！〃
　〃Not　such　nonsense；　Ian。　It's　very　well　known　you've　a　photographic　memory。　The　sooner　you　turn　the　papers　over　the　better。　Even　afterwards　you　should　be　careful。　Why　not　tell　me　where　they　are　and　we'll　take　care　of　everything？〃
　Dunross　was　equally　set…faced。　〃Everything's　taken　care　of　now；　Brian。　Everything　stays　as　planned。〃
　The　tall　Chinese　sighed。　Then　he　shrugged。　〃Very　well。　Sorry；　but　don't　say　you　weren't　warned。　Are　Gavallan　and　Jacques　staying　for　dinner　too？〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　I　asked　them　just　to　put　in　an　appearance。　Why？〃
　〃They　could've　gone　home　with　you。　Please　don't　go　anywhere　alone　for　a　while；　don't　try　to　lose　your　guard。　For　the　time　being；　if　you　have　any；　er；　private　dates　call　me。〃
　〃Me；　a　private　date？　Here　in　Hong　Kong？　Really；　what　a　suggestion！〃
　〃Does　the　name　Jen　mean　anything？〃
　Dunross's　eyes　became　stony。　〃You　buggers　can　be　too　nosy。〃
　〃And　you　don't　seem　to　realize　you're　in　a　ver