jamesclavell.noblehouse-第126章

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　〃Terrific　stuff！　Dr。　Tooley　gave　us　some　too。〃
　〃Damnable　about　the　others；　what？　Toxe's　wife；　eh？〃
　Johnjohn　said　gravely；　〃I　heard　they　found　her　body　under　some　pilings　this　morning。　If　I　hadn't　had　a　pink　ticket　Mary　and　I'd've　been　there　too。〃　A　pink　ticket　meant　that　you　had　your　wife's　permission　to　be　out　in　the　evening　without　her；　out　playing　cards　with　friends；　or　at　the　Club；　or　on　the　town　with　visiting　guests　or　wherever　…　but　with　her　benevolent　permission。
　〃Oh？〃　Havergill　smiled。　〃Who　was　the　lucky　lady？〃
　〃I　was　playing　bridge　with　McBride　at　the　Club。〃
　Havergill　laughed。　〃Well；　discretion's　the　better　part　of　valor　and　we　have　the　reputation　of　the　bank　to　think　of。〃
　Dunross　felt　the　tension　in　the　room　between　the　two　men。　He　smiled　politely；　waiting。
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Ian？〃　Havergill　asked。
　〃I　want　an　extra　100　million　credit　for　thirty　days。〃
　There　was　a　dead　silence。　Both　men　stared　at　him。　Dunross　thought　he　saw　the　flicker　of　a　smile　rush　behind　Havergill's　eyes。　〃Impossible！〃　he　heard　him　say。
　〃Gornt's　mounting　an　attack　on　us；　that's　clear　to　anyone。　You　both　know　we're　solid；　safe　and　in　good　shape。　I　need　your　open；　massive　backing；　then　he　won't　dare　proceed　and　I　won't　actually　need　the　money。　But　I　do　need　the　mitment。　Now。〃
　Another　silence。　Johnjohn　waited　and　watched。　Havergill　lit　a　cigarette。　〃What's　the　situation　with　the　Par…Con　deal；　Ian？〃
　Dunross　told　them。　〃Tuesday　we　sign。〃
　〃Can　you　trust　the　American？〃
　〃We've　made　a　deal。〃
　Another　silence。　Uneasily；　Johnjohn　broke　it。　〃It's　a　very　good　deal；　Ian。〃
　〃Yes。　With　your　open　backing；　Gornt　and　Blacs　will　withdraw　their　attack。〃
　〃But　100　million？〃　Havergill　said。　〃That's　beyond　possibility。〃
　〃I　said　I　won't　need　the　full　amount。〃
　〃That's　surmise；　my　dear　fellow。　We　could　bee　involved　in　a　very　big　power　play　against　our　wish。　I've　heard　rumors　Quillan　has　outside　financing；　German　backing。　We　couldn't　risk　getting　into　a　fight　with　a　consortium　of　German　banks。　You　are　already　over　the　limit　of　your　revolving　credit。　And　there's　the　500；000　shares　you　bought　today　which　have　to　be　paid　for　on　Monday。　Sorry　no。〃
　〃Put　it　to　the　board。〃　Dunross　knew　that　he　had　enough　votes　to　carry　it　over　Havergill's　opposition。
　Another　silence。　〃Very　well。　I'll　certainly　do　that　…　at　the　next　board　meeting。〃
　〃No。　That's　not　for　three　weeks。　Please　call　an　emergency　meeting。〃
　〃Sorry　no。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　explain　my　reasons　to　you；　Ian；〃　Havergill　said　crisply。　〃Struan's　doesn't　own　or　control　this　institution；　though　you　do　have　a　large　interest　in　us；　as　we　have　in　you；　and　you　are　our　valued　customer。　I'll　be　glad　to　put　it　up　at　the　next　board　meeting。　Calling　emergency　meetings　is　within　my　control。　Solely。〃
　〃I　agree。　So　is　the　granting　of　the　credit。　You　don't　need　a　meeting。　You　could　do　that　now。〃
　〃I　will　be　glad　to　put　the　request　to　the　board　at　the　next　meeting。　Was　there　anything　else？〃
　Dunross　controlled　his　urge　to　wipe　the　barely　concealed　smugness　off　his　enemy's　face。　〃I　need　the　credit　to　support　my　stock。　Now。〃
　〃Of　course；　and　Bruce　and　I　really　do　understand　that　the　Par…Con　down　payment　will　give　you　the　financing　to　plete　your　ship　transactions　and　make　a　partial　Orlin　payment。〃　Havergill　puffed　his　cigarette。　〃By　the　way；　I　understand　Orlin　won't　renew　…　you'll　have　to　pay　them　off　totally　within　thirty　days　as　per　the　contract。〃
　Dunross　flushed。　〃Where　did　you　hear　that？〃
　〃From　the　chairman；　of　course。　I　called　him　last　night　to　ask　if　the…　〃
　〃You　what？〃
　〃Of　course。　My　dear　chap；〃　Havergill　said；　now　openly　enjoying　Dunross's　and　Johnjohn's　shock。　〃We　have　every　right　to　inquire。　After　all；　we're　Struan's　bankers　and　we　need　to　know。　Our　equity's　also　at　risk　if　you　are　to　fail；　isn't　it？〃
　〃And　you'll　help　that　happen？〃
　Havergill　stubbed　out　his　cigarette　with　vast　enjoyment。　〃It's　not　to　our　interest　for　any　big　business　to　fail　in　the　Colony；　let　alone　the　Noble　House。　Oh　dear　no！　You　needn't　worry。　At　the　right　time　we'll　step　in　and　buy　your　shares。　We'll　never　allow　the　Noble　House　to　fail。〃
　〃When's　the　right　time？〃
　〃When　the　shares　are　at　a　value　we　consider　correct。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃I'd　have　to　look　into　it；　Ian。〃
　Dunross　knew　he　was　beaten　but　he　showed　none　of　it。　〃You'll　allow　the　stock　to　go　down　until　they're　at　giveaway　prices　and　then　you'll　buy　control。〃
　〃Struan's　is　a　public　pany　now；　however　the　various　panies　interlock；〃　Havergill　said。　〃Perhaps　it　would　have　been　wise　to　follow　Alastair's　advice；　and　mine　…　we　did　point　out　the　risks　you'd　take　as　a　public　pany。　And　perhaps　you　should　have　consulted　us　before　buying　that　massive　quantity　of　shares。　Clearly　Quillan　thinks　he　has　you　and　you　really　are　stretched　a　bit；　old　boy。　Well；　never　fear；　Ian；　we　will　not　allow　the　Noble　House　to　fail。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　He　got　up。　〃The　Colony　will　be　a　much　better　place　with　you　out　of　it。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Havergill　snapped。　〃My　term　of　office　lasts　until　November　23。　You　may　be　out　of　the　Colony　before　me！〃
　〃Don't　you　think　。。。〃　Johnjohn　began；　aghast　at　Havergill's　fury；　but　stopped　as　the　deputy　chairman　turned　on　him。
　〃Your　term　of　office　begins　November　24。　Providing　the　annual　general　meeting　confirms　the　appointment。　Until　that　time　I　run　the　Victoria。〃
　Dunross　laughed　again。　〃Don't　be　too　sure　of　that。〃　He　walked　out。
　Angrily　Johnjohn　broke　the　silence。　〃You　could　easily　call　an　emergency　meeting。　You　could　eas…　〃
　〃The　matter　is　closed！　Do　you　understand？　Closed！〃　Furiously　Havergill　lit　another　cigarette。　〃We've　got　problems　of　our　own　that　have　to　be　solved　first。　But　if　that　bastard　squeezes　out　of　the　vise　this　time　I　shall　be　very　surprised。　He's　in　a　dangerous　position；　very　dangerous。　We　know　nothing　about　this　damned　American　and　his　girl　friend。　We　do　know　Ian's　recalcitrant；　arrogant　and　out　of　his　depth。　He's　the　wrong　man　for　the　job。〃
　〃That's　not　t…　〃
　〃We're　a　profit…making　institution；　not　a　charity；　and　the　Dunrosses　and　Struans　have　had　too　much　say　in　our　affairs　for　too　many　years。　If　we　can　get　control　we　bee　the　Noble　House　of　Asia　…　we　do！　We　get　his　block　of　our　stock　back。　We　fire　all　the　directors　and　put　in　new　management　at　once；　we　double　our　money　and　I'd　leave　a　lasting　legacy　to　the　bank　forever。　That's　what　we're　here　for　…　to　make　money　for　our　bank　and　for　our　shareholders！　I've　always　considered　your　friend　Dunross　a　very　high　risk　and　now　he's　going　to　the　wall。　And　if　I　can　help　hang　him　I　will！〃
　
　*　*　*
　
　The　doctor　was　counting　Fleur　Marlowe's　pulse　beats　against　his　old…fashioned；　gold　fob　watch。　One　hundred　and　three。　Too　many；　he　thought　sadly。　Her　wrist　was　delicate。　He　laid　it　back　on　the　bedcovers；　his　sensitive　fingers　aware　of　the　fever。　Peter　Marlowe　came　out　of　the　small　bathroom　of　their　apartment。
　〃Not　good；　eh？〃　Tooley　said　gruffly。
　Peter　Marlowe's　smile　was　weary。　〃Rather　tedious　actually。　Just　cramps　and　not　much　ing　out；　just　a　little　liquid。〃　His　eyes　rested　on　his　wife　who　lay　wanly　in　the　small　double　bed。　〃How're　you；　pet？〃
　〃Fine；〃　she　said。　〃Fine　thank　you；　Peter。〃
　The　doctor　reached　for　his　old…fashioned　bag　and　put　his　stethoscope　away。　〃Was；　er；　was　there　any　blood；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃
　Peter　Marlowe　shook　his　head　and　sat　tiredly。　Neither　he　nor　his　wife　had　slept　much。　Their　cramps　had　begun　about　4：00　a。m。　and　had　continued　since　then　with　ever…increasing　strain。　〃No；　at　least　not　yet；〃　he　said。　〃It　feels　rather　like　an　ordinary　bout　of　dysentery　…　cramps；　a　lot　of　palaver　and　very　little　to　show　for　it。〃
　〃Ordinary？　You've　had　dysentery？　When？　What　kind　of　dysentery？〃
　〃I　think　it　was　enteric。　I；　I　was　a　POW　in　Changi　in　'45　…　actually　between　'42　and　'45；　partially　in　Java　but　mostly　in　Changi。〃
　〃Oh。　Oh　I　see。　Sorry　about　that。〃　Dr。　Tooley　remembered　all　the　horror　stories　that　came　out　of　Asia　after　the　war　about　the　treatment　of　British　and　American　troops　by　the　Japanese　Army。　〃I　always　felt　betrayed　in　a　curious　way；〃　the　doctor　said　sadly。　〃The　Japanese'd　always　been　our　ally　。。。　they're　an　island　nation；　so're　we。　Good　fighters。　I　was　a　doctor　with　the　Chindits。　Went　in　with　Wingate　twice。〃　Wingate　was　an　eccentric　British　general　who　had　devised　a　pletely　unorthodox　battle　plan　to　send　highly　mobile　columns　of　marauding　British　soldiers；　code　name　Chindits；　from　India　into　the　jungles　of　Burma　deep　behind　Japanese　lines；　supplying　them　by　airdrop。　〃I　was　lucky　…　the　whole　Chindit　operation　was　rather　dicey；〃　he　said。　As　he　talked　he　was　watching　Fleur；　weighing　clues；　sending　his　experience　into　her；　trying　to　detect　the　disease　now；　trying　to　isolate　the　enemy　among　a　myriad　of　possibilities　before　it　harmed　the　fetus。　〃Bloody　planes　kept　missing　our　drops。〃
　〃I　met　a　couple　of　your　fellows　at　Changi。〃　The　younger　man　searched　his　memory。　〃In　'43　or　'44；　I　can't　remember　when　exactly。　Or　any　names。　They'd　been　sent　down　to　Changi　after　they　were　captured。〃
　〃That'd　be　'43。〃　The　doctor　was　somber。　〃One　whole　column　got　caught　and　ambushed　early　on。　Those　jungles　are　unbelievable　if　you've　never　been　in　one。　We　didn't　know　what　the　devil　we　were　doing　most　of　the　time。　Afraid　not　many　of　the　lads　survived　to　get　to　Changi。〃　Dr。　Tooley　was　a　fine　old　man　with　a　big　nose　and　sparse　hair　and　warm　hands；　and　he　smiled　down　at　Fleur。　〃So；　young　lady；〃　he　said　with　his　kind；　gruff　voice。　〃You've　a　slight　fev…　〃
　〃Oh　。。。　sorry；　Doctor；〃　she　said　quickly；　interrupting　him；　suddenly　white；　〃I；　I　think　。。。〃　She　got　out　of　bed　and　hurried　awkwardly　for　the　bathroom。　The　door　closed　behind　her。　There　was　a　fleck　of　blood　on　the　back　of　her　nightdress。
　〃Is　she　all　right？〃　Marlowe　asked；　his　face　stark。
　〃Temperature's　a　hundred　and　three；　heartbeat's　up。　It　could　just　be　gastroenteritis。　。。。〃　The　doctor　looked　at　him。
　〃Could　it　be　hepatitis？〃
　〃No。　Not　this　quickly。　The　incubation　period's　six　weeks　to　two　months。　I'm　afraid　that　specter's　hanging　over　everyone's　head。　Sorry。〃　A　rain　squall　battered　the　windows。　He　glanced　at　them　and　frowned；　remembering　that　he　had　not　told　Dunross　and　the　Americans　about　the　danger　of　hepatitis。　Perhaps　it'll　be　better　just　to　wait　and　see　and　be　patient。　Joss；　he　thought。　〃Two　months；　to　be　safe。　You've　both　had　all　your　shots　so　there　shouldn't　be　any　problem　about　typhoid。〃
　〃And　the　baby？〃
　〃If　the　cramps　get　worse　she　may　miscarry；　Mr。　Marlowe；〃　the　doctor　said　softly。　〃Sorry；　but　it's　best　to　know。　Either　way　it　won't　be　easy　for　her　…　God　only　knows　what　viruses　and　bacteria're　at　Aberdeen。　The　place's　a　public　sewer　and　has　been　for　a　century。　Shocking；　but　nothing　we　can　do　about　it。〃　He　rummaged　in　his　pocket　for　his　prescription　pad。　〃You　can't　change　the　Chinese　or　habits　of　centuries。　Sorry。〃
　〃Joss；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　feeling　rotten。　〃Will　everyone　get　sick？　There　must　have　been　forty　or　fifty　of　us　thrashing　around　in　the　water　…　impossible　not　to　drink　some　of　that　muck。〃
　The　doctor　hesitated。　〃Of　fifty；　perhaps　five'll　be　very　sick；　five'll　be　untouched　and　the　rest'll　be　in　between。　Hong　Kong　yan　…　that's　Hong　Kongites　…　they　should　be　less　affected　than　visitors。　But；　as　you　say；　a　lot　of　it's　joss。〃　He　found　his　pad。　〃I'll　give