jamesclavell.noblehouse-第17章

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ours。　Yet。〃
　〃If　we　could　take　over　Struan's　…　would　it　be　worth　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Oh　yes　…　yes　it'd　be　worth　it；〃　Gornt　said　jovially；　then　once　more　his　voice　iced。　〃But　I　still　need　to　know　how　serious　you　are。〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　when　I've　seen　Dunross。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　suggest　the　same　thought　to　him　…　that　together　you　can　swallow　Rothwell…Gornt？〃
　〃My　purpose　here　is　to　make　Par…Con　international；　Mr。　Gornt。　Maybe　up　to　a　30　million　investment　to　cover　a　whole　range　of　merchandising；　factories　and　warehousing。　Up　to　a　short　time　ago　I'd　never　heard　of　Struan's　…　or　Rothwell…Gornt。　Or　your　rivalry。〃
　〃Very　well；　Mr。　Bartlett；　we'll　leave　it　at　that。　Whatever　you　do　will　be　interesting。　Yes。　It　will　be　interesting　to　see　if　you　can　hold　a　knife。〃
　Bartlett　stared　at　him；　not　understanding；
　〃That's　an　old　Chinese　cooking　term；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Do　you　cook？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃It's　a　hobby　of　mine。　The　Chinese　say　it's　important　to　know　how　to　hold　a　knife；　that　you　can't　use　one　until　you　can　hold　it　correctly。　Otherwise　you'll　cut　yourself　and　be　off　to　a　very　bad　start　indeed。　Won't　you？〃
　Bartlett　grinned。　〃Hold　a　knife；　is　it？　I'll　remember　that。　No；　I　can't　cook。　Never　got　around　to　learning　…　Casey　can't　cook　worth　a　damn　either。〃
　〃The　Chinese　say　there're　three　arts　in　which　no　other　civilization　can　pare　to　theirs　…　literature；　brush　painting　and　cooking。　I'm　inclined　to　agree。　Do　you　like　good　food？〃
　〃The　best　meal　I　ever　had　was　in　a　restaurant　just　outside　Rome　on　the　Via　Flaminia；　the　Casale。〃
　〃Then　we've　at　least　that　in　mon；　Mr。　Bartlett。　The　Casale's　one　of　my　favorites　too。〃
　〃Casey　took　me　there　once　…　spaghetti　alla　matriciana　al　dente　and　buscetti　with　an　ice…cold　bottle　of　beer　followed　by　the　piccata　and　more　beer。　I'll　never　forget　it。〃
　Gornt　smiled。　〃Perhaps　you'll　have　dinner　with　me　while　you're　here。　I　can　offer　you　alla　matriciana　too　…　actually　it'll　pare　favorably；　it's　the　very　same　recipe。〃
　〃I'd　like　that。〃
　〃And　a　bottle　of　Valpolicella；　or　a　great　Tuscany　wine。〃
　〃Personally；　I　like　beer　with　pasta。　Iced　American　beer　out　of　the　can。〃
　After　a　pause　Gornt　asked；　〃How　long　are　you　staying　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃As　long　as　it　takes；〃　Bartlett　said　without　hesitation。
　〃Good。　Then　dinner　one　day　next　week？　Tuesday　or　Wednesday？〃
　〃Tuesday'd　be　fine；　thanks。　May　I　bring　Casey？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Then　Gornt　added；　his　voice　flatter；　〃By　that　time　perhaps　you'll　be　more　sure　of　what　you　want　to　do。〃
　Bartlett　laughed。　〃And　by　that　time　you'll　find　out　if　I　can　hold　a　knife。〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　just　remember　one　thing；　Mr。　Bartlett。　If　we　ever　join　forces　to　attack　Struan's；　once　the　battle　is　joined；　there　will　be　almost　no　way　to　withdraw　without　getting　severely　mauled。　Very　severely　mauled　indeed。　I'd　have　to　be　very　sure。　After　all；　you　can　always　retire　hurt　to　the　U。S。A。　to　fight　another　day。　We　stay　…　so　the　risks　are　unequal。〃
　〃But　the　spoils　are　unequal　too。　You'd　gain　something　priceless　which　doesn't　mean　ten　cents　to　me。　You'd　bee　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gornt　said；　his　eyes　lidding。　He　leaned　forward　to　select　another　cigarette　and　his　left　foot　moved　behind　the　desk　to　press　a　hidden　floor　switch。　〃Let's　leave　everything　until　Tues…　〃
　The　inter　clicked　on。　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Gornt；　would　you　like　me　to　postpone　the　board　meeting？〃　his　secretary　asked。
　〃No；〃　Gornt　said。　〃They　can　wait。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　Miss　Ramos　is　here。　Could　you　spare　her　a　few　minutes？〃
　Gornt　pretended　to　be　surprised。　〃Just　a　moment。〃　He　looked　up　at　Bartlett。　〃Have　we　concluded？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Bartlett　got　up　at　once。　〃Tuesday's　firm。　Let's　keep　everything　cooking　till　then。〃　He　turned　to　go　but　Gornt　stopped　him。　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Bartlett；〃　he　said；　then　into　the　inter；　〃ask　her　to　e　in。〃　He　clicked　off　the　switch　and　stood　up。　〃I'm　glad　to　have　had　the　meeting。〃
　The　door　opened　and　the　girl　came　in。　She　was　twenty…five　and　stunning　with　short　black　hair　and　sloe　eyes；　clearly　Eurasian；　casually　dressed　in　tight；　American　washed　jeans　and　a　shirt。　〃Hello；　Quillan；〃　she　said　with　a　smile　that　warmed　the　room；　her　English　slightly　American　accented。　〃Sorry　to　interrupt　but　I've　just　got　back　from　Bangkok　and　wanted　to　say　hello。〃
　〃Glad　you　did；　Orlanda。〃　Gornt　smiled　at　Bartlett　who　was　staring　at　her。　〃This　is　Linc　Bartlett；　from　America。　Orlanda　Ramos。〃
　〃Hello；〃　Bartlett　said。
　〃Hi　。。。　oh；　Linc　Bartlett？　The　American　millionaire　gun…runner？〃　she　said　and　laughed。
　〃What？〃
　〃Oh　don't　look　so　shocked；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Everyone　in　Hong　Kong　knows　…　Hong　Kong's　just　a　village。〃
　〃Seriously　…　how　did　you　know？〃
　〃I　read　it　in　my　morning　paper。〃
　〃Impossible！　It　only　happened　at　5：30　this　morning。〃
　〃It　was　in　the　Fai　Pao　…　the　Express　…　in　the　Stop　Press　column　at　nine　o'clock。　It's　a　Chinese　paper　and　the　Chinese　know　everything　that's　going　on　here。　Don't　worry；　the　English　papers　won't　pick　it　up　till　the　afternoon　editions；　but　you　can　expect　the　press　on　your　doorstep　around　the　happy　hour。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　The　last　thing　I　want's　the　goddamn　press　after　me；　Bartlett　thought　sourly。
　〃Don't　worry；　Mr。　Bartlett；　I　won't　ask　you　for　an　interview；　even　though　I　am　a　free…lance　reporter　for　the　Chinese　press。　I'm　really　very　discreet；〃　she　said。　〃Am　I　not；　Quillan？〃
　〃Absolutely。　I'll　vouch　for　that；〃　Gornt　said。　〃Orlanda's　absolutely　trustworthy。〃
　〃Of　course　if　you　want　to　offer　an　interview　…　I'll　accept。　Tomorrow。〃
　〃I'll　consider　it。〃
　〃I'll　guarantee　to　make　you　look　marvelous！〃
　〃The　Chinese　really　know　everything　here？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　at　once。　〃But　quai　loh　…　foreigners　…　don't　read　the　Chinese　papers；　except　for　a　handful　of　old　China　hands　…　like　Quillan。〃
　〃And　the　whole　of　Special　Intelligence；　Special　Branch　and　the　police　in　general；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃And　Ian　Dunross；〃　she　added；　the　tip　of　her　tongue　touching　her　teeth。
　〃He's　that　sharp？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃Oh　yes。　He's　got　Devil　Struan's　blood　in　him。〃
　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃You　will；　if　you　stay　here　long　enough。〃
　Bartlett　thought　about　that；　then　frowned。　〃You　knew　about　the　guns　too；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃Only　that　the　police　had　intercepted　contraband　arms　aboard　'the　millionaire　American's　private　jet　which　arrived　last　night。'　It　was　in　my　Chinese　paper　this　morning　too。　The　Sing　Pao。〃　Gornt's　smile　was　sardonic。　〃That's　The　Times　in　Cantonese。　It　was　in　their　Stop　Press　column　too。　But；　unlike　Orlanda；　I　am　surprised　you　haven't　been　intercepted　by　members　of　our　English　press　already。　They're　very　diligent　here　in　Hong　Kong。　More　diligent　than　Orlanda　gives　them　credit　for　being。〃
　Bartlett　caught　her　perfume　but　persisted。　〃I'm　surprised　you　didn't　mention　it；　Mr。　Gornt。〃
　〃Why　should　I？　What　do　guns　have　to　do　with　our　possible　future　association？〃　Gornt　chuckled。　〃If　worst　es　to　worst　we'll　visit　you　in　jail；　Orlanda　and　I。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Yes　indeed。〃
　〃Thanks　a　lot！〃　Again　her　perfume。　Bartlett　put　aside　the　guns　and　concentrated　on　her。　〃Ramos　…　that's　Spanish？〃
　〃Portuguese。　From　Macao。　My　father　worked　for　Rothwell…Gornt　in　Shanghai　…　my　mother's　Shanghainese。　I　was　brought　up　in　Shanghai　until　'49；　then　went　to　the　States　for　a　few　years；　to　high　school　in　San　Francisco。〃
　〃Did　you？　L。A。's　my　hometown　…　I　went　to　high　school　in　the　Valley。〃
　〃I　love　California；〃　she　said。　〃How　d'you　like　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃I've　just　arrived。〃　Bartlett　grinned。　〃Seems　I　made　an　explosive　entrance。〃
　She　laughed。　Lovely　white　teeth。　〃Hong　Kong's　all　right　…　provided　you　can　leave　every　month　or　so。　You　should　visit　Macao　for　a　weekend　…　it's　old　worldly；　very　pretty；　only　forty　miles　away　with　good　ferries。　It's　very　different　from　Hong　Kong。〃　She　turned　back　to　Gornt。　〃Again；　I'm　sorry　to　interrupt；　Quillan；　just　wanted　to　say　hello。　。。。〃　She　started　to　leave。
　〃No；　we're　through　…　I　was　just　going；〃　Bartlett　said；　interrupting　her。　〃Thanks　again；　Mr。　Gornt。　See　you　Tuesday　if　not　before。　。。。　Hope　to　see　you　again；　Miss　Ramos。〃
　〃Yes；　that　would　be　nice。　Here's　my　card　…　if　you'll　grant　the　interview　I　guarantee　a　good　press。〃　She　held　out　her　hand　and　he　touched　it　and　felt　her　warmth。
　Gornt　saw　him　to　the　door　and　then　closed　it　and　came　back　to　his　desk　and　took　a　cigarette。　She　lit　the　match　for　him　and　blew　out　the　flame；　then　sat　in　the　chair　Bartlett　had　used。
　〃Nice…looking　man；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。　But　he's　American；　naive；　and　a　very　cocky　bastard　who　may　need　taking　down　a　peg。〃
　〃That's　what　you　want　me　to　do？〃
　〃Perhaps。　Did　you　read　his　dossier？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Very　interesting。〃　Orlanda　smiled。
　〃You're　not　to　ask　him　for　money；〃　Gornt　said　sharply。
　〃Ayeeyah；　Quillan；　am　I　that　dumb？〃　she　said　as　abrasively；　her　eyes　flashing。
　〃Good。〃
　〃Why　would　he　smuggle　guns　into　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Why　indeed；　my　dear？　Perhaps　someone　was　just　using　him。〃
　〃That　must　be　the　answer。　If　I　had　all　his　money　I　wouldn't　try　something　as　stupid　as　that。〃
　〃No；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Oh；　did　you　like　that　bit　about　my　being　a　free…lance　reporter？　I　thought　I　did　that　very　well。〃
　〃Yes；　but　don't　underestimate　him。　He's　no　fool。　He's　very　sharp。　Very。〃　He　told　her　about　the　Casale。　〃That's　too　much　of　a　coincidence。　He　must　have　a　dossier　on　me　too；　a　detailed　one。　Not　many　know　of　my　liking　for　that　place。〃
　〃Maybe　I'm　in　it　too。〃
　〃Perhaps。　Don't　let　him　catch　you　out。　About　the　free　lancing。〃
　〃Oh；　e　on；　Quillan；　who　of　the　tai…pans　except　you　and　Dunross　read　the　Chinese　papers　…　and　even　then　you　can't　read　all　of　them。　I've　already　done　a　column　or　two　。。。　'by　a　Special　Correspondent。'　If　he　grants　me　an　interview　I　can　write　it。　Don't　worry。〃　She　moved　the　ashtray　closer　for　him。　〃It　went　all　right；　didn't　it？　With　Bartlett？〃
　〃Perfectly。　You're　wasted。　You　should　be　in　the　movies。〃
　〃Then　talk　to　your　friend　about　me；　please；　please；　Quillan　dear。　Charlie　Wang's　the　biggest　producer　in　Hong　Kong　and　owes　you　lots　of　favors。　Charlie　Wang　has　so　many　movies　going　that　。。。　just　one　chance　is　all　I　need。　。。。　I　could　bee　a　star！　Please？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　he　asked　dryly。　〃But　I　don't　think　you're　his　type。〃
　〃I　can　adapt。　Didn't　I　act　exactly　as　you　wanted　with　Bartlett。　Am　I　not　dressed　perfectly；　American　style？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　you　are。〃　Gornt　looked　at　her；　then　said　delicately；　〃You　could　be　perfect　for　him。　I　was　thinking　you　could　perhaps　have　something　more　permanent　than　an　affair。　。。。〃
　All　her　attention　concentrated。　〃What？〃
　〃You　and　he　could　fit　together　like　a　perfect　Chinese　puzzle。　You're　good…humored；　the　right　age；　beautiful；　clever；　educated；　marvelous　at　the　pillow；　very　smart　in　the　head；　with　enough　of　an　American　patina　to　put　him　at　ease。〃　Gornt　exhaled　smoke　and　added；　〃And　of　all　the　ladies　I　know；　you　could　really　spend　his　money。　Yes；　you　two　could　fit　perfectly　。。。　he'd　be　very　good　for　you　and　you'd　brighten　his　life　considerably。　Wouldn't　you？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　she　said　at　once。　〃Oh　yes　I　would。〃　She　smiled　then　frowned。　〃But　what　about　the　woman　he　has　with　him？　They're　sharing　a　suite　at　the　Vic。　I　heard　she's　gorgeous。　What　about　her；　Quillan？〃
　Gornt　smiled　thinly。　〃My　spies　say　they　don't　sleep　together　though　they're　better　than　friends。〃
　Her　face　fell。　〃He's　not　queer；　is　he？〃
　Gornt　laughed。　It　w