jamesclavell.noblehouse-第172章

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　〃Yes。　You're　ing　to　the　races　tomorrow？　Lunch'll　be　12：45。〃
　〃Thank　you；　yes；　if　it's　not　too　much　trouble；〃　Toda　said　with　sudden　nervousness；　〃but　it　would　be　impossible　for　us　to　have　an　answer　by　that　time。〃
　〃Of　course。　You　got　your　invitations　and　badges？〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you。　I；　er；　I　hope　everything　turns　out　well　for　you。　Your　proposal　certainly　sounds　far…reaching。〃
　They　left。　For　a　moment　Dunross　allowed　himself　to　enjoy　the　excitement。　I've　got　them；　he　thought。　Christ；　in　a　year　we　can　have　the　biggest　fleet　in　Asia；　all　totally　financed；　with　no　risks　to　financier；　builder；　operator　or　supplier；　with　oil　tankers；　huge　tankers　as　its　nucleus　…　if　we　can　weather　this　typhoon。
　All　I　need's　some　luck。　Somehow　I've　got　to　stave　off　the　crash　till　Tuesday　when　we　sign　with　Par…Con。　Par…Con　pays　for　our　ships；　but　what　about　Orlin　and　what　about　Gornt？
　〃Mr。　Jacques's　on　his　way　up；　tai…pan。　Mr。　Phillip's　in　his　office　and'll　e　up　whenever　you're　ready。　Roger　Crosse　called；　your　appointment's　at　7：00　p。m。　instead　of　6：00。　He　said　Mr。　Sinders's　plane　was　late。　He's　informed　the　governor　and　everyone　connected。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Claudia。〃　He　glanced　at　his　list　of　calls。　He　dialed　the　V　and　A　and　asked　for　Bartlett。　He　was　out。　〃Miss　Tcholok　please。〃
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Hello！　Ian　Dunross　returning　your　call　and　Linc　Bartlett's　call。　How're　things？〃
　There　was　a　slight　pause。　〃Interesting。　Tai…pan；　can　I　drop　by？〃
　〃Of　course。　How　about　cocktails　at　6：15　at　the　Mandarin？　That'd　give　me　half　an　hour…odd　before　my　next　appointment。　Eh？〃　A　twinge　of　anxiety　went　through　him　at　the　thought　of　Crosse；　Sinders　and　AMG's　admonition　about　never　giving　up　the　files。
　〃Is　it　possible　for　me　to　e　by　the　office？　I　could　leave　now　and　be　there　in　half　to　three　quarters　of　an　hour？　I　have　something　to　talk　over　with　you。　I'll　make　it　as　short　as　possible。〃
　〃All　right。　I　may　have　to　keep　you　waiting　a　moment　or　two　but　e　on　over。〃　He　put　the　phone　down；　frowning。　What's　up　there？
　The　door　opened。　Jacques　deVille　came　in。　He　looked　careworn　and　tired。　〃You　wanted　me；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　sit　down；　Jacques。　I　understood　you　were　going　to　be　on　the　plane　last　night。〃
　〃We　talked；　Susanne　and　I；　and　she　thought　it　best　for　Avril　if　I　waited　a　day　or　two。　。。。〃
　Dunross　listened　with　fascination　as　they　began　to　talk；　still　astounded　that　Jacques　could　be　a　munist　plant。　But　now　he　had　thought　through　the　possibility。　It　was　easily　possible　for　Jacques；　being　young；　an　idealist　and　in　the　Maquis　during　the　hated　and　terrible　Nazi　occupation　of　France　to　have　had　his　idealistic　nationalism　and　anti…Nazi　feelings　channeled　into　munism　…　Christ；　wasn't　Russia　our　ally　in　those　days？　Wasn't　munism　fashionable　everywhere　in　those　days　even　in　America？　Didn't　Marx　and　Lenin　seem　so　sensible　then？　Then。　Before　we　knew　the　truth　about　Stalin；　about　gulags　and　KGB　and　police　state　and　mass　murders　and　mass　conquests　and　never　freedom。
　But　how　could　all　that　munist　nonsense　last　for　someone　like　Jacques？　How　could　someone　like　Jacques　retain　such　convictions　and　keep　them　buried　for　so　long　…　if　indeed　he　is　the　Sevrin　plant　AMG　claimed？
　〃What　did　you　think　of　Grey？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃A　total　cretin；　tai…pan。　He's　far　too　left…wing　for　me。　Even　Broadhurst's　a　little　too　left　for　my　taste。　As　I'm　。。。　I'm　staying　now；　can　I　take　over　Bartlett　and　Casey　again？〃
　〃No；　for　the　time　being　I'll　deal　with　them；　but　you　take　care　of　the　contract。〃
　〃It's　being　drawn　up　now。　I've　already　been　on　to　our　solicitors。　One　slight　problem。　Dawson　met　with　Bartlett's　lawyer；　Mr。　Steigler；　this　morning。　Mr。　Steigler　wants　to　renegotiate　the　payment　schedule　and　put　off　signing　till　next　weekend。〃
　A　wave　of　fury　rushed　through　Dunross。　He　tried　to　keep　it　off　his　face。　That's　got　to　be　the　reason　for　Casey　wanting　a　meeting；　he　thought。　〃I'll　deal　with　that；〃　he　said；　putting　the　problem　aside　for　the　more　pressing　one：　Jacques　deVille；　who　should　be　innocent　until　proven　guilty。
　He　looked　at　him；　liking　the　craggy；　chunky　man；　remembering　all　the　fine　times　they　had　had　in　Avisyard　and　in　France。　He；　Penelope；　Jacques　and　Susanne；　their　children　along　for　Christmas　or　summer　holidays；　good　food　and　good　wine　and　good　laughter　and　great　plans　for　the　future。　Jacques　certainly　the　wisest；　the　most　close…mouthed；　and　until　the　AMG　accusation；　possibly　the　next　in　line。　But　now　you're　not；　not　until　you've　proved　yourself　and　I'm　certain。　Sorry　my　friend；　but　you　must　be　tested。
　〃I'm　making　some　organizational　changes；〃　he　said。　〃Linbar　went　to　Sydney　today　as　you　know。　I'm　going　to　leave　him　there　for　a　month　to　try　to　get　the　Woolara　merger　fixed。　I　don't　hope　for　much。　I　want　you　to　take　over　Australia。〃　He　saw　Jacques's　eyes　widen　momentarily　but　could　not　read　if　it　was　concern　or　happiness。　〃I've　pushed　the　button　on　our　Toda　plan　and　I　w…　〃
　〃How　did　he　take　it？〃
　〃Hook；　line　and　bait。〃
　〃Merde；　but　that　is　great。〃　Dunross　saw　Jacques　beam　and　read　no　guile　in　him。　The　man　had　been　one　of　the　main　planners　for　the　shipping　scheme；　working　out　the　intricacies　of　the　financing。　〃What　a　shame　poor　John's　not　alive　to　know；〃　Jacques　said。
　〃Yes。〃　John　Chen　had　been　working　closely　with　Jacques　deVille。　〃Have　you　seen　Phillip？〃
　〃I　had　dinner　with　him　last　night。　Poor　fellow；　he's　aged　twenty　years。〃
　〃So　have　you。〃
　A　Gallic　shrug。　〃Life；　mon　ami！　But　yes；　yes　I　am　sad　about　poor　Avril　and　poor　Borge。　Please　excuse　me；　I　interrupted　you。〃
　〃I'd　like　you　to　take　over　Australasia　…　effective　today　…　and　be　responsible　for　putting　into　effect　all　our　Australian　and　New　Zealand　plans。　Keep　this　to　yourself　for　the　month　…　I'll　tell　Andrew　only　…　but　get　yourself　organized　and　be　prepared　to　leave　then。〃
　〃Very　well。〃　Jacques　hesitated。
　〃What？　Susanne　never　did　like　Hong　Kong　…　you'll　have　no　problem　there；　will　you？〃
　〃Oh　no；　tai…pan。　Since　the　accident　。。。　frankly　I　was　going　to　ask　you　if　I　could　move　for　a　while。　Susanne's　not　been　happy　here　and　。。。　But　I　was　going　to　ask　if　I　could　take　over　Canada　for　a　year　or　so。〃
　Dunross　was　startled　at　the　new　thought。　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　I　thought　that　perhaps　I　could　be　useful　there。　My　contacts　among　French…Canadians　are　good；　very　good。　Perhaps　we　could　shift　Struan's　Canadian　office　from　Toronto　to　Montreal　or　to　Ottawa。　I　could　help　very　much　from　there。　If　our　Japanese　connection　goes　through；　we'll　need　wood　pulp；　woods；　copper；　wheat；　coal　and　a　dozen　other　Canadian　raw　materials。〃　He　smiled　wanly；　then　rushed　onward。　〃We　both　know　how　Cousin　David's　been　chomping　to　get　back　out　here　and　I　thought；　if　I　moved　there；　he　could　return。　Actually　he's　better　equipped　to　be　here；　to　deal　with　Australasia；　non？　He　speaks　Cantonese；　a　little　Japanese　and　reads　and　writes　Chinese　which　I　don't。　But　whatever　you　say；　tai…pan。　I'll　take　Australasia　if　you　wish。　It　is　true　I　would　like　a　change。〃
　Dunross　let　his　mind　range。　He　had　decided　to　isolate　Jacques　from　Hong　Kong　while　he　found　out　the　truth。　It　would　be　too　easy　to　tell　Crosse　or　Sinders　secretly　and　ask　them　to　use　their　sources　to　investigate；　to　watch　and　to　probe。　But　Jacques　was　a　member　of　the　Inner　Court。　As　such　he　was　party　to　all　sorts　of　skeletons　and　private　informations　which　would　be　put　to　risk。　No；　Dunross　thought；　much　better　to　deal　with　our　own。　Perhaps　it　will　take　longer　but　I　will　find　out　the　truth　if　he　is　or　isn't。　One　way　or　another；　I'll　know　about　Jacques　deVille。
　But　Canada？
　Logically　Jacques'd　be　better　there。　So　would　Struan's　…　I　should　have　thought　of　that　myself　…　there's　never　been　any　reason　to　question　his　business　loyalty；　or　acumen。　Good　old　David's　certainly　been　screaming　for　two　years　to　e　back。　The　switch　would　be　easier。　Jacques's　right。　David's　better　equipped　to　do　Australasia；　and　Australia　and　New　Zealand　are　far　more　important　to　us　than　Canada；　far　more　important　…　they're　vital　and　the　treasure　house　of　all　Asia。　If　Jacques's　innocent　he　can　help　us　in　Canada。　If　he's　not；　he　can　harm　us　less　there。　〃I'll　think　about　that；〃　he　said；　having　already　decided　to　make　the　change。　〃Keep　this　all　to　yourself　and　we'll　finalize　it　Sunday。〃
　Jacques　got　up　and　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃Thanks；　mon　ami。〃
　Dunross　shook　the　hand。　But　in　his　heart　he　wondered　whether　it　was　the　hand　of　his　friend　…　or　his　Judas。
　Alone　once　more；　the　weight　of　his　burdens　swamped　him。　The　phone　rang　and　he　dealt　with　that　problem；　then　another　and　another　…　Tiptop's　phone　still　engaged　…　and　he　asked　for　Phillip　to　e　up；　and　all　the　time　it　seemed　as　though　he　were　sinking　into　a　pit。　Then　his　eyes　caught　the　eye　of　Dirk　Struan　on　the　wall；　looking　out　of　the　oil　painting　at　him；　half…smiling；　supremely　confident；　arrogant；　master　of　clipper　ships　…　the　loveliest　craft　ever　built　by　man。　As　always；　he　was　forted。
　He　got　up　and　stood　before　the　tai…pan。　〃Christ；　I　don't　know　what　I'd　do　without　you；〃　he　said　out　loud；　remembering　that　Dirk　Struan　had　been　beset　by　far　greater　burdens　and　had　conquered　them。　Only　to　have　the　tempest；　the　wrath　of　nature；　kill　him　at　the　zenith　of　his　life；　just　forty…three；　undisputed　warlord　of　Hong　Kong　and　Asia。
　Is　it　always　〃those　whom　the　gods　love　die　young〃？　he　asked　himself。　Dirk　was　not　much　more　than　my　age　when　the　Devil　Winds　of　the　Great　Typhoon　tore　our　brand…new　three…story　factory　in　Happy　Valley　to　pieces　and　buried　him　in　the　rubble。　Is　that　old　or　young？　I　don't　feel　old。　Was　that　the　only　way　for　Dirk　to　die？　Violently？　In　storm？　Young？　Killed　by　nature？　Or　does　the　expression　mean；　those　whom　the　gods　love　die　young　in　heart？
　〃Never　mind；〃　he　said　to　his　mentor　and　friend。　〃I　wish　I'd　known　you。　I　tell　you　openly；　tai…pan；　I　hope　to　God　there　is　a　life　after　death　so　that　in　some　eon　of　time；　I　can　thank　you　personally。〃
　Confident　again；　he　went　back　to　his　desk。　In　his　top　drawer　was　Four　Finger　Wu's　matrix。　His　fingers　touched　it；　caressing　it。　How　do　I　squeeze　out　of　this　one？　he　asked　himself　grimly。
　There　was　a　knock。　Phillip　Chen　came　in。　He　had　aged　in　the　last　few　days。　〃Good　God；　tai…pan；　what　are　we　going　to　do？　9。50！〃　he　said　in　a　rush；　a　nervous　screech　in　his　voice。　〃I　could　tear　my　hair　out！　Dew　neh　loh　moh　because　of　the　boom；　you　remember　I　bought　in　at　28。90；　every　penny　of　spare　cash　and　a　lot　more　and　Dianne　bought　at　28。80　and　sold　at　16。80　and　demands　I　make　up　the　difference。　Oh　ko　what're　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Pray　…　and　do　what　we　can；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Have　you　got　hold　of　Tiptop？〃
　〃Eh　。。。　no；　no；　tai…pan。　I've　been　trying　every　few　minutes　but　the　phone's　still　out　of　order。　The　phone　pany　says　the　phone's　been　left　off　the　hook。　I　had　my　cousin　in　the　phone　pany　check　it　personally。　Both　lines　into　his　house　are　off　the　hook。〃
　〃What　do　you　advise？〃
　〃Advise？　I　don't　know；　I　think　we　should　send　a　messenger　but　I　didn't　want　to　until　I'd　consulted　with　you　。。。　what　with　our　stock　crash　and　the　bank　run　and　poor　John　and　the　reporters　pestering　。。。　all　my　stocks　are　down；　all　of　them！〃　The　old　man　went　into　a　paroxysm　of　Cantonese　obscenities　and　curses　on　Gornt；　his　ancestors　and　all　his　future　generations。　〃If　the　Vic　goes；　what　are　we　going　to　do；　tai…pan？〃
　〃The　Vic　won't　go。　The　governor　will　certa