jamesclavell.noblehouse-第18章

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　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　was　a　good　rich　laugh。　〃I　wouldn't　do　that　to　you；　Orlanda！　No；　I'm　sure　he's　not。　He's　just　got　a　strange　arrangement　with　Casey。〃
　〃What　is　it？〃
　Gornt　shrugged。
　After　a　moment　she　said；　〃What　do　I　do　about　her？〃
　〃If　Casey　Tcholok's　in　your　way；　remove　her。　You've　got　claws。〃
　〃You're　。。。　Sometimes　I　don't　like　you　at　all。〃
　〃We're　both　realists；　you　and　I。　Aren't　we。〃　He　said　it　very　flat。
　She　recognized　the　undercurrent　of　violence。　At　once　she　got　up　and　leaned　across　the　desk　and　kissed　him　lightly。　〃You're　a　devil；〃　she　said；　placating　him。　〃That's　for　old　times。〃
　His　hand　strayed　to　her　breast　and　he　sighed；　remembering；　enjoying　the　warmth　that　came　through　the　thin　material。　〃Ayeeyah；　Orlanda；　we　had　some　good　times；　didn't　we？〃
　She　had　been　his　mistress　when　she　was　seventeen。　He　was　her　first　and　he　had　kept　her　for　almost　five　years　and　would　have　continued　but　she　went　with　a　youth　to　Macao　when　he　was　away　and　he　had　been　told　about　it。　And　so　he　had　stopped。　At　once。　Even　though　they　had　a　daughter　then；　he　and　she；　one　year　old。
　〃Orlanda；〃　he　had　told　her　as　she　had　begged　for　forgiveness；　〃there's　nothing　to　forgive。　I've　told　you　a　dozen　times　that　youth　needs　youth；　and　there'd　e　a　day。　。。。　Dry　your　tears；　marry　the　lad　…　I'll　give　you　a　dowry　and　my　blessing。　。。。〃　And　throughout　all　her　weepings　he　had　remained　firm。　〃We'll　be　friends；〃　he　had　assured　her；　〃and　I'll　take　care　of　you　when　you　need　it。　。。。〃
　The　next　day　he　had　turned　the　heat　of　his　covert　fury　on　the　youth；　an　Englishman；　a　minor　executive　in　Asian　Properties　and；　within　the　month；　he　had　broken　him。
　〃It's　a　matter　of　face；〃　he　had　told　her　calmly。
　〃Oh　I　know；　I　understand　but　。。。　what　shall　I　do　now？〃　she　had　wailed。　〃He's　leaving　tomorrow　for　England　and　he　wants　me　to　go　with　him　and　marry　him　but　I　can't　marry　now；　he's　got　no　money　or　future　or　job　or　money。　。。。〃
　〃Dry　your　tears；　then　go　shopping。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　Here's　a　present。〃　He　had　given　her　a　first…class；　return　ticket　to　London　on　the　same　airplane　that　the　youth　was　traveling　tourist。　And　a　thousand　pounds　in　crisp；　new　ten…pound　notes。　〃Buy　lots　of　pretty　clothes；　and　go　to　the　theater。　You're　booked　into　the　Connaught　for　eleven　days　…　just　sign　the　bill　…　and　your　return's　confirmed；　so　have　a　happy　time　and　e　back　fresh　and　without　problems！〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Quillan　darling；　oh　thank　you。　。。。　I'm　so　sorry。　You　forgive　me？〃
　〃There's　nothing　to　forgive。　But　if　you　ever　talk　to　him　again；　or　see　him　privately　。。。　I　won't　be　friendly　to　you　or　your　family　ever　again。〃
　She　had　thanked　him　profusely　through　her　tears；　cursing　herself　for　her　stupidity；　begging　for　the　wrath　of　heaven　to　descend　upon　whoever　had　betrayed　her。　The　next　day　the　youth　had　tried　to　speak　to　her　at　the　airport　and　on　the　plane　and　in　London　but　she　just　cursed　him　away。　She　knew　where　her　rice　bowl　rested。　The　day　she　left　London　he　mitted　suicide。
　When　Gornt　heard　about　it；　he　lit　a　fine　cigar　and　took　her　out　to　a　dinner　atop　the　Victoria　and　Albert　with　candelabra　and　fine　linen　and　fine　silver；　and　then；　after　he　had　had　his　Napoleon　brandy　and　she　her　crème　de　menthe；　he　had　sent　her　home；　alone；　to　the　apartment　he　still　paid　for。　He　had　ordered　another　brandy　and　stayed；　watching　the　lights　of　the　harbor；　and　the　Peak；　feeling　the　glory　of　vengeance；　the　majesty　of　life；　his　face　regained。
　〃Ayeeyah；　we　had　some　good　times；〃　Gornt　said　again　now；　still　desiring　her；　though　he　had　not　pillowed　with　her　from　the　time　he　had　heard　about　Macao。
　〃Quillan　。。。〃　she　began；　his　hand　warming　her　too。
　〃No。〃
　Her　eyes　strayed　to　the　inner　door。　〃Please。　It's　three　years；　there's　never　been　anyone　。。。〃
　〃Thank　you　but　no。〃　He　held　her　away　from　him；　his　hands　now　firm　on　her　arms　but　gentle。　〃We've　already　had　the　best；〃　he　said　as　a　connoisseur　would。　〃I　don't　like　second　best。〃
　She　sat　back　on　the　edge　of　the　desk；　watching　him　sullenly。　〃You　always　win；　don't　you。〃
　〃The　day　you　bee　lovers　with　Bartlett　I'll　give　you　a　present；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃If　he　takes　you　to　Macao　and　you　stay　openly　with　him　for　three　days　I'll　give　you　a　new　Jag。　If　he　asks　you　to　marry　him　you　get　the　apartment　and　everything　in　it；　and　a　house　in　California　as　a　wedding　present。〃
　She　gasped；　then　smiled　gloriously。　〃An　XK…E；　a　black　one；　Quillan；　oh　that　would　be　perfect！〃　Then　her　happiness　evaporated。　〃What's　so　important　about　him？　Why　is　he　so　important　to　you？〃
　He　just　stared　at　her。
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said；　〃sorry；　I　shouldn't　have　asked。〃　Thoughtfully　she　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　lit　it　and　leaned　over　and　gave　it　to　him。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said；　seeing　the　curve　of　her　breast；　enjoying　it；　yet　a　little　saddened　that　such　beauty　was　so　transient。　〃Oh；　by　the　way；　I　wouldn't　like　Bartlett　to　know　of　our　arrangement。〃
　〃Nor　would　I。〃　She　sighed　and　forced　a　smile。　Then　she　got　up　and　shrugged。　〃Ayeeyah；　it　would　never　have　lasted　with　us　anyway。　Macao　or　not　Macao。　You　would　have　changed　…　you'd　have　bee　bored；　men　always　do。〃
　She　checked　her　makeup　and　her　shirt　and　blew　him　a　kiss　and　left　him。　He　stared　at　the　closed　door　then　smiled　and　stubbed　out　the　cigarette　she　had　given　him；　never　having　puffed　on　it；　not　wanting　the　taint　of　her　lips。　He　lit　a　fresh　one　and　hummed　a　little　tune。
　Excellent；　he　thought　happily。　Now　we'll　see；　Mr。　Bloody　Cocky　Confident　Yankee　Bartlett；　now　we'll　see　how　you　handle　that　knife。　Pasta　with　beer　indeed！
　Then　Gornt　caught　a　lingering　whiff　of　her　perfume　and　he　was　swept　back　momentarily　into　memories　of　their　pillowing。　When　she　was　young；　he　reminded　himself。　Thank　God　there's　no　premium　on　youth　or　beauty　out　here；　and　a　substitution's　as　close　as　a　phone　call　or　a　hundred…dollar　note。
　He　reached　for　the　phone　and　dialed　a　special　private　number；　glad　that　Orlanda　was　more　Chinese　than　European。　Chinese　are　such　practical　people。
　The　dial　tone　stopped　and　he　heard　Paul　Havergill's　crisp　voice。　〃Yes？〃
　〃Paul；　Quillan。　How're　things？〃
　〃Hello；　Quillan　…　of　course　you　know　Johnjohn's　taking　over　the　bank　in　November？〃
　〃Yes。　Sorry　about　that。〃
　〃Damnable。　I　thought　I　was　going　to　be　confirmed　but　instead　the　board　chose　Johnjohn。　It　was　official　last　night。　It's　Dunross　again；　his　clique；　and　the　damned　stock　they　have。　How　did　your　meeting　go？〃
　〃Our　American's　chomping　at　the　bit；　just　as　I　told　you　he　would　be。〃　Gornt　took　a　deep　drag　of　his　cigarette　and　tried　to　keep　the　excitement　out　of　his　voice。　〃How　would　you　like　a　little　special　action　before　you　retire？〃
　〃What　had　you　in　mind？〃
　〃You're　leaving　end　of　November？〃
　〃Yes。　After　twenty…three　years。　In　some　ways　I　won't　be　sorry。〃
　Nor　will　I；　Gornt　thought　contentedly。　You're　out　of　date　and　too　bloody　conservative。　The　only　thing　in　your　favor　is　that　you　hate　Dunross。　〃That's　almost　four　months。　That'd　give　us　plenty　of　time。　You；　me　and　our　American　friend。〃
　〃What　do　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃You　remember　one　of　my　hypothetical　game　plans；　the　one　I　called　'petition'？〃
　Havergill　thought　a　moment。　〃That　was　how　to　take　over　or　eliminate　an　opposition　bank；　wasn't　it？　Why？〃
　〃Say　someone　dusted　off　the　plan　and　made　a　few　changes　and　pushed　the　go　button　。。。　two　days　ago。　Say　someone　knew　Dunross　and　the　others　would　vote　you　out　and　wanted　some　revenge。　petition　would　work　perfectly。〃
　〃I　don't　see　why。　What's　the　point　of　attacking　Blacs？〃　The　Bank　of　London；　Canton　and　Shanghai　was　the　Victoria's　main　opposition。　〃Doesn't　make　sense。〃
　〃Ah；　but　say　someone　changed　the　target；　Paul。〃
　〃To　whom？〃
　〃I'll　e　by　at　three　and　explain。〃
　〃To　whom？〃
　〃Richard。〃　Richard　Kwang　controlled　the　Ho…Pak　Bank　…　one　of　the　largest　of　all　the　many　Chinese　banks　in　Hong　Kong。
　〃Good　God！　But　that's　。。。〃　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Quillan；　you've　really　begun　petition　。。。　to　put　it　into　effect？〃
　〃Yes；　and　no　one　knows　about　it　except　you　and　me。〃
　〃But　how　is　that　going　to　work　against　Dunross？〃
　〃I'll　explain　later。　Can　Ian　meet　his　mitments　on　his　ships？〃
　There　was　a　pause　which　Gornt　noted。　〃Yes；〃　he　heard　Havergill　say。
　〃Yes；　but　what？〃
　〃But　I'm　sure　he'll　be　all　right。〃
　〃What　other　problems　has　Dunross　got？〃
　〃Sorry；　but　that　wouldn't　be　ethical。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Gornt　added　thinly；　〃Let　me　put　it　another　way：　Say　their　boat　was　a　little　rocked。　Eh？〃
　There　was　a　longer　pause。　〃At　the　right　moment；　a　smallish　wave　could　scuttle　them；　or　any　pany。　Even　you。〃
　〃But　not　the　Victoria　Bank。〃
　〃Oh　no。〃
　〃Good。　See　you　at　three。〃　Gornt　hung　up　and　mopped　his　brow　again；　his　excitement　vast。　He　stubbed　out　his　cigarette；　made　a　quick　calculation；　lit　another　cigarette；　then　dialed。　〃Charles；　Quillan。　Are　you　busy？〃
　〃No。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I　want　a　balance　sheet。〃　A　balance　sheet　was　a　private　signal　for　the　attorney　to　telephone　eight　nominees　who　would　buy　or　sell　on　the　stock　market　on　Gornt's　behalf；　secretly；　to　avoid　the　trading　being　traced　back　to　him。　All　shares　and　all　monies　would　pass　solely　through　the　attorney's　hands　so　that　neither　the　nominees　nor　the　brokers　would　know　for　whom　the　transactions　were　being　made。
　〃A　balance　sheet　it　will　be。　What　sort；　Quillan？〃
　〃I　want　to　sell　short。〃　To　sell　short　meant　he　sold　shares　he　did　not　own　on　the　presumption　their　value　would　go　down。　Then；　before　he　had　to　buy　them　back　…　he　had　a　maximum　margin　of　two　weeks　in　Hong　Kong　…　if　the　stock　had　indeed　gone　down；　he　would　pocket　the　difference。　Of　course　if　he　gambled　wrong　and　the　stock　had　gone　up；　he　would　have　to　pay　the　difference。
　〃What　shares　and　what　numbers？〃
　〃A　hundred　thousand　shares　of　Ho…Pak　。。。〃
　〃Holy　Christ　。。。〃
　〃。。。　the　same；　as　soon　as　the　market　opens　tomorrow；　and　another　200　during　the　day。　I'll　give　you　further　instructions　then。〃
　There　was　a　stunned　silence。　〃You　did　say　Ho…Pak？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃It'll　take　time　to　borrow　all　those　shares。　Good　God；　Quillan；　four　hundred　thousand？〃
　〃While　you're　about　it；　get　another　hundred。　A　round　half　a　million。〃
　〃But　。。。　but　Ho…Pak's　as　blue　a　blue　chip　as　we've　got。　It　hasn't　gone　down　in　years。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What've　you　heard？〃
　〃Rumors；〃　Gornt　said　gravely　and　chuckled　to　himself。　〃Would　you　like　an　early　lunch；　eat　at　the　club？〃
　〃I'll　be　there。〃
　Gornt　hung　up；　then　dialed　another　private　number。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃It's　me；〃　Gornt　said　cautiously。　〃Are　you　alone？〃
　〃Yes。　And？〃
　〃At　our　meeting；　the　Yankee　suggested　a　raid。〃
　〃Ayeeyah！　And？〃
　〃And　Paul's　in；〃　he　said；　the　exaggeration　ing　easily。　〃Absolutely　secretly；　of　course。　I've　just　talked　to　him。〃
　〃Then　I'm　in。　Provided　I　get　control　of　Struan's　ships；　their　Hong　Kong　property　operation　and　40　percent　of　their　landholdings　in　Thailand　and　Singapore。〃
　〃You　must　be　joking！〃
　〃Nothing's　too　much　to　smash　them。　Is　it；　old　boy？〃
　Gornt　heard　the　well…bred；　mocking　laugh　and　hated　Jason　Plumm　for　it。　〃You　despise　him　just　as　much　as　I　do；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃Ah；　but　you'll　need　me　and　my　special　friends。　Even　with　Paul　on　or　off　the　fence；　you　and　the　Yankee　can't　pull　it　off；　n