jamesclavell.noblehouse-第197章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Good　God；　tai…pan；〃　McBride　said；　〃if　Noble　Star　wins　the　fifth；　wouldn't　it　be　marvelous！〃
　〃Pilot　Fish　will　beat　Noble　Star；〃　Gornt　said　confidently。　He　was　at　the　bar　with　Jason　Plumm　getting　a　drink。　〃10；000　says　he'll　finish　ahead　of　your　filly。〃
　〃Taken；〃　Dunross　said　at　once。　There　were　cheers　and　hoots　of　derision　from　the　thirty…odd　guests　and　once　more　Bartlett　and　Casey；　who　had　by　arrangement　with　Dunross　ostensibly　just　wandered　in　a　few　minutes　ago　to　visit　Peter　Marlowe；　were　inwardly　staggered　at　the　festive　air　and　Dunross's　high…flying　confidence。
　〃How're　you　doing；　Dunstan？〃　Dunross　asked。　He　paid　Casey　and　Bartlett　no　attention；　concentrating　on　the　big　florid　man　who　was　more　florid　than　usual；　a　double　brandy　in　his　hand。
　〃Very　well；　thank　you；　Ian。　Got　the　first；　and　Buccaneer　…　made　a　bundle　on　Buccaneer；　but　blew　my　damned　quinella。　Lucky　Court　let　me　down。〃　The　room　was　the　same　size　as　the　Struan　box　but　not　as　well　decorated；　though　equally　well　filled　with　many　of　the　Hong　Kong　elite；　some　invited　here　a　moment　ago　by　Gavallan　and　McBride　for　Dunross。　Lando　Mata；　Holdbrook　…　Struan's　in…house　stockbroker　…　Sir　Luis　Basilic　…　head　of　the　stock　exchange　…　Johnjohn；　Havergill；　Southerby　…　chairman　of　Blacs　…　Richard　Kwang；　Pugmire；　Biltzmann；　Sir　Dunstan　Barre；　young　Martin　Haply　of　the　China　Guardian。　And　Gornt。　Dunross　looked　at　him。　〃Did　you　get　the　winner　of　the　last　race　too？〃
　〃No。　I　didn't　fancy　any　runner。　What's　all　this　about；　Ian？〃　Gornt　said；　and　everyone's　attention　soared。　〃You　want　to　make　an　announcement？〃
　〃Yes；　as　a　courtesy　I　thought　you　should　know；　along　with　other　VIPs。〃　Dunross　turned　to　Pugmire。　〃Pug；　the　Noble　House　is　formally　contesting　the　American　Superfoods　takeover　of　your　H。K。　General　Stores。〃
　There　was　a　vast　silence　and　everyone　stared　at　him。　Pugmire　had　gone　white。　〃What？〃
　〃We're　offering　5　a　share　more　than　Superfoods；　we'll　further　improve　their　bid　by　making　it　30　percent　cash　and　70　percent　stock；　everything　done　within　thirty　days！〃
　〃You've　gone　mad；〃　Pugmire　burst　out。　Didn't　I　sound　everyone　out　first；　he　wanted　to　shout；　including　you？　Didn't　you　and　everyone　approve　or　at　least　not　disapprove？　Isn't　that　the　way　it's　done　here　for　God's　sake　…　private　chats　at　the　Club；　here　at　the　races；　over　a　private　dinner　or　wherever？　〃You　can't　do　that；〃　he　muttered。
　〃I　already　have；〃　Dunross　said。
　Gornt　said　harshly；　〃All　you've　done；　Ian；　is　to　make　an　announcement。　How　are　you　going　to　pay？　In　thirty　or　three　hundred　days。〃
　Dunross　just　looked　at　him。　〃The　bid's　public。　We　plete　in　thirty　days。　Pug；　you'll　get　the　official　papers　by　9：30　a。m。　Monday；　with　a　cash　down　payment　to　cement　the　tender。〃
　Momentarily　he　was　drowned　out　as　others　began　talking；　asking　questions；　everyone　immediately　concerned　how　this　astonishing　development　would　affect　them　personally。　No　one　had　ever　contested　a　prearranged　takeover　before。　Johnjohn　and　Havergill　were　furious　that　this　had　been　done　without　consultation；　and　the　other　banker；　Southerby　of　Blacs；　who　was　merchant…banking　the　Superfoods　takeover；　was　equally　upset　that　he　had　been　caught　off　balance。　But　all　the　bankers；　even　Richard　Kwang；　were　counting　possibilities；　for　if　the　stock　market　was　normal　and　Struan's　stock　at　its　normal　level；　the　Struan　bid　could　be　very　good　for　both　sides。　Everyone　knew　that　Struan's　management　could　revitalize　the　rich　but　stagnant　hong；　and　the　acquisition　would　strengthen　the　Noble　House　immeasurably；　put　their　end…of…year　gross　up　at　least　20　percent　and　of　course　increase　their　dividends。　On　top　of　all　that；　the　takeover　would　keep　all　the　profits　in　Hong　Kong；　and　not　have　them　trickle　away　to　an　outsider。　Particularly　Biltzmann。
　Oh　my　God；　Barre　was　thinking　with　vast　admiration　and　not　a　little　envy；　for　Ian　to　make　the　tender　here；　in　public；　on　a　Saturday；　with　never　the　breath　of　a　rumor　that　he　was　contemplating　the　unthinkable；　with　nothing　to　give　you　an　inkling　so　that　you　could　have　bought　in　quietly　last　week　at　bottom　to　make　a　fortune　with　one　phone　call；　was　brilliant。　Of　course　Pug's　General　Stores　shares　will　soar　first　thing　on　Monday。　But　how　in　the　hell　did　Ian　and　Havergill　keep　it　quiet？　Christ　I　could've　made　a　bundle　if　I'd　known；　perhaps　I　still　can！　The　rumors　about　the　Victoria　not　supporting　Struan's　is　obviously　a　lot　of　cobblers。　。。。
　Wait　a　minute；　Sir　Luis　Basilio　was　thinking；　didn't　we　buy　a　huge　block　of　General　Stores　last　week　for　a　nominee　buyer？　Good　God；　has　the　tai…pan　outsmarted　all　of　us？　But　Madonna；　wait　a　minute；　what　about　the　run　on　his　stock；　what　about　the　market　crashing；　what　about　the　cash　he'll　have　to　put　up　to　fix　the　tender；　what　about　。。。
　Even　Gornt　was　counting；　his　mind　flooded　with　fury　that　he　had　not　thought　of　the　ploy　first。　He　knew　the　bid　was　good；　perfect　in　fact；　that　he　could　not　top　it；　not　at　the　moment。　But　then；　Ian　can't　plete。　There's　no　wa…　
　〃Can　we　go　to　press　on　this；　tai…pan？〃　Martin　Haply's　incisive　Canadian　voice　cut　through　the　excited　uproar。
　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Haply。〃
　〃May　I　ask　a　few　questions？〃
　〃It　depends　what　they　are；〃　Dunross　said　easily。　Looking　at　the　penetrating　brown　eyes；　he　was　grimly　amused。　We　could　use　a　right　rotten　young　bastard　in　the　family　…　if　he　could　be　trusted　with　Adryon。　〃What　had　you　in　mind？〃
　〃This's　the　first　time　a　takeover's　ever　been　contested。　May　I　ask　why　you're　doing　it　at　this　time？〃
　〃Struan's　have　always　been　innovative。　As　to　timing；　we　considered　it　perfect。〃
　〃Do　you　consider　this　Sat…　〃
　Biltzmann　interrupted　harshly；　〃We　have　a　deal。　It's　set。　Dickie？〃　He　whirled　on　Pugmire。　〃Eh？〃
　〃It　was　all　set；　Mr。　Biltzmann；〃　Dunross　said　crisply。　〃But　we're　contesting　your　tender；　just　as　it's　done　in　the　States；　according　to　American　rules。　I　presume　you　don't　mind　a　contest？　Of　course　we　are　amateurs　here　but　we　enjoy　trying　to　learn　from　our　peers。　Until　the　stockholders'　meeting　nothing's　final；　that's　the　law　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but　。。。　but　it　was　set！〃　The　tall　gray…haired　man　turned　to　Pugmire；　hardly　able　to　speak　he　was　so　angry。　〃You　said　it　was　all　agreed。〃
　〃Well；　the　directors　had　agreed；〃　Pugmire　said　uneasily；　conscious　of　everyone　listening；　particularly　Haply；　one　half　of　him　ecstatic　with　the　vastly　improved　offer；　the　other　furious　that　he；　too；　had　had　no　advance　warning　so　he　could　have　bought　in　heavily。　〃But；　er；　but　of　course　it　has　to　be　ratified　by　the　stockholders　at　the　Friday　meeting。　We　had　no　idea　there'd　be　a　。。。　Er；　Ian；　er；　Chuck；　don't　you　think　this　is　hardly　the　place　to　dis…　〃
　〃I　agree；〃　the　tai…pan　said。　〃But　at　the　moment　there's　little　to　discuss。　The　offer's　made。　By　the　way；　Pug；　your　own　deal　stands；　except　that　it's　extended　from　five　to　seven　years；　with　a　seat　on　Struan's　board　for　the　same　period。〃
　Pugmire's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃That's　part　of　the　tender？〃
　〃We'd　need　your　expertise；　of　course；〃　Dunross　said　airily；　and　everyone　knew　Pugmire　was　hooked　and　landed。　〃The　rest　of　the　package　as　negotiated　by　you　and　Superfoods　stands。　The　papers　will　be　on　your　desk　by　9：30。　Perhaps　you'll　put　our　tender　to　your　stockholders　on　Friday。〃　He　went　over　to　Biltzmann　and　put　out　his　hand。　〃Good　luck。　I　presume　you'll　be　ing　back　with　a　counteroffer　at　once。〃
　〃Well；　er；　I　have　to　check　with　head　office；　Mr。；　er；　tai…pan。〃　Biltzmann　was　flushed　and　angry。　〃We　。。。　we　put　our　best　foot　forward　and　。。。　That's　a　mighty　fine　offer　you　made。　Yes。　But　with　the　run　on　your　stock；　the　run　on　the　banks　and　the　market　going　down；　that's　going　to　be　kinda　hard　to　close；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Not　at　all；　Mr。　Biltzmann；〃　Dunross　said；　gambling　everything　that　Bartlett　would　not　renege　on　the　promise　of　cash；　that　he　would　close　with　Par…Con；　extricate　himself　from　Gornt　and　put　his　stock　back　into　its　rightful　place　by　next　weekend。　〃We　can　close　with　no　trouble　at　all。〃
　Biltzmann's　voice　sharpened。　〃Dickie；　I　think　you'd　better　consider　our　bid　carefully。　It's　good　till　Tuesday；〃　he　said；　confident　that　by　Tuesday　Struan's　would　be　in　a　shambles。　〃Now　I'll　make　me　a　bet　on　the　next　race。〃　He　stalked　out。　Tension　in　the　box　went　up　several　decibels。
　Everyone　began　talking　but　Haply　called　out；　〃Tai…pan；　may　I　ask　a　question？〃
　Again　attention　zeroed。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I　understand　it's　customary　in　takeovers　for　there　to　be　a　down　payment；　in　cash；　a　measure　of　good　faith。　May　I　ask　how　much　Struan's　is　putting　up？〃
　Everyone　waited　breathlessly；　watching　Dunross。　He　held　the　pause　as　his　eyes　raked　the　faces；　enjoying　the　excitement；　knowing　everyone　wanted　him　humbled；　almost　everyone；　except　。。。　except　who？　Casey　for　one；　even　though　she's　in　the　know。　Bartlett？　I　don't　know；　not　for　certain。　Claudia？　Oh　yes；　Claudia　was　staring　at　him；　white…faced。　Donald　McBride；　Gavallan；　even　Jacques。
　His　eyes　stopped　on　Martin　Haply。　〃Perhaps　Mr。　Pugmire　would　prefer　to　have　that　detail　in　private；〃　he　said；　leading　them　on。　〃Eh；　Pug？〃
　Gornt　interrupted　Pugmire　and　said；　as　a　challenge；　〃Ian；　since　you've　decided　to　be　unorthodox；　why　not　make　it　all　public？　How　much　you　put　down　measures　the　value　of　your　tender。　Doesn't　it？〃
　〃No。　Not　really；〃　Dunross　said。　He　heard　the　distant　muted　roar　of　the　off　for　the　third　race　and　was　sure；　watching　the　faces；　that　no　one　heard　it　except　him。　〃Oh；　very　well；〃　he　said；　matter…of…fact；　〃Pug；　how　about　2　million；　U。S。；　with　the　papers　at　9：30　Monday？　In　good　faith。〃
　A　gasp　went　through　the　room。　Havergill；　Johnjohn；　Southerby；　Gornt；　were　aghast。　Phillip　Chen　almost　fainted。　Involuntarily　Havergill　began；　〃Ian；　don't　you　think　we；　er；　th…　〃
　Dunross　wheeled　on　him。　〃Oh；　don't　you　consider　it　enough；　Paul？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course；　more　than　enough；　but；　er　。。。〃　Havergill's　words　trailed　off　under　Dunross's　gaze。
　〃Oh　for　a　moment　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped；　pretending　to　have　a　sudden　thought；　〃Oh；　you　needn't　worry；　Paul；　I　haven't　mitted　you　without　your　approval　of　course。　I　have　alternate　financing　for　this　deal；　external　financing；〃　he　continued　with　his　easy　charm。　〃As　you　know；　Japanese　banks　and　many　others　are　anxious　to　expand　into　Asia。　I　thought　it　better　…　to　keep　everything　secret　and　prevent　the　usual　leaks　…　to　finance　this　externally　until　I　was　ready　to　announce。　Fortunately　the　Noble　House　has　friends　all　over　the　world！　See　you　all　later！〃
　He　turned　and　left。　Phillip　Chen　followed。　Martin　Haply　started　for　the　phone　and　then　everyone　was　talking　and　saying　I　don't　believe　it；　Christ　if　Ian's　got　that　sort　of　external　funds　。。。
　In　the　hubbub　Havergill　asked　Johnjohn；　〃Which　Japanese　bank？〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew。　If　Ian's　got　finance　for　this　。。。　my　God；　2　million　U。S。's　twice　as　much　as　he　needed　to　offer。〃
　Southerby；　who　was　alongside　them；　wiped　his　palms。　〃If　Ian　pulls　this　off　it'll　be　worth　10　million　U。S。　the　first　year　at　least。〃　He　smiled　sardonically。　〃Well；　Paul；　now　it　looks　as　though　we're　both　out　of　this　particular　pie。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　does；　but　I　just　don't　see　how　Ian　could　。。。　and　to　keep　it　so　quiet！〃
　Southerby　bent　closer。　〃Meanwhile；〃　he　asked　softly；　〃more　important；　what　about　Tiptop？〃
　〃Nothing；　nothing　yet。　He　hasn't　returned　my　calls；　or　Johnjohn's。〃　Havergill's　eyes　fell　on　Gornt　w