jamesclavell.noblehouse-第228章

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　She　heard　him　laugh　and　she　was　glad　for　it。　There　hasn't　been　enough　laughter　from　him　the　last　few　days；　she　thought。　〃A　man　needs　laughter　and　youthful　yin　to　nourish　the　yang。　Eh　what；　what　did　you　say？〃
　〃I　said；　where's　Number　One　Daughter？〃
　〃In；　out；　always　out；　out　with　that　new　barbarian；〃　she　said　going　to　the　bathroom　door　and　peering　at　him　as　he　doused　water　over　himself。　〃The　one　with　long　hair　and　crumpled　clothes　who　works　for　the　China　Guardian。　I　don't　approve　of　him；　my　son。　No；　not　at　all！〃
　〃Where　are　they　'out；'　Ah　Tat？〃
　The　old　woman　shrugged；　chomping　her　gums。　〃The　sooner　Number　One　Daughter's　married　the　better。　Better　for　her　to　be　another　man's　problem　than　yours。　Or　you　should　give　her　a　good　whip　to　her　rump。〃　He　laughed　again　and　she　wondered　why　he　laughed　this　time。　〃He's　getting　simple　in　the　head；〃　she　muttered；　then　turned　away。　At　the　far　door；　remembering；　she　called　out；　〃There's　small　chow　for　you　before　you　leave。〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　food　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped；　knowing　it　was　a　waste　of　time。　He　heard　her　go　off　mumbling；　closing　the　door　after　her。
　He　was　standing　in　the　bath　and　bailed　more　cold　water　over　himself。　Christ；　I　wish　this　bloody　water　shortage'd　cease；　he　thought。　I　could　use　a　really　long　hot　shower；　his　mind　inexorably　zeroing　in　on　Adryon。　At　once　he　heard　Penelope's　admonition；　〃Do　grow　up；　Ian！　It　really　is　her　own　life；　do　grow　up！〃
　〃I'm　trying；〃　he　muttered；　toweling　himself　vigorously。　Just　before　he　had　slept　he　had　called　Penelope。　She　was　already　at　Castle　Avisyard；　Kathy　still　in　the　London　clinic　for　more　tests。　〃She'll　be　ing　up　next　week。　I　do　so　hope　everything　will　be　all　right。〃
　〃I'm　in　touch　with　the　doctors；　Penn。〃　He　told　her　about　sending　Gavallan　to　Scotland。　〃He's　always　wanted　to　be　there；　Kathy　too；　it'll　be　better　for　both　of　them；　eh？〃
　〃Oh；　that's　marvelous；　Ian。　That'll　be　a　marvelous　tonic。〃
　〃They　can　take　over　the　whole　east　wing。〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Ian；　the　weather's　wonderful　today；　wonderful；　and　the　house　so　lovely。　No　chance　you　can　e　for　a　few　days　I　suppose？〃
　〃I'm　up　to　my　nose　in　it；　Penn！　You　heard　about　the　market？〃
　He　had　heard　the　momentary　silence　and　he　could　see　her　face　change　and　within　her　head　hear　her　impotent　raging　against　the　market　and　Hong　Kong　and　business；　as　much　as　she　tried　to　cast　it　away。
　〃Yes。　It　must　be　terrible；〃　she　had　said；　still　a　thread　in　her　voice。　〃Poor　you。　Alastair　was　carrying　on　a　bit　last　night。　It'll　be　all　right；　won't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　he　said　with　great　confidence；　wondering　what　she　would　say　if　he　told　her　that　he　would　have　to　guarantee　personally　the　Murtagh　loan　if　it　came　through。　Oh　Christ　let　it　e　through。　He　gave　her　all　the　news；　then　told　her　that　AMG　had　sent　him　a　very　interesting　message　that　he　would　tell　her　about　when　he　saw　her；　adding　that　the　messenger　was　a　Japanese…Swiss　woman。　〃She's　quite　a　bird！〃
　〃I　hope　not　too　much！〃
　〃Oh　no！　How's　Glenna　and　how're　you？〃
　〃Just　fine。　Have　you　heard　from　Duncan？〃
　〃Yes。　He　arrives　tomorrow　…　I'll　get　him　to　phone　you　the　moment　he's　home。　That's　about　it；　Penn；　love　you！〃
　〃I　love　you　too　and　wish　you　were　here。　Oh；　how's　Adryon？〃
　〃More　of　the　same。　She　and　that　Haply　fellow　seem　to　be　inseparable！〃
　〃Do　remember　she's　very　grown　up；　darling；　and　don't　worry　about　her。　Just　try　to　grow　up　yourself。〃
　He　finished　drying　himself　and　looked　at　his　reflection　in　the　mirror；　wondering　if　he　was　old　for　his　years　or　young；　not　feeling　any　different　from　when　he　was　nineteen　…　at　university　or　at　war。　After　a　moment；　he　said；　〃You're　lucky　to　be　alive；　old　chum。　You're　oh　so　lucky。〃　His　sleep　had　been　heavy　and　he　had　been　dreaming　about　Tiptop　and；　just　at　waking；　someone　had　said　in　his　dream；　〃What're　you　going　to　do？〃　I　don't　know；　he　thought。　How　far　do　I　trust　that　bugger　Sinders？　Not　far。　But　I　got　under　his　guard　with　my　threat　。。。　no；　my　promise　to　publish　the　eleven　pieces　of　paper。　And　I　will；　by　God！
　I'd　better　call　Tiptop　before　I　leave　for　Plumm's。　I'd　better。
　
　His　ears　heard　the　bedroom　door　swing　open　again　and　Ah　Tat　padded　back　across　the　room　to　stand　at　the　bathroom　door。　〃Ah；　my　son；　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　there's　a　barbarian　waiting　for　you　downstairs。〃
　〃Oh？　Who？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃A　barbarian。　Not　as　tall　as　you。　He　has　a　strange　name；　and　he's　more　ugly　than　usual　with　hair　of　straw！〃　She　searched　in　her　pocket　and　found　the　card。　〃Here。〃
　The　card　read；　Dave　Murtagh　III；　Royal　Belgium　and　Far　East　Bank。　Dunross's　stomach　twisted。　〃How　long's　he　been　waiting？〃
　〃An　hour；　perhaps　more。〃
　〃What？　Fornicate　all　gods。　Why　didn't　you　wake　me？〃
　〃Eh？　Why　didn't　I　wake　you？〃　she　asked　caustically。　〃Why？　Why　do　you　think？　Am　I　a　fool？　A　foreign　devil？　Ayeeyah；　what　is　more　important；　him　waiting　or　your　rest？　Ayeeyah！〃　she　added　disdainfully　and　stalked　off；　grumbling；　〃As　if　I　didn't　know　what　was　best　for　you。〃
　Dunross　dressed　hurriedly　and　rushed　downstairs。　Murtagh　was　sprawled　out　in　an　easy　chair。　He　awoke　with　a　start　as　the　door　opened。　〃Oh；　hi！〃
　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　I　was　having　a　kip　and　didn't　know　you　were　here。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　tai…pan。〃　Dave　Murtagh　was　haggard。　〃The　old　biddy　threatened　the　hell　out　of　me　if　I　so　much　as　murmured　but　it　didn't　matter；　I　dropped　off。〃　He　stretched　wearily；　stifling　a　yawn　and　shook　his　head　to　try　to　clear　it。　〃Jesus；　sorry　to　e　uninvited　but　it's　better　than　on　the　phone。〃
　Dunross　held　his　aching　disappointment　off　his　face。　It　must　be　a　turndown；　he　thought。　〃Whiskey？〃
　〃Sure；　with　soda。　Thanks。　Jesus　I'm　tired。〃
　Dunross　went　to　the　decanter　and　poured；　and　a　brandy　and　soda　for　himself。　〃Health；〃　he　said；　resisting　the　urge　to　ask。
　They　touched　glasses。
　〃Health。　And　you　got　your　deal！〃　The　young　man's　face　cracked　into　an　enormous　grin。　〃We　did　it！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃They　screamed　and　they　hollered　but　an　hour　ago　they　agreed。　We　got　everything！　120　percent　of　the　ships　and　a　50　million　U。S。　revolving　fund；　cash's　up　Wednesday；　but　you　can　mit　Monday　at　10：00　a。m。；　the　offer　of　the　tanker　deals　was　the　clincher。　Jesus；　we　did　it　for　chrissake！〃
　It　took　all　of　Dunross's　training　to　hold　in　his　bellow　of　triumph　and　keep　the　joy　off　his　face　and　say　calmly；　〃Oh；　jolly　good；〃　and　take　another　sip　of　his　brandy。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　seeing　the　shock　on　the　younger　man's　face。
　Murtagh　shook　his　head　and　slumped　down　exhaustedly。　〃You　limeys're　something　else！　I'll　never　understand　you。　I　give　you　a　hundred　percent　parole　with　the　sweetest　deal　God　ever　gave　man　and　all　you　say　is　'Oh　jolly　good。'　〃
　Dunross　laughed。　It　was　a　great　bellow　of　laughter　and　all　his　happiness　spilled　out。　He　pummeled　Murtagh's　hand　and　thanked　him。　〃How's　that？〃　he　asked；　beaming。
　〃That's　better！〃　He　grabbed　his　briefcase　and　opened　it　and　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　contracts　and　papers。　〃These're　just　as　we　agreed。　I　was　up　all　night　drafting　them。　Here's　the　main　loan　agreement；　this's　your　personal　guarantee；　these're　for　the　corporate　seal；　ten　copies　of　everything。〃
　〃I'll　initial　one　set　now　which　you　keep；　you　initial　one　which　I'll　keep　and　then　we'll　sign　formally　tomorrow　morning。　Can　you　meet　me　in　my　office　tomorrow　morning；　say　at　7：30？　We'll　chop　all　the　documents　an…　〃
　The　young　man　let　out　an　involuntary　moan。　〃How　'bout　8：00；　tai…pan；　or　8：30？　I　just　gotta　catch　up　on　some　sleep。〃
　〃7：30。　You　can　sleep　all　day。〃　Dunross　added　at　a　sudden　thought；　〃Tomorrow　night　your　evening's　reserved。〃
　〃It　is？〃
　〃Yes。　You　best　get　all　the　rest　you　can；　your　evening　will　be　busy。〃
　〃Doing　what？〃
　〃You're　not　married；　you're　not　attached；　so　an　entertaining　evening　wouldn't　be　bad。　Eh？〃
　〃Gee。〃　Murtagh　brightened　perceptibly。　〃It'd　be　terrific。〃
　〃Good。　I'll　send　you　to　a　friend　of　mine　at　Aberdeen。　Goldtooth　Wu。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃An　old　friend　of　the　family。　Perfectly　safe。　While　I　think　of　it；　lunch　at　the　races　next　week？〃
　〃Oh　Jesus；　thanks。　Yesterday　Casey　gave　me　a　hot　tip　and　I　won　a　bundle。　The　rumor　is　you're　going　to　ride　Noble　Star　Saturday。　Are　you？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃　Dunross　kept　his　eyes　on　him。　〃The　deal's　really　through？　No　chance　of　a　foul…up？〃
　〃Cross　my　heart　and　hope　to　die！　Oh　here　I　forgot。〃　He　handed　him　the　confirming　telex。　〃It's　as　we　agreed。〃　Murtagh　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃It's　6：00　a。m。　New　York　time　now　but　you're　to　call　S。　J。　Beverly；　our　chairman　of　the　board；　in　an　hour　…　he's　expecting　your　call。　Here's　his　number。〃　The　young　man　beamed。　〃They　made　me　VP　in　charge　of　all　Asia。〃
　〃Congratulations。〃
　Dunross　saw　the　time。　He　would　have　to　leave　soon　or　he　would　be　late　and　he　did　not　want　to　keep　Riko　waiting。　His　heart　picked　up　a　beat。　〃Let's　initial　now；　shall　we？〃
　Murtagh　was　already　sorting　the　papers。　〃Just　one　thing；　tai…pan；　S。J。　said　we　got　to　keep　this　secret。〃
　〃That's　going　to　be　difficult。　Who　typed　these？〃
　〃My　secretary　…　but　she's　American；　she's　as　tight　as　a　clam。〃　Dunross　nodded　but　inside　he　was　unconvinced。　The　telex　operator　…　didn't　Phillip　Chen　say　he　had　already　had　copies　of　some　of　the　telexes？　…　or　cleaners；　or　phone　operators；　it　would　be　impossible　to　gauge　who　but　the　news　would　be　mon　knowledge　soon；　whatever　he　or　Murtagh　did。　Now；　how　to　use　everything　to　the　best　advantage　while　it's　still　secret？　he　was　asking　himself；　hard　put　not　to　dance　with　joy；　the　fact　of　the　deal　unprecedented　and　almost　impossible　to　believe。　He　began　to　initial　his　set　of　papers；　Murtagh　another。　He　stopped　as　he　heard　the　front　door　open　and　slam。　Adryon　shrieked；　〃Ah　Tat！〃　and　followed　up　with　a　flood　of　amah　Cantonese　ending；　〃。。。　and　did　you　iron　my　new　blouse　by　all　the　gods？〃
　〃Blouse？　What　blouse。　Young　Miss　with　the　piercing　voice　and　no　patience？　The　red　one？　The　red　one　belonging　to　Chief　Wife　who　told　y…　〃
　〃Oh；　it's　mine　now；　Ah　Tat！　I　told　you　very　seriously　to　iron　it。〃　Murtagh　had　stopped　too；　listening　to　the　stream　of　screeching　Cantonese　from　both　of　them。　〃Jesus；〃　he　said　tiredly。　〃I'll　never　get　used　to　the　way　the　servants　go　on；　no　matter　what　you　tell　'em！〃
　Dunross　laughed　and　beckoned　him；　opening　the　door　softly。　Murtagh　gasped。　Adryon　had　her　hands　on　her　hips　and　she　was　going　at　Ah　Tat　who　gave　it　back　to　her；　both　of　them　raucous；　both　talking　over　the　other　and　neither　listening。
　〃Quiet！〃　Dunross　said。　Both　stopped。　〃Thank　you。　You　really　do　go　on　a　bit；　Adryon！〃　he　said　mildly。
　She　beamed。　〃Oh　hello；　Father。　Do　you　th…　〃　She　stopped；　seeing　Murtagh。　Dunross　noticed　the　instant　change。　A　warning　shaft　soared　through　him。
　〃Oh；　Adryon；　may　I　introduce　Dave　Murtagh；　Vice…President　for　Asia　of　the　Royal　Belgium　and　Far　East　Bank？〃　He　looked　at　Murtagh　and　saw　the　stunned　expression　on　his　face。　〃This　is　my　daughter；　Adryon。〃
　〃You；　er；　speak　Chinese；　Miss；　er；　Dunross？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course；　Cantonese。　Of　course。　You're　new　in　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Oh　no；　ma'am；　no；　I've；　er；　I've　been　here　half　a　year　or　more。〃
　Dunross　was　watching　both　of　them　with　growing　amusement；　knowing　that　for　the　moment　he　was　totally　forgotten。　Ah；　boy　meets　girl；　girl　meets　boy　and　maybe　this　one'd　be　the　perfect　foil　to　throw　into　Haply's　works。　〃Would　you　like　to　join　us　for　a　drink；　Adryon？〃　he　asked　casually；