jamesclavell.noblehouse-第25章

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　Then　she　heard　Bartlett　begin　and　she　knew　she　could　safely　drift　for　she　had　heard　his　version　a　hundred　times　before　and　it　was　part　true；　part　false　and　part　what　he　wanted　to　believe　had　happened。　How　many　of　your　legends　are　true　…　Hag　Struan　and　Dirk　Struan　and　what's　your　real　story　and　how　did　you　bee　tai…pan？　She　sipped　her　port；　enjoying　the　smooth　sweetness；　letting　her　mind　wander。
　There's　something　wrong　here；　she　was　thinking　now。　I　can　feel　it　strongly。　Something's　wrong　with　Dunross。
　What？
　〃I　first　met　Casey　in　Los　Angeles；　California　…　about　seven　years　ago；〃　Bartlett　had　begun。　〃I'd　gotten　a　letter　from　a　Casey　Tcholok；　president　of　Hed…Opticals　of　Providence；　who　wanted　to　discuss　a　merger。　At　that　time　I　was　in　construction　all　over　the　L。A。　area　…　residential；　supermarkets；　a　couple　of　good…sized　office　buildings；　industrial；　shopping　centers　…　you　name　it；　I'd　build　it。　We　had　a　turnover　of　3。2　million　and　I'd　just　gone　public　…　but　I　was　still　a　million　miles　away　from　the　Big　Board。　I'd…　〃
　〃You　mean　the　New　York　Stock　Exchange？〃
　〃Yes。　Anyway；　Casey　es　in　bright　as　a　new　penny　and　says　she　wants　me　to　merge　with　Hed…Opticals　which　she　says　grossed　277；600　last　year；　and　then　together；　we'd　go　after　Randolf　Opticals；　the　granddaddy　of　them　all　…　53　million　in　sales；　quoted　on　the　Big　Board；　a　huge　slice　of　the　lens　market　and　lots　of　cash　in　the　bank　…　and　I　said　you're　crazy　but　why　Randolf？　She　said　because　first　she　was　a　stockholder　in　Bartlett　Constructions　…　she'd　bought　ten　one…dollar　shares　…　I'd　capitalized　at　a　million　shares　and　sold　500；000　at　par　…　and　she　figured　it'd　be　dandy　for　Bartlett　Construction　to　own　Randolf；　and　second；　'because　this　son　of　a　bitch　George　Toffer　who　runs　Randolf　Opticals　is　a　liar；　a　cheat；　a　thief；　and　he's　trying　to　put　me　out　of　business。'　〃
　Bartlett　grinned　and　paused　for　breath　and　Dunross　broke　in　with　a　laugh。　〃This's　true；　Casey？〃
　Casey　came　back　quickly。　〃Oh　yes；　I　said　that　George　Toffer　was　a　liar；　a　cheat；　thief　and　son　of　a　bitch。　He　still　is。〃　Casey　smiled　without　humor。　〃And　he　was　certainly　trying　to　put　me　out　of　business。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　I　had　told　him　to　go　…　to　drop　dead。〃
　〃Why'd　you　do　that？〃
　〃I'd　just　taken　over　Hed…Opticals。　My　granddad　had　died　the　previous　year　and　we'd　flipped　a　coin；　my　uncle　Bghos　and　I；　who'd　get　which　business。　。。。　I'd　won　Hed…Opticals。　We'd　had　an　offer　from　Randolf　to　buy　us　out　a　year　or　so　back　but　we'd　turned　it　down　…　we　had　a　nice；　small　operation；　a　good　work　force；　good　technicians　…　a　number　of　them　Armenians　…　a　little　slice　of　the　market。　But　no　capital　and　no　room　to　maneuver　but　we　got　by　and　the　quality　of　Hed…Opticals　was　optimum。　Just　after　I　took　over；　George　Toffer　'happened　to　drop　by。'　He　fancied　himself；　my　God　how　he　fancied　himself。　He　claimed　he　was　a　U。S。　Army　war　hero　but　I　found　out　he　wasn't　…　he　was　that　sort　of　guy。　Anyway；　he　made　me　another　ridiculous　offer　to　take　Hed…Opticals　off　my　hands　。。。　the　poor　little　girl　who　should　be　in　the　kitchen　bit；　along　with　the　'let's　have　dinner　tonight　in　my　suite　and　why　don't　we　have　a　little　fun　because　I'm　here　alone　for　a　few　days。　。。。'　I　said　no　thanks　and　he　was　very　put　out。　Very。　But　he　said　okay　and　went　back　to　business　and　suggested　that　instead　of　a　buy…out　we　subcontract　some　of　his　contracts。　He　made　me　a　good　offer　and　after　haggling　a　bit　we　agreed　on　terms。　If　I　performed　on　this　one　he　said　he'd　double　the　deal。　Over　the　next　month　we　did　the　work　better　and　cheaper　than　he　could　ever　have　done　it　…　I　delivered　according　to　contract　and　he　made　a　fantastic　profit。　But　then　he　reneged　on　a　verbal　clause　and　deducted　…　stole　…　20；378；　and　the　next　day　five　of　my　best　customers　left　us　for　Randolf；　and　the　next　week　another　seven　…　they'd　all　been　offered　deals　at　less　than　cost。　He　let　me　sweat　for　a　week　or　two　then　he　phoned。　'Hi；　baby；'　he　said；　happy　as　a　toad　in　a　pail　of　mud；　'I'm　spending　the　weekend　alone　at　Martha's　Vineyard。'　That's　a　little　island　off　the　East　Coast。　Then　he　added；　'Why　don't　you　e　over　and　we'll　have　some　fun　and　discuss　the　future　and　doubling　our　orders。'　I　asked　for　my　money；　and　he　laughed　at　me　and　told　me　to　grow　up　and　suggested　I　better　reconsider　his　offer　because　at　the　rate　I　was　going　soon　there'd　be　no　Hed…Opticals。
　〃I　cursed　him；〃　Casey　said。　〃I　can　curse　pretty　good　when　I　get　mad　and　I　told　him　what　to　do　with　himself　in　three　languages。　Within　four　more　weeks　I'd　no　customers　left。　Another　month　and　the　work　force　had　to　get　other　jobs。　About　that　time　I　thought　I'd　try　California。　I　didn't　want　to　stay　in　the　East。〃　She　smiled　wryly。　〃It　was　a　matter　of　face　…　if　I'd　known　about　face　then。　I　thought　I'd　take　a　couple　of　weeks　off　to　figure　out　what　to　do。　Then　one　day　I　was　wandering　aimlessly　around　a　state　fair　in　Sacramento　and　Linc　was　there。　He　was　selling　shares　in　Bartlett　Construction　in　a　booth　and　I　bought…　〃
　〃He　what？〃　Dunross　asked。
　〃Sure；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃I　sold　upwards　of　20；000　shares　that　way。　I　covered　state　fairs；　mail　orders；　supermarkets；　stockbrokers；　shopping　centers　…　along　with　investment　banks。　Sure。　Go　on；　Casey！〃
　〃So　I　read　his　prospectus　and　watched　him　a　while　and　thought　he　had　a　lot　of　get　up　and　go。　His　figures　and　balance　sheet　and　expansion　rate　were　exceptional　and　I　thought　anyone　who'd　pitch　his　own　stock　has　got　to　have　a　future。　So　I　bought　ten　shares；　wrote　him　and　went　to　see　him。　End　of　story。〃
　〃The　hell　it　is；　Casey；〃　Gavallan　said。
　〃You　tell　it；　Linc；〃　she　said。
　〃Okay。　Well；　then…　〃
　〃Some　port；　Mr。　…　sorry；　Linc？〃
　〃Thanks　Andrew；　but；　er；　may　I　have　another　beer？〃　It　arrived　instantly。　〃So　Casey'd　e　to　see　me。　After　she'd　told　it；　almost　like　she's　told　it　now；　I　said；　'One　thing；　Casey；　Hed…Opticals　grossed　less　than　300；000…odd　last　year。　What's　it　going　to　do　this　year？'
　〃　'Zero；'　she　said　with　that　smile　of　hers。　'I'm　Hed…Opticals'　total　asset。　In　fact；　I'm　all　there　is。'
　〃　'Then　what's　the　use　of　my　merging　with　zero　…　I've　got　enough　problems　of　my　own。'
　〃　'I　know　how　to　take　Randolf　Opticals　to　the　cleaners。'
　〃　'How？'
　〃　'22　percent　of　Randolf　s　is　owned　by　three　men　…　all　of　whom　despise　Toffer。　With　22　percent　you　could　get　control。　I　know　how　you　could　get　their　proxies；　and　most　of　all；　I　know　the　weakness　of　Toffer。'
　〃　'What's　that？'
　〃　'Vanity；　and　he's　a　megalomaniac；　but　most　of　all　he's　stupid。'
　〃　'He　can't　be　stupid　and　run　that　pany。'
　〃　'Perhaps　he　wasn't　once；　but　now　he　is。　He's　ready　to　be　taken。'
　〃　'And　what　do　you　want　out　of　this；　Casey？'
　〃　'Toffer's　head　…　I　want　to　do　the　firing。'
　〃　'What　else？'
　〃　'If　I　succeed　in　showing　you　how　。。。　if　we　succeed　in　taking　over　Randolf　Opticals；　say　within　six　months；　I'd　like　。。。　I'd　like　a　one…year　deal　with　you；　to　be　extended　to　seven；　at　a　salary　you　think　is　mensurate　with　my　ability；　as　your　executive　vice…president　in　charge　of　acquisitions。　But　I'd　want　it　as　a　person；　not　as　a　woman；　just　as　an　equal　person　to　you。　You're　the　boss　of　course；　but　I'm　to　be　equal　as　a　man　would　be　equal；　as　an　individual　。。。　if　I　deliver。'　〃
　Bartlett　grinned　and　sipped　his　beer。　〃I　said；　okay　you've　got　a　deal。　I　thought；　what've　I　got　to　lose　…　me　with　my　lousy　three…quarter　million　and　her　with　her　nothing　zero　balance　for　Randolf　Opticals　in　six　months；　now　that's　one　helluva　steal。　So　we　shook；　man　to　woman。〃　Bartlett　laughed。　〃First　time　I'd　ever　made　a　deal　with　a　woman；　just　like　that　…　and　I've　never　regretted　it。〃
　〃Thanks；　Linc；〃　Casey　said　softly；　and　every　one　of　them　was　envious。
　And　what　happened　after　you　fired　Toffer；　Dunross　was　thinking　with　all　the　others。　Is　that　when　you　two　began？
　〃The　takeover；〃　he　said　to　Bartlett。　〃It　was　smooth？〃
　〃Messy；　but　we　got　blooded　and　the　lessons　I　learned；　we　learned；　paid　off　a　thousand　percent。　In　five　months　we'd　control。　Casey　and　I　had　conquered　a　pany　531/2　times　our　size。　At　D…hour　minus　one　I　was　down　to　minus　4　million　dollars　in　the　bank　and　goddamn　near　in　jail；　but　the　next　hour　I'd　control。　Man；　that　was　a　battle　and　a　half。　In　a　month　and　a　half　we'd　reorganized　it　and　now　Par…Con's　Randolf　Division　grosses　150　million　yearly　and　the　stock's　way　up。　It　was　a　classic　blitzkrieg　and　set　the　pattern　for　Par…Con　Industries。〃
　〃And　this　George　Toffer；　Casey？　How　did　you　fire　him？〃
　Casey　took　her　tawny　eyes　off　Linc　and　turned　them　on　Dunross　and　he　thought；　Christ　I'd　like　to　possess　you。
　Casey　said；　〃The　hour　we　got　control　I…　〃　She　stopped　as　the　single　phone　rang　and　there　was　a　sudden　tension　in　the　room。　Everyone；　even　the　waiters；　immediately　switched　their　total　attention　to　the　phone　…　except　Bartlett。　The　color　had　drained　out　of　Gavallan's　face　and　deVille's。　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Casey　asked。
　Dunross　broke　the　silence。　〃It's　one　of　our　house　rules。　No　phone　calls　are　put　through　during　lunch　unless　it's　an　emergency　…　a　personal　emergency　…　for　one　of　us。〃
　They　watched　Lim　put　down　the　coffee　tray。　It　seemed　to　take　him　forever　to　walk　across　the　room　and　pick　up　the　phone。　They　all　had　wives　and　children　and　families　and　they　all　wondered　what　death　or　what　disaster　and　please　God；　let　the　call　be　for　someone　else；　remembering　the　last　time　the　phone　had　rung；　two　days　ago。　For　Jacques。　Then　another　time　last　month；　for　Gavallan；　his　mother　was　dying。　They　had　all　had　calls；　over　the　years。　All　bad。
　Andrew　Gavallan　was　sure　the　call　was　for　him。　His　wife；　Kathren；　Dunross's　sister；　was　at　the　hospital　for　the　results　of　exhaustive　tests　…　she　had　been　sick　for　weeks　for　no　apparent　reason。　Jesus　Christ；　he　thought；　get　hold　of　yourself；　conscious　of　others　watching　him。
　〃Weyyyy？〃　Lim　listened　a　moment。　He　turned　and　offered　the　phone。　〃It's　for　you；　tai…pan。〃
　The　others　breathed　again　and　watched　Dunross。　His　walk　was　tall。　〃Hello？　。。。　Oh　hel…　What？　。。。。　No　。。。　no；　I'll　be　right　there。　。。。　No；　don't　do　anything；　I'll　be　right　there。〃　They　saw　his　shock　as　he　replaced　the　phone　in　the　dead　silence。　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃Andrew；　tell　Claudia　to　postpone　my　afternoon　board　meetings。　You　and　Jacques　continue　with　Casey。　That　was　Phillip。　I'm　afraid　poor　John　Chen's　been　kidnapped。〃　He　left。
　
　8
　
　2：35　P。M。：
　Dunross　got　out　of　his　car　and　hurried　through　the　open　door　of　the　vast；　Chinese…style　mansion　that　was　set　high　on　the　mountain　crest　called　Struan's　Lookout。　He　passed　a　glazed　servant　who　closed　the　door　after　him；　and　went　into　the　living　room。　The　living　room　was　Victorian　and　gaudy　and　overstuffed　with　bric…a…brac　and　ill…matched　furniture。
　〃Hello；　Phillip；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　so　sorry。　Poor　John！　Where's　the　letter？〃
　〃Here。〃　Phillip　picked　it　up　from　the　sofa　as　he　got　up。　〃But　first　look　at　that。〃　He　pointed　at　a　crumpled　cardboard　shoebox　on　a　marble　table　beside　the　fireplace。
　As　Dunross　crossed　the　room　he　noticed　Dianne；　Phillip　Chen's　wife；　sitting　in　a　high…backed　chair　in　a　far　corner。　〃Oh；　hello；　Dianne；　sorry　about　this；〃　he　said　again。
　She　shrugged　impassively。　〃Joss；　tai…pan。〃　She　was　fifty…two；　Eurasian；　Phillip　Chen's　second　wife；　an　attractive；　bejeweled　matron　who　wore　a　dark　brown　chong…sam；　a　priceless　jade　bead　necklace　and　a　four…carat　diamond　ring　…　amid