jamesclavell.noblehouse-第27章

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m。
　Dunross's　smile　was　again　sardonic。　H'eung　yau　meant　〃fragrant　grease〃　and　normally　referred　to　the　money；　the　payoff；　the　squeeze；　that　was　paid　by　all　Chinese　restaurants；　most　businesses；　all　gambling　games；　all　dance　halls；　all　ladies　of　easy　virtue；　to　triads；　some　form　of　triad；　throughout　the　world。
　〃I　still　find　it　staggering　that　h'eung　yau's　paid　wherever　a　Chinese　is　in　business。〃
　〃Really；　tai…pan；〃　Dianne　said　as　though　he　were　a　child。　〃How　can　any　business　exist　without　protection？　You　expect　to　pay；　naturally；　so　you　pay　never　mind。　Everyone　gives　h'eung　yau　…　some　form　of　h'eung　yau。〃　Her　jade　beads　clicked　as　she　shifted　in　her　chair；　her　eyes　dark　dark　in　the　whiteness　of　her　face　…　so　highly　prized　among　Chinese。　〃But　the　Bartlett　deal；　tai…pan；　do　you　think　the　Bartlett　deal　will　go　through？〃
　Dunross　watched　her。　Ah　Dianne；　he　told　himself；　you　know　every　important　detail　that　Phillip　knows　about　his　business　and　my　business；　and　a　lot　Phillip　would　weep　with　fury　if　he　knew　you　knew。　So　you　know　Struan's　could　be　in　very　great　trouble　if　there's　no　Bartlett　deal；　but　if　the　deal　is　consummated　then　our　stock　will　skyrocket　and　we'll　be　rich　again　…　and　so　will　you　be；　if　you　can　get　in　early　enough；　to　buy　early　enough。
　Yes。
　And　I　know　you　Hong　Kong　Chinese　ladies　like　poor　Phillip　doesn't；　because　I'm　not　even　a　little　part　Chinese。　I　know　you　Hong　Kong　Chinese　ladies　are　the　roughest　women　on　earth　when　it　es　to　money　…　or　perhaps　the　most　practical。　And　you；　Dianne；　I　also　know　you　are　ecstatic　now；　however　much　you'll　pretend　otherwise。　Because　John　Chen's　not　your　son。　With　him　eliminated；　your　own　two　sons　will　be　direct　in　line　and　your　eldest；　Kevin；　heir　apparent。　So　you'll　pray　like　you've　never　prayed　before　that　John's　gone　forever。　You're　delighted。　John's　kidnapped　and　probably　murdered　but　what　about　the　Bartlett　deal？
　〃Ladies　are　so　practical；〃　he　said。
　〃How　so；　tai…pan？〃　she　asked；　her　eyes　narrowing。
　〃They　keep　things　in　perspective。〃
　〃Sometimes　I　don't　understand　you　at　all；　tai…pan；〃　she　replied；　an　edge　to　her　voice。　〃What　more　can　we　do　now　about　John　Chen？　Nothing。　We've　done　everything　we　can。　When　the　ransom　note　arrives　we　negotiate　and　we　pay　and　everything's　as　it　was。　But　the　Bartlett　deal　is　important；　very　important；　very　very　important　whatever　happens；　heya？　Moh　ching；　moh　meng。〃　No　money；　no　life。
　〃Quite。　It　is　very　important；　tai…pan。〃　Phillip　caught　sight　of　the　box　and　shuddered。　〃I　think　under　the　circumstances；　tai…pan；　if　you'll　excuse　us　this　evening　。。。　I　don't　th…　〃
　〃No；　Phillip；〃　his　wife　said　firmly。　〃No。　We　must　go。　It's　a　matter　of　face　for　the　whole　House。　We'll　go　as　planned。　As　difficult　as　it　will　be　for　us　…　we　will　go　as　planned。〃
　〃Well；　if　you　say　so。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Oh　very　yes　she　was　thinking；　replanning　her　whole　ensemble　to　enhance　the　dramatic　effect　of　their　entrance。　We'll　go　tonight　and　we'll　be　the　talk　of　Hong　Kong。　We'll　take　Kevin　of　course。　Perhaps　he's　heir　now。　Ayeeyah！　Who　should　my　son　marry？　I've　got　to　think　of　the　future　now。　Twenty…two's　a　perfect　age　and　I　have　to　think　of　his　new　future。　Yes；　a　wife。　Who？　I'd　better　choose　the　right　girl　at　once　and　quickly　if　he's　heir；　before　some　young　filly　with　a　fire　between　her　legs　and　a　rapacious　mother　does　it　for　me。　Ayeeyah；　she　thought；　her　temperature　rising；　gods　forbid　such　a　thing！　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　and　touched　her　eyes　with　her　handkerchief　as　though　a　tear　were　there；　〃there's　nothing　more　to　be　done　for　poor　John　but　wait　…　and　continue　to　work　and　plan　and　maneuver　for　the　good　of　the　Noble　House。〃　She　looked　up　at　Dunross；　her　eyes　glittering。　〃The　Bartlett　deal　would　solve　everything；　wouldn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃　And　you're　both　right；　Dunross　thought。　There's　nothing　more　to　be　done　at　the　moment。　Chinese　are　very　wise　and　very　practical。
　So　put　your　mind　on　important　things　…　he　told　himself。　Important　things　…　like　do　you　gamble？　Think。　What　better　place　or　time　than　here　and　now　could　you　find　to　begin　the　plan　you've　been　toying　with　ever　since　you　met　Bartlett？
　None。
　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　deciding　irrevocably；　then　looked　around　at　the　door　that　led　to　the　servants'　quarters；　making　sure　that　they　were　alone。　He　lowered　his　voice　to　a　conspiratorial　whisper　and　Phillip　and　his　wife　leaned　forward　to　hear　better。　〃I　had　a　private　meeting　with　Bartlett　before　lunch。　We've　made　the　deal。　I'll　need　some　minor　changes；　but　we　close　the　contract　formally　on　Tuesday　of　next　week。　The　20　million's　guaranteed　and　a　further　20　million　next　year。〃
　Phillip　Chen's　beam　was　huge。　〃Congratulations。〃
　〃Not　so　loud；　Phillip；〃　his　wife　hissed；　equally　pleased。　〃Those　turtle　mouth　slaves　in　the　kitchen　have　ears　that　can　reach　to　Java。　Oh　but　that's　tremendous　news；　tai…pan。〃
　〃We'll　keep　this　in　the　family；〃　Dunross　said　softly。　〃This　afternoon　I'm　instructing　our　brokers　to　start　buying　Struan's　stock　secretly　…　every　spare　penny　we've　got。　You　do　the　same；　in　small　lots　and　spread　the　orders　over　different　brokers　and　nominees　…　the　usual。〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　〃I　bought　40　thousand　this　morning　personally。〃
　〃How　much　will　the　stock　go　up？〃　Dianne　Chen　asked。
　〃Double！〃
　〃How　soon？〃
　〃Thirty　days。〃
　〃Eeeee；〃　she　chortled。　〃Think　of　that。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said　agreeably。　〃Think　of　that！　Yes。　And　you　two　will　only　tell　your　very　close　relations；　of　which　there　are　many；　and　they　will　only　tell　their　very　close　relations；　of　which　there　are　a　multitude；　and　you'll　all　buy　and　buy　because　this　is　an　inside…inside；　gilt…edged　tip　and　hardly　any　gamble　at　all　which　will　further　fuel　the　stock　rise。　The　fact　that　it's　only　family　will　surely　leak　and　more　will　jump　in；　then　more；　and　then　the　formal　announcement　of　the　Par…Con　deal　will　add　fire　and　then；　next　week；　I'll　announce　the　takeover　bid　for　Asian　Properties　and　then　all　Hong　Kong　will　buy。　Our　stock　will　skyrocket。　Then；　at　the　right　moment；　I　dump　Asian　Properties　and　go　after　the　real　target。〃
　〃How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃　Phillip　Chen　asked　…　his　mind　swamped　by　his　own　calculations　of　the　possible　profits。
　〃Maximum。　But　it　has　to　be　family　only。　Our　stocks'll　lead　the　boom。〃
　Dianne　gasped。　〃There's　going　to　be　a　boom？〃
　〃Yes。　We'll　lead　it。　The　time's　ripe；　everyone　in　Hong　Kong's　ready。　We'll　supply　the　means；　we'll　be　the　leader；　and　with　a　judicious　shove　here　and　there；　there'll　be　a　stampede。〃
　There　was　a　great　silence。　Dunross　watched　the　avarice　on　her　face。
　Her　fingers　clicked　the　jade　beads。　He　saw　Phillip　staring　into　the　distance　and　he　knew　that　part　of　his　pradore's　mind　was　on　the　various　notes　that　he；　Phillip；　had　countersigned　for　Struan's　that　were　due　in　thirteen　to　thirty　days：　12　million　U。S。　to　Toda　Shipping　Industries　of　Yokohama　for　the　two　super　bulk　cargo　freighters；　6；800；000　to　the　Orlin　International　Merchant　Bank；　and　750；000　to　Tsu…yan；　who　had　covered　another　problem　for　him。　But　most　of　Phillip's　mind　would　be　on　Bartlett's　20　million　and　the　stock　rise　…　the　doubling　that　he　had　arbitrarily　forecast。
　Double？
　No　way　…　no　not　at　all；　not　a　chance　in　hell　。。。
　Unless　there's　a　boom。　Unless　there's　a　boom！
　Dunross　felt　his　heart　quicken。　〃If　there's　a　boom　。。。　Christ；　Phillip；　we　can　do　it！〃
　〃Yes　…　yes；　I　agree；　Hong　Kong's　ripe。　Ah　yes。〃　Phillip　Chen's　eyes　sparkled　and　his　fingers　drummed。　〃How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Every　bl…　〃
　Excitedly　Dianne　overrode　Dunross；　〃Phillip；　last　week　my　astrologer　said　this　was　going　to　be　an　important　month　for　us！　A　boom！　That's　what　he　must　have　meant。〃
　〃That's　right；　I　remember　you　telling　me；　Dianne。　Oh　oh　oh！　How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃　he　asked　again。
　〃Every　bloody　penny！　We'll　make　this　the　big　one。　But　family　only　until　Friday。　Absolutely　until　Friday。　Then；　after　the　market　closes　I'll　leak　the　Bartlett　deal。　。。。〃
　〃Eeeeee；〃　Dianne　hissed。
　〃Yes。　Over　the　weekend　I'll　say　'no　ment'　…　you　make　sure　you're　not　available；　Phillip　…　and　e　Monday　morning；　everyone'll　be　chomping　at　the　bit。　I'll　still　say　'no　ment；'　but　Monday　we　buy　openly。　Then；　just　after　close　of　business　Monday；　I'll　announce　the　whole　deal's　confirmed。　Then；　e　Tuesday　。。。〃
　〃The　boom's　on！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Oh　happy　day；〃　Dianne　croaked　delightedly。　〃And　every　amah；　houseboy；　coolie；　businessman；　will　decide　their　joss　is　perfect　and　out　will　e　their　savings　and　everything　gets　fed；　all　stocks　will　rocket。　What　a　pity　there　won't　be　an　editorial　tomorrow　。。。　even　better；　an　astrologer　in　one　of　the　papers　。。。　say　Hundred　Year　Fong　。。。　or　。。。〃　Her　eyes　almost　crossed　with　excitement。　〃What　about　the　astrologer；　Phillip？〃
　He　stared　at　her；　shocked。　〃Old　Blind　Tung？〃
　〃Why　not？　Some　h'eung　yau　in　his　palm　。。。　or　the　promise　of　a　few　shares　of　whatever　stock　you　name。　Heya？〃
　〃Well；　I…　〃
　〃Leave　that　one　to　me。　Old　Blind　Tung　owes　me　a　favor　or　two；　I've　sent　him　enough　clients！　Yes。　And　he　won't　be　far　wrong　announcing　heavenly　portents　that　herald　the　greatest　boom　in　Hong　Kong's　history；　will　he？〃
　
　9
　
　5：25　P。M。　：
　The　police　pathologist；　Dr。　Meng；　adjusted　the　focus　of　the　microscope　and　studied　the　sliver　of　flesh　that　he　had　cut　from　the　ear。　Brian　Kwok　watched　him　impatiently。　The　doctor　was　a　small　pedantic　little　Cantonese　with　thick…lensed　glasses　perched　on　his　forehead。　At　length　he　looked　up　and　his　glasses　fell　conveniently　onto　his　nose。　〃Well；　Brian；　it　could　have　been　sliced　from　a　living　person　and　not　a　corpse　。。。　possibly。　Possibly　within　the　last　eight　or　ten　hours。　The　bruising　。。。　here；　look　at　the　back〃　…　Dr。　Meng　motioned　delicately　at　the　discoloration　at　the　back　and　at　the　top　…　〃。。。　that　certainly　indicates　to　me　that　the　person　was　alive　at　the　time。〃
　〃Why　bruising；　Dr。　Meng？　What　caused　it？　The　slash？〃
　〃It　could　have　been　caused　by　someone　holding　the　specimen　tightly；〃　Dr。　Meng　said　cautiously；　〃while　it　was　being　removed。〃
　〃By　what　…　knife；　razor；　zip　knife；　or　Chinese　chopper　…　cooking　chopper？〃
　〃By　a　sharp　instrument。〃
　Brian　Kwok　sighed。　〃Would　that　kill　someone？　The　shock？　Someone　like　John　Chen？〃
　Dr。　Meng　steepled　his　fingers。　〃It　could；　possibly。　Possibly　not。　Does　he　have　a　history　of　a　weak　heart？〃
　〃His　father　said　he　hadn't　…　I　haven't　checked　with　his　own　doctor　yet　…　the　bugger's　on　holiday　but　John's　never　given　any　indication　of　being　anything　but　healthy。〃
　〃This　mutilation　probably　shouldn't　kill　a　healthy　man　but　he'd　be　very　unfortable　for　a　week　or　two。〃　The　doctor　beamed。　〃Very　unfortable　indeed。〃
　〃Jesus！〃　Brian　said。　〃Isn't　there　anything　you　can　give　me　that'll　help？〃
　〃I'm　a　forensic　pathologist；　Brian；　not　a　seer。〃
　〃Can　you　tell　if　the　ear's　Eurasian　…　or　pure　Chinese？〃
　〃No。　No；　with　this　specimen　that'd　be　almost　impossible。　But　it's　certainly　not　Anglo…Saxon；　or　Indian　or　Negroid。〃　Dr。　Meng　took　off　his　glasses　and　stared　myopically　up　at　the　tall　superintendent。　〃This　could　possibly　cause　quite　a　ripple　in　the　House　of　Chen；　heya？〃
　〃Yes。　And　the　Noble　House。〃　Brian　Kwok　thought　a　moment。　〃In　your　opinion；　this　Werewolf；　this　maniac；　would　you　say　he's　Chinese？〃
　〃The　writing　could　have　been　a　civilized　person's；　yes　…　equally　it　could　have　been　done　by　a　quai　loh　pretending　to　be　a　civilize