jamesclavell.noblehouse-第33章

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　page　was　beautiful　copperplate：　〃I　swear　by　the　Lord　God　that　whomsoever　produces　the　other　half　of　any　of　these　coins；　I　will　grant　him　whatsoever　he　asks。〃　It　was　signed　Dirk　Struan；　February　23；　1841；　and　below　his　signature　was　Culum　Struan's　and　all　the　other　tai…pans　and　the　last　name　was　Ian　Dunross。
　Alongside　the　first　space　where　once　a　coin　had　been　was　written：　〃Wu　Fang　Choi；　paid　in　part；　March　29；　Year　of　our　Lord　1841；〃　and　signed　again　by　Dirk　Struan　and　cosigned　below　by　Culum　Struan　and　dated　18　June　1845　〃paid　in　full。〃　Alongside　the　second：　〃Sun　Chen…yat；　paid　in　full；　October　10；　1911；〃　and　signed　boldly；　Hag　Struan。
　Ah；　Dunross　told　himself；　bemused；　what　lovely　arrogance　…　to　be　so　secure　to　be　able　to　sign　the　book　thus　and　not　Tess　Struan；　for　future　generations　to　see。
　How　many　more　generations？　he　asked　himself。　How　many　more　tai…pans　will　have　to　sign　blindly　and　swear　the　Holy　Oath　to　do　the　bidding　of　a　man　dead　almost　a　century　and　a　half？
　Thoughtfully　he　ran　his　finger　over　the　jagged　edges　of　the　two　remaining　half…coins。　After　a　moment　he　closed　the　Bible　firmly；　put　it　into　its　place　again；　touched　it　once　for　luck　and　locked　the　safe。　He　swung　the　painting　back　into　its　place　and　stared　up　at　the　portrait；　standing　now　with　his　hands　deep　in　his　pockets　in　front　of　the　mantelpiece；　the　heavy　old　oak　carved　with　the　Struan　arms；　chipped　and　broken　here　and　there；　an　old　Chinese　fire　screen　in　front　of　the　huge　fireplace。
　This　oil　of　Dirk　Struan　was　his　favorite　and　he　had　taken　it　out　of　the　long　gallery　when　he　became　tai…pan　and　had　hung　it　here　in　the　place　of　honor　…　instead　of　the　portrait　of　Hag　Struan　that　had　been　over　the　mantelpiece　in　the　tai…pan's　study　ever　since　there　was　a　Great　House。　Both　had　been　painted　by　Aristotle　Quance。　In　this　one；　Dirk　Struan　was　standing　in　front　of　a　crimson　curtain；　broad…shouldered　and　arrogant；　his　high…cut　coat　black　and　his　waistcoat　and　cravat　and　ruffled　shirt　white　and　high…cut。　Heavy　eyebrows　and　strong　nose　and　clean…shaven；　with　reddish　hair　and　mutton…chop　sideburns；　lips　curled　and　sensual　and　you　could　feel　the　eyes　boring　into　you；　their　green　enhanced　by　the　black　and　white　and　crimson。
　Dunross　half…smiled；　not　afraid；　not　envious；　more　calmed　than　anything　by　his　ancestor's　gaze　…　knowing　he　was　possessed；　partially　possessed　by　him。　He　raised　his　glass　of　champagne　to　the　painting　in　half…mocking　jest　as　he　had　done　many　times　before：　〃Health！〃
　The　eyes　stared　back　at　him。
　What　would　you　do；　Dirk　…　Dirk　o'　the　will　o'　the　wisp；　he　thought。
　〃You'd　probably　say　just　find　the　traitors　and　kill　them；〃　he　mused　aloud；　〃and　you'd　probably　be　right。〃
　The　problem　of　the　traitor　in　the　police　did　not　shatter　him　as　much　as　the　information　about　the　Sevrin　spy　ring；　its　U。S。　connections　and　the　astonishing；　secret　gains　made　by　the　munists　in　Britain。　Where　the　hell　does　Grant　get　all　his　info？　he　asked　himself　for　the　hundredth　time。
　He　remembered　their　first　meeting。　Alan　Medford　Grant　was　a　short；　elflike；　balding　man　with　large　eyes　and　large　teeth；　in　his　neat　pin…striped　suit　and　bowler　hat　and　he　liked　him　immediately。
　〃Don't　you　worry；　Mr。　Dunross；〃　Grant　had　said　when　Dunross　had　hired　him　in　1960；　the　moment　he　became　tai…pan。　〃I　assure　you　there'll　be　no　conflict　of　interest　with　Her　Majesty's　Government　if　I　chair　your　research　mittee　on　the　nonexclusive　basis　we've　discussed。　I've　already　cleared　it　with　them　in　fact。　I'll　only　give　you　…　confidentially　of　course；　for　you　personally　of　course；　and　absolutely　not　for　publication　…　I'll　only　give　you　classified　material　that　does　not；　in　my　opinion；　jeopardize　the　national　interest。　After　all；　our　interests　are　the　same　there；　aren't　they？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃
　〃May　I　ask　how　you　heard　of　me？〃
　〃We　have　friends　in　high　places；　Mr。　Grant。　In　certain　circles　your　name　is　quite　famous。　Perhaps　even　a　foreign　secretary　would　remend　you；〃　he　had　added　delicately。
　〃Ah　yes。〃
　〃Our　arrangement　is　satisfactory？〃
　〃Yes　…　one　year　initially；　extended　to　five　if　everything　goes　well。　After　five？〃
　〃Another　five；〃　Dunross　said。　〃If　we　achieve　the　results　I　want；　your　retainer　will　be　doubled。〃
　〃Ah。　That's　very　generous。　But　may　I　ask　why　you're　being　so　generous　…　perhaps　extravagant　would　be　the　word　…　with　me　and　this　projected　mittee？〃
　〃Sun　Tzu　said；　'What　enables　a　wise　sovereign　or　good　general　to　strike　and　to　conquer　and　to　achieve　things　beyond　the　reach　of　normal　men　is　foreknowledge。　Foreknowledge　es　only　through　spies。　Nothing　is　of　more　importance　to　the　state　than　the　quality　of　its　spies。　It　is　ten　thousand　times　cheaper　to　pay　the　best　spies　lavishly　than　even　a　tiny　army　poorly。'　〃
　Alan　Medford　Grant　beamed。　〃Quite　right！　My　8；500　pounds　a　year　is　lavish　indeed；　Mr。　Dunross。　Oh　yes。　Yes　indeed。〃
　〃Can　you　think　of　a　better　investment　for　me？〃
　〃Not　if　I　perform　correctly；　if　I　and　the　ones　I　choose　are　the　best　to　be　had。　Even　so；　30…odd　thousand　pounds　a　year　in　salaries　…　a　fund　of　up　to　100；000　pounds　to　draw　on　for　。。。　for　informants　and　information；　all　secret　monies　。。。　well；　I　hope　you　will　be　satisfied　with　your　investment。〃
　〃If　you're　the　best　I'll　recoup　a　thousandfold。　I　expect　to　recoup　a　thousandfold；〃　he　had　said；　meaning　it。
　〃I'll　do　everything　in　my　power　of　course。　Now；　specifically　what　sort　of　information　do　you　want？〃
　〃Anything　and　everything；　mercial；　political；　that'd　help　Struan's　plan　ahead；　with　accent　on　the　Pacific　Rim；　on　Russian；　American　and　Japanese　thinking。　We'd　probably　know　more　about　Chinese　attitudes　ourselves。　Please　give　me　more　rather　than　less。　Actually　anything　could　be　valuable　because　I　want　to　take　Struan's　out　of　the　China　trade　…　more　specifically　I　want　the　pany　international　and　want　to　diversify　out　of　our　present　dependence　on　China　trade。〃
　〃Very　well。　First：　I　would　not　like　to　trust　our　reports　to　the　mails。〃
　〃I'll　arrange　a　personal　courier。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Second：　I　must　have　free　range　to　select；　appoint　and　remove　the　other　members　of　the　mittee　…　and　spend　the　money　as　I　see　fit？〃
　〃Agreed。〃
　〃Five　members　will　be　sufficient。〃
　〃How　much　do　you　want　to　pay　them？〃
　〃5；000　pounds　a　year　for　a　nonexclusive　retainer　each　would　be　excellent。　I　can　get　top　men　for　that。　Yes。　I'll　appoint　associate　members　for　special　studies　as　I　need　them。　As；　er；　as　most　of　our　contacts　will　be　abroad；　many　in　Switzerland；　could　funds　be　available　there？〃
　〃Say　I　deposit　the　full　amount　we've　agreed　quarterly　in　a　numbered　Swiss　account。　You　can　draw　funds　as　you　need　them　…　your　signature　or　mine　only。　You　account　to　me　solely；　quarterly　in　arrears。　If　you　want　to　erect　a　code　that's　fine　with　me。〃
　〃Excellent。　I　won't　be　able　to　name　anyone　…　I　can't　account　to　whom　I　give　money。〃
　After　a　pause　Dunross　had　said；　〃All　right。〃
　〃Thank　you。　We　understand　one　another；　I　think。　Can　you　give　me　an　example　of　what　you　want？〃
　〃For　example；　I　don't　want　to　get　caught　like　my　predecessor　was　over　Suez。〃
　〃Oh！　You　mean　the　1956　fiasco　when　Eisenhower　betrayed　us　again　and　caused　the　failure　of　the　British…French…Israeli　attack　on　Egypt　…　because　Nasser　had　nationalized　the　canal？〃
　〃Yes。　That　cost　us　a　fortune　…　it　wrecked　our　Middle　East　interests；　almost　ruined　us。　If　the　previous　tai…pan'd　known　about　a　possible　closure　of　Suez　we　could　have　made　a　fortune　booking　cargo　space　…　increasing　our　fleet　。。。　or　if　we'd　had　an　advanced　insight　into　American　thinking；　particularly　that　Eisenhower　would　side　again　with　Soviet　Russia　against　us；　we　could　certainly　have　cut　our　losses。〃
　The　little　man　had　said　sadly；　〃You　know　he　threatened　to　freeze　all　British；　French　and　Israeli　assets　in　the　States　instantly　if　we　did　not　at　once　withdraw　from　Egypt　when　we　were　a　few　hours　from　victory？　I　think　all　our　present　problems　in　the　Middle　East　stem　from　that　U。S。　decision。　Yes。　Inadvertently　the　U。S。　approved　international　piracy　for　the　first　time　and　set　a　pattern　for　future　piracies。　Nationalization。　What　a　joke！　Theft　is　a　better　word　…　or　piracy。　Yes。　Eisenhower　was　ill…advised。　And　very　ill…advised　to　go　along　with　the　fatuous　political　Yalta　agreement　of　an　ailing　Roosevelt；　the　inpetent　Attlee　to　allow　Stalin　to　gorge　most　of　Europe；　when　it　was　militarily　clear　to　even　the　most　stupid　politician　or　hidebound　general　that　it　was　contrary　to　our　absolute　national　interest；　ours　and　the　United　States　to　hold　back。　I　think　Roosevelt　hated　us　really；　and　our　British　Empire。〃
　The　little　man　steepled　his　fingers　and　beamed。　〃I'm　afraid　there's　one　big　disadvantage　in　employing　me；　Mr。　Dunross。　I'm　entirely　pro…British；　anti…munist；　and　particularly　anti…KGB；　which　is　the　main　instrument　of　Soviet　foreign　policy；　which　is　openly　and　forever　mitted　to　our　destruction；　so　some　of　my　more　peppery　forecasts　you　can　discount；　if　you　wish。　I'm　entirely　against　a　left…wing　dominated　Labour　Party　and　I　will　constantly　remind　anyone　who　will　listen　that　the　anthem　of　the　Labour　Party's　'The　Red　Flag。'　〃　Alan　Medford　Grant　smiled　in　his　pixy　way。　〃It's　best　you　know　where　you　stand　in　the　beginning。　I'm　royalist；　loyalist　and　believe　in　the　British　parliamentary　way。　I'll　never　knowingly　give　you　false　information　though　my　evaluations　will　be　slanted。　May　I　ask　what　your　politics　are？〃
　〃We　have　none　in　Hong　Kong；　Mr。　Grant。　We　don't　vote；　there　are　no　elections　…　we're　a　colony；　particularly　a　free…port　colony；　not　a　democracy。　The　Crown　rules　…　actually　the　governor　rules　despotically　for　the　Crown。　He　has　a　legislative　council　but　it's　a　rubber…stamp　council　and　the　historic　policy　is　laissez…faire。　Wisely　he　leaves　things　alone。　He　listens　to　the　business　munity；　makes　social　changes　very　cautiously　and　leaves　everyone　to　make　money　or　not　make　money；　to　build；　expand；　go　broke；　to　go　or　to　e；　to　dream　or　to　stay　awake；　to　live　or　to　die　as　best　you　can。　And　the　maximum　tax　is　15　percent　but　only　on　money　earned　in　Hong　Kong。　We　don't　have　politics　here；　don't　want　politics　here　…　neither　does　China　want　us　to　have　any　here。　They're　for　the　status　quo　too。　My　personal　politics？　I'm　royalist；　I'm　for　freedom；　for　free…booting　and　free　trade。　I'm　a　Scotsman；　I'm　for　Struan's；　I'm　for　laissez…faire　in　Hong　Kong　and　freedom　throughout　the　world。〃
　〃I　think　we　understand　one　another。　Good。　I've　never　worked　for　an　individual　before　…　only　the　government。　This　will　be　a　new　experience　for　me。　I　hope　I　will　satisfy　you。〃　Grant　paused　and　thought　a　moment。　〃Like　Suez　in　'56？〃　The　lines　beside　the　little　man's　eyes　crinkled。　〃Very　well；　plan　that　the　Panama　Canal　will　be　lost　to　America。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous！〃
　〃Oh　don't　look　so　shocked；　Mr。　Dunross！　It's　too　easy。　Give　it　ten　or　fifteen　years　of　enemy　spadework　and　lots　of　liberal　talk　in　America；　ably　assisted　by　do…gooders　who　believe　in　the　benevolence　of　human　nature；　add　to　all　this　a　modest　amount　of　calculated　Panamanian　agitation；　students　and　so　on　…　preferably；　ah；　always　students　…　artfully　and　secretly　assisted　by　a　few　highly　trained；　patient；　professional　agitators　and　oh　so　secret　KGB　expertise；　finance　and　a　long…range　plan　…　ergo；　in　due　course　the　canal　could　be　out　of　U。S。　hands　into　the　enemy's。〃
　〃They'd　nev