jamesclavell.noblehouse-第41章

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　〃No　chance　of　that；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Not　a　chance　in　hell！〃
　〃I　think　there's　a　very　good　chance。〃　Gornt's　tone　changed。　〃In　any　event；　as　you　say；　we　shall　see。〃
　〃Yes；　we　will　…　meanwhile　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped　as　he　saw　Claudia　approaching　uneasily。
　〃Excuse　me；　tai…pan；〃　she　said；　〃your　personal　call　to　London's　on　the　line。〃
　〃Oh　thank　you。〃　Dunross　turned　and　beckoned　Penelope。　She　came　over　at　once。　〃Penelope；　would　you　entertain　Quillan　and　Miss　Tcholok　for　a　moment。　I've　got　a　phone　call　…　Quillan's　not　staying　for　dinner　…　he　has　pressing　business。〃　He　waved　cheerily　and　left　them。　Casey　noticed　the　animal　grace　to　his　walk。
　〃You're　not　staying　for　dinner？〃　Penelope　was　saying；　her　relief　evident　though　she　tried　to　cover　it。
　〃No。　I'm　sorry　to　inconvenience　you　…　arriving　so　abruptly；　after　declining　your　kind　invitation。　Unfortunately　I　can't　stay。〃
　〃Oh。　Then　。。。　would　you　excuse　me　a　moment；　I'll　be　back　in　a　second。〃
　〃There's　no　need　to　worry　about　us；〃　Gornt　said　gently。　〃We　can　look　after　ourselves。　Again；　sorry　to　be　a　nuisance　…　you're　looking　marvelous；　Penelope。　You　never　change。〃　She　thanked　him　and　he　willed　her　away。　Gratefully　she　went　over　to　Claudia　Chen　who　was　waiting　nearby。
　〃You're　a　curious　man；〃　Casey　said。　〃One　moment　war；　the　next　great　charm。〃
　〃We　have　rules；　we　English；　in　peace　and　war。　Just　because　you　loathe　someone；　that's　no　reason　to　curse　him；　spit　in　his　eye　or　abuse　his　lady。〃　Gornt　smiled　down　at　her。　〃Shall　we　find　your　Mr。　Bartlett？　Then　I　really　should　go。〃
　〃Why　did　you　do　that？　To　the　tai…pan？　The　battle　challenge　…　the　'vital'　bit。　That　was　the　formal　gauntlet；　wasn't　it？　In　public。〃
　〃Life's　a　game；〃　he　said。　〃All　life's　a　game　and　we　English　play　it　with　different　rules　from　you　Americans。　Yes。　And　life's　to　be　enjoyed。　Ciranoush　…　what　a　lovely　name　you　have。　May　I　use　it？〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said　after　a　pause。　〃But　why　the　challenge　now？〃
　〃Now　was　the　time。　I　didn't　exaggerate　about　your　importance　to　Struan's。　Shall　we　go　and　find　your　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　That's　the　third　time　he's　said　your　Mr。　Bartlett；　she　thought。　Is　that　to　probe；　or　to　needle？　〃Sure；　why　not？〃　She　turned　for　the　garden；　conscious　of　the　looks；　overt　and　covert；　of　the　other　guests；　feeling　the　danger　pleasantly。　〃Do　you　always　make　dramatic　entrances　like　this？〃
　Gornt　laughed。　〃No。　Sorry　if　I　was　abrupt；　Ciranoush　…　if　I　distressed　you。〃
　〃You　mean　about　your　private　meeting　with　Linc？　You　didn't。　It　was　very　shrewd　of　Linc　to　approach　the　opposition　without　my　knowledge。　That　gave　me　a　freedom　of　action　that　otherwise　I'd　not　have　had　this　morning。〃
　〃Ah；　then　you're　not　irritated　that　he　didn't　trust　you　in　this？〃
　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　trust。　I　often　withhold　information　from　Linc；　until　the　time's　ripe；　to　protect　him。　He　was　obviously　doing　the　same　for　me。　Linc　and　I　understand　one　another。　At　least　I　think　I　understand　him。〃
　〃Then　tell　me　how　to　finalize　a　deal。〃
　〃First　I　have　to　know　what　you　want。　Apart　from　Dunross's　head。〃
　〃I　don't　want　his　head；　or　death　or　anything　like　that　…　just　an　early　demise　of　their　Noble　House。　Once　Struan's　is　obliterated　we　bee　the　Noble　House。〃　His　face　hardened。　〃Then　all　sorts　of　ghosts　can　sleep。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　them。〃
　〃Now's　not　the　time；　Ciranoush；　oh　no。　Too　many　hostile　ears。　That'd　be　for　your　ears　only。〃　They　were　out　in　the　garden　now；　the　gentle　breeze　grand；　a　fine　night　sky　overhead；　star　filled。　Linc　Bartlett　was　not　on　this　terrace　so　they　went　down　the　wide　stone　steps　through　other　guests　to　the　lower　one；　toward　the　paths　that　threaded　the　lawns。　Then　they　were　intercepted。
　〃Hello；　Quillan；　this's　a　pleasant　surprise。〃
　〃Hello；　Paul。　Miss　Tcholok；　may　I　introduce　you　to　Paul　Havergill？　Paul's　presently　in　charge　of　the　Victoria　Bank。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　that's　very　temporary；　Miss　Tcholok；　and　only　because　our　chief　manager's　on　sick　leave。　I'm　retiring　in　a　few　months。〃
　〃To　our　regret；〃　Gornt　said；　then　introduced　Casey　to　the　rest　of　this　group：　Lady　Joanna　Temple…Smith；　a　tall；　stretched…faced　woman　in　her　fifties；　and　Richard　Kwang　and　his　wife　Mai…ling。　〃Richard　Kwang's　chairman　of　the　Ho…Pak；　one　of　our　finest　Chinese　banks。〃
　〃In　banking　we're　all　friendly　petitors；　Miss；　er；　Miss；　except　of　course　for　Blacs；〃　Havergill　said。
　〃Sir？〃　Casey　said。
　〃Blacs？　Oh　that's　a　nickname　for　the　Bank　of　London；　Canton　and　Shanghai。　They　may　be　bigger　than　we　are；　a　month　or　so　older；　but　we're　the　best　bank　here；　Miss；　er　。。。〃
　〃Blacs're　my　bankers；〃　Gornt　said　to　Casey。　〃They　do　me　very　well。　They're　first…class　bankers。〃
　〃Second…class；　Quillan。〃
　Gornt　turned　back　to　Casey。　〃We've　a　saying　here　that　Blacs　consists　of　gentlemen　trying　to　be　bankers；　and　those　at　the　Victoria　are　bankers　trying　to　be　gentlemen。〃
　Casey　laughed。　The　others　smiled　politely。
　〃You're　all　just　friendly　petition；　Mr。　Kwang？〃　she　asked。
　〃Oh　yes。　We　wouldn't　dare　oppose　Blacs　or　the　Victoria；〃　Richard　Kwang　said　amiably。　He　was　short　and　stocky　and　middle…aged　with　gray…flecked　black　hair　and　an　easy　smile；　his　English　perfect。　〃I　hear　Par…Con's　going　to　invest　in　Hong　Kong；　Miss　Tchelek。〃
　〃We're　here　to　look　around；　Mr。　Kwang。　Nothing's　firm　yet。〃　She　passed　over　his　mispronunciation。
　Gornt　lowered　his　voice。　〃Just　between　ourselves；　I've　formally　told　both　Bartlett　and　Miss　Tcholok　that　I　will　better　any　offer　Struan's　might　make。　Blacs　are　supporting　me　one　hundred　percent。　And　I've　friendly　bankers　elsewhere。　I'm　hoping　Par…Con　will　consider　all　possibilities　before　making　any　mitment。〃
　〃I　imagine　that　would　be　very　wise；〃　Havergill　said。　〃Of　course　Struan's　does　have　the　inside　track。〃
　〃Blacs　and　most　of　Hong　Kong　would　hardly　agree　with　you；〃　Gornt　said。
　〃I　hope　it　won't　e　to　a　clash；　Quillan；〃　Havergill　said。　〃Struan's　is　our　major　customer。〃
　Richard　Kwang　said；　〃Either　way；　Miss　Tchelek；　it　would　be　good　to　have　such　a　great　American　pany　as　Par…Con　here。　Good　for　you；　good　for　us。　Let's　hope　that　a　deal　can　be　found　that　suits　Par…Con。　If　Mr。　Bartlett　would　like　any　assistance　。。。〃　The　banker　produced　his　business　card。　She　took　it；　opened　her　silk　handbag　and　offered　hers　with　equal　dexterity；　having　e　prepared　for　the　immediate　card　exchanging　that　is　good　manners　and　obligatory　in　Asia。　The　Chinese　banker　glanced　at　it　then　his　eyes　narrowed。
　〃Sorry　I　haven't　had　it　translated　into　characters　yet；〃　she　said。　〃Our　bankers　in　the　States　are　First　Central　New　York　and　the　California　Merchant　Bank　and　Trust　pany。〃　Casey　mentioned　them　proudly；　sure　the　bined　assets　of　these　banking　giants　were　in　excess　of　6　billions。　〃I'd　be　gl…　〃　She　stopped；　startled　at　the　sudden　chill　surrounding　her。　〃Is　something　wrong？〃
　〃Yes　and　no；〃　Gornt　said　after　a　moment。　〃It's　just　that　the　First　Central　New　York　Bank's　not　at　all　popular　here。〃
　〃Why？〃
　Havergill　said　disdainfully；　〃They　turned　out　to　be　a　shower　…　that's；　er；　English　for　a　bad　lot；　Miss；　er；　Miss。　The　First　Central　New　York　did　some　business　here　before　the　war；　then　expanded　in　the　mid…forties　while　we　at　the　Victoria　and　other　British　institutions　were　picking　ourselves　off　the　floor。　In　'49　when　Chairman　Mao　threw　Chiang　Kai…shek　off　the　Mainland　to　Taiwan；　Mao's　troops　were　massed　on　our　border　just　a　few　miles　north　in　the　New　Territories。　It　was　touch　and　go　whether　or　not　the　hordes　would　spill　over　and　overrun　the　Colony。　A　lot　of　people　cut　and　ran；　none　of　us　of　course；　but　all　the　Chinese　who　could　got　out。　Without　any　warning；　the　First　Central　New　York　called　in　all　their　loans；　paid　off　their　depositors；　closed　their　doors　and　fled　…　all　in　the　space　of　one　week。〃
　〃I　didn't　know；〃　Casey　said；　aghast。
　〃They　were　a　bunch　of　yellow　bastards；　my　dear；　if　you'll　excuse　the　expression；〃　Lady　Joanna　said　with　open　contempt。　〃Of　course；　they　were　the　only　bank　that　scarpered　…　ran　away。　But　then　they　were　。。。　well；　what　can　you　expect；　my　dear？〃
　〃Probably　better；　Lady　Joanna；〃　Casey　said；　furious　with　the　VP　in　charge　of　their　account　for　not　warning　them。　〃Perhaps　there　were　mitigating　circumstances。　Mr。　Havergill；　were　the　loans　substantial？〃
　〃At　that　time；　very；　I'm　afraid。　Yes。　That　bank　ruined　quite　a　lot　of　important　businesses　and　people；　caused　an　enormous　amount　of　grief　and　loss　of　face。　Still；〃　he　said　with　a　smile；　〃we　all　benefited　by　their　leaving。　A　couple　of　years　ago　they　had　the　effrontery　to　apply　to　the　financial　secretary　for　a　new　charter！〃
　Richard　Kwang　added　jovially；　〃That's　one　charter　that'll　never　be　renewed！　You　see；　Miss　Tchelek；　all　foreign　banks　operate　on　a　renewable　yearly　charter。　Certainly　we　can　do　very　well　without　that　one；　or　for　that　matter　any　other　American　bank。　They're　such　。。。　well；　you'll　find　the　Victoria；　Blacs　or　the　Ho…Pak；　perhaps　all　three　Miss　K。C。；　can　fulfill　all　Par…Con's　needs　perfectly。　If　you　and　Mr。　Bartlett　would　like　to　chat　。。。〃
　〃I'd　be　glad　to　visit　with　you；　Mr。　Kwang。　Say　tomorrow？　Initially　I　handle　most　of　our　banking　needs。　Maybe　sometime　in　the　morning？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　of　course。　You'll　find　us　petitive；〃　Richard　Kwang　said　without　a　flicker。　〃At　ten？〃
　〃Great。　We're　at　the　V　and　A；　Kowloon。　If　ten's　not　good　for　you　just　let　me　know；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　pleased　to　meet　you　personally　too；　Mr。　Havergill。　I　presume　our　appointment　for　tomorrow　is　still　in　order？〃
　〃Of　course。　At　four；　isn't　it？　I　look　forward　to　chatting　at　length　with　Mr。　Bartlett　。。。　and　you；　of　course；　my　dear。〃　He　was　a　tall；　lean　man　and　she　noticed　his　eyes　rise　from　her　cleavage。　She　dismissed　her　immediate　dislike。　I　may　need　him；　she　thought；　and　his　bank。
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　with　the　right　amount　of　deference　and　turned　her　charm　on　Lady　Joanna。　〃What　a　pretty　dress；　Lady　Joanna；〃　she　said；　loathing　it　and　the　row　of　small　pearls　that　circled　the　woman's　scrawny　neck。
　〃Oh；　thank　you；　my　dear。　Is　yours　from　Paris　too？〃
　〃Indirectly。　It's　a　Balmain　but　I　got　it　in　New　York。〃　She　smiled　down　at　Richard　Kwang's　wife；　a　solid；　well…preserved　Cantonese　lady　with　an　elaborate　coiffure；　very　pale　skin　and　narrow　eyes。　She　was　wearing　an　immense　imperial　jade　pendant　and　a　seven…carat　diamond　ring。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Mrs。　Kwang；〃　she　said；　awed　by　the　wealth　that　the　jewelry　represented。　〃We　were　looking　for　Linc　Bartlett。　Have　you　seen　him？〃
　〃Not　for　a　while；〃　Havergill　volunteered。　〃I　think　he　went　into　the　east　wing。　Believe　there's　a　bar　there。　He　was　with　Adryon　…　Dunross's　daughter。〃
　〃Adryon's　turned　out　to　be　such　a　pretty　girl；〃　Lady　Joanna　said。　〃They　make　such　a　nice　couple　together。　Charming　man；　Mr。　Bartlett。　He's　not　married；　is　he；　dear？〃
　〃No；〃　Casey　said；　equally　pleasantly；　adding　Lady　Joanna　Temple…Smith　to　her　private　list　of　loathsome　people。　〃Linc's　not　married。〃
　〃He'll　be　gobbled　up　soon；　mark　my　words。　I　really　believe　Adryon's　quite　smitten。　Perhaps　you'd　like　to　e　to　tea　on　Thursday；　my　dear？　I'd　love　you　to　meet　some　of　the　girls。　That's　the　day　of　our　Over　Thirty　Club。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Casey　said。　〃I　don't　qualify　…　but　I'd　love　to　e　anyway。〃
　〃Oh　I'm　sorry；　dear！　I'd　presumed　。。。　I'll　send　a　car　for　you。　Quillan；　are　you　staying　for　dinner？〃
　〃No；　can't。　Got　pressing　business。〃
　〃Pity。〃　Lady　Joanna　smiled　and　show