jamesclavell.noblehouse-第45章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Tai…pan；　you　don't　mind　if　I　stay；　do　you？〃　Casey　had　said　with　a　laugh。
　〃Yes；　I'm　sorry　but　I　do；〃　he　had　told　her　gently。　〃It's　just　a　custom；　nothing　important。　It's　really　so　the　ladies　can　get　first　crack　at　the　loo　and　the　pails　of　water。〃
　Her　smile　faded　and　her　chin　began　to　jut。　〃And　if　I　prefer　not　to　go？〃
　〃It's　just　our　custom；　Ciranoush。　In　America　it's　custom　to　call　someone　you've　just　met　by　his　first　name；　it's　not　here。　Even　so　。。。〃　Dunross　stared　back　calmly；　but　just　as　inflexibly。　〃There's　no　loss　of　face　in　it。〃
　〃I　think　there　is。〃
　〃Sorry　about　that　…　I　can　assure　you　there　isn't。〃
　The　others　had　waited；　watching　him　and　watching　her；　enjoying　the　confrontation；　at　the　same　time　appalled　by　her。　Except　Ed　Langan　who　was　totally　embarrassed　for　her。　〃Hell；　Casey；〃　he　said；　trying　to　make　a　joke　of　it；　〃you　can't　fight　City　Hall。〃
　〃I've　been　trying　all　my　life；〃　she　had　said　sharply　…　clearly　furious。　Then；　abruptly；　she　had　smiled　gloriously。　Her　fingers　drummed　momentarily　on　the　tablecloth　and　she　got　up。　〃If　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　me　。。。〃　she　had　said　sweetly　and　sailed　away；　an　astonished　silence　in　her　wake。
　〃I　hardly　threw　her　out；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃It　was　bloody　funny；　even　so；〃　Barre　said。　〃I　wonder　what　changed　her　mind？　Eh　Phillip？〃
　〃What？〃　Phillip　Chen　asked　absently。
　〃For　a　moment　I　thought　she　was　going　to　belt　poor　old　Ian；　didn't　you？　But　something　she　thought　of　changed　her　mind。　What？〃
　Dunross　smiled。　〃I'll　bet　it's　no　good。　That　one's　as　touchy　as　a　pocketful　of　scorpions。〃
　〃Great　knockers；　though；〃　Barre　said。
　They　laughed。　Phillip　Chen　didn't。　Dunross's　concern　for　him　increased。　He　had　tried　to　cheer　him　up　all　evening　but　nothing　had　drawn　the　curtain　away。　All　through　dinner　Phillip　had　been　dulled　and　monosyllabic。　Barre　got　up　with　a　belch。　〃Think　I'll　take　a　leak　while　there's　space。〃　He　lurched　off　into　the　garden。
　〃Don't　pee　on　the　camellias；〃　Ian　called　after　him　absently；　then　forced　himself　to　concentrate。　〃Phillip；　not　to　worry；〃　he　said；　now　that　they　were　alone。　〃They'll　find　John　soon。〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　sure　they　will；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　dully；　his　mind　not　so　much　swamped　by　the　kidnapping　as　appalled　by　what　he　had　discovered　in　his　son's　safety　deposit　box　this　afternoon。　He　had　opened　it　with　the　key　that　he　had　taken　from　the　shoebox。
　〃Go　on；　Phillip；　take　it；　don't　be　a　fool；〃　his　wife　Dianne　had　hissed。　〃Take　it　…　if　we　don't　the　tai…pan　will！〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know。〃　Thank　all　gods　I　did；　he　thought；　still　in　shock；　remembering　what　he　had　found　when　he'd　rifled　through　the　contents。　Manila　envelopes　of　various　sizes；　mostly　itemized；　a　diary　and　phone　book。　In　the　envelope　marked　〃debts〃　betting　slips　for　97；000　HK　for　current　debts　to　illegal；　off…course　gamblers　in　Hong　Kong。　A　note　in　favor　of　Miser　Sing；　a　notorious　moneylender；　for　30；000　HK　at　3　percent　per　month　interest；　a　long　overdue　sight　demand　note　from　the　Ho…Pak　Bank　for　20；000　U。S。　and　a　letter　from　Richard　Kwang　dated　last　week　saying　unless　John　Chen　made　some　arrangements　soon　he　would　have　to　talk　to　his　father。　Then　there　were　letters　which　documented　a　growing　friendship　between　his　son　and　an　American　gambler；　Vincenzo　Banastasio；　who　assured　John　Chen　that　his　debts　were　not　pressing：
　〃。。。　take　your　time；　John；　your　credit's　the　best；　anytime　this　year's　fine　。。。〃　and；　attached；　was　the　photocopy　of　a　perfectly　legal；　notarized　promissory　note　binding　his　son；　his　heirs　or　assignees；　to　pay　Banastasio；　on　demand；　485；000　U。S。；　plus　interest。
　Stupid；　stupid；　he　had　raged；　knowing　his　son　had　not　more　than　a　fifth　of　those　assets；　so　he　himself　would　have　to　pay　the　debt　eventually。
　Then　a　thick　envelope　marked　〃Par…Con〃　had　caught　his　attention。
　This　contained　a　Par…Con　employment　contract　signed　by　K。　C。　Tcholok；　three　months　ago；　hiring　John　Chen　as　a　private　consultant　to　Par…Con　for　〃。。。。　100；000　down　（50；000　of　which　is　hereby　acknowledged　as　already　paid）　and；　once　a　satisfactory　deal　is　signed　between　Par…Con　and　Struan's；　Rothwell…Gornt　or　any　other　Hong　Kong　pany　of　Par…Con's　choosing；　a　further　one　million　dollars　spread　over　a　five…year　period　in　equal　installments；　and　within　thirty　days　of　the　signing　of　the　above　said　contract；　a　debt　to　Mr。　Vincenzo　Banastasio　of　85　Orchard　Road；　Las　Vegas；　Nevada；　of　485；000　paid　off；　the　first　year's　installment　of　200；000；　along　with　the　balance　of　50；000。　。。。〃
　〃In　return　for　what；〃　Phillip　Chen　had　gasped　helplessly　in　the　bank　vault。
　But　the　long　contract　spelled　out　nothing　further　except　that　John　Chen　was　to　be　a　〃private　consultant　in　Asia。〃　There　were　no　notes　or　papers　attached　to　it。
　Hastily　he　had　rechecked　the　envelope　in　case　he　had　missed　anything　but　it　was　empty。　A　quick　leafing　through　the　other　envelopes　produced　nothing。　Then　he　happened　to　notice　a　thin　airmail　envelope　half　stuck　to　another。　It　was　marked　〃Par…Con　II。〃　It　contained　photocopies　of　handwritten　notes　from　his　son　to　Linc　Bartlett。
　The　first　was　dated　six　months　ago　and　confirmed　that　he；　John　Chen；　would　and　could　supply　Par…Con　with　the　most　intimate　knowledge　of　the　innermost　workings　of　the　whole　Struan　plex　of　panies；　〃。。。　of　course　this　has　to　be　kept　totally　secret；　but　for　example；　Mr。　Bartlett；　you　can　see　from　the　enclosed　Struan　balance　sheets　for　1954　through　1961　（when　Struan's　went　public）　what　I　advise　is　perfectly　feasible。　If　you　look　at　the　chart　of　Struan's　corporate　structure；　and　the　list　of　some　of　the　important　stockholders　of　Struan's　and　their　secret　holdings；　including　my　father's；　you　should　have　no　trouble　in　any　takeover　bid　Par…Con　cares　to　mount。　Add　to　these　photocopies　the　other　thing　I　told　you　about　…　I　swear　to　God　that　you　can　believe　me　…　I　guarantee　success。　I'm　putting　my　life　on　the　line；　that　should　be　collateral　enough；　but　if　you'll　advance　me　fifty　of　the　first　hundred　now；　I'll　agree　to　let　you　have　possession　on　arrival　…　on　your　undertaking　to　return　it　to　me　once　your　deal's　set　…　or　for　use　against　Struan's。　I　guarantee　to　use　it　against　Struan's。　In　the　end　Dunross　has　to　do　anything　you　want。　Please　reply　to　the　usual　post　box　and　destroy　this　as　we　have　agreed。〃
　〃Possession　of　what？〃　Phillip　Chen　had　muttered；　beside　himself　with　anxiety。　His　hands　were　shaking　now　as　he　read　the　second　letter。　It　was　dated　three　weeks　ago。　〃Dear　Mr。　Bartlett。　This　will　confirm　your　arrival　dates。　Everything's　prepared。　I　look　forward　to　seeing　you　again　and　meeting　Mr。　K。　C。　Tcholok。　Thanks　for　the　fifty　cash　which　arrived　safely　…　all　future　monies　are　to　go　to　a　numbered　account　in　Zurich　…　I'll　give　you　the　bank　details　when　you　arrive。　Thank　you　also　for　agreeing　to　our　unwritten　understanding　that　if　I　can　assist　you　in　the　way　I've　claimed　I　can；　then　I'm　in　for　3　percent　of　the　action　of　the　new　Par…Con　（Asia）　Trading　pany。
　〃I　enclose　a　few　more　things　of　interest：　note　the　date　that　Struan's　demand　notes　（countersigned　by　my　father）　bee　due　to　pay　Toda　Shipping　for　their　new　super　container　ships　…　September　1；　11　and　15。　There's　not　enough　money　in　Struan's　till　to　meet　them。
　〃Next：　to　answer　Mr。　Tcholok's　question　about　my　father's　position　in　any　takeover　or　proxy　fight。　He　can　be　neutralized。　Enclosed　photocopies　are　a　sample　of　many　that　I　have。　These　show　a　very　close　relationship　with　White　Powder　Lee　and　his　cousin；　Wu　Sang　Fang　who's　also　known　as　Four　Finger　Wu；　from　the　early　fifties；　and　secret　ownership　with　them　…　even　today　…　of　a　property　pany；　two　shipping　panies　and　Bangkok　trading　interests。　Though　outwardly；　now；　both　pose　as　respectable　businessmen；　property　developers　and　shipping　millionaires；　it's　mon　knowledge　they　have　been　successful　pirates　and　smugglers　for　years　…　and　there's　a　very　strong　rumor　in　Chinese　circles　that　they　are　the　High　Dragons　of　the　opium　trade。　If　my　father's　connection　with　them　was　made　public　it　would　take　his　face　away　forever；　would　sever　the　very　close　links　he　has　with　Struan's；　and　all　the　other　hongs　that　exist　today；　and　most　important；　would　destroy　forever　his　chance　for　a　knighthood；　the　one　thing　he　wants　above　all。　Just　the　threat　of　doing　this　would　be　enough　to　neutralize　him　…　even　make　him　an　ally。　Of　course　I　realize　these　papers　and　the　others　I　have　need　further　documentation　to　stick　in　a　court　of　law　but　I　have　this　already　in　abundance　in　a　safe　place。　。。。〃
　Phillip　Chen　remembered　how；　panic…stricken；　he　had　searched　frantically　for　the　further　documentation；　his　mind　shrieking　that　it　was　impossible　for　his　son　to　have　so　much　secret　knowledge；　impossible　for　him　to　have　Struan's　balance　sheets　of　the　prepublic　days；　impossible　to　know　about　Four　Finger　Wu　and　those　secret　things。
　Oh　gods　that's　almost　everything　I　know　…　even　Dianne　doesn't　know　half　of　that！　What　else　does　John　know　…　what　else　has　he　told　the　American？
　Beside　himself　with　anxiety　he　had　searched　every　envelope　but　there　was　nothing　more。
　〃He　must　have　another　box　somewhere　…　or　safe；〃　he　had　muttered　aloud；　hardly　able　to　think。
　Furiously　he　had　scooped　everything　into　his　briefcase；　hoping　that　a　more　careful　examination　would　answer　his　questions　…　and　slammed　the　box　shut　and　locked　it。　At　a　sudden　thought；　he　had　reopened　it。　He　had　pulled　the　slim　tray　out　and　turned　it　upside　down。　Taped　to　the　underside　were　two　keys。　One　was　a　safety　deposit　box　key　with　the　number　carefully　filed　off。　He　stared　at　the　other；　paralyzed。　He　recognized　it　at　once。　It　was　the　key　to　his　own　safe　in　his　house　on　the　crest。　He　would　have　bet　his　life　that　the　only　key　in　existence　was　the　one　that　he　always　wore　around　his　neck；　that　had　never　been　out　of　his　possession　…　ever　since　his　father　had　given　it　to　him　on　his　deathbed　sixteen　years　ago。
　〃Oh　ko；〃　he　said　aloud；　once　more　consumed　with　rage。
　Dunross　said；　〃You　all　right？　How　about　a　brandy？〃
　〃No；　no　thank　you；〃　Phillip　Chen　said　shakily；　back　in　the　present　now。　With　an　effort　he　pulled　his　mind　together　and　stared　at　the　tai…pan；　knowing　he　should　tell　him　everything。　But　he　dare　not。　He　dare　not　until　he　knew　the　extent　of　the　secrets　stolen。　Even　then　he　dare　not。　Apart　from　many　transactions　the　authorities　could　easily　misconstrue；　and　others　that　could　be　highly　embarrassing　and　lead　to　all　sorts　of　court　cases；　civil　if　not　criminal　…　stupid　English　law；　he　thought　furiously；　stupid　to　have　one　law　for　everyone；　stupid　not　to　have　one　law　for　the　rich　and　another　for　the　poor；　why　else　work　and　slave　and　gamble　and　scheme　to　be　rich　…　apart　from　all　this　he　would　still　have　had　to　admit　to　Dunross　that　he　had　been　documenting　Struan　secrets　for　years；　that　his　father　had　done　so　before　him　…　balance　sheets；　stockholdings　and　other　secret；　very　very　private　personal　family　things；　smugglings　and　payoffs　…　and　he　knew　it　would　be　no　good　saying　I　did　it　just　for　protection；　to　protect　the　House；　because　the　tai…pan　would　rightly　say；　yes　but　it　was　to　protect　the　House　of　Chen　and　not　the　Noble　House；　and　he　would　rightly　turn　on　him；　turn　his　full　wrath　on　him　and　his　brood；　and　in　the　holocaust　of　a　fight　against　Struan's　he　was　bound　to　lose　…　Dirk　Struan's　will　had　provided　for　that　…　and　everything　that　almost　a　century　and　a