jamesclavell.noblehouse-第50章

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rs　old　so　a　man　of　eighty　today'd　。。。　Take　Phillip　Chen；　the　present　pradore；　for　example。　He's　sixty…five　now　…　his　grandfather　was　the　famous　Sir　Gordon　Chen；　Dirk　Struan's　illegitimate　son　who　died　in　1907　at　the　age　of　eighty…six。　So　Phillip　Chen　would　have　been　nine　then。　A　sharp　boy　of　nine'd　remember　all　sorts　of　stories　his　revered　grandfather　would　have　told　him　about　his　father；　the　tai…pan；　and　May…may；　his　famous　mistress。　The　story　is　that　old　Sir　Gordon　Chen　was　one　hell　of　a　character；　truly　an　ancestor。　He　had　two　official　wives；　eight　concubines　of　various　ages；　and　left　the　sprawling　Chen　family　rich；　powerful　and　into　everything。　Ask　Dunross　to　show　you　his　portraits　…　I've　only　seen　copies　but；　my；　he　was　a　handsome　man。　There're　dozens　of　people　alive　here　today　who　knew　him　…　one　of　the　original　great　founders。　And　my　God；　Hag　Struan　died　only　forty…six　years　ago。　Look　over　there。　。。。〃　He　nodded　at　a　wizened　little　man；　thin　as　a　bamboo　and　just　as　strong；　talking　volubly　to　a　young　woman。　〃That's　Vincent　McGore；　tai…pan　of　the　fifth　great　hong；　International　Asian　Trading。　He　worked　for　Sir　Gordon　for　years　and　then　the　Noble　House。〃　He　grinned　suddenly。　〃Legend　says　he　was　Hag　Struan's　lover　when　he　was　eighteen　and　just　off　the　cattle　boat　from　some　Middle　Eastern　port　…　he's　not　really　Scots　at　all。〃
　〃e　off　it；　Peter；〃　Fleur　said。　〃You　just　made　that　up！〃
　〃Do　you　mind；〃　he　said；　but　his　grin　never　left　him。　〃She　was　only　seventy…five　at　the　time。〃
　They　all　laughed。
　〃That's　the　truth？〃　Casey　asked。　〃For　real？〃
　〃Who　knows　what's　truth　and　what's　fiction；　Casey？　That's　what　I　was　told。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Fleur　said　confidently。　〃Peter　makes　up　stories。〃
　〃Where'd　you　find　out　all　this；　Peter？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃I　read　some　of　it。　There　are　copies　of　newspapers　that　go　back　to　1870　in　the　Law　Court　library。　Then　there's　the　History　of　the　Law　Courts　of　Hong　Kong。　It's　as　seamy　a　great　book　as　you'll　ever　want　if　you're　interested　in　Hong　Kong。　Christ；　the　things　they　used　to　get　up　to；　so…called　judges　and　colonial　secretaries；　governors　and　policemen；　and　the　tai…pans；　the　highborn　and　the　lowborn。　Graft；　murder；　corruption；　adultery；　piracy；　bribery　。。。　it's　all　there！
　〃And　I　asked　questions。　There　are　dozens　of　old　China　hands　who　love　to　reminisce　about　the　old　days　and　who　know　a　huge　amount　about　Asia　and　Shanghai。　Then　there　are　lots　of　people　who　hate；　or　are　jealous　and　can't　wait　to　pour　a　little　poison　on　a　good　reputation　or　a　bad　one。　Of　course；　you　sift；　you　try　to　sift　the　true　from　the　false　and　that's　very　hard；　if　not　impossible。〃
　For　a　moment　Casey　was　lost　in　thought。　Then　she　said；　〃Peter；　what　was　Changi　like？　Really　like？〃
　His　face　did　not　change　but　his　eyes　did。　〃Changi　was　genesis；　the　place　of　beginning　again。〃　His　tone　made　them　all　chilled　and　she　saw　Fleur　slip　her　hand　into　his　and　in　a　moment　he　came　back。　〃I'm　fine；　darling；〃　he　said。　Silently；　somewhat　embarrassed；　they　walked　out　of　the　path　onto　the　lower　terrace；　Casey　knowing　she　had　intruded。　〃We　should　have　a　drink。　Eh；　Casey？〃　Peter　Marlowe　said　kindly　and　made　it　all　right　again。
　〃Yes。　Thank　you；　Peter。〃
　〃Linc；〃　Peter　Marlowe　said；　〃there's　a　marvelous　strain　of　violence　that　passes　from　generation　to　generation　in　these　buccaneers　…　because　that's　what　they　are。　This　is　a　very　special　place　…　it　breeds　very　special　people。〃　After　a　pause；　he　added　thoughtfully；　〃I　understand　you　may　be　going　into　business　here。　If　I　were　you　I'd　be　very；　very　careful。〃
　
　15
　
　11：05　P。M。：
　Dunross；　with　Brian　Kwok　in　tow；　was　heading　for　Roger　Crosse；　chief　of　Special　Intelligence；　who　was　on　the　terrace　chatting　amiably　with　Armstrong　and　the　three　Americans；　Ed　Langan；　mander　John　Mishauer　the　uniformed　naval　officer；　and　Stanley　Rosemont；　a　tall　man　in　his　fifties。　Dunross　did　not　know　that　Langan　was　FBI；　or　that　Mishauer　was　U。S。　Naval　Intelligence；　only　that　they　were　at　the　consulate。　But　he　did　know　that　Rosemont　was　CIA　though　not　his　seniority。　Ladies　were　still　drifting　back　to　their　tables；　or　chattering　away　on　the　terraces　and　in　the　garden。　Men　were　lounging　over　drinks；　and　the　party　was　mellow　like　the　night。　Some　couples　were　dancing　in　the　ballroom　to　sweet　and　slow　music。　Adryon　was　among　them；　and　he　saw　Penelope　stoically　coping　with　Havergill。　He　noticed　Casey　and　Bartlett　in　deep　conversation　with　Peter　and　Fleur　Marlowe；　and　he　would　have　dearly　loved　to　be　overhearing　what　was　being　said。　That　fellow　Marlowe　could　easily　bee　a　bloody　nuisance；　he　thought　in　passing。　He　knows　too　many　secrets　already　and　if　he　was　to　read　our　book　。。。　No　way；　he　thought。　Not　till　hell　freezes！　That's　one　book　he'll　never　read。　How　Alastair　could　be　so　stupid！
　Some　years　ago　Alastair　Struan　had　missioned　a　well…known　writer　to　write　the　history　of　Struan's　to　celebrate　their　125　years　of　trading　and　had　passed　over　old　ledgers　and　trunks　of　old　papers　to　him　unread　and　unsifted。　Within　the　year　the　writer　had　produced　an　inflammatory　tapestry　that　documented　many　happenings　and　transactions　that　were　thought　to　have　been　buried　forever。　In　shock　they　had　thanked　the　writer　and　paid　him　off　with　a　handsome　bonus　and　the　book；　the　only　two　copies；　put　in　the　tai…pan's　safe。
　Dunross　had　considered　destroying　them。　But　then；　he　thought；　life　is　life；　joss　is　joss　and　providing　only　we　read　them；　there's　no　harm。
　〃Hello；　Roger；〃　he　said；　grimly　amused。　〃Can　we　join　you？〃
　〃Of　course；　tai…pan。〃　Crosse　greeted　him　warmly；　as　did　the　others。　〃Make　yourself　at　home。〃
　The　Americans　smiled　politely　at　the　joke。　They　chatted　for　a　moment　about　inconsequential　things　and　Saturday's　races　and　then　Langan；　Rosemont　and　mander　Mishauer；　sensing　that　the　others　wanted　to　converse　privately；　politely　excused　themselves。　When　they　were　alone；　Brian　Kwok　summarized　exactly　what　Dunross　had　told　him。
　〃We　will　certainly　appreciate　your　help；　Ian；〃　Crosse　said；　his　pale　eyes　penetrating。　〃Brian's　right　about　it　possibly　being　quite　dicey　…　if　of　course　AMG's　other　reports　exist。　Even　if　they　don't；　some　nasties　might　want　to　investigate。〃
　〃Just　exactly　how　and　when　did　you　get　the　copy　of　my　latest　one？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Did　you　get　it　yourselves　…　or　from　a　third　party？〃
　〃Why？〃
　Dunross's　voice　hardened。　〃Because　it's　important。〃
　〃Why？〃
　The　tai…pan　stared　at　him　and　the　three　men　felt　the　power　of　his　personality。　But　Crosse　was　equally　willful。
　〃I　can　partially　answer　your　question；　Ian；〃　he　said　coolly。　〃If　I　do；　will　you　answer　mine？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃We　acquired　a　copy　of　your　report　this　morning。　An　intelligence　agent　…　I　presume　in　England　…　tipped　a　friendly　amateur　here　that　a　courier　was　en　route　to　you　with　something　that'd　interest　us。　This　Hong　Kong　contact　asked　us　if　we'd　be　interested　in　having　a　look　at　it　…　for　a　fee　of　course。〃　Crosse　was　so　convincing　that　the　other　two　policemen　who　remembered　the　real　story　were　doubly　impressed。　〃This　morning；　the　photocopy　was　delivered　to　my　home　by　a　Chinese　I'd　never　met　before。　He　was　paid　…　of　course　you　understand　in　these　things　you　don't　ask　for　a　name。　Now；　why？〃
　〃When　this　morning？〃
　〃At　6：04　if　you　want　an　exact　time。　But　why　is　this　important　to　you？〃
　〃Because　Alan　Medford　Gr…　〃
　〃Oh；　Father；　sorry　to　interrupt；〃　Adryon　said；　rushing　up　breathlessly；　a　tall；　good…looking　young　man　in　tow；　his　crumpled　sacklike　dinner　jacket　and　twisted　tie　and　scruffy　brown…black　shoes　out　of　place　in　all　this　elegance。　〃Sorry　to　interrupt　but　can　I　do　something　about　the　music？〃
　Dunross　was　looking　at　the　young　man。　He　knew　Martin　Haply　and　his　reputation。　The　English…trained　Canadian　journalist　was　twenty…five；　and　had　been　in　the　Colony　for　two　years　and　was　now　the　scourge　of　the　business　munity。　His　biting　sarcasm　and　penetrating　exposés　of　personalities　and　of　business　practices　that　were　legitimate　in　Hong　Kong　but　nowhere　else　in　the　Western　world　were　a　constant　irritation。
　〃The　music；　Father；〃　Adryon　repeated；　running　on；　〃it's　ghastly。　Mother　said　I　had　to　ask　you。　Can　I　tell　them　to　play　something　different；　please？〃
　〃All　right；　but　don't　turn　my　party　into　a　happening。〃
　She　laughed　and　he　turned　his　attention　back　to　Martin　Haply。　〃Evening。〃
　〃Evening；　tai…pan；〃　the　young　man　said　with　a　confident；　challenging　grin。　〃Adryon　invited　me。　I　hope　it　was　all　right　to　e　after　dinner？〃
　〃Of　course。　Have　fun；〃　Dunross　said；　and　he　added　dryly；　〃There　are　a　lot　of　your　friends　here。〃
　Haply　laughed。　〃I　missed　dinner　because　I　was　on　the　scent　of　a　dilly。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　Seems　that　certain　interests　in　conjunction　with　a　certain　great　bank　have　been　spreading　nasty　rumors　about　a　certain　Chinese　bank's　solvency。〃
　〃You　mean　the　Ho…Pak？〃
　〃It's　all　nonsense　though。　The　rumors。　Just　more　Hong　Kong　shenanigans。〃
　〃Oh？〃　All　day　Dunross　had　heard　rumors　about　Richard　Kwang's　Ho…Pak　Bank　being　overextended。　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Have　a　column　on　it　in　tomorrow's　Guardian。　Talking　about　the　Ho…Pak　though；〃　Martin　Haply　added　breezily；　〃did　you　hear　that　upwards　of　a　hundred　people　took　all　their　money　out　of　the　Aberdeen　branch　this　afternoon？　Could　be　the　beginning　of　a　run　and…　〃
　〃Sorry；　Father　。。。　e　on　Martin；　can't　you　see　Father's　busy。〃
　She　leaned　up　and　kissed　Dunross　lightly　and　his　hand　automatically　went　around　her　and　hugged　her。
　〃Have　fun；　darling。〃　He　watched　her　rush　off；　Haply　following。　Cocky　son　of　a　bitch；　Dunross　thought　absently；　wanting　tomorrow's　column　now；　knowing　Haply　to　be　painstaking；　unbribable　and　very　good　at　his　job。　Could　Richard　be　overextended？
　〃You　were　saying；　Ian？　Alan　Medford　Grant？〃　broke　into　his　thoughts。
　〃Oh；　sorry；　yes。〃　Dunross　sat　back　at　the　table；　partmentalizing　those　problems。　〃AMG's　dead；〃　he　said　quietly。
　The　three　policemen　gaped　at　him。　〃What？〃
　〃I　got　a　cable　at　one　minute　to　eight　this　evening；　and　talked　to　his　assistant　in　London　at　9：11。〃　Dunross　watched　them。　〃I　wanted　to　know　your　'when'　because　it's　obvious　there'd　be　plenty　of　time　for　your　KGB　spy　…　if　he　exists　…　to　have　called　London　and　had　poor　old　AMG　murdered。　Wouldn't　there？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Crosse's　face　was　solemn。　〃What　time　did　he　die？〃
　Dunross　told　them　the　whole　of　his　conversation　with　Kiernan　but　he　withheld　the　part　about　the　call　to　Switzerland。　Some　intuition　warned　him　not　to　tell。　〃Now；　the　question　is：　was　it　accident；　coincidence　or　murder？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Crosse　said。　〃But　I　don't　believe　in　coincidences。〃
　〃Nor　do　I。〃
　〃Christ；〃　Armstrong　said　through　his　teeth；　〃if　AMG　hadn't　had　clearance　。。。　Christ　only　knows　what's　in　those　reports；　Christ　and　you；　Ian。　If　you've　got　the　only　existing　copies　this　makes　them　potentially　more　explosive　than　ever。〃
　〃If　they　exist；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃Do　they？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　tomorrow。　At　10　o'clock。〃　Dunross　got　up。　〃Will　you　excuse　me；　please；〃　he　said　politely　with　his　easy　charm。　〃I　must　see　to　my　other　guests　now。　Oh；　one　last　thing。　What　about　Eastern　Cloud？〃
　Roger　Crosse　said；　〃She'll　be　released　tomorrow。〃
　〃One　way　or　the　other？〃
　Crosse　appeared　shocked。　〃Good　Lord；　tai…pan；　we　weren't　bartering！　Brian；　didn't　you　say　we　were　just　trying　to　help　out？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Friends　should　alw