jamesclavell.noblehouse-第55章

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　She　looked　at　the　girl　in　the　portrait　critically　and　she　saw；　now；　how　wrong　she　had　been　before　and　how　very　special　the　girl　was。　Wasn't　she　the　tai…pan；　in　embryo；　even　then？
　〃You're　very　generous；〃　Dunross　said；　breaking　into　her　thoughts。
　〃No；〃　she　replied　at　once；　prepared；　and　glanced　back　at　him；　and　she　was　thinking；　If　you　want　the　truth；　tai…pan；　I'm　not　generous　at　all。　I'm　merely　being　demure　and　sweet　and　gentle　because　it　makes　you　feel　more　at　home。　But　she　said　none　of　this　to　him；　only　dropped　her　eyes　and　murmured　with　the　right　amount　of　softness；　〃It's　you　who're　generous。〃
　He　took　her　hand　and　bowed　over　it　and　kissed　it　with　old…fashioned　gallantry。
　She　was　startled　and　tried　to　cover　it。　No　one　had　ever　done　that　to　her　before。　In　spite　of　her　resolve　she　was　moved。
　〃Ah　Ciranoush；〃　he　said　with　mock　gravity；　〃any　time　you　need　a　champion；　send　for　me。〃　Then　he　grinned　suddenly。　〃I'll　probably　make　a　bog　of　it　but　never　mind。〃
　She　laughed；　all　tension　gone　now；　liking　him　very　much。　〃You've　got　yourself　a　deal。〃
　Casually　he　put　his　arm　around　her　waist　and　gently　propelled　her　toward　the　stairs。　The　contact　with　him　felt　good　…　too　good；　she　thought。　This　one's　no　child。　Be　cautious。
　
　17
　
　11：58　P。M。：
　Phillip　Chen's　Rolls　screeched　to　a　halt　in　the　driveway　of　his　house。　He　got　out　of　the　backseat；　flushed　with　rage；　Dianne　nervously　in　tow。　The　night　was　dark；　the　lights　of　the　city　and　ships　and　high　rises　blazing　far　below。　〃Bolt　the　gates；　then　you　e　inside　too；〃　he　snapped　to　his　equally　nervous　chauffeur；　then　hurried　for　the　front　door。
　〃Hurry　up；　Dianne；〃　he　said；　irritably　shoving　his　key　into　the　lock。
　〃Phillip；　what　on　earth's　the　matter　with　you？　Why　can't　you　tell　me？　Wh…　〃
　〃Shut　up！〃　he　shouted；　his　temper　snapping；　and　she　jerked　to　a　halt；　shocked。　〃Just　shut　up　and　do　what　you're　told！〃　He　ripped　the　front　door　open。　〃Get　the　servants　here！〃
　〃But　Phi…　〃
　〃Ah　Sun！　Ah　Tak！〃
　The　two　tousled；　sleepy　amahs　appeared　hastily　out　of　the　kitchen　and　gaped　at　him；　shocked　at　his　untoward　rage。　〃Yes　Father？　Yes　Mother？〃　they　chorused　in　Cantonese。　〃What　in　the　name　of　all　gods　ha…　〃
　〃Hold　your　tongues！〃　Phillip　Chen　roared；　his　neck　red　and　now　his　face　more　red。　〃Go　into　that　room　and　stay　there　until　I　tell　you　all　to　e　out！〃　He　pulled　the　door　open。　It　was　their　dining　room　and　the　windows　faced　the　road　north。　〃All　of　you　stay　there　until　I　tell　you　to　e　out　and　if　any　of　you　moves　or　looks　out　of　the　windows　before　I　e　back　I'll　。。。　I'll　have　some　friends　put　weights　on　you　and　get　you　all　thrown　into　the　harbor！〃
　The　two　amahs　began　wailing　but　everyone　hurriedly　obeyed　him　and　he　slammed　the　door　shut。
　〃Stop　it　both　of　you！〃　Dianne　Chen　screeched　at　the　amahs；　then　reached　over　and　pinched　one　sharply　on　the　cheek。　This　stopped　the　old　woman's　wailing　and　she　gasped；　her　eyes　rolling；　〃What's　got　into　everyone？　What's　got　into　Father？　Oh　oh　oh；　his　rage's　gone　to　Java　。。。　oh　oh　oh。　。。。〃
　〃Shut　up；　Ah　Tak！〃　Dianne　fanned　herself；　seething；　beside　herself　with　fury。　What　in　the　name　of　all　gods　has　got　into　him？　Doesn't　he　trust　me　…　me；　his　only　true　wife　and　the　love　of　his　life？　In　all　my　life　。。。　And　to　rush　off　like　that　from　the　tai…pan's　party　when　everything　was　going　so　fine　…　us　the　talk　of　Hong　Kong　and　everyone　admiring　my　darling　Kevin；　fawning　on　him；　now　surely　the　new　heir　of　the　House　of　Chen；　for　everyone　agrees　John　Chen　would　certainly　have　died　of　shock　when　his　ear　was　cut　off。　Anyone　would！　I　certainly　would。
　She　shivered；　feeling　her　own　ear　being　cut　again　and　being　kidnapped　as　in　her　dream　this　afternoon　when　she　had　awoken　in　a　cold　sweat　from　her　nap。
　〃Ayeeyah；〃　she　muttered　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃Has　he　gone　mad？〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　her　chauffeur　said　confidently；　〃I　think　he　has。　It's　the　result　of　the　kidnapping。　I've　never　seen　Father　like　this　in　all　my　yea…　〃
　〃Who　asked　you？〃　Dianne　shrieked。　〃It's　all　your　fault　anyway！　If　you'd　brought　my　poor　John　home　instead　of　leaving　him　to　his　mealy…mouthed　whores　this　would　never　have　happened！〃
　Again　the　two　amahs　began　whimpering　at　her　fury　and　she　turned　her　spleen　on　them　for　a　moment；　adding；　〃And　as　to　you　two；　while　I　think　of　it；　the　quality　of　service　in　this　house's　enough　to　give　anyone　loose　bowels。　Have　you　asked　me　if　I　need　a　physic　or　aspirins？　Or　tea？　Or　a　cold　towel？〃
　〃Mother；〃　one　of　them　said　placatingly；　hopefully　pointing　at　the　lacquered　sideboard；　〃I　can't　make　tea　but　would　you　like　some　brandy？〃
　〃Wat？　Ah；　very　good。　Yes；　yes；　Ah　Tak。〃
　At　once　the　old　woman　bustled　over　to　the　sideboard　and　opened　it；　brought　out　some　cognac　that　she　knew　her　mistress　liked；　poured　it　into　a　glass。　〃Poor　Mother；　to　have　Father　in　such　a　rage！　Terrible！　What's　possessed　him　and　why　doesn't　he　want　us　to　look　out　of　the　window？〃
　Because　he　doesn't　want　you　turtle…dung　thieves　to　see　him　dig　up　his　secret　safe　in　the　garden；　Dianne　was　thinking。　Or　even　me。　She　smiled　grimly　to　herself；　sipping　the　fine　smooth　liquor；　calmer　in　the　knowledge　that　she　knew　where　the　iron　box　was　buried。　It　was　only　right　that　she　should　have　protected　him　by　secretly　watching　him　bury　it；　in　case。　God　forbid；　the　gods　took　him　from　this　earth　before　he　could　tell　her　where　the　secret　hiding　place　was。　It　had　been　her　duty　to　break　her　promise　not　to　watch　him　that　night　during　the　Japanese　Occupation　when　he　had　wisely　scooped　up　all　their　valuables　and　hidden　them。
　She　did　not　know　what　was　in　the　box　now。　She　did　not　care。　It　had　been　opened　and　closed　many　times；　all　in　secret；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。　She　did　not　care　so　long　as　she　knew　where　her　husband　was；　where　all　his　deposit　boxes　of　various　kinds　were；　their　keys；　just　in　case。
　After　all；　she　told　herself　confidently；　if　he　dies；　without　me　the　House　of　Chen　will　crumble。　〃Stop　sniveling；　Ah　Sun！〃　She　got　up　and　closed　the　long　drapes。　Outside　the　night　was　dark　and　she　could　see　nothing　of　the　garden；　only　the　driveway；　the　tall　iron　gates　and　the　road　beyond。
　〃More　drink；　Mother？〃　the　old　amah　asked。
　〃Thank　you；　little　oily　mouth；〃　she　replied　affectionately；　the　warmth　of　the　spirit　soothing　her　anger　away。　〃And　then　you　can　massage　my　neck。　I've　got　a　headache。　You　two　sit　down；　hold　your　tongues　and　don't　make　a　sound　till　Father　gets　back！〃
　
　Phillip　Chen　was　hurrying　down　the　garden　path；　a　flashlight　in　one　hand；　a　shovel　in　the　other。　The　path　curled　downward　through　well…tended　gardens　that　meandered　into　a　grove　of　trees　and　shrubs。　He　stopped　a　moment；　getting　his　bearings；　then　found　the　place　he　sought。　He　hesitated　and　glanced　back；　even　though　he　knew　he　was　well　hidden　from　the　house　now。　Reassured　that　he　could　not　be　watched　he　switched　on　the　flashlight。　The　circle　of　light　wandered　over　the　undergrowth　and　stopped　at　the　foot　of　a　tree。　The　spot　appeared　to　be　untouched。　Carefully　he　pushed　aside　the　natural　mulch。　When　he　saw　the　earth　below　had　been　disturbed　he　cursed　obscenely。　〃Oh　the　swine　。。。　my　own　son！〃　Collecting　himself　with　difficulty　he　began　to　dig。　The　earth　was　soft。
　Ever　since　he　had　left　the　party　he　had　been　trying　to　remember　exactly　when　he　had　last　dug　up　the　box。　Now　he　was　sure　it　had　been　in　the　spring　when　he　needed　the　deeds　to　a　row　of　slum　dwellings　in　Wanchai　that　he　had　sold　for　fifty　times　cost　to　Donald　McBride　for　one　of　his　great　new　developments。
　〃Where　was　John　then？〃　he　muttered。　〃Was　he　in　the　house？〃
　As　he　dug　he　tried　to　recall　but　he　could　not。　He　knew　that　he　would　never　have　dug　up　the　box　when　it　was　dangerous　or　when　there　were　strangers　in　the　house　and　that　he　would　always　have　been　circumspect。　But　John？　Never　would　I　have　thought　。。。　John　must　have　followed　me　somehow。
　The　shovel　struck　the　metal。　Carefully　he　cleaned　off　the　earth　and　pulled　the　protective　cloth　away　from　the　box　and　heavy　lock　and　opened　it。　The　hinges　of　the　lid　were　well　greased。　His　fingers　shaking；　he　held　the　flashlight　over　the　open　box。　All　his　papers　and　deeds　and　private　balance　sheets　seemed　to　be　in　order　and　undisturbed；　but　he　knew　they　must　all　have　been　taken　out　and　read　…　and　copied　or　memorized。　Some　of　the　information　in　his　son's　safety　deposit　box　could　only　have　e　from　here。
　All　the　jewel　boxes；　big　and　small；　were　there。　Nervously　he　reached　out　for　the　one　he　sought　and　opened　it。　The　half…coin　had　vanished　and　the　document　explaining　about　the　coin　had　vanished。
　Tears　of　rage　seeped　down　his　cheeks。　He　felt　his　heart　pounding　and　smelled　the　damp　earth　and　knew　if　his　son　was　there　he　would　happily　have　strangled　him　with　his　own　hands。
　〃Oh　my　son　my　son　。。。　all　gods　curse　you　to　hell！〃
　His　knees　were　weak。　Shakily　he　sat　on　a　rock　and　tried　to　collect　his　wits。　He　could　hear　his　father　on　his　deathbed　cautioning　him：
　〃Never　lose　the　coin　my　son　…　it's　our　key　to　ultimate　survival　and　power　over　the　Noble　House。〃
　That　was　in　1937　and　the　first　time　he　had　learned　the　innermost　secrets　of　the　House　of　Chen：　that　he　who　became　pradore　became　the　ranking　leader　in　Hong　Kong　of　the　Hung　Mun　…　the　great　secret　triad　society　of　China　that；　under　Sun　Yat…sen；　had　bee　the　14K；　originally　formed　to　spearhead　China's　revolt　against　their　hated　Manchu　overlords；　that　the　pradore　was　the　main；　legitimate　link　between　the　Chinese　hierarchy　on　the　Island　and　the　inheritors　of　the　14K　on　the　Mainland；　that　because　of　Chen…tse　Jin　Arn；　known　as　Jin…qua；　the　legendary　chief　merchant　of　the　co…hong　that　had　possessed　the　Emperor's　monopoly　on　all　foreign　trade；　the　House　of　Chen　was　perpetually　interlinked　with　the　Noble　House　by　ownership　and　by　blood。
　〃Listen　carefully；　my　son；〃　the　dying　man　had　whispered。　〃The　tai…pan；　Great…Grandfather　Dirk　Struan；　was　Jin…qua's　creation；　as　was　the　Noble　House。　Jin…qua　nurtured　it；　formed　it　and　Dirk　Struan。　The　tai…pan　had　two　concubines。　The　first　was　Kai…sung；　one　of　Jin…qua's　daughters　by　a　fifth　wife。　Their　son　was　Gordon　Chen；　my　father；　your　grandfather。　The　tai…pan's　second　concubine　was　T'Chung　Jin　May…may；　his　mistress　for　six　years　whom　he　married　in　secret　just　before　the　great　typhoon　that　killed　them　both。　She　was　twenty…one　then；　a　brilliant；　favored　granddaughter　of　Jin…qua；　sold　to　the　tai…pan　when　she　was　seventeen　to　teach　him　civilized　ways　without　his　knowing　he　was　being　taught。　From　them　came　Duncan　and　Kate　who　took　the　surname　T'Chung　and　were　brought　up　in　my　father's　house。　Father　married　off　Kate　to　a　Shanghai　China　Trader　called　Peter　Gavallan　…　Andrew　Gavallan　is　also　a　cousin　though　he　doesn't　know　it。　。。。　So　many　stories　to　tell　and　now　so　little　time　to　tell　them。　Never　mind；　all　the　family　trees　are　in　the　safe。　There　are　so　many。　We're　all　related；　the　Wu；　Kwang；　Sung；　Kau；　Kwok；　Ng　…　all　the　old　families。　Use　the　knowledge　carefully。　Here's　the　key　to　the　safe。
　〃Another　secret；　Phillip；　my　son。　Our　line　es　from　my　father's　second　wife。　Father　married　her　when　he　was　fifty…three　and　she　sixteen。　She　was　the　daughter　of　John　Yuan；　the　illegitimate　son　of　the　great　American　Trader　Jeff　Cooper；　and　a　Eurasian　lady；　Isobel　Yau。　Isobel　Yau　was　the　oh…so…secret　Eurasian　daughter　of　Robb　Struan；　the　tai…pan's　half…brother　and　cof