jamesclavell.noblehouse-第76章

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　The　waiter　backed　off　a　foot。
　〃What's　up？〃　Suslev　asked。
　〃Don't　pay　for　teas；　Gregy。　Not　hot！〃　she　said　imperiously。　〃No　give　tip！〃
　Nonetheless　Suslev　paid　and　she　took　his　arm　and　they　walked　out　together；　eyes　following　them。　Her　head　was　high；　but　inside　she　hated　the　looks　from　all　the　Chinese；　even　the　young；　starched　bellboy　who　opened　the　door　…　the　image　of　her　youngest　brother　whose　life　and　schooling　she　paid　for。
　Dunross　was　ing　up　the　steps。　He　waited　for　them　to　pass　by；　an　amused　glint　in　his　eyes；　then　he　was　bowed　in　politely　by　the　beaming　bellboy。　He　headed　through　the　throng　for　the　house　phone。　Many　noticed　him　at　once　and　eyes　followed　him。　He　walked　around　a　group　of　tourists；　camera　bedecked；　and　noticed　Jacques　deVille　and　his　wife　Susanne　at　a　corner　table。　Both　were　set…faced；　staring　at　their　drinks。　He　shook　his　head；　wearily　amused。　Poor　old　Jacques　has　been　caught　again　and　she's　twisting　his　infidelity　in　its　well…worn　wound。　Joss！　He　could　almost　hear　old　Chen…chen　laugh。　〃Man's　life　is　to　suffer；　young　Ian！　Yes；　it's　the　eternal　yin　warring　on　our　oh　so　vulnerable　yang。　。。。〃
　Normally　Dunross　would　have　pretended　not　to　notice　them；　leaving　them　to　their　privacy；　but　some　instinct　told　him　otherwise。　〃Hello；　Jacques　…　Susanne。　How're　things？〃
　〃Oh　hello；　hello；　tai…pan。〃　Jacques　deVille　got　up　politely。　〃Would　you　care　to　join　us？〃
　〃No　thanks；　can't。〃　Then　he　saw　the　depth　of　his　friend's　agony　and　he　remembered　the　car　accident　in　France。　Jacques's　daughter　Avril　and　her　husband！　〃What's　happened？　Exactly！〃　Dunross　said　it　as　a　leader　would　say　it；　requiring　an　instant　answer。
　Jacques　hesitated。　Then　he　said；　〃Exactly；　tai…pan：　I　heard　from　Avril。　She　phoned　from　Cannes　just　as　I　was　leaving　the　office。　She；　she　said；　'Daddy　。。。　Daddy；　Borge's　dead。　。。。　Can　you　hear　me？　I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　for　two　days　。。。　it　was　head…on；　and　the；　the　other　man　was　。。。　My　Borge's　dead　。。。　can　you　hear　me。　。。。'　〃　Jacques's　voice　was　flat。　〃Then　the　line　went　dead。　We　know　she's　in　the　hospital　at　Cannes。　I　thought　it　best　for　Susanne　to　go　at　once。　Her；　her　flight's　delayed　so　。。。　so　we're　just　waiting　here。　They're　trying　to　get　a　call　through　to　Cannes　but　I　don't　hope　for　much。〃
　〃Christ；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Dunross　said；　trying　to　dismiss　the　twinge　that　had　rushed　through　him　as　his　mind　had　substituted　Adryon　for　Avril。　Avril　was　just　twenty　and　Borge　Escary　a　fine　young　man。　They　had　been　married　just　a　year　and　a　half　and　this　was　their　first　holiday　after　the　birth　of　a　son。　〃What　time's　the　flight？〃
　〃Eight　o'clock　now。〃
　〃Susanne；　would　you　like　us　to　look　after　the　baby？　Jacques；　why　not　get　on　the　flight　…　I'll　take　care　of　everything　here。〃
　〃No；〃　Jacques　said。　〃Thanks　but　no。　It's　best　that　Susanne　go。　She'll　bring　Avril　home。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Susanne　said；　and　Dunross　noticed　that　she　seemed　to　have　sagged。　〃We　have　the　amahs　。。。　it's　best　just　me；　tai…pan。　Merci；　but　no；　this　way　is　best。〃　A　spill　of　tears　went　down　her　cheeks。　〃It's　not　fair　is　it？　Borge　was　so　nice　a　boy！〃
　〃Yes。　Susanne；　I'll　get　Penn　to　go　over　daily　so　don't　worry；　we'll　make　sure　the　babe's　fine　and　Jacques　too。〃　Dunross　weighed　them　both。　He　was　confident　that　Jacques　was　well　in　control。　Good；　he　thought。　Then　he　said　as　an　order；　〃Jacques；　when　Susanne's　safely　on　the　flight　go　back　to　the　office。　Telex　our　man　in　Marseilles。　Get　him　to　arrange　a　suite　at　the　Capitol；　to　meet　her　with　a　car　and　ten　thousand　dollars　worth　of　francs。　Tell　him　from　me　he's　to　be　at　her　beck　and　call　as　long　as　she's　there。　He's　to　call　me　tomorrow　with　a　plete　report　on　Avril；　the　accident；　who　was　driving　and　who　the　other　driver　was。〃
　〃Yes；　tai…pan。〃
　〃You　sure　you're　all　right？〃
　Jacques　forced　a　smile。　〃Oui。　Merci；　man　ami。〃
　〃Rien。　I'm　so　sorry；　Susanne　…　call　collect　if　we　can　do　anything。〃　He　walked　away。　Our　man　in　Marseilles　is　good；　he　thought。　He'll　take　care　of　everything。　And　Jacques's　a　man　of　iron。　Have　I　covered　everything？　Yes；　I　think　so。　It's　dealt　with　for　the　moment。
　God　protect　Adryon　and　Glenna　and　Duncan　and　Penn；　he　thought。　And　Kathy；　and　all　the　others。　And　me　…　until　the　Noble　House　is　inviolate。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　It　was　exactly　6：30。　He　picked　up　a　house　phone。　〃Mr。　Bartlett；　please。〃　A　moment；　then　he　heard　Casey's　voice。
　〃Hello？〃
　〃Ah；　hello；　Ciranoush；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Would　you　tell　him　I'm　in　the　lobby。〃
　〃Oh　hello；　sure！　Would　you　like　to　e　up？　We're　…　〃
　〃Why　don't　you　e　down？　I　thought；　if　you're　not　too　busy　I'd　take　you　on　my　next　appointment　…　it　might　be　interesting　for　you。　We　could　eat　afterwards；　if　you're　free。〃
　〃I'd　love　that。　Let　me　check。〃
　He　heard　her　repeat　what　he　had　said　and　he　wondered；　very　much；　about　his　bet　with　Claudia。　Impossible　that　those　two　aren't　lovers；　he　thought；　or　haven't　been　lovers；　living　so　close　together。　Wouldn't　be　natural！
　〃We'll　be　right　down；　tai…pan！〃　He　heard　the　smile　in　her　voice　as　he　hung　up。
　The　Most　High　Headwaiter　was　hovering　beside　him　now；　waiting　for　the　rare　honor　of　seating　the　tai…pan。　He　had　been　summoned　by　the　Second　Headwaiter　the　moment　the　news　had　arrived　that　Dunross　had　been　seen　approaching　the　front　door。　His　name　was　Afternoon　Pok　and　he　was　gray…haired；　majestic；　and　ruled　this　shift　with　a　bamboo　whip。
　〃Ah　Honored　Lord；　this　is　a　pleasure；〃　the　old　man　said　in　Cantonese　with　a　deferential　bow。　〃Have　you　eaten　rice　today？〃　This　was　the　polite　way　of　saying　good…day　or　good　evening　or　how　are　you　in　Chinese。
　〃Yes；　thank　you；　Elder　Brother；〃　Dunross　replied。　He　had　known　Afternoon　Pok　most　of　his　life。　As　long　as　he　could　remember；　Afternoon　Pok　had　been　the　headwaiter　in　the　foyer　from　noon　till　six；　and　many　times　when　Dunross　was　young；　sent　on　an　errand　here；　sore　from　a　whipping　or　cuffing；　the　old　man　would　seat　him　in　a　corner　table；　slip　him　a　pastry；　tap　him　kindly　on　the　head　and　never　give　him　a　bill。　〃You're　looking　prosperous！〃
　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Oh；　you　are　looking　very　healthy　too！　But　you've　still　only　one　son！　Don't　you　think　it's　time　your　revered　Chief　Wife　found　you　a　second　wife？〃
　They　smiled　together。　〃Please　follow　me；〃　the　old　man　said　importantly　and　led　the　way　to　the　choice　table　that　had　miraculously　appeared　in　a　spacious；　favored　place　acquired　by　four　energetic　waiters　who　had　squeezed　other　guests　and　the　tables　out　of　the　way。　Now　they　stood；　almost　at　attention；　all　beaming。
　〃Your　usual；　sir？〃　the　wine　waiter　asked。　〃I've　a　bottle　of　the　'52。〃
　〃Perfect；〃　Dunross　said；　knowing　this　would　be　the　La　Doucette　that　he　enjoyed　so　much。　He　would　have　preferred　tea　but　it　was　a　matter　of　face　to　accept　the　wine。　The　bottle　was　already　there；　in　an　ice　bucket。　〃I'm　expecting　Mr。　Bartlett　and　Miss　Tcholok。〃　Another　waiter　went　at　once　to　wait　for　them　at　the　elevator。
　〃If　there's　anything　you　need；　please　call　me。〃　Afternoon　Pok　bowed　and　walked　off；　every　waiter　in　the　foyer　nervously　conscious　of　him。　Dunross　sat　down　and　noticed　Peter　and　Fleur　Marlowe　trying　to　control　two　pretty；　boisterous　girls　of　four　and　eight　and　he　sighed　and　thanked　God　his　daughters　were　past　that　age。　As　he　sipped　the　wine　approvingly；　he　saw　old　Willie　Tusk　look　over　at　him　and　wave。　He　waved　back。
　When　he　was　a　boy　he　used　to　e　over　from　Hong　Kong　three　or　four　times　a　week　with　business　orders　for　Tusk　from　old　Sir　Ross　Struan；　Alastair's　father　…　or；　more　likely；　they　were　orders　from　his　own　father　who；　for　years；　had　run　the　foreign　division　of　the　Noble　House。　Occasionally　Tusk　would　service　the　Noble　House　in　areas　of　his　expertise　…　anything　to　do　with　getting　anything　out　of　Thailand；　Burma　or　Malaya　and　shipping　it　anywhere；　with　just　a　little　h'eung　yau　and　his　standard　trading　fee　of　71/2　percent。
　〃What's　the　half　percent　for；　Uncle　Tusk？〃　he　remembered　asking　one　day；　peering　up　at　the　man　he　now　towered　over。
　〃That's　what　I　call　my　dollymoney；　young　Ian。〃
　〃What's　dollymoney？〃
　〃That's　a　little　extra　for　your　pocket　to　give　away　to　dollies；　to　ladies　of　your　choice。〃
　〃But　why　do　you　give　money　to　ladies？〃
　〃Well　that's　a　long　story；　laddie。〃
　Dunross　smiled　to　himself。　Yes；　a　very　long　story。　That　part　of　his　education　had　had　various　teachers；　some　good；　some　very　good　and　some　bad。　Old　Uncle　Chen…chen　had　arranged　for　his　first　mistress　when　he　was　fourteen。
　〃Oh　do　you　really　mean　it；　Uncle　Chen…chen？〃
　〃Yes；　but　you're　not　to　tell　anyone　or　your　father　will　have　my　guts　for　garters！　Huh；〃　the　lovely　old　man　had　continued；　〃your　father　should　have　arranged　it；　or　asked　me　to　arrange　it　but　never　mind。　Now　wh…　〃
　〃But　when　do　I；　when　do　I　。。。　oh　are　you　sure？　I　mean　how；　how　much　do　I　pay　and　when；　Uncle　Chen…chen？　When？　I　mean　before　or；　or　after　or　when？　That's　what　I　don't　know。〃
　〃You　don't　know　lots！　You　still　don't　know　when　to　talk　and　when　not　to　talk！　How　can　I　instruct　you　if　you　talk？　Have　I　all　day？〃
　〃No　sir。〃
　〃Eeeee；〃　old　Chen…chen　had　said　with　that　huge　smile　of　his；　〃eeeee；　but　how　lucky　you　are！　Your　first　time　in　a　Gorgeous　Gorge！　It　will　be　the　first　time；　won't　it？　Tell　the　truth！〃
　〃Er　。。。　well　er　er　well　。。。　er；　yes。〃
　〃Good！〃
　It　wasn't　till　years　after　that　Dunross　had　discovered　that　some　of　the　most　famous　houses　in　Hong　Kong　and　Macao　had　secretly　bid　for　the　privilege　of　servicing　the　first　pillow　time　of　a　future　tai…pan　and　the　great…great…grandson　of　Green…Eyed　Devil　himself。　Apart　from　the　face　the　house　would　gain　for　generations　to　be　the　one　chosen　by　the　pradore　of　the　Noble　House；　it　would　also　be　enormous　joss　for　the　lady　herself。　First　Time　Essence　of　even　the　meanest　personage　was　an　elixir　of　marvelous　value　…　just　as；　in　Chinese　lore；　for　the　elderly　man；　the　yin　juices　of　the　virgin　were　equally　prized　and　sought　after　to　rejuvenate　the　yang。
　〃Good　sweet　Christ；　Uncle　Chen…chen！〃　he　had　exploded。　〃It's　true？　You　actually　sold　me？　You　mean　to　tell　me　you　sold　me　to　a　bloody　house！　Me？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　The　old　man　had　peered　up　at　him；　and　chuckled　and　chuckled；　bedridden　now　in　the　great　house　of　the　Chens　on　the　ridge　of　Struan's　Lookout；　almost　blind　now　and　near　death　but　sweetly　unresisting　and　content。　〃Who　told　you；　who；　eh？　Eh；　young　Ian？〃
　It　was　Tusk；　a　widower；　a　great　frequenter　of　Kowloon's　dance　halls　and　bars　and　houses　who　had　been　told　it　as　a　legend　by　one　of　the　mama…sans　who　had　heard　that　it　was　a　custom　in　the　Noble　House　that　the　pradore　had　to　arrange　the　first　pillow　time　for　the　progeny　of　Green…Eyed　Devil　Struan。　〃Yes；　old　boy；〃　Tusk　had　told　him。　〃Dirk　Struan　said　to　Sir　Gordon　Chen；　old　Chen…chen's　father；　he'd　put　his　Evil　Eye　on　the　House　of　Chen　if　they　didn't　choose　correctly。〃
　〃Balls；〃　Dunross　had　said　to　Tusk；　who　had　continued；　pained；　that　he　was　just　passing　on　a　legend　which　was　now　part　of　Hong　Kong's　folklore　and；　balls　or　not　Ian　old　chum；　your　first　bang…ditty…bang…bang　was　worth　thousands　Hong　Kong　to　that　old　rake！
　〃I　think　that's　pretty　bloody　awful；　Uncle　Chen…chen！〃
　〃But　why？　It　was　a　most　profitable　auction。　It　cost　you　nothing　but　gave　you　enormous　pleasure。　It　cost　me　nothing　but　gave　me　20；000　HK。　The　girl's　house　gained　vast　face　and　so　did　the　girl。　It　cost　her　nothing　but　gave　her　years　of　a