jamesclavell.noblehouse-第80章

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ressed　one　of　the　little　bars；　her　eyes　wide；　before　she　lifted　it。　〃It's　so　heavy　for　its　size；〃　she　muttered。
　〃These're　called　smuggler　bars　because　they're　easy　to　hide　and　to　transport；〃　Dunross　said；　choosing　his　words　deliberately。　〃Smugglers　wear　a　sort　of　canvas　waistcoat　with　little　pockets　in　it　that　hold　the　bars　snugly。　They　say　a　good　courier　can　carry　as　much　as　eighty　pounds　a　trip　…　that's　almost　1；300　ounces。　Of　course　they　have　to　be　fit　and　well　trained。〃
　Bartlett　was　hefting　two　in　each　hand；　fascinated　by　them。　〃How　many　make　up　eighty　pounds？〃
　〃About　two　hundred；　give　or　take　a　little。〃
　Casey　looked　at　him；　her　hazel　eyes　bigger　than　usual。　〃Are　these　yours；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Good　God；　no！　They　belong　to　a　Macao　pany。　They're　shifting　it　from　here　to　the　Victoria　Bank。　Americans　or　English　aren't　allowed　by　law　to　own　even　one　of　these。　But　I　thought　you　might　be　interested　because　it's　not　often　you　see　fifty　tons　all　in　one　place。〃
　〃I　never　realized　what　real　money　was　like　before；〃　Casey　said。　〃Now　I　can　understand　why　my　dad's　and　uncle's　eyes　used　to　light　up　when　they　talked　about　gold。〃
　Dunross　was　watching　her。　He　could　see　no　greed　in　her。　Just　wonder。
　〃Do　banks　make　many　shipments　like　this？〃　Bartlett　asked；　his　voice　throaty。
　〃Yes；　all　the　time；〃　Dunross　said　and　he　wondered　if　Bartlett　had　taken　the　bait　and　was　considering　a　Mafioso…style　hijack　with　his　friend　Banastasio。　〃We've　a　very　large　shipment　ing　in　in　about　three　weeks；〃　he　said；　increasing　the　lure。
　〃What's　fifty　tons　worth？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　Dunross　smiled　to　himself　remembering　Zeppelin　Tung　with　his　exactitude　of　figures。　As　if　it　mattered！　〃63　million　dollars　legally；　give　or　take　a　few　thousand。〃
　〃And　you're　moving　it　just　with　a　bunch　of　old　men；　two　trucks　that're　not　even　armored　and　no　guards？〃
　〃Of　course。　That's　no　problem　in　Hong　Kong；　which's　one　of　the　reasons　our　police　are　so　sensitive　about　guns　here。　If　they've　the　only　guns　in　the　Colony；　well；　what　can　the　crooks　and　nasties　do　except　curse？〃
　〃But　where're　the　police？　I　didn't　see　but　one　and　he　wasn't　armed。〃
　〃Oh；　they're　around；　I　suppose；〃　Dunross　said；　deliberately　underplaying　it。
　Casey　peered　at　the　gold　bar；　enjoying　the　touch　of　the　metal。　〃It　feels　so　cool　and　so　permanent。　Tai…pan；　if　it's　63　million　legal；　what's　it　worth　on　the　black　market？〃
　Dunross　noticed　tiny　beads　of　perspiration　now　on　her　upper　lip。　〃However　much　someone's　prepared　to　pay。　At　the　moment；　I　hear　the　best　market's　India。　They'd　pay　about　80　to　90　an　ounce；　U。S。；　delivered　into　India。〃
　Bartlett　smiled　crookedly　and　reluctantly　put　his　four　bars　back　onto　their　pile。　〃That's　a　lot　of　profit。〃
　They　watched　in　silence　as　another　canvas　bag　was　sealed；　the　bars　checked　and　rechecked　by　both　clerks。　Again　the　two　loaders　lifted　the　sack　onto　a　bent　back　and　the　man　plodded　out。
　〃What're　those？〃　Casey　asked；　pointing　to　some　much　bigger　bars　that　were　in　another　part　of　the　vault。
　〃They're　the　regulation　four…hundred…ounce　bars；〃　Dunross　said。　〃They　weigh　around　twenty…five　pounds　apiece。〃　The　bar　was　stamped　with　a　hammer　and　sickle　and　99；999。　〃This's　Russian。　It's　99。99　percent　pure。　South　African　gold　is　usually　99。98　percent　pure　so　the　Russian's　sought　after。　Of　course　both're　easy　to　buy　in　the　London　gold　market。〃　He　let　them　look　awhile　longer；　then　said；　〃Shall　we　go　now？〃
　On　the　street　there　was　still　only　one　policeman　and　the　sloppy；　unarmed　bank　guards；　the　two　truck　drivers　smoking　in　their　cabins。　Traffic　eased　past　from　time　to　time。　A　few　pedestrians。
　Dunross　was　glad　to　get　out　of　the　close　confinement　of　the　vault。　He　had　hated　cellars　and　dungeons　ever　since　his　father　had　locked　him　in　a　cupboard　when　he　was　very　small；　for　a　crime　he　could　not　now　remember。　But　he　remembered　old　Ah　Tat；　his　amah；　rescuing　him　and　standing　up　for　him　…　him　staring　up　at　his　father；　trying　to　hold　back　the　terror　tears　that　would　not　be　held　back。
　〃It's　good　to　be　out　in　the　air　again；〃　Casey　said。　She　used　a　tissue。　Inexorably　her　eyes　were　dragged　to　the　sacks　in　the　nearly　full　truck。　〃That's　real　money；〃　she　muttered；　almost　to　herself。　A　small　shudder　wracked　her　and　Dunross　knew　at　once　that　he　had　found　her　jugular。
　〃I　could　use　a　bottle　of　beer；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃So　much　money　makes　me　thirsty。〃
　〃I　could　use　a　Scotch　and　soda！〃　she　said；　and　the　spell　was　broken。
　〃We'll　stroll　over　to　the　Victoria　and　see　the　delivery　begin；　then　we'll　eat　…　〃　Dunross　stopped。　He　saw　the　two　men　chatting　near　the　trucks；　partially　in　shadow。　He　stiffened　slightly。
　The　two　men　saw　him。　Martin　Haply　of　the　China　Guardian　and　Peter　Marlowe。
　〃Oh；　hello；　tai…pan；〃　young　Martin　Haply　said；　ing　up　to　him　with　his　confident　grin。　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　here。　Evening；　Miss　Casey；　Mr。　Bartlett。　Tai…pan；　would　you　care　to　ment　on　the　Ho…Pak　matter？〃
　〃What　Ho…Pak　matter？〃
　〃The　run　on　the　bank；　sir。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　there　was　one。〃
　〃Did　you　happen　to　read　my　column　about　the　various　branches　and　the　rumo…　〃
　〃My　dear　Haply；〃　Dunross　said　with　his　easy　charm；　〃you　know　I　don't　seek　interviews　or　give　them　lightly　。。。　and　never　on　street　corners。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Haply　nodded　at　the　sacks。　〃Transferring　all　this　gold　out's　kinda　rough　for　the　Ho…Pak；　isn't　it？　That'll　put　the　kiss　of　death　on　the　bank　when　all　this　leaks。〃
　Dunross　sighed。　〃Forget　the　Ho…Pak；　Mr。　Haply。　Can　I　have　a　word　in　private？〃　He　took　the　young　man's　elbow　and　guided　him　away　with　velvet　firmness。　When　they　were　alone；　half　covered　by　one　of　the　trucks；　he　let　go　of　the　arm。　His　voice　dropped。　Involuntarily；　Haply　flinched　and　moved　back　half　a　pace。　〃Since　you　are　going　out　with　my　daughter；　I　just　want　you　to　know　that　I'm　very　fond　of　her　and　among　gentlemen　there　are　certain　rules。　I'm　presuming　you're　a　gentleman。　If　you're　not；　God　help　you。　You'll　answer　to　me　personally；　immediately　and　without　mercy。〃　Dunross　turned　and　went　back　to　the　others；　full　of　sudden　bonhomie。　〃Evening；　Marlowe；　how're　things？〃
　〃Fine；　thank　you；　tai…pan。〃　The　tall　man　nodded　at　the　trucks。　〃Astonishing；　all　this　wealth！〃
　〃Where　did　you　hear　about　the　transfer？〃
　〃A　journalist　friend　mentioned　it　about　an　hour　ago。　He　said　that　some　fifty　tons　of　gold　were　being　moved　from　here　to　the　Victoria。　I　thought　it'd　be　interesting　to　see　how　it　was　done。　Hope　it's　not　。。。　hope　I'm　not　treading　on　any　corns。〃
　〃Not　at　all。〃　Dunross　turned　to　Casey　and　Bartlett。　〃There；　you　see；　I　told　you　Hong　Kong　was　just　like　a　village　…　you　can　never　keep　any　secrets　here　for　long。　But　all　this〃　…　he　waved　at　the　sacks　…　〃this　is　all　lead　…　fool's　gold。　The　real　shipment　was　pleted　an　hour　ago。　It　wasn't　fifty　tons；　only　a　few　thousand　ounces。　The　majority　of　the　Ho…Pak's　bullion's　still　intact。〃　He　smiled　at　Haply　who　was　not　smiling　but　listening；　his　face　set。
　〃This's　all　fake　after　all？〃　Casey　gasped。
　Peter　Marlowe　laughed。　〃I　must　confess　I　did　think　this　whole　operation　was　a　bit　haphazard！〃
　〃Well；　good　night　you　two；〃　Dunross　said　breezily　to　Marlowe　and　Martin　Haply。　He　took　Casey's　arm　momentarily。　〃e　on；　it's　time　for　dinner。〃　They　started　down　the　street；　Bartlett　beside　them。
　〃But　tai…pan；　the　ones　we　saw；〃　Casey　said；　〃the　one　I　picked　up；　that　was　fake？　I'd've　bet　my　life；　wouldn't　you　have；　Linc？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Bartlett　agreed。　〃But　the　diversion　was　wise。　That's　what　I'd've　done。〃
　They　turned　the　corner；　heading　along　toward　the　huge　Victoria　Bank　building；　the　air　warm　and　sticky。
　Casey　laughed　nervously。　〃That　golden　metal　was　getting　to　me　…　and　it　was　fake　all　the　time！〃
　〃Actually　it　was　all　real；〃　Dunross　said　quietly　and　she　stopped。　〃Sorry　to　confuse　you；　Casey。　I　only　said　that　for　Haply　and　Marlowe's　benefit；　to　pour　suspicion　on　their　source。　They　could　hardly　prove　it　one　way　or　another。　I　was　asked　to　make　the　arrangements　for　the　transfer　little　more　than　an　hour　ago　…　which　I　did；　obviously；　with　great　caution。〃　His　heart　quickened。　He　wondered　how　many　other　people　knew　about　the　AMG　papers　and　the　vault　and　the　box　number　in　the　vault。
　Bartlett　watched　him。　〃I　bought　what　you　said；　so　I　guess　they　did；〃　he　said；　but　he　was　thinking；　Why　did　you　bring　us　to　see　the　gold？　That's　what　I'd　like　to　know。
　〃It's　curious；　tai…pan；〃　Casey　said　with　a　little　nervous　laugh。　〃I　knew；　I　just　knew　the　gold　was　real　to　begin　with。　Then　I　believed　you　when　you　said　it　was　fake；　and　now　I　believe　you　back　again。　Is　it　that　easy　to　fake？〃
　〃Yes　and　no。　You　only　know　for　certain　if　you　put　acid　on　it　…　you've　got　to　put　it　to　the　acid　test。　That's　the　only　real　test　for　gold。　Isn't　it？〃　he　added　to　Bartlett　and　saw　the　half…smile　and　he　wondered　if　the　American　understood。
　〃Guess　that's　right；　Ian。　For　gold　…　or　for　people。〃
　Dunross　smiled　back。　Good；　he　thought　grimly；　we　understand　each　other　perfectly。
　
　It　was　quite　late　now。　Golden　Ferries　had　stopped　running　and　Casey　and　Linc　Bartlett　were　in　a　small　private　hire…launch　chugging　across　the　harbor；　the　night　grand；　a　good　sea　smell　on　the　wind；　the　sea　calm。　They　were　sitting　on　one　of　the　thwarts　facing　Hong　Kong；　arm　in　arm。　Dinner　had　been　the　best　they　had　ever　eaten；　the　conversation　filled　with　lots　of　laughter；　Dunross　charming。　They'd　ended　with　cognac　atop　the　Hilton。　Both　were　feeling　marvelously　at　peace　with　the　world　and　with　themselves。
　Casey　felt　the　light　pressure　of　his　arm　and　she　leaned　against　him　slightly。　〃It's　romantic；　isn't　it；　Linc？　Look　at　the　Peak；　and　all　the　lights。　Unbelievable。　It's　the　most　beautiful　and　exciting　place　I've　ever　been。〃
　〃Better　than　the　south　of　France？〃
　〃That　was　so　different。〃　They　had　had　a　holiday　on　the　C？te　d'Azur　two　years　ago。　It　was　the　first　time　they　had　holidayed　together。　And　the　last。　It　had　been　too　much　of　a　strain　on　both　of　them　to　stay　apart。　〃Ian's　fantastic；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes。　And　so　are　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；　kind　sir；　and　so　are　you。〃　They　laughed；　happy　together。
　At　the　wharf；　Kowloon　side；　Linc　paid　the　boat　off　and　they　strolled　to　the　hotel；　arm　in　arm。　A　few　waiters　were　still　on　duty　in　the　lobby。
　〃Evening；　sir；　evening；　missee；〃　the　old　elevator　man　said　sibilantly；　and；　on　their　floor；　Nighttime　Chang　scurried　ahead　of　them　to　open　the　door　of　the　suite。　Automatically　Linc　gave　him　a　dollar　and　they　were　bowed　in。　Nighttime　Chang　closed　the　door。
　She　bolted　it。
　〃Drink？〃　he　asked。
　〃No　thanks。　It'd　spoil　that　brandy。〃
　She　saw　him　looking　at　her。　They　were　standing　in　the　center　of　the　living　room；　the　huge　picture　window　displaying　all　of　Hong　Kong　behind　him；　his　bedroom　to　the　right；　hers　to　the　left。　She　could　feel　the　vein　in　her　neck　pulsing；　her　loins　seemed　liquid　and　he　looked　so　handsome　to　her。
　〃Well；　it's　。。。　thanks　for　a　lovely　evening；　Linc。　I'll　。。。　I'll　see　you　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　But　she　did　not　move。
　〃It's　three　months　to　your　birthday；　Casey。〃
　〃Thirteen　weeks　and　six　days。〃
　〃Why　don't　we　finesse　them　and　get　married　now。　Tomorrow？〃
　〃You've　。。。　you've　been　so　wonderful　to　me；　Linc；　so　good　to　be　patient　and　put　up　with　my　。。。　my　craziness。〃　She　smiled　at　him。　It　was　a　tentative　smile。　〃It's　not　long　now。　Let's　do　it　as　we　agreed。　Please？〃
　He