jamesclavell.noblehouse-第85章

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barbecue？　We　got　the　steaks　organized；　all　prime；　T…bones　and　New　Yorks；　being　flown　over　once　a　month。　And　Idaho　potatoes；〃　he　added　proudly。
　〃I'm　glad　about　the　potatoes；〃　Gornt　said　and　the　others　settled　back；　waiting；　knowing　that　he　despised　American　cooking　…　particularly　charcoaled　steaks　and　hamburgers　and　〃gooped…up　baked　potatoes；〃　as　he　called　them。　〃When　does　the　merger　finalize？〃
　〃End　of　the　month。　Our　bid's　accepted。　Everything's　agreed。　I　certainly　hope　our　American　know…how'll　fit　into　this　great　little　island。〃
　〃I　presume　you'll　build　a　mansion？〃
　〃No　sir。　Dickie　here；〃　Biltzmann　continued；　and　everyone　winced；　〃Dickie's　got　us　the　penthouse　of　the　pany's　apartment　building　on　Blore　Street；　so　we're　in　fat　city。〃
　〃That's　convenient；〃　Gornt　said。　The　others　bit　back　their　laughter。　The　oldest　and　most　famous　of　the　Colony's　Houses　of　Easy　Virtue　had　always　been　on　Blore　Street　at　Number　One。　Number　One；　Blore　Street；　had　been　started　by　one　of　Mrs。　Fotheringill's　〃young　ladies；〃　Nellie　Blore；　in　the　1860's；　with　money　reportedly　given　her　by　Culum　Struan；　and　was　still　operating　under　its　original　rules　…　European　or　Australian　ladies　only　and　no　foreign　gentlemen　or　natives　allowed。
　〃Very　convenient；〃　Gornt　said　again。　〃But　I　wonder　if　you'd　qualify。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Nothing。　I'm　sure　Blore　Street　is　most　apt。〃
　〃Great　view；　but　the　plumbing's　no　good；〃　Biltzmann　said。　〃My　bride'll　soon　fix　that。〃
　〃She's　a　plumber　too？〃　Gornt　asked。
　The　American　laughed。　〃Hell　no；　but　she's　mighty　handy　around　the　house。〃
　〃If　you'll　excuse　me　I　have　to　see　my　trainer。〃　Gornt　nodded　to　the　others　and　turned　away　with；　〃Donald；　have　you　a　moment？　It's　about　Saturday。〃
　〃Of　course；　see　you　in　a　moment；　Mr。　Biltzmann。〃
　〃Sure。　But　call　me　Chuck。　Have　a　nice　day。〃
　McBride　fell　into　step　beside　Gornt。　When　they　were　alone　Gornt　said；　〃You're　surely　not　seriously　suggesting　he　should　be　a　voting　member？〃
　〃Well；　yes。〃　McBride　looked　unfortable。　〃It's　the　first　time　a　big　American　pany's　made　a　bid　to　e　into　Hong　Kong。　He'd　be　quite　important　to　us。〃
　〃That's　no　reason　to　let　him　in　here；　is　it？　Make　him　a　nonvoting　member。　Then　he　can　get　into　the　stands。　And　if　you　want　to　invite　him　to　your　box；　that's　your　affair。　But　a　voting　member？　Good　God；　he'll　probably　have　'Superfoods'　as　his　racing　colors！〃
　〃He's　just　new　and　out　of　his　depth；　Quillan。　I'm　sure　he'll　learn。　He's　decent　enough　even　though　he　does　make　a　few　gaffes。　He's　quite　well　off　an…　〃
　〃Since　when　has　money　been　an　open　sesame　to　the　Turf　Club？　Good　God；　Donald；　if　that　was　the　case；　every　upstart　Chinese　property　gambler　or　stock　market　gambler　who'd　made　a　killing　on　our　market'd　swamp　us。　We　wouldn't　have　room　to　fart。〃
　〃I　don't　agree。　Perhaps　the　answer's　to　increase　the　voting　membership。〃
　〃No。　Absolutely　not。　Of　course　you　stewards　will　do　what　you　like。　But　I　suggest　you　reconsider。〃　Gornt　was　a　voting　member　but　not　a　steward。　The　two　hundred　voting　members　elected　the　twelve　stewards　annually　by　secret　ballot。　Each　year　Gornt's　name　was　put　on　the　open　list　of　nominees　for　steward　and　each　year　he　failed　to　get　enough　votes。　Most　stewards　were　reelected　by　the　membership　automatically　until　they　retired；　though　from　time　to　time　there　was　lobbying。
　〃Very　well；〃　McBride　said；　〃when　his　name's　proposed　I'll　mention　your　opposition。〃
　Gornt　smiled　thinly。　〃That'll　be　tantamount　to　getting　him　elected。〃
　McBride　chuckled。　〃I　don't　think　so；　Quillan；　not　this　time。　Pug　asked　me　to　introduce　him　around。　I　must　admit　he　gets　off　on　the　wrong　foot　every　time。　I　introduced　him　to　Paul　Havergill　and　Biltzmann　immediately　started　paring　banking　procedures　here　with　those　in　the　States；　and　not　very　pleasantly　either。　And　with　the　tai…pan　。。。〃　McBride's　graying　eyebrows　soared。　〃。。。　he　said　he　was　sure　glad　to　meet　him　as　he　wanted　to　learn　about　Hag　Struan　and　Dirk　Struan　and　all　the　other　pirates　and　opium　smugglers　in　his　past！〃　He　sighed。　〃Ian　and　Paul'll　certainly　blackball　him　for　you；　so　I　don't　think　you've　much　to　worry　about。　I　really　don't　understand　why　Pug　sold　out　to　them　anyway。〃
　〃Because　he's　not　his　father。　Since　old　Sir　Thomas　died　General　Stores've　been　slipping。　Still；　Pug　makes　6　million　U。S。　personally　and　has　a　five…year　unbreakable　contract　…　so　he　has　all　the　pleasure　and　none　of　the　headaches　and　the　family's　taken　care　of。　He　wants　to　retire　to　England；　Ascot　and　all　that。〃
　〃Ah！　That's　a　very　good　deal　for　old　Pug！〃　McBride　became　more　serious。　〃Quillan；　the　fifth　race　…　the　interest's　enormous。　I'm　worried　there'll　be　interference。　We're　going　to　increase　surveillance　on　all　the　horses。　There're　rumors　th…　〃
　〃About　doping？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃There're　always　rumors　and　someone　will　always　try。　I　think　the　stewards　do　a　very　good　job。〃
　〃The　stewards　agreed　last　night　that　we'd　institute　a　new　rule：　in　future　we'll　have　an　obligatory　chemical　analysis　before　and　after　each　race；　as　they　do　at　the　major　tracks　in　England　or　America。〃
　〃In　time　for　Saturday？　How're　you　going　to　arrange　that？〃
　〃Dr。　Meng；　the　police　pathologist；　has　agreed　to　be　responsible　…　until　we　have　an　expert　arranged。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Gornt　said。
　McBride　sighed。　〃Yes；　but　the　Mighty　Dragon's　no　match　for　the　Local　Serpent。〃　He　turned　and　left。
　Gornt　hesitated；　then　went　to　his　trainer　who　stood　beside　Pilot　Fish　talking　with　the　jockey；　another　Australian；　Bluey　White。　Bluey　White　was　ostensibly　a　manager　of　one　of　Gornt's　shipping　divisions　…　the　title　given　to　him　to　preserve　his　amateur　status。
　〃G'day；　Mr。　Gornt；〃　they　said。　The　jockey　touched　his　forelock。
　〃Morning。〃　Gornt　looked　at　them　a　moment　and　then　he　said　quietly；　〃Bluey；　if　you　win；　you've　a　5；000　bonus。　If　you　finish　behind　Noble　Star；　you're　fired。〃
　The　tough　little　man　whitened。　〃Yes；　guv！〃
　〃You'd　better　get　changed　now；〃　Gornt　said；　dismissing　him。
　〃I'll　win；〃　Bluey　White　said　as　he　left。
　The　trainer　said　uneasily；　〃Pilot　Fish's　in　very　good　fettle；　Mr。　Gornt。　He'll　be　try…　〃
　〃If　Noble　Star　wins　you're　fired。　If　Noble　Star　finishes　ahead　of　Pilot　Fish　you're　fired。〃
　〃My　oath；　Mr。　Gornt。〃　The　man　wiped　the　sudden　sweat　off　his　mouth。　〃I　don't　fix　who　ge…　〃
　〃I'm　not　suggesting　you　do　anything。　I'm　just　telling　you　what's　going　to　happen　to　you。〃　Gornt　nodded　pleasantly　and　strode　off。　He　went　to　the　club　restaurant；　which　overlooked　the　course；　and　ordered　his　favorite　breakfast；　eggs　Benedict　with　his　own　special　hollandaise　that　they　kept　for　his　exclusive　use；　and　Javanese　coffee　that　he　also　supplied。
　On　his　third　cup　of　coffee　the　waiter　came　over。　〃Excuse　me；　sir；　you're　wanted　on　the　telephone。〃
　He　went　to　the　phone。　〃Gornt。〃
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Gornt；　this's　Paul　Choy　。。。　Mr。　Wu's　nephew。　。。。　I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you。〃
　Gornt　covered　his　surprise。　〃You're　calling　rather　early；　Mr。　Choy。〃
　〃Yes　sir；　but　I　wanted　to　be　in　early　the　first　day；〃　the　young　man　said　in　a　rush；　〃so　I　was　the　only　one　here　a　couple　of　minutes　ago　when　the　phone　rang。　It　was　Mr。　Bartlett；　Linc　Bartlett；　you　know；　the　guy　with　the　smuggled　guns；　the　millionaire。〃
　Gornt　was　startled。　〃Bartlett？〃
　〃Yes　sir。　He　said　he　wanted　to　get　hold　of　you；　implied　it　was　kinda　urgent；　said　he'd　tried　your　home。　I　put　two　and　two　together　and　came　up　with　you　might　be　at　the　workout　and　I'd　better　get　off　my　butt。　I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you？〃
　〃No。　What　did　he　say？〃　Gornt　asked。
　〃Just　that　he　wanted　to　talk　to　you；　and　were　you　in　town？　I　said　I　didn't　know；　but　I'd　check　around　and　leave　a　message　and　give　him　a　call　back。〃
　〃Where　was　he　calling　from？〃
　〃The　Vic　and　Albert。　Kowloon　side　662233；　extension　773　…　that's　his　office　extension；　not　his　suite。〃
　Gornt　was　very　impressed。　〃A　closed　mouth　catches　no　flies；　Mr。　Choy。〃
　〃Jesus；　Mr。　Gornt；　that's　one　thing　you　never　need　worry　about；〃　Paul　Choy　said　fervently。　〃My　old　Uncle　Wu　wopped　that　into　us　all　like　there　was　no　tomorrow。〃
　〃Good。　Thanks；　Mr。　Choy。　I'll　see　you　shortly。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Gornt　hung　up；　thought　a　moment；　then　dialed　the　hotel。　〃773　please。〃
　〃Linc　Bartlett。〃
　〃Good　morning　Mr。　Bartlett；　this's　Mr。　Gornt。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃Hey；　thanks　for　returning　my　call。　I've　had　disturbing　news　which　sort　of　ties　in　with　what　we　were　discussing。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　Does　Toda　Shipping　mean　anything　to　you？〃　Gornt's　interest　soared。　〃Toda　Shipping's　a　huge　Japanese　conglomerate；　shipyards；　steel　mills；　heavy　engineering。　Struan's　have　a　two…ship　deal　with　them；　bulk　vessels　I　believe。　Why？〃
　〃It　seems　Toda　have　some　notes　due　from　Struan's；　6　million　in　three　installments　…　on　the　first；　eleventh；　and　fifteenth　of　next　month　…　and　another　6　million　in　90　days。　Then　there's　another　6。8　million　due　on　the　eighth　to　Orlin　International　Bank　…　you　know　them？〃
　With　a　great　effort　Gornt　kept　his　voice　matter…of…fact。　〃I've；　I've　heard　of　them；〃　he　said；　astounded　that　the　American　would　have　such　details　of　the　debts。　〃So？〃　he　asked。
　〃So　I　heard　Struan's　have　only　1。3　million　in　cash；　with　no　cash　reserves　and　not　enough　cash　flow　to　make　payment。　They're　not　expecting　a　significant　block　of　ine　until　they　get　17　million　as　their　share　of　one　of　Kowloon　Investments'　property　deals；　not　due　until　November；　and　they're　20　percent　overextended　at　the　Victoria　Bank。〃
　〃That's　。。。　that's　very　intimate　knowledge；〃　Gornt　gasped；　his　heart　thumping　in　his　chest；　his　collar　feeling　tight。　He　knew　about　the　20　percent　overdraft　…　Plumm　had　told　him　…　all　the　directors　of　the　bank　would　know。　But　not　the　details　of　their　cash；　or　their　cash　flow。
　〃Why're　you　telling　me　this；　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃How　liquid　are　you？〃
　〃I've　already　told　you；　I'm　twenty　times　stronger　than　Struan's；〃　he　said　automatically；　the　lie　ing　easily；　his　mind　churning　the　marvelous　opportunities　all　this　information　unlocked。　〃Why？〃
　〃If　I　go　through　with　the　Struan　deal　he'll　be　using　my　cash　down　payment　to　get　off　the　Toda　and　Orlin　hooks　…　if　his　bank　doesn't　extend　his　credit。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Will　the　Vic　support　him？〃
　〃They　always　have。　Why？〃
　〃If　they　don't；　then　he's　in　big　trouble。〃
　〃Struan's　are　substantial　stockholders。　The　bank　is　obliged　to　support　them。〃
　〃But　he's　overdrawn　there　and　Havergill　hates　him。　Between　Chen's　stock；　Struan's　and　their　nominees；　they've　21　percent。　。。。〃
　Gornt　almost　dropped　the　phone。　〃Where　the　hell　did　you　get　that　information？　No　outsider　could　possibly　know　that！〃
　〃That's　right；〃　he　heard　the　American　say　calmly；　〃but　that's　a　fact。　Could　you　muster　the　other　79　percent？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃If　I　had　a　partner　who　could　put　the　bank　against　him　just　this　once　and　he　couldn't　get　credit　elsewhere　。。。　bluntly：　it's　a　matter　of　timing。　Dunross's　mortally　overextended　and　that　means　he's　vulnerable。　If　his　bank　won't　give　him　credit；　he's　got　to　sell　something　…　or　get　a　new　line　of　credit。　In　either　case　he's　wide　open　for　an　attack　and　ripe　for　a　takeover　at　a　fire…sale　price。〃
　Gornt　mopped　his　brow；　his　brain　reeling。　〃Where　the　hell　did　you　get　all　this　information？〃
　〃Later；　not　now。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃When　we're　down　to　the　short　strokes。〃
　〃How　。。。　how　sure　are　you　your　figures　are　correct？〃
　〃Very。　We've　his　balance　s