jamesclavell.noblehouse-第95章

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K…a…month　fees。　Fees　for　what？　You'd　better　。。。　Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃
　Meekly　he　sat　down　again。　〃I　…　I　was　…　I　want　to　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃Huh！　Whenever　we　have　a　discussion　you　want　the　bathroom！　You're　just　ashamed　of　the　way　you　treat　me　and　guilty。　。。。〃　Then；　seeing　him　about　to　explode　back　at　her；　she　switched　abruptly；　her　voice　crooningly　gentle。　〃Poor　Phillip！　Poor　boy！　Why　were　you　so　angry？　Who's　hurt　you？〃
　So　he　told　her；　and　once　he　began　the　telling　he　felt　better　and　his　anguish　and　fear　and　fury　started　to　melt　away。　Women　are　clever　and　cunning　in　these　things；　he　told　himself　confidently；　rushing　on。　He　told　her　about　opening　John's　safety　deposit　in　the　bank；　about　the　letters　to　Linc　Bartlett　and　about　finding　a　duplicate　key　to　his　own　safe　in　their　bedroom。　〃I　brought　all　the　letters　back；〃　he　said；　almost　in　tears；　〃they're　upstairs；　you　can　read　them　for　yourself。　My　own　son！　He's　betrayed　us！〃
　〃My　God；　Phillip；〃　she　gasped；　〃if　the　tai…pan　found　out　you　and　Father　Chen…chen　were　keeping　。。。　if　he　knew　he'd　ruin　us！〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know！　That's　why　I've　been　so　upset！　By　the　rules　of　Dirk's　legacy　he　has　the　right　and　the　means。　We'd　be　ruined。　But；　but　that's　not　all。　John　knew　where　our　secret　safe　was　in　the　garden　an…　〃
　〃Wat？〃
　〃Yes；　and　he　dug　it　up。〃　He　told　her　about　the　coin。
　〃Ayeeyah！〃　She　stared　at　him　in　absolute　shock；　half　her　mind　filled　with　terror；　the　other　half　with　ecstasy；　for　now；　whether　John　came　back　or　not；　he　had　destroyed　himself。　John　would　never　inherit　now！　My　Kevin's　Number　One　Son　now　and　future　pradore　to　the　Noble　House！　Then　her　fears　drowned　her　excitement　and　she　muttered；　aghast；　〃If　there's　still　a　House　of　Chen。〃
　〃What？　What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Nothing；　never　mind。　Wait　a　moment；　Phillip；　let　me　think。　Oh　the　rotten　boy！　How　could　John　do　this　to　us；　we　who　have　cherished　him　all　his　life！　You　。。。　you'd　better　go　to　the　bank。　Get　300；000　out　…　in　case　you　need　to　barter　more。　We　must　get　John　back　at　all　costs。　Would　he　keep　the　coin　with　him；　on　him；　or　would　it　be　in　his　other　safety　deposit　box？〃
　〃It'd　be　in　the　box　…　or　hidden　at　his　flat　in　Sinclair　Towers。〃
　Her　face　closed。　〃How　can　we　search　that　place　with　her　in　residence？　That　wife　of　his？　That　strumpet　Barbara！　If　she　suspects　we're　after　something　。。。〃　Her　mind　caught　a　vagrant　thread。　〃Phillip；　does　it　mean；　whoever　presents　the　coin　gets　whatever　they　want？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Eeeeee！　What　power！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Now　her　mind　was　working　cleanly。　〃Phillip；〃　she　said；　in　control　again；　everything　else　forgotten；　〃we　need　all　the　help　we　can　get。　Phone　your　cousin　Four　Fingers　。。。〃　He　looked　at　her；　startled；　then　began　to　smile。　〃。。。　arrange　with　him　to　have　some　of　his　street　fighters　follow　you　secretly　to　protect　you　when　you　pay　over　the　ransom；　then　to　follow　the　Werewolf　to　his　lair　and　to　rescue　John　whatever　the　cost。　Whatever　you　do　don't　tell　him　about　the　coin　…　just　that　you　want　help　to　rescue　poor　John。　That's　it。　We　must　get　poor　John　back　at　all　costs。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　much　happier　now。　〃Four　Fingers　is　the　perfect　choice。　He　owes　us　a　favor　or　two。　I　know　where　I　can　reach　him　this　afternoon。〃
　〃Good。　Off　you　go　to　the　bank；　but　give　me　the　key　to　the　safe。　I'll　cancel　my　hairdressing　appointment　and　I'll　read　John's　papers　at　once。〃
　〃Very　good。〃　He　got　up　immediately。　〃The　key's　upstairs；〃　he　said；　lying；　and　hurried　out；　not　wanting　her　prying　into　the　safe。　There　were　a　number　of　things　there　he　did　not　want　her　to　know　about。　I'd　better　hide　them　somewhere　else；　he　thought　uneasily；　just　in　case。　His　euphoria　evaporated　and　his　overwhelming　anxiety　returned。　Oh　my　poor　son；　he　told　himself　near　tears。　Whatever　possessed　you？　I　was　a　good　father　to　you　and　you'll　always　be　my　heir　and　I've　loved　you　like　I　loved　your　mother。　Poor　Jennifer；　poor　little　thing；　dying　birthing　my　first…born　son。　O　all　gods：　let　me　get　my　poor　son　back　again；　safe　again；　whatever　he's　done；　let　us　extract　ourselves　from　all　this　madness；　and　I'll　endow　a　new　temple　for　all　of　you　equally！
　The　safe　was　behind　the　brass　bedstead。　He　pulled　it　away　from　the　wall；　opened　the　safe　and　took　out　all　of　John's　papers；　then　his　very　private　deeds；　letters　and　promissory　notes　which　he　stuffed　into　his　coat　pocket　and　went　downstairs　again。
　〃Here　are　John's　letters；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　I'd　save　you　the　trouble　of　moving　the　bed。〃
　She　noticed　the　bulge　in　his　coat　pocket　but　said　nothing。
　〃I'll　be　back　by　5：30　p。m。　sharp。〃
　〃Good。　Drive　carefully；〃　she　said　absently；　her　whole　being　concentrated　on　a　single　problem　…　how　to　get　the　coin　for　Kevin　and　herself。　Secretly。
　The　phone　rang。　Phillip　Chen　stopped　at　the　front　door　as　she　picked　it　up。　〃Weyyyy？〃　Her　eyes　glazed。　〃Oh　hello；　tai…pan；　how're　you　today？〃　Phillip　Chen　blanched。
　〃Just　fine　thank　you；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Is　Phillip　there？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　just　a　minute。〃　She　could　hear　many　voices　behind　Dunross's　voice　and　she　thought　she　heard　an　undercurrent　of　covered　urgency　which　increased　her　dread。　〃Phillip；　it's　for　you；〃　she　said；　trying　to　keep　the　nervousness　out　of　her　voice。　〃The　tai…pan！〃　She　held　up　the　phone；　motioning　him　silently　to　keep　the　earpiece　a　little　away　from　his　ear　so　she　could　hear　too。
　〃Yes；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Hello；　Phillip。　What're　your　plans　this　afternoon？〃
　〃Nothing　particular。　I　was　just　leaving　to　go　to　the　bank；　why？〃
　〃Before　you　do　that；　drop　by　the　exchange。　The　market's　gone　mad。　The　run　on　the　Ho…Pak's　Colony…wide　now　and　the　stock's　teetering　even　though　Richard's　supporting　it　for　all　he's　worth。　Any　moment　it'll　crash。　The　run's　spilling　over　to　lots　of　other　banks；　I　hear　…　the　Ching　Prosperity；　even　the　Vic　。。。〃　Phillip　Chen　and　his　wife　glanced　at　each　other；　perturbed。　〃I　heard　the　Vic's　got　problems　at　Aberdeen　and　at　Central。　Everything's　down；　all　our　blue　chips：　the　V　and　A；　Kowloon　Investments；　Hong　Kong　Power；　Rothwell…Gornt；　Asian　Properties；　H。K。L。F。；　Zong　Securities；　Solomon　Textiles；　us　。。。　everyone。〃
　〃How　many　points　are　we　off？〃
　〃From　this　morning？　Three　points。〃
　Phillip　Chen　gasped　and　almost　dropped　the　phone。　〃What？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　agreed　pleasantly。　〃Someone's　started　rumors　about　us。　It's　all　over　the　market　that　we're　in　trouble；　that　we　can't　pay　Toda　Shipping　next　week　…　nor　the　Orlin　installment。　I　think　now　we're　being　sold　short。〃
　
　31
　
　2：45　P。M。：
　Gornt　was　sitting　beside　his　stockbroker；　Joseph　Stern；　in　the　exchange　watching　the　big　board　delightedly。　It　was　warm　and　very　humid　in　the　large　room　that　was　packed　and　noisy；　phones　ringing；　sweating　brokers；　Chinese　clerks　and　runners。　Normally　the　exchange　was　calm　and　leisurely。　Today　it　was　not。　Everyone　was　tense　and　concentrating。　And　uneasy。　Many　had　their　coats　off。
　Gornt's　own　stock　was　off　a　point　but　that　did　not　bother　him　a　bit。　Struan's　was　down　3。50　now　and　Ho…Pak　tottering。　Time's　running　out　for　Struan's；　he　thought；　everything's　primed；　everything's　begun。　Bartlett's　money　had　been　put　into　his　Swiss　bank　within　the　hour；　no　strings　…　just　2　million　transferred　from　an　unknown　account　into　his。　Seven　phone　calls　began　the　rumors。　Another　call　to　Japan　confirmed　the　accuracy　of　the　Struan　payment　dates。　Yes；　he　thought；　the　attack's　begun。
　His　attention　went　to　the　Ho…Pak　listing　on　the　board　as　some　more　sell　offerings　were　written　up　by　a　broker。　There　were　no　immediate　buyers。
　Since　he　had　secretly　started　selling　Ho…Pak　short　on　Monday　just　before　the　market　closed　at　three　o'clock　…　long　before　the　run　had　started　in　earnest　…　he　was　millions　ahead。　On　Monday　the　stock　had　sold　at　28。60；　and　now；　even　with　all　the　support　Richard　Kwang　was　giving　it；　it　was　down　to　24。30　…　off　more　points　than　the　stock　had　moved　ever　since　the　bank　was　formed　eleven　years　ago。
　4。30　times　500；000　makes　2；150；000；　Gornt　was　thinking　happily；　all　in　honest…to…God　HK　currency　if　I　wanted　to　buy　back　in　right　now　which　isn't　bad　for　forty…eight　hours　of　labor。　But　I　won't　buy　back　in　yet；　oh　dear　no。　Not　yet。　I'm　sure　now　that　the　stock　will　crash；　if　not　today；　tomorrow；　Thursday。　If　not　then；　Friday　…　Monday　at　the　latest；　for　no　bank　in　the　world　can　sustain　such　a　run。　Then；　when　the　crash　es　I'll　buy　back　in　at　a　few　cents　on　the　dollar　and　make　twenty　times　half　a　million。
　〃Sell　200；000；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　sell　short　openly　now　…　the　other　shares　hidden　carefully　among　his　secret　nominees。
　〃Good　God；　Mr。　Gornt；〃　his　stockbroker　gasped。　〃The　Ho…Pak'll　have　to　put　up　almost　5　million　to　cover。　That'll　rock　the　whole　market。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　jovially。
　〃We'll　have　a　hell　of　a　time　borrowing　the　stock。〃
　〃Then　do　it。〃
　Reluctantly　his　stockbroker　began　to　leave　but　one　of　the　phones　rang。　〃Yes？　Oh　hello；　Daytime　Chang；〃　he　said　in　passable　Cantonese。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I　hope　you　can　save　all　my　money；　Honorable　Middleman。　What　is　Noble　House　selling　for？〃
　〃25。30。〃
　There　was　a　screech　of　dismay。　〃Woe　woe　woe；　there's　barely　half　a　dog…bone　hour　of　trading　left；　woe　woe　woe！　Please　sell！　Please　sell　all　Noble　House　panies　at　once；　Noble　House；　Good　Luck　Properties　and　Golden　Ferry；　also　。。。　what's　Second　Great　pany　selling　at？〃
　〃23。30。〃
　〃Ayeeyah；　one　point　off　from　this　morning？　All　gods　bear　witness　to　foul　joss！　Sell。　Please　to　sell　everything　at　once！〃
　〃But　Daytime　Chang；　the　market's　really　quite　sound　an…　〃
　〃At　once！　Haven't　you　heard　the　rumors？　Noble　House　will　crash！　Eeeee；　sell；　waste　not　a　minute！　Hold　a　moment；　my　associate　Fung…tat　wants　to　talk　to　you　too。〃
　〃Yes；　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung？〃
　〃Just　like　Daytime　Chang；　Honorable　Middleman！　Sell！　Before　I'm　lost！　Sell　and　call　us　back　with　prices　oh　oh　oh！　Please　hurry！〃
　He　put　the　phone　down。　This　was　the　fifth　panic　call　he　had　had　from　old　customers　and　he　did　not　like　it　at　all。　Stupid　to　panic；　he　thought；　checking　his　stock　book。　Between　the　two　of　them；　Daytime　Chang　and　Third　Toiletmaid　Fung　had　invested　over　40；000　HK　in　various　stocks。　If　he　sold　now　they　would　be　ahead；　well　ahead；　but　for　the　Struan　losses　today　which　would　shave　off　most　of　their　profit。
　Joseph　Stern　was　head　of　the　firm　of　Stern　and　Jones　that　had　been　in　Hong　Kong　for　fifty　years。　They　had　bee　stockbrokers　only　since　the　war。　Before　that　they　were　moneylenders；　dealers　in　foreign　exchange　and　ship's　chandlers。　He　was　a　small；　dark…haired　man；　mostly　bald；　in　his　sixties；　and　many　people　thought　he　had　Chinese　blood　in　him　a　few　generations　back。
　He　walked　to　the　front　of　the　board　and　stopped　beside　the　column　that　listed　Golden　Ferry。　He　wrote　down　the　bined　Chang　and　Fung　holdings　in　the　sell　column。　It　was　a　minor　offering。
　〃I'll　buy　at　30　cents　off　listing；〃　a　broker　said。
　〃There's　no　run　on　Golden　Ferry；〃　he　said　sharply。
　〃No；　but　it's　a　Struan　pany。　Yes　or　no？〃
　〃You　know　very　well　Golden　Ferry's　profits　are　up　this　quarter。〃
　〃Tough　titty！　Christ；　isn't　it　bloody　hot？　Don't　you　think　we　could　afford　air　conditioning　in　the　exchange？　Is　it　yes　or　no；　old　chap？〃
　Joseph　Stern　thought　a　moment。　He　did　not　want　to　fuel　the　nervousness。　Only　yesterday　Golden　Ferry　had　soared　a　dollar　because　all　the　business　world　knew　their　annual　meeting　was　next