jamesclavell.noblehouse-第96章

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　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　week；　it　had　been　a　good　year　and　it　was　rumored　there　was　going　to　be　a　stock　split。　But　he　knew　the　first　rule　of　all　exchanges：　yesterday　has　nothing　to　do　with　today。　The　client　had　said；　Sell。
　〃20　cents　off　market？〃　he　asked。
　〃30。　Last　offer。　What　the　hell　do　you　care；　you　still　get　paid。　Is　it　30　off？〃
　〃All　right。〃　Stern　worked　his　way　down　the　board；　selling　most　of　their　stocks　without　trouble　though　each　time　he　had　to　concede　on　price。　With　difficulty　he　borrowed　the　Ho…Pak　stock。　Now　he　stopped　at　the　column　listing　the　bank。　There　were　many　sell　orders。　Most　of　them　were　small　figures。　He　wrote　200；000　at　the　bottom　of　the　list　in　the　sell　column。　A　shock　wave　went　through　the　room。　He　paid　no　attention；　just　looked　at　Forsythe；　who　was　Richard　Kwang's　broker。　Today　he　was　the　only　buyer　of　Ho…Pak。
　〃Is　Quillan　trying　to　wreck　the　Ho…Pak？〃　a　broker　asked。
　〃It's　already　under　siege。　Do　you　want　to　buy　the　shares？〃
　〃Not　on　your　bloody　life！　Are　you　selling　Struan　short　too？〃
　〃No。　No　I'm　not。〃
　〃Christ；　I　don't　like　this　at　all。〃
　〃Keep　calm；　Harry；〃　someone　else　said。　〃The　market's　e　alive　for　once；　that's　all　that　counts。〃
　〃Great　day；　what？〃'　another　broker　said　to　him。　〃Is　the　crash　on？　I'm　totally　liquid　myself；　sold　out　this　morning。　Is　it　going　to　be　a　crash？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃Shocking　about　Struan's；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Do　you　believe　all　the　rumors？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；　but　one　word　to　the　wise　is　sufficient　they　say；　what？〃
　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　〃Struan's　off　31/2　points　in　one　day；　old　boy；　a　lot　of　people　believe　it；〃　another　broker　said。　〃I　sold　out　my　Struan's　this　morning。　Will　Richard　sustain　the　run？〃
　〃That's　in　the　hands　of　。。。〃　Joseph　Stern　was　going　to　say　God　but　he　knew　that　Richard　Kwang's　future　was　in　the　hands　of　his　depositors　and　that　they　had　already　decided。　〃Joss；〃　he　said　sadly。
　〃Yes。　Thank　God　we　get　our　missions　either　way；　feast　or　famine；　jolly　good；　what？〃
　〃Jolly　good；〃　Stern　echoed；　privately　loathing　the　smug；　self…satisfied　upper…class　English　accent　of　the　exclusive　British　public　schools；　schools　that；　because　he　was　Jewish；　he　had　never　been　able　to　attend。　He　saw　Forsythe　put　the　phone　down　and　look　at　the　board。　Once　more　he　tapped　his　offering。　Forsythe　beckoned　him。　He　walked　through　the　throng；　eyes　watching　him。
　〃Are　you　buying？〃　he　asked。
　〃In　due　course；　Joseph；　old　boy！〃　Forsythe　added　softly。　〃Between　you　and　me；　can't　you　get　Quillan　off　our　backs？　I've　reason　to　believe　he's　in　cahoots　with　that　berk　Southerby。〃
　〃Is　that　a　public　accusation？〃
　〃Oh　e　on；　it's　a　private　opinion；　for　chrissake！　Haven't　you　read　Haply's　column？　Tai…pans　and　a　big　bank　spreading　rumors？　You　know　Richard's　sound。　Richard's　as　sound　as　。。。　as　the　Rothschilds！　You　know　Richard's　got　over　a　billion　in　res…　〃
　〃I　saw　the　crash　of　'29；　old　chap。　There　were　trillions　in　reserve　then　but　even　so　everyone　went　broke。　It's　a　matter　of　cash；　credit　and　liquidity。　And　confidence。　You'll　buy　our　offering；　yes　or　no？〃
　〃Probably。〃
　〃How　long　can　you　keep　this　up？〃
　Forsythe　looked　at　him。　〃Forever。　I'm　just　a　stockbroker。　I　just　follow　orders。　Buy　or　sell　I　make　a　quarter　of　one　percent。〃
　〃If　the　client　pays。〃
　〃He　has　to。　We　have　his　stock；　eh？　We　have　rules。　But　while　I　think　of　it；　go　to　hell。〃
　Stern　laughed。　〃I'm　British；　I'm　going　to　heaven；　didn't　you　know。〃　Uneasily；　he　walked　back　to　his　desk。　〃I　think　he'll　buy　before　the　market　closes。〃
　It　was　a　quarter　to　three。　〃Good；〃　Gornt　said。　〃Now　I　wa…　〃　He　stopped。　They　both　looked　back　as　there　was　an　undercurrent。　Dunross　was　escorting　Casey　and　Linc　Bartlett　to　the　desk　of　Alan　Holdbrook　…　Struan's　in…house　broker　…　on　the　other　side　of　the　hall。
　〃I　thought　he'd　left　for　the　day；〃　Gornt　said　with　a　sneer。
　〃The　tai…pan　never　runs　away　from　trouble。　It's　not　in　his　nature。〃　Stern　watched　them　thoughtfully。　〃They　look　pretty　friendly。　Perhaps　the　rumors　are　all　wrong　and　Ian'll　make　the　Par…Con　deal　and　make　the　payments。〃
　〃He　can't。　That　deal's　going　to　fall　through；〃　Gornt　said。　〃Bartlett's　no　fool。　Bartlett'd　be　mad　to　throw　in　with　that　tottering　empire。〃
　〃I　didn't　even　know　until　a　few　hours　ago　that　Struan's　were　indebted　to　the　Orlin　Bank。　Or　that　the　Toda　payments　were　due　in　a　week　or　so。　Or　the　even　more　nonsensical　rumor　that　the　Vic　won't　support　the　Noble　House。　Lot　of　nonsense。　I　called　Havergill　and　that's　what　he　said。〃
　〃What　else　would　he　say？〃
　After　a　pause；　Stern　said；　〃Curious　that　all　that　news　surfaced　today。〃
　〃Very。　Sell　200；000　Struan's。〃
　Stern's　eyes　widened　and　he　plucked　at　his　bushy　eyebrows。　〃Mr。　Gornt；　don't　you　think　th…　〃
　〃No。　Please　do　as　I　ask。〃
　〃I　think　you're　wrong　this　time。　The　tai…pan's　too　clever。　He'll　get　all　the　support　he　needs。　You'll　get　burned。〃
　〃Times　change。　People　change。　If　Struan's　have　extended　themselves　and　can't　pay　。。。　Well；　my　dear　fellow；　this's　Hong　Kong　and　I　hope　the　buggers　go　to　the　wall。　Make　it　300；000。〃
　〃Sell　at　what　figure；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃At　market。〃
　〃It'll　take　time　to　borrow　the　shares。　I'll　have　to　sell　in　much　smaller　lots。　I'll　hav…　〃
　〃Are　you　suggesting　my　credit's　not　good　enough　or　you　can't　perform　normal　stockbroking　functions？〃
　〃No。　No　of　course　not；〃　Stern　replied；　not　wanting　to　offend　his　biggest　customer。
　〃Good；　then　sell　Struan's　short。　Now。〃
　Gornt　watched　him　walk　away。　His　heart　was　beating　nicely。
　Stern　went　to　Sir　Luis　Basilio　of　the　old　stockbroking　firm　of　Basilio　and　Sons；　who　had　a　great　block　of　Struan's　personally；　as　well　as　many　substantial　clients　with　more。　He　borrowed　the　stock　then　walked　to　the　board　and　wrote　the　huge　offering　in　the　sell　column。　The　chalk　scraped　loudly。　Gradually　the　room　fell　silent。　Eyes　switched　to　Dunross　and　Alan　Holdbrook　and　the　Americans；　then　to　Gornt　and　back　to　Dunross　again。　Gornt　saw　Linc　Bartlett　and　Casey　watching　him　and　he　was　glad　she　was　there。　Casey　was　wearing　a　yellow　silk　skirt　and　blouse；　very　Californian；　a　green　scarf　tying　her　golden　hair　back。　Why　is　she　so　sexual；　Gornt　asked　himself　absently。　A　strange　invitation　seemed　to　surround　her。　Why？　Is　it　because　no　man　yet　has　ever　satisfied　her？
　He　smiled　at　her；　nodding　slightly。　She　half…smiled　back　and　he　thought　he　noticed　a　shadow　there。　His　greeting　to　Bartlett　was　polite　and　returned　equally　politely。　His　eyes　held　Dunross　and　the　two　men　stared　at　each　other。
　The　silence　mounted。　Someone　coughed　nervously。　Everyone　was　conscious　of　the　immensity　of　the　offering　and　the　implications　of　it。
　Stern　tapped　his　offering　again。　Holdbrook　leaned　forward　and　consulted　with　Dunross　who　half　shrugged　and　shook　his　head；　then　began　talking　quietly　to　Bartlett　and　Casey。
　Joseph　Stern　waited。　Then　someone　offered　to　buy　a　portion　and　they　haggled　back　and　forth。　Soon　50；000　shares　had　changed　hands　and　the　new　market　price　was　24。90。　He　changed　the　300；000　to　250；000　and　again　waited。　He　sold　a　few　more　but　the　bulk　remained。　Then；　as　there　were　no　takers；　he　came　back　to　his　seat。　He　was　sweating。
　〃If　that　number　stays　there　overnight　it'll　do　Struan's　no　good　at　all。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Gornt　still　watched　Casey。　She　was　listening　intently　to　Dunross。　He　sat　back　and　thought　a　moment。　〃Sell　another　100；000　Ho…Pak　…　and　200；000　Struan's。〃
　〃Good　God；　Mr。　Gornt；　if　Struan's　gets　brought　down　the　whole　market'll　totter；　even　your　own　pany'll　lose。〃
　〃There'll　be　an　adjustment；　lots　of　adjustments；　certainly。〃
　〃There'll　be　a　bloodbath。　If　Struan's　go；　so　will　other　panies；　thousands　of　investors'll　be　wiped　out　an…　〃
　〃I　really　don't　need　a　lecture　on　Hong　Kong　economics；　Mr。　Stern；〃　Gornt　said　coldly。　〃If　you　don't　want　to　follow　instructions　I'll　take　my　business　elsewhere。〃
　Stern　flushed。　〃I'll　。。。　I'll　have　to　round　up　the　shares　first。　That　number　。。。　to　get　that　sum　。。。〃
　〃Then　I　suggest　you　hurry　up！　I　want　that　on　the　board　today！〃　Gornt　watched　him　go；　enjoying　the　moment　immensely。　Cocky　bastard；　he　was　thinking。　Stockbrokers　are　just　parasites；　every　one　of　them。　He　felt　quite　safe。　Bartlett's　money　was　in　his　account。　He　could　buy　back　Ho…Pak　and　Struan's　even　now　and　be　millions　ahead。　Contentedly　his　eyes　strayed　back　to　Casey。　She　was　watching　him。　He　could　read　nothing　in　her　expression。
　Joseph　Stern　was　weaving　through　the　brokers。　Again　he　stopped　at　the　Basilio　desk。　Sir　Luis　Basilio　looked　away　from　the　board　and　smiled　up　at　him。　〃So；　Joseph？　You　want　to　borrow　more　Noble　House　shares？〃
　〃Yes；　please。〃
　〃For　Quillan？〃　Sir　Luis　asked。　He　was　a　fine　old　man；　small；　elegant；　very　thin；　and　in　his　seventies　…　this　year's　chairman　of　the　mittee　that　ran　the　exchange。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃e；　sit　down；　let's　talk　a　moment；　old　friend。　How　many　do　you　want　now？〃
　〃200；000。〃
　Sir　Luis　frowned。　〃300；000　on　the　board　…　another　2？　Is　this　an　all…out　attack？〃
　〃He　。。。　he　didn't　say　that　but　I　think　it　is。〃
　〃It's　a　great　pity　those　two　can't　make　peace　with　one　another。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　The　older　man　thought　a　moment；　then　said　even　more　quietly；　〃I'm　considering　suspending　dealing　in　Ho…Pak　shares；　and；　since　lunch；　Noble　House　shares。　I'm　very　worried。　At　this　precise　moment　a　Ho…Pak　crash；　coupled　with　a　Noble　House　crash；　could　wreck　the　whole　market。　Madonna；　it's　unthinkable　for　the　Noble　House　to　crash；　it　would　pull　down　hundreds　of　us；　perhaps　all　Hong　Kong；　unthinkable！〃
　〃Perhaps　the　Noble　House　needs　overhauling。　Can　I　borrow　200；000　shares？〃
　〃First　answer　me　this；　yes　or　no；　and　if　yes　when：　Should　we　suspend　the　Ho…Pak？　Should　we　suspend　Struan's？　I've　polled　all　the　other　members　of　the　mittee　except　you。　They're　divided　almost　equally。〃
　〃Neither　have　ever　been　suspended。　It　would　be　bad　to　suspend　either。　This's　a　free　society　…　in　its　best　sense；　I　think。　You　should　let　it　work　itself　out；　let　them　sort　themselves　out；　the　Struans；　and　the　Gornts　and　all　the　rest；　let　the　best　get　to　the　top　and　the　worst　。。。〃　Stern　shook　his　head　wearily。　〃Ah　but　it's　easy　for　me　to　say　that；　Luis；　I'm　not　a　big　investor　in　either。〃
　〃Where's　your　money？〃
　〃Diamonds。　All　Jews　need　small　things；　things　you　can　carry　and　things　you　can　hide；　things　you　can　convert　easily。〃
　〃There's　no　need　for　you　to　be　afraid　here；　Joseph。　How　many　years　has　your　family　been　here　and　prospered？　Look　at　Solomon　…　surely　he　and　his　family　are　the　richest　in　all　Asia。〃
　〃For　Jews　fear　is　a　way　of　life。　And　being　hated。〃
　Again　the　old　man　sighed。　〃Ah　this　world；　this　lovely　world；　how　lovely　it　should　be。〃　A　phone　rang　and　he　picked　it　up　delicately；　his　hands　tiny；　his　Portuguese　sounding　sweet　and　liquid　to　Stern　though　he　understood　none　of　it。　He　only　caught　〃Se？or　Mata〃　said　deferentially　several　times　but　the　name　meant　nothing　to　him。　In　a　moment　Sir　Luis　replaced　the　receiver　very　thoughtfully。　〃The　financial　secretary　called　just　after　lunch；　greatly　perturbed。　There's　a　deputation　from　Parliament　here　and　a　bank　crash　would　look　extremely　bad　for　all　of　us；〃　he　said。　He　smiled　a　pixyish　smile。　〃I　suggested　he　introduce　legislation