jamesclavell.noblehouse-第112部分

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mself；　pleased　to　be　in　a　game　where　the　stakes　were　very　high。
　He　opened　the　note　that　was　in　his　hand。　It　was　short　and　in　Russian：　〃Greetings　from　Kurgan；　Highness。　I　have　news　of　Nestorova　。。。〃　Alexi　gasped。　The　color　drained　from　his　face。　By　the　blood　of　Christ；　he　wanted　to　shout。　No　one　in　Asia　knows　my　home　was　in　Kurgan；　in　the　flatlands　on　the　banks　of　the　River　Tobol；　nor　that　my　father　was　Prince　of　Kurgan　and　Tobol；　nor　that　my　darling　Nestorova；　my　child…wife　of　a　thousand　lifetimes　ago；　swallowed　up　in　the　revolution　while　I　was　with　my　regiment　。。。　I　swear　to　God　I've　never　mentioned　her　name　to　anyone；　not　even　to　myself。　。。。
　In　shock　he　reread　the　note。　Is　this　more　of　their　devilment；　the　Soviets　…　the　enemy　of　all　the　Russians？　Or　is　it　a　friend？　Oh　Christ　Jesus　let　it　be　a　friend。
　After　〃Nestorova〃　the　note　had　ended；　〃Please　meet　me　at　the　Green　Dragon　Restaurant；　in　the　alley　just　off　189　Nathan　Road；　the　back　room　at　three　this　afternoon。〃　There　was　no　signature。
　
　Across　the　paddock；　near　the　winning　post；　Richard　Kwang　was　walking　toward　his　trainer　when　he　saw　his　sixth　cousin；　Smiler　Ching；　chairman　of　the　huge　Ching　Prosperity　Bank；　in　the　stands；　his　binoculars　trained　on　Pilot　Fish。
　〃Hello；　Sixth　Cousin；〃　he　said　affably　in　Cantonese；　〃have　you　eaten　rice　today？〃
　The　sly　old　man　was　instantly　on　guard。　〃You　won't　get　any　money　out　of　me；〃　he　said　coarsely；　his　lips　sliding　back　from　protruding　teeth　that　gave　him　a　perpetual　smiling　grimace。
　〃Why　not？〃　Richard　Kwang　said　equally　rudely。　〃I've　got　17　fornicating　millions　on　loan　to　you　an…　〃
　〃Yes　but　that's　on　ninety…day　call　and　well　invested。　We've　always　paid　the　40　percent　interest；〃　the　old　man　snarled。
　〃You　miserable　old　dog　bone；　I　helped　you　when　you　needed　money！　Now　it's　time　to　repay！〃
　〃Repay　what？　What？〃　Smiler　Ching　spat。　〃I've　repaid　you　a　fortune　over　the　years。　I've　taken　the　risks　and　you've　reaped　the　profit。　This　whole　disaster　couldn't　happen　at　a　worse　time！　I've　every　copper　cash　out　…　every　one！　I'm　not　like　some　bankers。　My　money's　always　put　to　good　use。〃
　The　good　use　was　narcotics；　so　legend　went。　Of　course　Richard　Kwang　had　never　asked；　and　no　one　knew　for　certain；　but　everyone　believed　that　Smiler　Ching's　bank　was　secretly　one　of　the　main　clearinghouses　for　the　trade；　the　vast　majority　of　which　emanated　from　Bangkok。　〃Listen；　Cousin；　think　of　the　family；〃　Richard　Kwang　began。　〃It's　only　a　temporary　problem。　The　fornicating　foreign　devils　are　attacking　us。　When　that　happens　civilized　people　have　to　stick　together！〃
　〃I　agree。　But　you're　the　cause　of　the　run　on　the　Ho…Pak。　You　are。　It's　on　you　…　not　on　my　bank。　You've　offended　the　fornicators　somehow！　They're　after　you　…　don't　you　read　the　papers？　Yes；　and　you've　got　all　your　cash　out　on　some　very　bad　deals　so　I　hear。　You；　Cousin；　you've　put　your　own　head　into　the　cangue。　Get　money　out　of　that　evil　son　of　a　Malayan　whore　half…caste　partner　of　yours。　He's　got　billions　…　or　out　of　Tightfist。　。。。〃　The　old　man　suddenly　cackled。　〃I'll　give　you　10　for　every　1　that　old　fornicator　loans　you！〃
　〃If　I　go　down　the　toilet　the　Ching　Prosperity　Bank　won't　be　far　behind。〃
　〃Don't　threaten　me！〃　the　old　man　said　angrily。　His　lips　had　a　flick　of　saliva　permanently　in　the　corners　and　then　they　worked　over　his　teeth　once　and　fell　apart　again　in　his　grimace。　〃If　you　go　down　it　won't　be　my　fault　…　why　wish　your　rotten　joss　on　family？　I've　done　nothing　to　hurt　you　…　why　try　and　pass　your　bad　joss　on　to　me？　If　today　。。。　ayeeyah；　if　today　your　bad　joss　spills　over　and　those　dog　bone　depositors　start　a　run　on　me　I　won't　last　the　day！〃
　Richard　Kwang　momentarily　felt　better　that　the　Ching　empire　was　equally　threatened。　Good；　very　good。　I　could　use　all　his　business　　…　particularly　the　Bangkok　connection。　Then　he　saw　the　big　clock　over　the　totalizator　and　groaned。　It　was　just　past　six　now　and　at　ten；　banks　would　open　and　the　stock　market　would　open　and　though　arrangements　had　been　made　with　Blacs；　the　Victoria　and　the　Bombay　and　Eastern　Bank　of　Kowloon　to　pledge　securities　that　should　cover　everything　and　to　spare；　he　was　still　nervous。　And　enraged。　He　had　had　to　make　some　very　tough　deals　that　he　had　no　wish　to　honor。　〃e　on；　Cousin；　just　50　million　for　ten　days　…　I'll　extend　the　17　million　for　two　years　and　add　another　20　in　thirty　days。〃
　〃50　million　for　three　days　at　10　percent　interest　a　day；　your　present　loan　to　be　collateral　and　I'll　also　take　deed　to　your　property　in　Central　as　further　collateral！〃
　〃Go　fornicate　in　your　mother's　ear！　That　property's　worth　four　times　that。〃
　Smiler　Ching　shrugged　and　turned　his　binoculars　back　on　Pilot　Fish。　〃Is　the　big　black　going　to　beat　Butterscotch　Lass　too？〃
　Richard　Kwang　looked　at　Gornt's　horse　sourly。　〃Not　unless　my　weevil…mouthed　trainer　and　jockey　join　together　to　pull　her　or　dope　her！〃
　〃Filthy　thieves！　You　can't　trust　one　of　them！　My　horse's　never　e　in　the　money　once。　Never。　Not　even　third。　Disgusting！〃
　〃50　million　for　one　week　…　2　percent　a　day？〃
　〃5。　Plus　the　Central　pro…　〃
　〃Never！〃
　〃I'll　take　a　50　percent　share　of　the　property。〃
　〃6　percent；〃　Richard　Kwang　said。
　Smiler　Ching　estimated　his　risk。　And　his　potential　profit。　The　profit　was　huge　if。　If　the　Ho…Pak　didn't　fail。　But　even　if　it　did；　the　loan　would　be　well　covered　by　the　property。　Yes；　the　profit　would　be　huge；　provided　there　wasn't　a　real　run　on　himself。　Perhaps　I　could　gamble　and　pledge　some　future　shipments　and　raise　the　50　million。
　〃15　percent　and　that's　final；〃　he　said　knowing　that　he　would　withdraw　or　change　by　noon　once　he　saw　how　the　market　was；　and　the　run　was　…　and　he　would　continue　to　sell　Ho…Pak　short　to　great　profit。　〃And　also　you　can　throw　in　Butterscotch　Lass。〃
　Richard　Kwang　swore　obscenely　and　they　bargained　back　and　forth　then　agreed　that　the　50　million　was　on　call　at　two　o'clock。　In　cash。　He　would　also　pledge　Smiler　Ching　39　percent　of　the　Central　property　as　added　collateral；　and　a　quarter　share　in　his　mare。　Butterscotch　Lass　was　the　clincher。
　〃What　about　Saturday？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Richard　Kwang　said；　loathing　the　grimace　and　buck　teeth。
　〃Our　horse's　in　the　fifth　race；　heya？　Listen；　Sixth　Cousin；　perhaps　we'd　better　make　an　acmodation　with　Pilot　Fish's　jockey。　We　pull　our　horse　…　she'll　be　favorite　…　and　back　Pilot　Fish　and　Noble　Star　for　safety！〃
　〃Good　idea。　We'll　decide　Saturday　morning。〃
　〃Better　to　eliminate　Golden　Lady　too；　eh？〃
　〃John　Chen's　trainer　suggested　that。〃
　〃Eeeee；　that　fool；　to　get　himself　kidnapped。　I'll　expect　you　to　give　me　the　real　information　on　who's　going　to　win。　I　want　the　winner　too！〃　Smiler　hawked　and　spat。
　〃All　gods　defecate；　don't　we　all！　Those　filthy　trainers　and　jockeys！　Disgusting　the　way　they　puppet　us　owners。　Who　pays　their　salaries；　heya？〃
　〃The　Turf　Club；　the　owners；　but　most　the　punters　who　aren't　in　the　know。　I　hear　you　were　at　the　Old　Vic　last　night　for　foreign　devil　food。〃
　Richard　Kwang　beamed。　His　dinner　with　Venus　Poon　had　been　an　enormous　success。　She　had　worn　the　new　knee…length　Christian　Dior　he　had　bought　for　her；　black　clinging　silk　and　gossamer　underneath。　When　he　had　seen　her　get　out　of　his　Rolls　and　e　up　the　steps　of　the　Old　Vic　his　heart　had　turned　over　and　his　Secret　Sack　had　jiggled。
　She　had　been　all　smiles　at　the　effect　her　entrance　had　on　the　entire　foyer；　her　chunky　gold　bracelets　glittering；　and　had　insisted　on　walking　up　the　grand　staircase　instead　of　using　the　elevator。　His　chest　had　been　tight　with　suppressed　glee　and　terror。　They　had　walked　through　the　formal；　well…groomed　diners；　European　and　Chinese；　many　in　evening　dress　…　husbands　and　wives；　tourists　and　locals；　men　at　business　dinners；　lovers　and　would…be　lovers　of　all　ages　and　nationalities。　He　was　wearing　a　new；　Savile　Row　dark　suit　of　the　most　expensive　lightweight　cashmere　wool。　As　they　moved　toward　the　choice　table　that　had　cost　him　a　red　…　100　dollars　…　he　had　waved　to　many　friends；　and　groaned　inwardly　four　times　as　he　saw　four　of　his　Chinese　intimates　with　their　wives；　bouffant　and　overjeweled。　The　wives　had　stared　at　him　glassily。
　Richard　Kwang　shuddered。　Wives　really　are　dragons　and　all　the　same；　he　thought。　Oh　oh　oh！　And　your　lies　sound　false　to　them　even　b