jamesclavell.noblehouse-第97部分

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　Dunross　glanced　at　his　watch。　In　a　few　minutes　Crosse　would　arrive。
　〃We've　assets　over　a　billion；　Lando；〃　Richard　Kwang　repeated。
　〃Good；〃　Dunross　said　crisply　jumping　in；　finalizing　the　meeting。　〃Then；　Richard；　it　really　makes　no　difference　one　way　or　another。　There's　no　point　in　waiting。　I've　made　certain　arrangements。　Our　transfer　truck　will　be　at　your　side　door　at　eight　o'clock　precisely。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃Why　so　late；　tai…pan？〃　Mata　asked。　〃It's　not　six　o'clock　yet。〃
　〃It'll　be　dark　then；　Lando。　I　wouldn't　want　to　shift　50　tons　of　gold　in　daylight。　There　might　be　a　few　villains　around。　You　never　know。　Eh？〃
　〃My　God；　you　think　。。。　triads？〃　Zeppelin　Tung　was　shocked。　〃I'll　phone　my　father。　He'll　have　some　extra　guards。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Mata　said；　〃call　at　once。〃
　〃No　need　for　that；〃　Dunross　told　him。　〃The　police　suggested　that　we　don't　make　too　much　of　a　show。　They　said　they'll　be　there　in　depth。〃
　Mata　hesitated。　〃Well　if　you　say　so；　tai…pan。　You're　responsible。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Dunross　said　politely。
　〃How　do　we　know　the　Victoria's　safe？〃
　〃If　the　Victoria　fails　we　might　as　well　not　be　in　China。〃　Dunross　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　Johnjohn's　private　number　at　the　bank。　〃Bruce？　Ian。　We'll　need　the　vault　…　8：30　on　the　dot。〃
　〃Very　well。　Our　security　people　will　be　there　to　assist。　Use　the　side　door　…　the　one　on　Dirk's　Street。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　the　police　been　informed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　By　the　way；　Ian；　about　。。。　is　Richard　still　with　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Give　me　a　call　when　you　can　…　I'm　at　home　this　evening。　I've　been　checking　and　things　don't　look　very　good　at　all　for　him。　My　Chinese　banking　friends　are　all　very　nervous　…　even　the　Mok…tung　had　a　mini…run　out　at　Aberdeen；　so　did　we。　Of　course　we'll　advance　Richard　all　the　money　he　needs　against　his　securities；　bankable　securities；　but　if　I　were　you　I'd　get　any　cash　you　control　out。　Get　Blacs　to　deal　with　your　check　first　at　clearing　tonight。〃　All　bank　clearing　of　checks　and　bank　loans　was　done　in　the　basement　of　the　Bank　of　London；　Canton　and　Shanghai　at　midnight；　five　days　a　week。
　〃Thanks；　Bruce。　See　you　later。〃　Then　to　the　others；　〃That's　all　taken　care　of。　Of　course　the　transfer　should　be　kept　quiet。　Richard；　I'll　need　a　cashier's　check　for　Nelson　Trading　balance。〃
　〃And　I'll　have　one　for　my　father's　balance！〃　Zeppelin　echoed。
　Richard　Kwang　said；　〃I'll　send　the　checks　over　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃
　〃Tonight；〃　Mata　said；　〃then　they　can　clear　tonight。〃　His　eyes　lidded　even　more。　〃And；　of　course；　another　for　my　personal　balance。〃
　〃There　isn't　enough　cash　to　cover　those　three　checks　…　no　bank　could　have　that　amount；〃　Richard　Kwang　exploded。　〃Not　even　the　Bank　of　England。〃
　〃Of　course。　Please　call　whomever　you　wish　to　pledge　some　of　your　securities。　Or　Havergill；　or　Southerby。〃　Mata's　fingers　stopped　drumming。　〃They're　expecting　your　call。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Yes。　I　talked　to　both　of　them　this　afternoon。〃
　Richard　Kwang　said　nothing。　He　had　to　find　a　way　to　avoid　giving　the　money　over　tonight。　If　not　tonight；　he　would　gain　a　day's　interest　and　by　tomorrow　perhaps　it　would　not　be　necessary　to　pay。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　quai　loh　and　half　quai　loh；　who're　worse！　His　smile　was　as　sweet　as　Mata's。　〃Well；　as　you　wish。　If　you'll　both　meet　me　at　the　bank　in　an　hour　。。。〃
　〃Even　better；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Phillip　will　go　with　you　now。　You　can　give　him　all　the　checks。　Is　that　all　right　with　you；　Phillip？〃
　〃Oh；　oh　yes；　yes；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Good；　thank　you。　Then　if　you'll　take　them　right　over　to　Blacs；　they'll　clear　at　midnight。　Richard；　that　gives　you　plenty　of　time。　Doesn't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　tai…pan；〃　Richard　Kwang　said；　brightening。　He　had　just　thought　of　a　brilliant　answer。　A　pretended　heart　attack！　I'll　do　it　in　the　car　going　back　to　the　bank　and　then　。。。
　Then　he　saw　the　coldness　in　Dunross's　eyes　and　his　stomach　twisted　and　he　changed　his　mind。　Why　should　they　have　so　much　of　my　money？　he　thought　as　he　got　up。　〃You　don't　need　me　for　anything　more　at　the　moment？　Good；　e　along；　Phillip。〃　They　walked　out。　There　was　a　vast　silence。
　〃Poor　Phillip；　he　looks　ghastly；〃　Mata　said。
　〃Yes。　It's　no　wonder。〃
　〃Dirty　triads；〃　Zeppelin　Tung　said　with　a　shudder。　〃The　Werewolves　must　be　foreigners　to　send　his　ear　like　that！〃　Another　shudder。　〃I　hope　they　don't　e　to　Macao。　There's　a　strong　rumor　Phillip's　dealing　with　them　already；　negotiating　with　the　Werewolves　in　Macao。〃
　〃There's　no　truth　to　that；〃　Dunross　said。
　〃He　wouldn't　tell　you　if　he　was；　tai…pan。　I'd　keep　that　secret　from　everyone　too。〃　Zeppelin　Tung　stared　gloomily　at　the　phone。　〃Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　filthy　kidnappers。〃
　〃Is　the　Ho…Pak　finished？〃　Mata　asked。
　〃Unless　Richard　Kwang　can　stay　liquid；　yes。　This　afternoon　Dunstan　closed　all　his　accounts。〃
　〃Ah；　so　once　again　a　rumor's　correct！〃
　〃Afraid　so！〃　Dunross　was　sorry　for　Richard　Kwang　and　the　Ho…Pak　but　tomorrow　he　would　sell　short。　〃His　stock's　going　to　plummet。〃
　〃How　will　that　affect　the　boom　you've　forecast？〃
　〃Have　I？〃
　〃You're　buying　Struan's　heavily；　so　I　hear。〃　Mata　smiled　thinly。　〃So　has　Phillip；　and　his　tai…tai；　and　her　family。〃
　〃Anyone's　wise　to　buy　our　stock；　Lando；　at　any　time。　It's　very　underpriced。〃
　Zeppelin　Tung　was　listening　very　carefully。　His　heart　quickened。　He　too　had　heard　rumors　about　the　Noble　House　Chens　buying　today。　〃Did　you　see　Old　Blind　Tung's　column　today？　About　the　ing　boom？　He　was　very　serious。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said　gravely。　When　he　had　read　it　this　morning　he　had　chortled；　and　his　opinion　of　Dianne　Chen's　influence　had　soared。　In　spite　of　himself　Dunross　had　reread　it　and　had　wondered　briefly　if　the　soothsayer　had　really　been　forecasting　his　own　opinion。
　〃Is　Old　Blind　Tung　a　relation；　Zep？〃　he　asked。
　〃No；　tai…pan；　no；　not　that　I　know　of。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　but　it's　hot　today。　I'll　be　glad　to　get　back　to　Macao　…　the　weather's　much　better　in　Macao。　Are　you　in　the　motor　race　this　year；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Yes；　I　hope　so。〃
　〃Good！　Damn　the　Ho…Pak！　Richard　will　give　us　our　checks；　won't　he？　My　old　man　will　bust　a　blood　vessel　if　one　penny　cash　is　missing。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　then　noticed　a　strangeness　in　Mata's　eyes。　〃What's　up？〃
　〃Nothing。〃　Mata　glanced　at　Zeppelin。　〃Zep；　it's　really　important　we　have　your　father's　approval　quickly。　Why　don't　you　and　Claudia　track　him　down。〃
　〃Good　idea。〃　Obediently　the　Chinese　got　to　his　feet　and　walked　out；　closing　the　door。　Dunross　turned　his　attention　to　Mata。　〃And？〃
　Mata　hesitated。　Then　he　said　quietly；　〃Ian；　I'm　considering　taking　all　my　funds　out　of　Macao　and　Hong　Kong　and　putting　them　in　New　York。〃
　Dunross　stared　at　him；　perturbed。　〃If　you　did　that　you'd　rattle　our　whole　system。　If　you　withdraw；　Tightfist　will　too；　and　the　Chins；　Four　Fingers　。。。　and　all　the　others。〃
　〃Which　is　more　important；　tai…pan；　the　system　or　your　own　money？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　want　the　system　shaken　like　that。〃
　〃You've　closed　with　Par…Con？〃
　Dunross　watched　him。　〃Verbally　yes。　Contracts　in　seven　days。　Withdrawing　will　hurt　us　all；　Lando。　Badly。　What's　bad　for　us　will　be　very　bad　for　you　and　very　very　bad　for　Macao。〃
　〃I'll　consider　what　you　say。　So　Par…Con's　ing　into　Hong　Kong。　Very　good　…　and　if　American　Superfoods'　takeover　of　the　H。　K。　General　Stores　goes　through；　that'll　add　another　boost　to　the　market。　Perhaps　Old　Blind　Tung　wasn't　exaggerating　again。　Perhaps　we'll　be　lucky。　Has　he　ever　been　wrong　before？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Personally　I　don't　think　he　has　a　private　connection　with　the　Almighty；　though　a　lot　of　people　do。〃
　〃A　boom　would　be　very　good；　very　good　indeed。　Perfect　timing。　Yes；〃　Mata　added　strangely；　〃we　could　add　a　little　fuel　to　the　greatest　boom　in　our　history。　Eh？〃
　〃Would　you　assist？〃
　〃Ten　million　U。S。；　between　myself　and　the　Chins　…　Tightfist　won't　be　interested；　I　know。　You　suggest　where　and　when。〃
　〃Half　a　million　into　Struan's　last　thing　Thursday；　the　rest　spread　over　Rothwell…Gornt；　Asian　Properties；　Hong　Kong　Wharf；　Hong　Kong　Power；　Golden　Ferries；　Kowloon　Investments　and　H。　K。　General　Stores。〃
　〃Why　Thursday？　Why　not　tomorrow？〃
　〃The　Ho…Pak　will　bring　the　market　down。　If　we　buy　in　quantity　Thursday　just　before　closing；　we'll　make　a　fortune。〃
　〃When　do　you　announce　the　Par…Con　deal？〃
　Dunross　hesitate