jamesclavell.noblehouse-第138部分

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　〃Yes；　please　go　on。〃　Dunross　was　over　his　shock　now。　AMG　was　one　of　the　few　who　had　been　given　this　number　and　he　had　known　it　was　to　be　used　only　in　emergencies　and　never　passed　on　except　for　a　very　special　reason。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I'm；　er；　from　London；　Scotland　actually。　Alan　told　me　to　call　you　as　soon　as　I　got　to　Hong　Kong。　He；　er；　gave　me　your　number。　I　hope　I'm　not　disturbing　you？〃
　〃No；　not　at　all；　Mr。　Kirk。〃
　〃Alan　gave　me　a　package　for　you；　and　he　also　wanted　me　to　talk　to　you。　My；　er；　my　wife　and　I　are　in　Hong　Kong　for　three　days　so　I；　er；　I　wondered　if　we　could　meet。〃
　〃Of　course。　Where　are　you　staying？〃　he　asked　calmly；　though　his　heart　was　racing。
　〃At　the　Nine　Dragons　in　Kowloon；　room　455。〃
　〃When　did　you　last　see　Alan；　Mr。　Kirk？〃
　〃When　we　left　London。　That　was；　er；　two　weeks　ago　now。　Yes；　two　weeks　to　the　day。　We've；　er；　we've　been　to　Singapore　and　Indonesia。　Why？〃
　〃Would　after　lunch　be　convenient？　Sorry　but　I'm　jammed　till　3：20。　I　could　see　you　then　if　that　would　be　satisfactory。〃
　〃3：20　will　be　fine。〃
　〃I'll　send　a　car　for　you　an…　〃
　〃Oh　there's；　er；　there's　no　need　for　that。　We　can　find　our　way　to　your　office。〃
　〃It's　no　trouble。　A　car　will　call　for　you　at　2：30。〃
　Dunross　replaced　the　phone；　lost　in　thought。
　The　clock　chimed　8：45。　A　knock。　Claudia　opened　the　door。　〃Sir　Luis　Basilio；　tai…pan。〃
　
　Johnjohn　at　the　Victoria　Bank　was　shouting　into　the　phone。　〃。。。　I　don't　give　a　sod　what　you　bastards　in　London　think；　I'm　telling　you　we've　got　the　beginnings　of　a　run　here　and　it　looks　very　smelly　indeed。　I　。。。　What？　Speak　up；　man！　We've　got　a　rotten　connection。　。。。　What？　。。。　I　couldn't　care　less　that　it's　1：30　in　the　morning　…　where　the　hell　were　you　anyway　…　I've　been　trying　to　get　you　for　four　hours！　。。。　What？　。。。　Whose　birthday？　Christ　almighty　。。。〃　His　sandy　eyebrows　soared　and　he　held　on　to　his　temper。　〃Listen；　just　get　down　to　the　City　and　the　Mint　very　first　bloody　thing　and　tell　them　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Yes；　tell　them　this　whole　bloody　island　may　run　out　of　money　and　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Hello？　。。。　Oh　for　chrissake！〃　He　started　jiggling　the　plunger　up　and　down。　〃Hello！〃　Then　he　slammed　the　receiver　onto　its　cradle；　cursed　for　a　moment；　then　prodded　the　inter　button。　〃Miss　Mills；　I　was　cut　off；　please　get　him　back　quickly　as　you　can。〃
　〃Certainly；〃　the　cool；　very　English　voice　said。　〃Mr。　Dunross's　here。〃
　Johnjohn　glanced　at　his　watch　and　whitened。　It　was　9：33。　〃Oh　Christ！　Hold　。。。　yes；　hold　the　call。　I'll　。。。〃　Hurriedly　he　put　the　phone　down；　rushed　to　the　door；　posed　himself　and　opened　it　with　forced　nonchalance。　〃My　dear　Ian；　so　sorry　to　keep　you　waiting。　How're　things？〃
　〃Fine。　And　with　you？〃
　〃Marvelous！〃
　〃Marvelous？　That's　interesting。　There　must　be　six　or　seven　hundred　impatient　customers　queuing　up　outside　already　and　you're　half　an　hour　to　opening　time。　There're　even　a　few　outside　Blacs。〃
　〃More　than　a　few　。。。〃　Johnjohn　just　caught　himself　in　time。　〃Nothing　to　worry　about；　Ian。　Would　you　like　coffee　or　shall　we　go　straight　up　to　Paul's　office。〃
　〃Paul's　office。〃
　〃Good。〃　Johnjohn　led　the　way　along　the　thickly　carpeted　corridor。　〃No；　there's　no　problem　at　all；　just　a　few　superstitious　Chinese　…　you　know　how　they　are；　rumors　and　all　that。　Rotten　about　the　fire。　I　hear　Casey　stripped　and　dived　to　the　rescue。　Were　you　at　the　track　this　morning？　This　rain's　grand；　isn't　it？〃
　Dunross's　unease　increased。　〃Yes。　I　hear　there're　queues　outside　almost　every　bank　in　the　Colony。　Except　the　Bank　of　China。〃
　Johnjohn's　laugh　sounded　hollow。　〃Our　munist　friends　wouldn't　take　kindly　to　a　run　on　them　at　all。　They'd　send　in　the　troops！〃
　〃So　the　run's　on？〃
　〃On　the　Ho…Pak；　yes。　On　us？　No。　In　any　event　we're　nowhere　near　as　extended　as　Richard　Kwang。　I　understand　he　really　has　made　some　very　dangerous　loans。　I'm　afraid　the　Ching　Prosperity's　not　in　good　shape　either。　Still；　Smiler　Ching　deserves　to　take　a　drubbing　after　all　his　fiddling　over　the　years　in　such　dubious　enterprises。〃
　〃Drugs？〃
　〃I　really　couldn't　say；　Ian。　Not　officially。　But　the　rumor's　strong。〃
　〃But　you　say　the　run　won't　spread　to　you？〃
　〃Not　really。　If　it　does　。。。　well　I'm　sure　everything　will　be　quite　all　right。〃　Johnjohn　went　on　down　the　wide　paneled　corridor；　everything　rich；　solid　and　safe。　He　nodded　at　the　elderly　English　secretary；　went　past　her　and　opened　the　door　marked　PAUL　HAVERGILL；　DEPUTY　CHAIRMAN。　The　office　was　large；　oak　paneled；　the　desk　huge　and　clear　of　papers。　The　windows　faced　the　square。
　〃Ian；　my　dear　fellow。〃　Havergill　got　up　and　extended　his　hand。　〃So　sorry　I　couldn't　see　you　yesterday；　and　the　party　last　night　was　hardly　the　place　for　business；　eh？　How're　you　feeling？〃
　〃All　right。　I　think。　So　far。　You？〃
　〃I've　got　the　trots　slightly　but　Constance's　fine；　thank　God。　Soon　as　we　got　home　I　gave　us　both　a　good　dollop　of　good　old　Dr。　Colicos's　Remedy。〃　It　was　an　elixir　invented　during　the　Crimean　War　by　Dr。　Colicos　to　cure　stomach　disorders　when　tens　of　thousands　of　British　soldiers　were　dying　of　typhoid　and　cholera　and　dysentery。　The　formula　was　still　a　guarded　secret。
　〃Terrific　stuff！　Dr。　Tooley　gave　us　some　too。〃
　〃Damnable　about　the　others；　what？　Toxe's　wife；　eh？〃
　Johnjohn　said　gravely；　〃I　heard　they　found　her　body　under　some　pilings　this　morning。　If　I　hadn't　had　a　pink　ticket　Mary　and　I'd've　been　there　too。〃　A　pink　ticket　meant　that　you　had　your　wife's　permission　to　be　out　in　the　evening　without　her；　out　playing　cards　with　friends；　or　at　the　Club；　or　on　the　town　with　visiting　guests　or　wherever　…　but　with　her　benevolent　permission。
　〃Oh？〃　Havergill　smiled。　〃Who　was　the　lucky　lady？〃
　〃I　was　playing　bridge　with　McBride　at　the　Club。〃
　Havergill　laughed。　〃Well；　discretion's　the　better　part　of　valor　and　we　have　the　reputation　of　the　bank　to　think　of。〃
　Dunross　felt　the　tension　in　the　room　between　the　two　men。　He　smiled　politely；　waiting。
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Ian？〃　Havergill　asked。
　〃I　want　an　extra　100　million　credit　for　thirty　days。〃
　There　was　a　dead　silence。　Both　men　stared　at　him。　Dunross　thought　he　saw　the　flicker　of　a　smile　rush　behind　Havergill's　eyes。　〃Impossible！〃　he　heard　him　say。
　〃Gornt's　mounting　an　attack　on　us；　that's　clear　to　anyone。　You　both　know　we're　solid；　safe　and　in　good　shape。　I　need　your　open；　massive　backing；　then　he　won't　dare　proceed　and　I　won't　actually　need　the　money。　But　I　do　need　the　mitment。　Now。〃
　Another　silence。　Johnjohn　waited　and　watched。　Havergill　lit　a　cigarette。　〃What's　the　situation　with　the　Par…Con　deal；　Ian？〃
　Dunross　told　them。　〃Tuesday　we　sign。〃
　〃Can　you　trust　the　American？〃
　〃We've　made　a　deal。〃
　Another　silence。　Uneasily；　Johnjohn　broke　it。　〃It's　a　very　good　deal；　Ian。〃
　〃Yes。　With　your　open　backing；　Gornt　and　Blacs　will　withdraw　their　attack。〃
　〃But　100　million？〃　Havergill　said。　〃That's　beyond　possibility。〃
　〃I　said　I　won't　need　the　full　amount。〃
　〃That's　surmise；　my　dear　fellow。　We　could　bee　involved　in　a　very　big　power　play　against　our　wish。　I've　heard　rumors　Quillan　has　outside　financing；　German　backing。　We　couldn't　risk　getting　into　a　fight　with　a　consortium　of　German　banks。　You　are　already　over　the　limit　of　your　revolving　credit。　And　there's　the　500；000　shares　you　bought　today　which　have　to　be　paid　for　on　Monday。　Sorry　no。〃
　〃Put　it　to　the　board。〃　Dunross　knew　that　he　had　enough　votes　to　carry　it　over　Havergill's　opposition。
　Another　silence。　〃Very　well。　I'll　certainly　do　that　…　at　the　next　board　meeting。〃
　〃No。　That's　not　for　three　weeks。　Please　call　an　emergency　meeting。〃
　〃Sorry　no。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　have　to　explain　my　reasons　to　you；　Ian；〃　Havergill　said　crisply。　〃Struan's　doesn't　own　or　control　this　institution；　though　you　do　have　a　large　interest　in　us；　as　we　have　in　you；　and　you　are　our　valued　customer。　I'll　be　glad　to　put　it　up　at　the　next　board　meeting。　Calling　emergency　meetings　is　within　my　control。　Solely。〃
　〃I　agree。　So　is　the　granting　of　the　credit。　You　don't　need　a　meeting。　You　could　do　that　now。〃
　〃I　will　be　glad　to　put　the　request　to　the　board　at　the　next　meeting。　Was　there　anything　else？〃
　Dunross　controlled　his　urge　to　wipe　the　barely　concealed　smugness　off　his　enemy's　face。　〃I　need　the　credit　to　support　my　stock。　Now。〃
　〃Of　course；　and　Bruce　and　I　really　do　understand　that　the　Par…Con　down　payment　will　give　you　the　financing　to　plete　your　ship　transactions　and　make　a　partial　Orlin　payment。〃　Havergill　puffed　his　cigarette。　〃By　the　way；　I　understand　Orlin　won't　renew　…　you'll　have　to　pay　them　off　totally　within　thirty　days　as　per　the　contract。〃
　Dunross　flushed。　〃Where　did　you　hear　that？〃
　〃From　the　chairman；　of　course。　I　called　him　last　night　to　ask　if　the…　〃
　〃You　what？〃
　〃Of　course。　My　dear　chap；〃　Havergill　said；　now　openly　enjoying　Dunross's　and　Johnjohn's　shock。　〃We　have　every　right　to　inquire。　After　all；　we're　Struan's　bankers　and　we　need　to　know。　Our　equity's　also　at　risk　if　you　are　to　fail；　isn't　it？〃
　〃And　you'll　help　that　happen？〃
　Havergill　stubbed　out　his　cigarette　with　vast　enjoyment。　〃It's　not　to　our　interest　for　any　big　business　to　fail　in　the　Colony；　let　alone　the　Noble　House。　Oh　dear　no！　You　needn't　worry。　At　the　right　time　we'll　step　in　and　buy　your　shares。　We'll　never　allow　the　Noble　House　to　fail。〃
　〃When's　the　right　time？〃
　〃When　the　shares　are　at　a　value　we　consider　correct。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃I'd　have　to　look　into　it；　Ian。〃
　Dunross　knew　he　was　beaten　but　he　showed　none　of　it。　〃You'll　allow　the　stock　to　go　down　until　they're　at　giveaway　prices　and　then　you'll　buy　control。〃
　〃Struan's　is　a　public　pany　now；　however　the　various　panies　interlock；〃　Havergill　said。　〃Perhaps　it　would　have　been　wise　to　follow　Alastair's　advice；　and　mine　…　we　did　point　out　the　risks　you'd　take　as　a　public　pany。　And　perhaps　you　should　have　consulted　us　before　buying　that　massive　quantity　of　shares。　Clearly　Quillan　thinks　he　has　you　and　you　really　are　stretched　a　bit；　old　boy。　Well；　never　fear；　Ian；　we　will　not　allow　the　Noble　House　to　fail。〃
　Dunross　laughed。　He　got　up。　〃The　Colony　will　be　a　much　better　place　with　you　out　of　it。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Havergill　snapped。　〃My　term　of　office　lasts　until　November　23。　You　may　be　out　of　the　Colony　before　me！〃
　〃Don't　you　think　。。。〃　Johnjohn　began；　aghast　at　Havergill's　fury；　but　st