jamesclavell.noblehouse-第30部分

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with　ever　since　you　met　Bartlett？
　None。
　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　deciding　irrevocably；　then　looked　around　at　the　door　that　led　to　the　servants'　quarters；　making　sure　that　they　were　alone。　He　lowered　his　voice　to　a　conspiratorial　whisper　and　Phillip　and　his　wife　leaned　forward　to　hear　better。　〃I　had　a　private　meeting　with　Bartlett　before　lunch。　We've　made　the　deal。　I'll　need　some　minor　changes；　but　we　close　the　contract　formally　on　Tuesday　of　next　week。　The　20　million's　guaranteed　and　a　further　20　million　next　year。〃
　Phillip　Chen's　beam　was　huge。　〃Congratulations。〃
　〃Not　so　loud；　Phillip；〃　his　wife　hissed；　equally　pleased。　〃Those　turtle　mouth　slaves　in　the　kitchen　have　ears　that　can　reach　to　Java。　Oh　but　that's　tremendous　news；　tai…pan。〃
　〃We'll　keep　this　in　the　family；〃　Dunross　said　softly。　〃This　afternoon　I'm　instructing　our　brokers　to　start　buying　Struan's　stock　secretly　…　every　spare　penny　we've　got。　You　do　the　same；　in　small　lots　and　spread　the　orders　over　different　brokers　and　nominees　…　the　usual。〃
　〃Yes。　Oh　yes。〃
　〃I　bought　40　thousand　this　morning　personally。〃
　〃How　much　will　the　stock　go　up？〃　Dianne　Chen　asked。
　〃Double！〃
　〃How　soon？〃
　〃Thirty　days。〃
　〃Eeeee；〃　she　chortled。　〃Think　of　that。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said　agreeably。　〃Think　of　that！　Yes。　And　you　two　will　only　tell　your　very　close　relations；　of　which　there　are　many；　and　they　will　only　tell　their　very　close　relations；　of　which　there　are　a　multitude；　and　you'll　all　buy　and　buy　because　this　is　an　inside…inside；　gilt…edged　tip　and　hardly　any　gamble　at　all　which　will　further　fuel　the　stock　rise。　The　fact　that　it's　only　family　will　surely　leak　and　more　will　jump　in；　then　more；　and　then　the　formal　announcement　of　the　Par…Con　deal　will　add　fire　and　then；　next　week；　I'll　announce　the　takeover　bid　for　Asian　Properties　and　then　all　Hong　Kong　will　buy。　Our　stock　will　skyrocket。　Then；　at　the　right　moment；　I　dump　Asian　Properties　and　go　after　the　real　target。〃
　〃How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃　Phillip　Chen　asked　…　his　mind　swamped　by　his　own　calculations　of　the　possible　profits。
　〃Maximum。　But　it　has　to　be　family　only。　Our　stocks'll　lead　the　boom。〃
　Dianne　gasped。　〃There's　going　to　be　a　boom？〃
　〃Yes。　We'll　lead　it。　The　time's　ripe；　everyone　in　Hong　Kong's　ready。　We'll　supply　the　means；　we'll　be　the　leader；　and　with　a　judicious　shove　here　and　there；　there'll　be　a　stampede。〃
　There　was　a　great　silence。　Dunross　watched　the　avarice　on　her　face。
　Her　fingers　clicked　the　jade　beads。　He　saw　Phillip　staring　into　the　distance　and　he　knew　that　part　of　his　pradore's　mind　was　on　the　various　notes　that　he；　Phillip；　had　countersigned　for　Struan's　that　were　due　in　thirteen　to　thirty　days：　12　million　U。S。　to　Toda　Shipping　Industries　of　Yokohama　for　the　two　super　bulk　cargo　freighters；　6；800；000　to　the　Orlin　International　Merchant　Bank；　and　750；000　to　Tsu…yan；　who　had　covered　another　problem　for　him。　But　most　of　Phillip's　mind　would　be　on　Bartlett's　20　million　and　the　stock　rise　…　the　doubling　that　he　had　arbitrarily　forecast。
　Double？
　No　way　…　no　not　at　all；　not　a　chance　in　hell　。。。
　Unless　there's　a　boom。　Unless　there's　a　boom！
　Dunross　felt　his　heart　quicken。　〃If　there's　a　boom　。。。　Christ；　Phillip；　we　can　do　it！〃
　〃Yes　…　yes；　I　agree；　Hong　Kong's　ripe。　Ah　yes。〃　Phillip　Chen's　eyes　sparkled　and　his　fingers　drummed。　〃How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Every　bl…　〃
　Excitedly　Dianne　overrode　Dunross；　〃Phillip；　last　week　my　astrologer　said　this　was　going　to　be　an　important　month　for　us！　A　boom！　That's　what　he　must　have　meant。〃
　〃That's　right；　I　remember　you　telling　me；　Dianne。　Oh　oh　oh！　How　many　shares；　tai…pan？〃　he　asked　again。
　〃Every　bloody　penny！　We'll　make　this　the　big　one。　But　family　only　until　Friday。　Absolutely　until　Friday。　Then；　after　the　market　closes　I'll　leak　the　Bartlett　deal。　。。。〃
　〃Eeeeee；〃　Dianne　hissed。
　〃Yes。　Over　the　weekend　I'll　say　'no　ment'　…　you　make　sure　you're　not　available；　Phillip　…　and　e　Monday　morning；　everyone'll　be　chomping　at　the　bit。　I'll　still　say　'no　ment；'　but　Monday　we　buy　openly。　Then；　just　after　close　of　business　Monday；　I'll　announce　the　whole　deal's　confirmed。　Then；　e　Tuesday　。。。〃
　〃The　boom's　on！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Oh　happy　day；〃　Dianne　croaked　delightedly。　〃And　every　amah；　houseboy；　coolie；　businessman；　will　decide　their　joss　is　perfect　and　out　will　e　their　savings　and　everything　gets　fed；　all　stocks　will　rocket。　What　a　pity　there　won't　be　an　editorial　tomorrow　。。。　even　better；　an　astrologer　in　one　of　the　papers　。。。　say　Hundred　Year　Fong　。。。　or　。。。〃　Her　eyes　almost　crossed　with　excitement。　〃What　about　the　astrologer；　Phillip？〃
　He　stared　at　her；　shocked。　〃Old　Blind　Tung？〃
　〃Why　not？　Some　h'eung　yau　in　his　palm　。。。　or　the　promise　of　a　few　shares　of　whatever　stock　you　name。　Heya？〃
　〃Well；　I…　〃
　〃Leave　that　one　to　me。　Old　Blind　Tung　owes　me　a　favor　or　two；　I've　sent　him　enough　clients！　Yes。　And　he　won't　be　far　wrong　announcing　heavenly　portents　that　herald　the　greatest　boom　in　Hong　Kong's　history；　will　he？〃
　
　9
　
　5：25　P。M。　：
　The　police　pathologist；　Dr。　Meng；　adjusted　the　focus　of　the　microscope　and　studied　the　sliver　of　flesh　that　he　had　cut　from　the　ear。　Brian　Kwok　watched　him　impatiently。　The　doctor　was　a　small　pedantic　little　Cantonese　with　thick…lensed　glasses　perched　on　his　forehead。　At　length　he　looked　up　and　his　glasses　fell　conveniently　onto　his　nose。　〃Well；　Brian；　it　could　have　been　sliced　from　a　living　person　and　not　a　corpse　。。。　possibly。　Possibly　within　the　last　eight　or　ten　hours。　The　bruising　。。。　here；　look　at　the　back〃　…　Dr。　Meng　motioned　delicately　at　the　discoloration　at　the　back　and　at　the　top　…　〃。。。　that　certainly　indicates　to　me　that　the　person　was　alive　at　the　time。〃
　〃Why　bruising；　Dr。　Meng？　What　caused　it？　The　slash？〃
　〃It　could　have　been　caused　by　someone　holding　the　specimen　tightly；〃　Dr。　Meng　said　cautiously；　〃while　it　was　being　removed。〃
　〃By　what　…　knife；　razor；　zip　knife；　or　Chinese　chopper　…　cooking　chopper？〃
　〃By　a　sharp　instrument。〃
　Brian　Kwok　sighed。　〃Would　that　kill　someone？　The　shock？　Someone　like　John　Chen？〃
　Dr。　Meng　steepled　his　fingers。　〃It　could；　possibly。　Possibly　not。　Does　he　have　a　history　of　a　weak　heart？〃
　〃His　father　said　he　hadn't　…　I　haven't　checked　with　his　own　doctor　yet　…　the　bugger's　on　holiday　but　John's　never　given　any　indication　of　being　anything　but　healthy。〃
　〃This　mutilation　probably　shouldn't　kill　a　healthy　man　but　he'd　be　very　unfortable　for　a　week　or　two。〃　The　doctor　beamed。　〃Very　unfortable　indeed。〃
　〃Jesus！〃　Brian　said。　〃Isn't　there　anything　you　can　give　me　that'll　help？〃
　〃I'm　a　forensic　pathologist；　Brian；　not　a　seer。〃
　〃Can　you　tell　if　the　ear's　Eurasian　…　or　pure　Chinese？〃
　〃No。　No；　with　this　specimen　that'd　be　almost　impossible。　But　it's　certainly　not　Anglo…Saxon；　or　Indian　or　Negroid。〃　Dr。　Meng　took　off　his　glasses　and　stared　myopically　up　at　the　tall　superintendent。　〃This　could　possibly　cause　quite　a　ripple　in　the　House　of　Chen；　heya？〃
　〃Yes。　And　the　Noble　House。〃　Brian　Kwok　thought　a　moment。　〃In　your　opinion；　this　Werewolf；　this　maniac；　would　you　say　he's　Chinese？〃
　〃The　writing　could　have　been　a　civilized　person's；　yes　…　equally　it　could　have　been　done　by　a　quai　loh　pretending　to　be　a　civilized　person。　But　if　he　or　she　was　a　civilized　person　that　doesn't　necessarily　mean　that　the　same　person　who　did　the　act　wrote　the　letter。〃
　〃I　know　that。　What　are　the　odds　that　John　Chen's　dead？〃
　〃From　the　mutilation？〃
　〃From　the　fact　that　the　Werewolf；　or　more　probably　Werewolves；　sent　the　ear　even　before　starting　negotiations。〃
　The　little　man　smiled　and　said　dryly；　〃You　mean　old　Sun　Tzu's　'kill　one　to　terrorize　ten　thousand'？　I　don't　know。　I　don't　speculate　on　such　imponderables。　I　only　estimate　odds　on　horses；　Brian；　or　the　stock　market。　What　about　John　Chen's　Golden　Lady　on　Saturday？〃
　〃She's　got　a　great　chance。　Definitely。　And　Struan's　Noble　Star　…　Gornt's　Pilot　Fish　and　even　more；　Richard　Kwang's　Butterscotch　Lass。　She'll　be　the　favorite　I'll　bet。　But　Golden　Lady's　a　real　goer。　She'll　start　about　three　to　one。　She's　a　flier　and　the　going'll　be　good　for　her。　Dry。　She's　useless　in　the　wet。〃
　〃Ah；　any　sign　of　rain？〃
　〃Possible。　They　say　there's　a　storm　ing。　Even　a　sprinkle　could　make　all　the　difference。〃
　〃Then　it　better　not　rain　till　Sunday；　heya？〃
　〃It　won't　rain　this　month　…　not　unless　we're　enormously　lucky。〃
　〃Well　if　it　rains　it　rains　and　if　it　doesn't　it　doesn't　never　mind！　Winter's　ing　…　then　this　cursed　humidity　will　go　away。〃　Dr。　Meng　glanced　at　the　wall　clock。　It　was　5：35　p。m。　〃How　about　a　quick　one　before　we　go　home？〃
　〃No　thanks。　I've　still　got　a　few　things　to　do。　Bloody　nuisance　this。〃
　〃Tomorrow　I'll　see　what　clues　I　can　e　up　with　from　the　cloth；　or　the　wrapping　paper　or　the　other　things。　Perhaps　fingerprinting　will　help　you；〃　the　doctor　added。
　〃I　wouldn't　bet　on　that。　This　whole　operation　is　very　smelly。　Very　smelly　indeed。〃
　Dr。　Meng　nodded　and　his　voice　lost　its　gentleness。　〃Anything　to　do　with　the　Noble　House　and　their　puppet　House　of　Chen's　smelly。　Isn't　it？〃
　Brian　Kwok　switched　to　sei　yap；　one　of　the　main　dialects　of　the　Kwantung　Province；　spoken　by　many　Hong　Kong　Cantonese。　〃Eh；　Brother；　don't　you　mean　any　and　all　capitalist　running　dogs　are　smelly；　of　which　the　Noble　House　and　the　House　of　Chen　are　chief　and　dung　heavy？〃　he　said　banteringly。
　〃Ah；　Brother；　don't　you　know　yet；　deep　in　your　head；　that　the　winds　of　change　are　whirling　throughout　the　world？　And　China　under　the　immortal　guidance　of　Chairman　Mao；　and　Mao　Thought；　is　the　lead　…　〃
　〃Keep　your　proselytizing　to　yourself；〃　Brian　Kwok　said　coldly；　switching　back　to　English。　〃Most　of　the　thoughts　of　Mao　are　out　of　the　writings　of　Sun　Tzu；　Confucius；　Marx；　Lao　Tsu　and　others。　I　know　he's　a　poet　…　a　great　one　…　but　he's　usurped　China　and　there's　no　freedom　there　now。　None。〃
　〃Freedom？〃　the　little　man　said　defiantly。　〃What's　freedom　for　a　few　years　when；　under　the　guidance　of　Chairman　Mao；　China's　once　more　China　and　has　taken　back　her　rightful　place　in　the　world。　Now　China　is　feared　by　all　filthy　capitalists！　Even　by　revisionist　Russia。〃
　〃Yes。　I　agree。　For　that　I　thank　him。　Meanwhile　if　you　don't　like　it　here　go　home　to　Canton　and　sweat　your　balls　off　in　your　munist　paradise　and　dew　neh　loh　moh　on　al