jamesclavell.noblehouse-第43部分

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　〃The　servants　say　in　his　office　on　the　next　floor；〃　the　man　said。　His　name　was　Wine　Waiter　Feng；　and　he　was　one　of　SI's　undercover　network　of　intelligence　agents。　His　cover　as　a　waiter　for　the　pany　that　catered　all　Hong　Kong's　best　and　most　exclusive　parties　gave　him　great　value。　〃Perhaps　it's　behind　the　painting；　I　heard。　。。。〃　He　stopped　suddenly　and　switched　to　pidgin　English。　〃Champigy…nee　Missee？〃　he　asked　toothily；　offering　the　tray　to　the　tiny　old　Eurasian　lady　who　was　ing　up　to　them。　〃Wery　wery　first　class。〃
　〃Don't　you　Missee　me；　you　impertinent　young　puppy；〃　she　rapped　haughtily　in　Cantonese。
　〃Yes；　Honored　Great…Aunt；　sorry；　Honored　Great…Aunt。〃　He　beamed　and　fled。
　〃So；　young　Brian　Kwok；〃　the　old　lady　said；　peering　up　at　him。
　She　was　eighty…eight；　Sarah　Chen；　Phillip　Chen's　aunt；　a　tiny　bird…like　person　with　pale　white　skin　and　Asian　eyes　that　darted　this　way　and　that。　And　though　she　appeared　frail　her　back　was　upright　and　her　spirit　very　strong。　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you。　Where's　John　Chen？　Where's　my　poor　grand…nephew？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Great　Lady；〃　he　said　politely。
　〃When　are　you　going　to　get　my　Number　One　Grand…nephew　back？〃
　〃Soon。　We're　doing　everything　we　can。〃
　〃Good。　And　don't　you　interfere　with　young　Phillip　if　he　wants　to　pay　John's　ransom　privately。　You　see　to　it。〃
　〃Yes。　I'll　do　what　I　can。　Is　John's　wife　here？〃
　〃Eh？　Who？　Speak　up；　boy！〃
　〃Is　Barbara　Chen　here？〃
　〃No。　She　came　earlier　but　as　soon　as　that　woman　arrived　she　'got　a　headache'　and　left。　Huh；　I　don't　blame　her　at　all！〃　Her　old　rheumy　eyes　were　watching　Dianne　Chen　across　the　room。　〃Huh；　that　woman！　Did　you　see　her　entrance？〃
　〃No；　Great　Lady。〃
　〃Huh；　like　Dame　Nellie　Melba　herself。　She　swept　in；　handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　her　eldest　son　Kevin　in　tow　…　I　don't　like　that　boy　…　and　my　poor　nephew　Phillip　like　a　second…class　cook　boy　in　the　rear。　Huh！　The　only　time　Dianne　Chen　ever　wept　was　in　the　crash　of　'56　when　her　stocks　went　down　and　she　lost　a　fortune　and　wet　her　drawers。　Ha！　Look　at　her　now；　preening　herself！　Pretending　to　be　upset　when　everyone　knows　she's　acting　as　though　she's　already　Dowager　Empress！　I　could　pinch　her　cheeks！　Disgusting！〃　She　looked　back　at　Brian　Kwok。　〃You　find　my　grand…nephew　John　…　I　don't　want　that　woman　or　her　brat　loh…pan　of　our　house。〃
　〃But　he　can　be　tai…pan？〃
　They　laughed　together。　Very　few　Europeans　knew　that　though　tai…pan　meant　great　leader；　in　the　old　days　in　China　a　tai…pan　was　the　colloquial　title　of　a　man　in　charge　of　a　whorehouse　or　public　toilet。　So　no　Chinese　would　ever　call　himself　tai…pan；　only　loh…pan　…　which　also　meant　great　leader　or　head　leader。　Chinese　and　Eurasians　were　greatly　amused　that　Europeans　enjoyed　calling　themselves　tai…pan；　stupidly　passing　over　the　correct　title。
　〃Yes。　If　he's　the　right　pan；〃　the　old　woman　said　and　they　chuckled。　〃You　find　my　John　Chen；　young　Brian　Kwok！〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　we'll　find　him。〃
　〃Good。　Now；　what　do　you　think　of　Golden　Lady's　chances　on　Saturday？〃
　〃Good；　if　the　going's　dry。　At　three　to　one　she's　worth　a　bundle。　Watch　Noble　Star　…　she's　got　a　chance　too。〃
　〃Good。　After　dinner　e　and　find　me。　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃Yes；　Great　Lady。〃　He　smiled　and　watched　her　go　off　and　knew　that　all　she　wanted　was　to　try　to　act　the　marriage　broker　for　some　great…niece。　Ayeeyah；　I'll　have　to　do　something　about　that　soon；　he　thought。
　His　eyes　strayed　back　to　Casey。　He　was　delighted　by　the　disapproving　looks　from　all　the　women　…　and　the　cautious　covert　admiration　from　all　their　escorts。　Then　Casey　glanced　up　and　saw　him　watching　her　across　the　room　and　she　stared　back　at　him　briefly　with　equal　frank　appraisal。
　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　he　thought　uneasily；　feeling　somehow　undressed。　I'd　like　to　possess　that　one。　Then　he　noticed　Roger　Crosse　with　Armstrong　beside　him。　He　put　his　mind　together　and　headed　for　them。
　〃Evening；　sir。〃
　〃Evening；　Brian。　You're　looking　very　distinguished。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　He　knew　better　than　to　volunteer　anything　pleasant　in　return。　〃I'm　seeing　the　tai…pan　after　dinner。〃
　〃Good。　As　soon　as　you've　seen　him；　find　me。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃So　you　think　the　American　girl　stunning？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Brian　sighed　inwardly。　He　had　forgotten　that　Crosse　could　lip…read　English；　French　and　some　Arabic　…　he　spoke　no　Chinese　dialects　…　and　that　his　eyesight　was　exceptional。
　〃Actually　she's　rather　obvious；〃　Crosse　said。
　〃Yes　sir。〃　He　saw　Crosse　concentrating　on　her　lips　and　knew　that　he　was　overhearing　her　conversation　from　across　the　room　and　he　was　furious　with　himself　that　he　had　not　developed　the　talent。
　〃She　seems　to　have　a　passion　for　puters。〃　Crosse　turned　his　eyes　back　on　them。　〃Curious；　what？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃What　did　Wine　Waiter　Feng　say？〃
　Brian　told　him。
　〃Good。　I'll　see　Feng　gets　a　bonus。　I　didn't　expect　to　see　Langan　and　Rosemont　here。〃
　〃It　could　be　a　coincidence；　sir；〃　Brian　Kwok　volunteered。
　〃They're　both　keen　punters。　They've　both　been　to　the　tai…pan's　box。〃
　〃I　don't　trust　coincidences；〃　Crosse　said。　〃As　far　as　Langan's　concerned；　of　course　you　know　nothing；　either　of　you。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃Good。　Perhaps　you'd　both　better　be　about　our　business。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　Thankfully　the　two　men　turned　to　leave　but　stopped　as　there　was　a　sudden　hush。　All　eyes　went　to　the　doorway。　Quillan　Gornt　stood　there；　black…browed；　black…bearded；　conscious　that　he　had　been　noticed。　The　other　guests　hastily　picked　up　their　conversations　and　kept　their　eyes　averted　but　their　ears　concentrated。
　Crosse　whistled　softly。　〃Now　why　is　he　here？〃
　〃Fifty　to　one　says　he's　up　to　no　good；〃　Brian　Kwok　said；　equally　astounded。
　They　watched　Gornt　e　into　the　ballroom　and　put　out　his　hand　to　Dunross　and　Penelope　beside　him。　Claudia　Chen　who　was　nearby　was　in　shock；　wondering　how　she　could　reorganize　Dunross's　table　at　such　short　notice　because　of　course　Gornt　would　have　to　be　seated　there。
　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind　my　changing　my　mind　at　the　last　moment；〃　Gornt　was　saying；　his　mouth　smiling。
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Dunross　replied；　his　mouth　smiling。
　〃Good　evening；　Penelope。　I　felt　I　had　to　give　you　my　congratulations　personally。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　she　said。　Her　smile　was　intact　but　her　heart　was　beating　very　fast　now。　〃I；　I　was　sorry　to　hear　about　your　wife。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Emelda　Gornt　had　been　arthritic　and　confined　to　a　wheelchair　for　some　years。　Early　in　the　year　she　had　caught　pneumonia　and　had　died。　〃She　was　very　unlucky；〃　Gornt　said。　He　looked　at　Dunross。　〃Bad　joss　about　John　Chen　too。〃
　〃Very。〃
　〃I　suppose　you　read　the　afternoon　Gazette？〃
　Dunross　nodded　and　Penelope　said；　〃Enough　to　frighten　everyone　out　of　their　wits。〃　All　the　afternoon　papers　had　had　huge　headlines　and　dwelt　at　length　on　the　mutilated　ear　and　the　Werewolves。　There　was　a　slight　pause。　She　rushed　to　fill　it。　〃Your　children　are　well？〃
　〃Yes。　Annagrey's　going　to　the　University　of　California　in　September　…　Michael　is　here　on　his　summer　holiday。　They're　all　in　very　good　shape　I'm　glad　to　say。　And　yours？〃
　〃They're　fine。　I　do　wish　Adryon　would　go　to　university　though。　Dear　me；　children　are　very　difficult　these　days；　aren't　they？〃
　〃I　think　they　always　were。〃　Gornt　smiled　thinly。　〃My　father　was　always　pointing　out　how　difficult　I　was。〃　He　looked　at　Dunross　again。
　〃Yes。　How　is　your　father？〃
　〃Hale　and　hearty　I'm　glad　to　say。　The　English　climate　suits　him；　he　says。　He's　ing　out　for　Christmas。〃　Gornt　accepted　a　proffered　glass　of　champagne。　The　waiter　quailed　under　his　look；　and　fled。　He　raised　his　glass。　〃A　happy　life　and　many　congratulations。〃
　Dunross　toasted　him　in　return；　still　astonished　that　Gornt　had　arrived。　It　was　only　for　politeness　and　for　face　that　Gornt　and　other　enemies　had　been　sent　formal　invitations。　A　polite　refusal　was　all　that　was　expected　…　and　Gornt　had　already　refused。
　Why's　he　here？
　He's　e　to　gloat；　Dunross　thought。　Like　his　bloody　father。　That　must　be　the　reason。　But　why？　What　devilment　has　he　done　to　us？　Bartlett？　Is　it　through　Bartlett？
　〃This's　a　lovely　room；　beautiful　proportions；〃　Gornt　was　saying。　〃And　a　lovely　house。　I've　always　envied　you　this　house。〃
　Yes；　you　bastard；　I　know；　Dunross　thought　furiously；　remembering　the　last　time　any　of　the　Gornts　had　been　in　the　Great　House。　Ten　years　ago；　in　1953；　when　Ian's　father；　Colin　Dunross；　was　still　the　tai…pan。　It　was　during　Struan's　Christmas　party；　traditionally　the　biggest　of　the　season；　and　Quillan　Gornt　had　arrived　with　his　father；　William；　then　tai…pan　of　Rothwell…Gornt；　again　unexpectedly。　After　dinner　there　had　been　a　bitter；　public　clash　between　the　two　tai…pans　in　the　billiard　room　where　a　dozen　or　so　of　the　men　had　gathered　for　a　game。　That　was　when　Struan's　had　just　been　blocked　by　the　Gornts　and　their　Shanghainese　friends　in　their　attempt　to　take　over　South　Orient　Airways；　which；　because　of　the　munist　conquest　of　the　Mainland；　had　just　bee　available。　This　feeder　airline　monopolized　all　air　traffic　in　and　out　of　Shanghai　from　Hong　Kong；　Singapore；　Taipei；　Tokyo　and　Bangkok；　and　if　merged　with　Air　Struan；　their　fledgling　airline；　Struan's　would　have　virtual　feeder　monopoly　in　the　Far　East　based　out　of　Hong　Kong。　Both　men　had　accused　the　other　of　underhand　practices　…　both　accusations　were　true。
　Yes；　Ian　Dunross　told　himself；　both　men　went　to　the　brink　that　time。　William　Gornt　had　tried　every　way　to　bee　established　in　Hong　Kong　after　Rothwell…Gornt's　huge　losses　in　Shanghai。　And　when　Colin　Dunross　knew　Struan's　could　not　prevail；　he　had　snatched　South　Orient　out　of　William　Gornt's　grasp　by　throwing　his　weight　to　a　safe　Cantonese　group。
　〃And　so　you　did；　Colin　Dunross；　so　you　did。　You　fell　into　the　trap　and　you'll　never　stop　us　now；〃　William　Gornt　had　gloated。　〃We're　here　to　stay。　We'll　hound　you　out　of　Asia；　you　and　your　god…cursed　Noble　House。　South　Orient's　just　the　beginning。　We've　won！〃
　〃The　hell　you　have！　The　Yan…Wong…Sun　group's　associated　with　us。　We　have　a　contract。〃
　〃It's　hereby　canceled。〃　William　Gornt　had　motioned　to　Quillan；　his　eldest　son　and　heir　apparent；　who　took　out　the　copy　of　an　agreement。　〃This　contract's　between　the　Yan…Wong…Sun　group　who're　nominees　of　the　Tso…Wa…Feng　group；〃　he　said　happily；　〃who're　nominees　of　Ta…Weng…Sap　who　sells　control　of　South　Orient　to　Rothwell…Gornt　for　one　dollar　more　than　the　original　co