jamesclavell.noblehouse-第103节

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ngapore　and　that　bloody　mess。　I'll　never　forgive　those　bloody　Japs　for　what　they　did　to　our　lads　there；　here；　or　in　China。〃
　〃Nor　will　I；〃　Gornt　agreed　darkly。　〃Did　you　know　my　old　man　was　in　Nanking　in　'37；　during　the　rape　of　Nanking？〃
　〃No；　Christ；　how　did　he　get　out？〃
　〃Some　of　our　people　hid　him　for　a　few　days　…　we'd　had　associates　there　for　generations。　Then　he　pretended　to　the　Japs　that　he　was　a　friendly　correspondent　for　the　London　Times　and　talked　his　way　back　to　Shanghai。　He　still　has　nightmares　about　it。〃
　〃Talking　about　nightmares；　old　chap；　were　you　trying　to　give　Ian　one　last　night　by　going　to　his　party？〃
　〃You　think　he　got　even　by　taking　care　of　my　car？〃
　〃Eh？〃　Barre　was　appalled。　〃Good　God！　You　mean　your　car　was　tampered　with？〃
　〃The　master　cylinder　was　ruptured　by　a　blow　of　some　kind。　The　mechanic　said　it　could've　been　done　by　a　rock　thrown　up　against　it。〃
　Barre　stared　at　him　and　shook　his　head。　〃Ian's　not　a　fool。　He's　wild；　yes；　but　he's　no　fool。　That'd　be　attempted　murder。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time。〃
　〃If　I　were　you　I'd　not　say　that　sort　of　thing　publicly；　old　chap。〃
　〃You're　not　public；　old　chap。　Are　you？〃
　〃No。　Of　cour…　〃
　〃Good。〃　Gornt　turned　his　dark　eyes　on　him。　〃This　is　going　to　be　a　time　when　friends　should　stick　together。〃
　〃Oh？〃　Barre　was　instantly　on　guard。
　〃Yes。　The　market's　very　nervous。　This　Ho…Pak　mess　could　foul　up　a　lot　of　all　our　plans。〃
　〃My　Hong　Kong　and　Lan　Tao　Farms's　as　solid　as　the　Peak。〃
　〃You　are；　providing　your　Swiss　bankers　continue　to　grant　you　your　new　line　of　credit。〃
　Barre's　florid　face　whitened。　〃Eh？〃
　〃Without　their　loan　you　can't　take　over　Hong　Kong　Docks　and　Wharves；　Royal　Insurance　of　Hong　Kong　and　Malaya；　expand　into　Singapore　or　plete　a　lot　of　other　tricky　little　deals　you've　on　your　agenda　…　you　and　your　newfound　friend；　Mason　Loft；　the　whiz　kid　of　Threadneedle　Street。　Right？〃
　Barre　watched　him；　cold　sweat　running　down　his　back；　shocked　that　Gornt　was　privy　to　his　secrets。　〃Where'd　you　hear　about　those？〃
　Gornt　laughed。　〃I've　friends　in　high　places；　old　chap。　Don't　worry；　your　Achilles'　heel's　safe　with　me。〃
　〃We're　。。。　we're　in　no　danger。〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃　Gornt　turned　his　binoculars　back　on　his　horse。　〃Oh　by　the　way；　Dunstan；　I　might　need　your　vote　at　the　next　meeting　of　the　bank。〃
　〃On　what？〃
　〃I　don't　know　yet。〃　Gornt　looked　down　at　him。　〃I　just　need　to　know　that　I　can　count　on　you。〃
　〃Yes。　Yes　of　course。〃　Barre　was　wondering　nervously　what　Gornt　had　in　mind　and　where　the　leak　was。　〃Always　happy　to　oblige；　old　chap。〃
　〃Thank　you。　You're　selling　Ho…Pak　short？〃
　〃Of　course。　I　got　all　my　money　out　yesterday；　thank　God。　Why？〃
　〃I　heard　Dunross's　Par…Con　deal　won't　go　through。　I'm　considering　selling　him　short　too。〃
　〃Oh？　The　deal's　not　on？　Why？〃
　Gornt　smiled　sardonically。　〃Because；　Dunstan　…　〃
　〃Hello；　Quillan；　Dunstan；　sorry　to　interrupt；〃　Donald　McBride　said；　bustling　up　to　them；　two　men　in　tow。　〃May　I　introduce　Mr。　Charles　Biltzmann；　vice…president　of　American　Superfoods。　He'll　be　heading　up　the　new　General　Stores…Superfoods　merger　and　based　in　the　Colony　from　now　on。　Mr。　Gornt　and　Sir　Dunstan　Barre。〃
　The　tall；　sandy…haired　American　wore　a　gray　suit　and　tie　and　rimless　glasses。　He　stuck　out　his　hand　affably。　〃Glad　to　meet　you。　This's　a　nice　little　track　you've　got　here。〃
　Gornt　shook　hands　without　enthusiasm。　Next　to　Biltzmann　was　Richard　Hamilton　Pugmire；　the　present　tai…pan　of　H。K。　General　Stores；　a　steward　of　the　Turf　Club；　a　short　arrogant　man　in　his　late　forties　who　carried　his　smallness　as　a　constant　challenge。　〃Hello；　you　two！　Well；　who's　the　winner　of　the　fifth？〃
　Gornt　towered　over　him。　〃I'll　tell　you　after　the　race。〃
　〃Oh　e　on；　Quillan；　you　know　it'll　be　fixed　before　the　horses　even　parade。〃
　〃If　you　can　prove　that　I'm　sure　we'd　all　like　to　know。　I　certainly　would；　wouldn't　you；　Donald？〃
　〃I'm　sure　Richard　was　just　joking；〃　Donald　McBride　replied。　He　was　in　his　sixties；　his　Eurasian　features　pleasing；　and　the　warmth　of　his　smile　pervaded　him。　He　added　to　Biltzmann；　〃There're　always　these　rumors　about　race　fixing　but　we　do　what　we　can　and　when　we　catch　anyone　…　off　with　his　head！　At　least　off　the　course　he　goes。〃
　〃Hell；　races　get　fixed　in　the　States　too　but　I　guess　here　where　it's　all　amateur　and　wide　open；　it's　got　to　be　easier；〃　Biltzmann　said　breezily。　〃That　stallion　you　have；　Quillan。　He's　Australian；　partial　pedigree；　isn't　he？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gornt　said　abruptly；　detesting　his　familiarity。
　〃Don　here　was　explaining　some　of　the　rules　of　your　racing。　I'd　sure　like　to　be　part　of　your　racing　fraternity　…　hope　I　can　get　to　be　a　voting　member　too。〃
　The　Turf　Club　was　very　exclusive　and　very　tightly　controlled。　There　were　two　hundred　voting　members　and　four　thousand　non…voting　members。　Only　voting　members　could　get　into　the　members'　box。　Only　voting　members　could　own　horses。　Only　voting　members　could　propose　two　persons　a　year　to　be　nonvoting　members　…　the　stewards'　decision；　approval　or　nonapproval　being　final；　their　voting　secret。　And　only　voting　members　could　bee　a　steward。
　〃Yes；〃　Biltzmann　repeated；　〃that'd　be　just　great。〃
　〃I'm　sure　that　could　be　arranged；〃　McBride　said　with　a　smile。　〃The　club's　always　looking　for　new　blood　…　and　new　horses。〃
　〃Do　you　plan　to　stay　in　Hong　Kong；　Mr。　Biltzmann？〃　Gornt　asked。
　〃Call　me　Chuck。　I'm　here　for　the　duration；〃　the　American　replied。　〃I　suppose　I'm　Superfoods　of　Asia's　new　tai…pan。　Sounds　great；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Marvelous！〃　Barre　said；　witheringly。
　Biltzmann　continued　happily；　not　yet　tuned　to　English　sarcasm；　〃I'm　the　fall　guy　for　our　board　in　New　York。　As　the　man　from　Missouri　said；　the　buck　stops　here。〃　He　smiled　but　no　one　smiled　with　him。　〃I'll　be　here　at　least　a　couple　of　years　and　I'm　looking　forward　to　every　minute。　We're　getting　ready　to　settle　in　right　now。　My　bride　arrives　tomorrow　an…　〃
　〃You're　just　married；　Mr。　Biltzmann？〃
　〃Oh　no；　that's　just　a；　an　American　expression。　We've　been　married　twenty　years。　Soon　as　our　new　place's　fixed　the　way　she　wants　it；　we'd　be　happy　for　you　to　e　to　dinner。　Maybe　a　barbecue？　We　got　the　steaks　organized；　all　prime；　T…bones　and　New　Yorks；　being　flown　over　once　a　month。　And　Idaho　potatoes；〃　he　added　proudly。
　〃I'm　glad　about　the　potatoes；〃　Gornt　said　and　the　others　settled　back；　waiting；　knowing　that　he　despised　American　cooking　…　particularly　charcoaled　steaks　and　hamburgers　and　〃gooped…up　baked　potatoes；〃　as　he　called　them。　〃When　does　the　merger　finalize？〃
　〃End　of　the　month。　Our　bid's　accepted。　Everything's　agreed。　I　certainly　hope　our　American　know…how'll　fit　into　this　great　little　island。〃
　〃I　presume　you'll　build　a　mansion？〃
　〃No　sir。　Dickie　here；〃　Biltzmann　continued；　and　everyone　winced；　〃Dickie's　got　us　the　penthouse　of　the　pany's　apartment　building　on　Blore　Street；　so　we're　in　fat　city。〃
　〃That's　convenient；〃　Gornt　said。　The　others　bit　back　their　laughter。　The　oldest　and　most　famous　of　the　Colony's　Houses　of　Easy　Virtue　had　always　been　on　Blore　Street　at　Number　One。　Number　One；　Blore　Street；　had　been　started　by　one　of　Mrs。　Fotheringill's　〃young　ladies；〃　Nellie　Blore；　in　the　1860's；　with　money　reportedly　given　her　by　Culum　Struan；　and　was　still　operating　under　its　original　rules　…　European　or　Australian　ladies　only　and　no　foreign　gentlemen　or　natives　allowed。
　〃Very　convenient；〃　Gornt　said　again。　〃But　I　wonder　if　you'd　qualify。〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Nothing。　I'm　sure　Blore　Street　is　most　apt。〃
　〃Great　view；　but　the　plumbing's　no　good；〃　Biltzmann　said。　〃My　bride'll　soon　fix　that。〃
　〃She's　a　plumber　too？〃　Gornt　asked。
　The　American　laughed。　〃Hell　no；　but　she's　mighty　handy　around　the　house。〃
　〃If　you'll　excuse　me　I　have　to　see　my　trainer。〃　Gornt　nodded　to　the　others　and　turned　away　with；　〃Donald；　have　you　a　moment？　It's　about　Saturday。〃
　〃Of　course；　see　you　in　a　moment；　Mr。　Biltzmann。〃
　〃Sure。　But　call　me　Chuck。　Have　a　nice　day。〃
　McBride　fell　into　step　beside　Gornt。　When　they　were　alone　Gornt　said；　〃You're　surely　not　seriously　suggesting　he　should　be　a　voting　member？〃
　〃Well；　yes。〃　McBride　looked　unfortable。　〃It's　the　first　time　a　big　American　pany's　made　a　bid　to　e　into　Hong　Kong。　He'd　be　quite　important　to　us。〃
　〃That's　no　reason　to　let　him　in　here；　is　it？　Make　him　a　nonvoting　member。　Then　he　can　get　into　the　stands。　And　if　you　want　to　invite　him　to　your　box；　that's　your　affair。　But　a　voting　member？　Good　God；　he'll　probably　have　'Superfoods'　as　his　racing　colors！〃
　〃He's　just　new　and　out　of　his　depth；　Quillan。　I'm　sure　he'll　learn。　He's　decent　enough　even　though　he　does　make　a　few　gaffes。　He's　quite　well　off　an…　〃
　〃Since　when　has　money　been　an　open　sesame　to　the　Turf　Club？　Good　God；　Donald；　if　that　was　the　case；　every　upstart　Chinese　property　gambler　or　stock　market　gambler　who'd　made　a　killing　on　our　market'd　swamp　us。　We　wouldn't　have　room　to　fart。〃
　〃I　don't　agree。　Perhaps　the　answer's　to　increase　the　voting　membership。〃
　〃No。　Absolutely　not。　Of　course　you　stewards　will　do　what　you　like。　But　I　suggest　you　reconsider。〃　Gornt　was　a　voting　member　but　not　a　steward。　The　two　hundred　voting　members　elected　the　twelve　stewards　annually　by　secret　ballot。　Each　year　Gornt's　name　was　put　on　the　open　list　of　nominees　for　steward　and　each　year　he