jamesclavell.noblehouse-第200节

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　〃He　could　be　got　at。〃
　〃Sure。　But　if　we　。。。　if　we　do　this　tomorrow　and　if　Wu　Sang　gives　you　his　word　and　you　give　him　your　word　not　to　try　a　setup；　it'd　work。〃　The　young　man　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　face。　〃Jesus；　it's　close　in　here！〃
　Dunross　thought　a　moment。　Then　he　turned　his　cold　eyes　on　Four　Fingers。　〃Yesterday　I　ask　favor；　you　said　no。〃
　〃That　favor　was　different；　tai…pan；〃　the　old　man　replied　at　once；　his　tongue　darting　like　a　snake's。　〃That　was　not　the　same　as　an　ancient　promise　collecting　an　ancient　debt。〃
　〃You　ask　your　friends　concerning　my　ask；　heya？〃
　Wu　lit　another　cigarette。　His　voice　sharpened。　〃Yes。　My　friends　are　worried　about　the　Noble　House。〃
　〃If　no　Noble　House；　no　noble　favor；　heya？〃
　The　silence　thickened。　Dunross　saw　the　cunning　old　eyes　dart　at　Paul　Choy　and　then　back　to　him　again。　He　knew　he　was　entrapped　by　the　coin。　He　would　have　to　pay。　If　it　was　genuine　he　would　have　to　pay；　whether　stolen　or　not。　Stolen　from　whom；　his　mind　was　shouting。　Who　here　would　have　had　one？　Dirk　Struan　never　knew　who　the　others　had　been　given　to。　In　his　testament　he　had　written　that　he　suspected　one　went　to　his　mistress　May…may　but　there　was　no　reason　for　such　a　gift　by　Jin…qua。　If　to　May…may；　Dunross　reasoned；　then　it　would　have　passed　down　to　Shitee　T'Chung；　who　was　presently　the　head　of　the　T'Chung　line；　May…may's　line。　Maybe　it　was　stolen　from　him。
　Who　else　in　Hong　Kong？
　If　the　tai…pan　or　the　Hag　couldn't　answer　that　one；　I　can't。　There's　no　family　connection　back　to　Jin…qua！
　In　the　heavy　silence　Dunross　watched　and　waited。　Another　bead　of　sweat　dropped　off　Paul　Choy's　chin　as　he　looked　at　his　father；　then　back　at　the　table　again。　Dunross　sensed　the　hate　and　that　interested　him。　Then　he　saw　Wu　sizing　up　Paul　Choy　strangely。　Instantly　his　mind　leaped　forward。　〃I'm　the　arbiter　of　Hong　Kong；〃　he　said　in　English。　〃Support　me　and　within　a　week　huge　profits　can　be　made。〃
　〃Heya？〃
　Dunross　had　been　watching　Paul　Choy。　He　had　seen　him　look　up；　startled。　〃Please　translate；　Mr。　Choy；〃　he　said。
　Paul　Choy　obeyed。　Dunross　sighed；　satisfied。　Paul　Choy　had　not　translated　〃I'm　the　arbiter　of　Hong　Kong。〃　Again　a　silence。　He　relaxed；　more　at　ease　now；　sensing　both　men　had　taken　the　bait。
　〃Tai…pan；　my　suggestion；　about　the　coin；　you　agree？〃　the　old　man　said。
　〃About　my　ask；　my　ask　for　money　support；　you　agree？〃
　Wu　said　angrily；　〃The　two　are　not　interwoven　like　rain　in　a　fornicating　storm。　Yes　or　no　on　the　coin？〃
　〃I　agree　on　the　coin。　But　not　tomorrow。　Next　week。　Fifth　day。〃
　〃Tomorrow。〃
　Paul　Choy　carefully　interjected；　〃Honored　Uncle；　perhaps　you　could　ask　your　friends　again　tomorrow。　Tomorrow　morning。　Perhaps　they　could　help　the　tai…pan。〃　His　shrewd　eyes　turned　to　Dunross。　〃Tomorrow's　Friday；〃　he　said　in　English；　〃how　about　Monday　at　。。。　at　4：00　p。m。　for　the　coin？〃　He　repeated　it　in　Haklo。
　〃Why　that　time？〃　Wu　asked　irritably。
　〃The　foreign　devil　money　market　closes　at　the　third　hour　of　the　afternoon；　Honored　Uncle。　By　that　time　the　Noble　House　will　be　noble　or　not。〃
　〃We　will　always　be　the　Noble　House；　Mr。　Choy；〃　Dunross　said　politely　in　English；　impressed　with　the　man's　skill　…　and　shrewdness　to　take　an　oblique　hint。　〃I　agree。〃
　〃Heya？〃
　When　Paul　Choy　had　finished　the　old　man　grunted。　〃First　I　will　check　the　Heaven…Earth　currents　to　see　if　that　is　an　auspicious　day。　If　it　is；　then　I　agree。〃　He　jerked　his　thumb　at　Paul　Choy。　〃Go　aboard　the　other　boat。〃
　Paul　Choy　got　up。　〃Thank　you；　tai…pan。　Good　night。〃
　〃See　you　soon；　Mr。　Choy；〃　Dunross　replied；　expecting　him　the　next　day。
　When　they　were　quite　alone；　the　old　man　said　softly；　〃Thank　you；　Old　Friend。　Soon　we'll　do　much　closer　business。〃
　〃Remember；　Old　Friend；　what　my　forebears　say；〃　Dunross　said　ominously。　〃Both　Green…Eyed　Devil　and　her　of　Evil　Eye　and　Dragon's　Teeth　…　how　they　put　a　great　curse　and　Evil　Eye　on　White　Powders　and　those　who　profit　from　White　Powders。〃
　The　gnarled　old　seaman　in　the　nice　clothes　shrugged　nervously。　〃What's　that　to　me？　I　know　nothing　of　White　Powders。　Fornicate　all　White　Powders。　I　know　nothing　of　them。〃
　Then　he　was　gone。
　Shakily　Dunross　poured　a　long　drink。　He　felt　the　new　motion　of　the　sampan　being　sculled　again。　His　fingers　brought　out　the　waxen　imprints。　A　thousand　to　one　the　coin's　genuine。　Christ　almighty；　what　will　that　devil　ask？　Drugs；　I'll　bet　it's　something　to　do　with　drugs！　That　about　the　curse　and　the　Evil　Eye　was　made　up　…　not　part　of　Dirk's　bargain　at　all。　Even　so；　I　won't　agree　to　drugs。
　But　he　was　ill…at…ease。　He　could　see　Dirk　Struan's　writing　in　the　Bible　that　he　had　signed　and　endorsed；　agreeing　before　God　〃to　grant　to　whomsoever　shall　present　one　of　the　half…coins；　whatsoever　he　shall　ask；　if　it　is　in　the　tai…pan's　power　to　give。　。。。〃
　His　ears　sensed　the　alien　presence　before　the　sound　arrived。　Another　boat　scraped　his　gently。　The　pad　of　feet。　He　readied；　not　knowing　the　danger。
　The　girl　was　young；　beautiful　and　joyous。　〃My　name　is　Snow　Jade；　tai…pan；　I'm　eighteen　years　and　Honorable　Wu　Sang's　personal　gift　for　the　night！〃　Lilting　Cantonese；　neat　chong…sam；　high　collar；　long　stockinged　legs　and　high　heels。　She　smiled；　showing　her　lovely　white　teeth。　〃He　thought　you　might　be　in　need　of　sustenance。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　he　muttered；　trying　to　collect　himself。
　She　laughed　and　sat　down。　〃Oh　yes；　that's　what　he　said　and　I'd　like　your　sustenance　also　…　I'm　starving；　aren't　you？　Honorable　Goldtooth　has　ordered　a　morsel　or　two　to　whet　your　appetite：　quick　fried　prawns　with　peapods；　shredded　beef　in　black　bean　sauce；　some　deep…fried　dumplings　Shanghai　style；　quick　fried　vegetables　spiced　with　Szechuan　cabbage　and　tangy　Ch'iang　Pao　chicken。〃　She　beamed。　〃I'm　dessert！〃
　
　
　FRIDAY
　
　57
　
　12：35　A。M。：
　Irritably；　Banker　Kwang　stabbed　the　doorbell　again　and　again。　The　door　swung　open　and　Venus　Poon　screeched　in　Cantonese；　〃How　dare　you　e　here　at　this　time　of　night　without　an　invitation！〃　Her　chin　jutted　and　she　stood　with　one　hand　on　the　door；　the　other　imperiously　on　her　hip；　her　low…cut　evening　dress　devastating。
　〃Quiet；　you　mealy…mouthed　whore！〃　Banker　Kwang　shouted　back　at　her　and　shoved　past　into　her　apartment。　〃Who's　paying　the　rent？　Who　bought　all　this　furniture？　Who　paid　for　that　dress？　Why　aren't　you　ready　for　bed？　Wh…　〃
　〃Quiet！〃　Her　voice　was　piercing　and　easily　drowned　out　his。　〃You　were　paying　the　rent；　but　today's　the　day　when　the　rent　was　due　and　where　is　it；　heyaheyaheyaheya？〃
　〃Here！〃　Banker　Kwang　ripped　the　check　out　of　his　pocket　and　waved　it　under　her　nose。　〃Do　I　forget　my　fornicating　promises　…　no！　Do　you　forget　your　fornicating　promises　…　yes！〃
　Venus　Poon　blinked。　Her　rage　disappeared；　her　face　changed；　her　voice　became　laden　with　honey。　〃Oh　did　Father　remember？　Oh　I　was　told　you'd　forsaken　your　poor　lonely　Daughter　and　gone　back　to　the　whores　of　1　Blore　Street。〃
　〃Lies！〃　Banker　Kwang　gasped；　almost　apoplectic　even　though　it　was　the　truth。　〃Why　aren't　you　dressed　for　bed？　Why　are　you　wear…　〃
　〃But　I　was　called　by　three　different　people　who　said　you'd　been　there　this　afternoon　at　4：15。　Oh　how　terrible　people　are；〃　she　said　crooningly；　knowing　that　he　was　there　though　he　only　went　to　introduce　Banker　Ching　from　whom　he　was　trying　to　borrow　funds。　〃Oh　poor　Father；　how　dreadful　people　are。〃　As　she　talked　placatingly；　she　moved　closer。　Suddenly　her　hand　snaked　out　and　she　snatched　the　check　before　he　could　withdraw　it　though　her　voice　continued　to　be　sweet。　〃Oh　thank　you；　Father；　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart　。。。　oh　ko！〃　Her　eyes　crossed；　her　voice　hardened　and　the　screech　returned。　〃The　check　is　not　signed；　you　dirty　old　dogmeat！　It's　another　of　your　banker　tricks！　Oh　oh　oh　I　think　I　shall　kill　myself　on　your　doorstep　。。。　no；　better　I　shall　do　it　in　front　of　the　TV　camera；　telling　all　Hong　Kong　how　you　。。。　Oh　oh　oh。　。。。〃
　Her　amah　was　in　the　living　room　now；　joining　in；　wailing　and　caterwauling；　both　women　swamping　him　in　a　swelter　of　invective；　challenges　and　accusations。
　Impotently　he　cursed　them　both　back　but　that　only　made　them　increase　their　volume。　He　stood　his　ground　for　a　moment；　then；　vanquished；　pulled　out　a　fountain　pen　with　a　flourish；　grabbed　the　check　and　signed　it。　The　noise　ceased。　Venus　Poon　took　it　and　examined　it　carefully。　Very　very　carefully。　It　vanished　into　her　purse。
　〃Oh　thank　you；　Honorable　Father；〃　she　said　meekly　and　abruptly　whirled　on　her　amah。　〃How　dare　you　interfere　in　a　discussion　between　the　love　of　my　life　and　your　mistress；　you　lump　of　festering　dogmeat。　It's　all　your　fault　for　spreading　other　people's　cruel　lies　about　Father's　infidelity！　Out！　Fetch　tea　and　food！　Out！　Father　needs　a　brandy　。。。　fetch　a　brandy；　hurry！〃
　The　old　woman　pretended　to　buckle　under　the　assumed　rage　and　scuttled　out　in　pretended　tears。　Venus　Poon　cooed　and　bustled　and　her　hands　were　soft　on　Richard　Kwang's　neck。
　At　length；　under　their　magic；　he　allowed　himself　to　be　mollified　and　helped　to　drink；　groaning　aloud　all　the　time　at　his　ill　joss　and　how　his　subordinates；　friends；　allies　and　debtors　had　maliciously　forsaken　him；　after　he　alone　in　the　whole　Ho…Pak　empire　had　worked　his　fingers　to　their　tendons；　his　feet　to　the　flesh；　worrying　over　all　of　them。
　〃Oh　you　poor　man；〃　Venus　Poon　said　soothingly；　her　mi