jamesclavell.noblehouse-第238节

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en　thought。　〃Excuse　me；　will　you？〃　He　nodded　politely　and　walked　off。　Casey　saw　Dunross　watching　the　roll　of　notes　that　Gornt　put　into　a　pocket　and　was　inwardly　aghast　at　the　momentary　look　on　his　face。
　〃Could　Biltzmann　。。。　could　he've　been　correct？〃　she　asked　nervously。
　〃Of　course。〃　Dunross　put　his　full　attention　on　her。　〃Fixing　happens　everywhere。　That's　really　not　the　point。　There's　been　no　objection　from　any　of　the　stewards　or　jockeys　or　trainers。〃　His　eyes　were　slate　gray。　The　small　vein　in　his　forehead　was　pulsating。　〃That's　not　the　real　point　at　issue。〃　No；　he　was　thinking。　It's　a　matter　of　bloody　manners。　Even　so；　calm　yourself。　You　have　to　be　very　cool　and　very　calm　and　very　collected　this　weekend。
　All　day　he　had　had　nothing　but　trouble。　The　only　bright　moment　had　been　Riko　Anjin　Gresserhoff。　But　then　AMG's　last　letter　had　once　more　filled　him　with　gloom。　It　was　still　in　his　pocket　and　it　had　told　him　that　if　by　chance　he　had　not　destroyed　the　original　files；　to　heat　a　dozen　specified　pages　that　were　spread　throughout；　the　secret　information　written　in　invisible　ink　on　these　pages　to　be　passed　privately　to　the　prime　minister　or　the　current　head　of　MI…6；　Edward　Sinders；　personally　…　and　a　copy　given　to　Riko　Anjin　in　a　sealed　envelope。
　If　I　do　that　then　I　have　to　admit　the　files　I　gave　him　were　false；　he　thought；　weary　of　AMG；　espionage　and　his　instructions。　God…damnit；　Murtagh　doesn't　arrive　till　later；　Sir　Geoffrey　can't　call　London　till　4：00　p。m。　about　Tiptop　and　Brian　Kwok　and；　Christ　Jesus；　now　some　rude　bastard　calls　us　all　amateurs　。。。　which　we　are。　I'll　bet　a　hundred　to　a　bent　hatpin　Quillan　knew　before　the　race。
　At　a　sudden　thought　he　said　casually；　〃How　did　you　pick　the　winner；　Casey？　With　the　proverbial　pin？〃
　〃Peter　gave　it　to　me。　Peter　Marlowe。〃　Her　face　changed。　〃Oh！　Do　you　think　he　heard　it　was　fixed？〃
　〃If　I　thought　that　for　a　moment；　the　race　would　have　been　set　aside。　There's　nothing　I　can　do　now。　Biltzmann　。。。〃　Suddenly　he　gasped　as　the　idea　hit　him　in　all　its　glory。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　Dunross　took　her　arm　and　led　her　aside。　〃To　get　your　drop　dead　money　are　you　prepared　to　gamble？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃Sure；　sure；　Ian；　if　it's　legal。　But　gamble　what？〃　she　asked；　her　innate　caution　uppermost。
　〃Everything　you've　got　in　the　bank；　your　house　in　Laurel　Canyon；　your　stock　in　Par…Con　against　2　to　4　million　within　thirty　days。　How　about　it？〃
　Her　heart　was　thumping；　his　obvious　excitement　sweeping　her。　〃Okay；〃　she　said　and　then　wished　she　hadn't　said　it；　her　stomach　fluttering。　〃Jesus！〃
　〃Good。　Stay　here　a　second。　I'll　go　and　find　Bartlett。〃
　〃Wait！　Is　he　part　of　this？　What　is　this；　Ian？〃
　He　beamed。　〃A　modest　business　opportunity。　Yes；　Bartlett's　essential。　Does　that　make　you　change　your　mind？〃
　〃No；〃　she　told　him　uneasily；　〃but　I　said　I　wanted　to　get　my　。。。　my　stake　outside　of　Par…Con。〃
　〃I　haven't　forgotten。　Wait　here。〃　Dunross　hurried　back　into　his　box；　found　Bartlett　and　brought　him　back；　led　the　way　down　the　bustling　corridor　to　the　Struan　kitchen；　greeting　people　here　and　there。　The　kitchen　was　small；　busy　and　sparkling。　The　staff　paid　no　attention　to　them。　A　door　opened　into　a　tiny　private　room；　carefully　soundproofed。　Four　chairs；　a　table　and　phone。　〃My　father　had　this　constructed　during　his　tenure　…　lots　of　business　is　done　at　the　races。　Sit　down　please。　Now〃　…　he　looked　at　Bartlett　…　〃I've　a　business　proposal　for　you；　for　you　and　Casey　as　individuals；　outside　of　our　Par…Con　deal；　nothing　to　do　with　the　Par…Con…Struan　proposal。　Are　you　interested？〃
　〃Sure。　This　a　Hong　Kong　scam？〃
　〃Do　you　mind？〃　Dunross　beamed。　〃It's　an　honest…to…God　Hong　Kong　business　proposal。〃
　〃Okay；　let's　have　it。〃
　〃Before　I　lay　it　out　there　are　ground　rules：　It's　my　game；　you　two're　bystanders　but　you're　in　for　49　percent　of　the　profits；　to　be　shared　equally　between　you　two。　Okay？〃
　〃What's　the　full　game　plan；　Ian？〃　Bartlett　asked　cautiously。
　〃Next：　You　put　up　2　million　U。S。　by　Monday　9：00　a。m。　into　a　Swiss　bank　of　my　choosing。〃
　Bartlett's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Against　what？〃
　〃Against　49　percent　of　the　profit。〃
　〃What　profit？〃
　〃You　put　up　2　million　for　Gornt；　no　paper；　no　chop；　no　nothing　except　against　potential　profit。〃
　Bartlett　grinned。　〃How　long　have　you　known　about　that？〃
　Dunross　smiled　back。　〃I　told　you；　there're　no　secrets　here。　Are　you　in？〃　Dunross　saw　Bartlett　glance　at　Casey　and　he　held　his　breath。
　〃Casey；　you　know　what　this's　all　about？〃
　〃No；　Linc。〃　Casey　turned　to　Dunross。　〃What　is　the　scam；　Ian？〃
　〃First　I　want　to　know　if　I　get　the　2　million　advance　free　and　clear　…　if　you　go　for　this　scheme。〃
　〃What's　the　profit　potential？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃4　to　12　million。　Tax　free。〃
　Casey　blanched。　〃Tax　free？〃
　〃Free　of　any　Hong　Kong　taxes　and　we　can　help　you　avoid　States　taxes　if　you　want。〃
　〃What's　。。。　what's　the　payout　period？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃The　profit'll　be　set　in　thirty　days。　The　payout　will　take　five　to　six　months。〃
　〃The　4　to　12　million's　the　total；　or　our　share　only？〃
　〃Your　share。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　profit　for　something　pletely；　twenty…four…carat　legal。〃
　There　was　a　great　silence。　Dunross　waited；　willing　them　onward。
　〃2　million　cash？〃　Bartlett　said。　〃No　security；　no　nothing？〃
　〃No。　But　after　I've　laid　it　out　you　can　put　up　or　pass。〃
　〃What's　Gornt　to　do　with　this？〃
　〃Absolutely　nothing。　This　venture　has　nothing　to　do　with　Gornt；　Rothwell…Gornt；　Par…Con；　your　interest　in　them　or　us　or　the　Par…Con　deal。　This　is　totally　outside；　whatever　happens　…　my　word　on　that。　And　my　word　before　God；　that　I'll　never　tell　him　you've　put　up　this　2　million；　that　you　two　are　my　partners　and　in　for　a　piece　…　or；　by　the　way；　that　I　know　about　the　three　of　you　selling　me　short。〃　He　smiled。　〃That　was　a　very　good　idea　by　the　way。〃
　〃The　deal's　swung　by　my　2　million？〃
　〃No。　Greased。　I　haven't　2　million　U。S。　cash　as　you　know；　otherwise　you　wouldn't　be　invited　in。〃
　〃Why　us；　Ian？　You　could　raise　2　mill　from　one　of　your　friends　here；　easy；　if　it's　so　good。〃
　〃Yes。　But　I　choose　to　sweeten　the　lure　to　you　two。　By　the　way；　you　are　held　to　Tuesday　at　midnight。〃　Dunross　said　it　flat。　Then　his　voice　changed　and　the　others　felt　the　glee。　〃But　with　this　…　this　business　venture　…　I　can　dramatize　how　much　superior　we　are　to　Rothwell…Gornt；　how　much　more　exciting　it'll　be　being　associated　with　us　than　him。　You're　a　gambler；　so　am　I。　Raider　Bartlett　they　call　you　and　I'm　tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。　You　gambled　a　paltry　2　million　with　Gornt；　with　no　chop；　why　not　with　me？〃
　Bartlett　glanced　at　Casey。　She　gave　him　neither　a　yes　or　a　no　though　he　knew　the　lure　had　her　in　spades。
　〃Since　you're　setting　the　rules；　Ian；　answer　me　this：　I　put　up　the　2　million。　Why　should　we　share　equally；　Casey　and　I？〃
　〃I　remember　what　you　said　over　dinner　about　drop　dead　money。　You've　got　yours；　she　hasn't。　This　could　be　a　device　to　get　her　hers。〃
　〃Why're　you　so　concerned　over　Casey？　You　trying　to　divide　and　rule？〃
　〃If　that's　possible　then　you　shouldn't　be　in　a　very　special　partnership　and　business　relationship。　She's　your　right　arm；　you　told　me。　She's　clearly　very　important　to　you　and　to　Par…Con　so　she's　entitled　to　share。〃
　〃What　does　she　risk？〃
　〃She'll　put　up　her　house；　her　savings；　her　Par…Con　stock　…　that's　everything　she　has　…　alongside　yours。　She'll　sign　it　all　over　for　a　half　share。　Right？〃
　Casey　nodded；　numb。　〃Sure。〃
　Sharply　Bartlett　glanced　at　Casey。　〃I　thought　you　said　you　knew　nothing　about　this？〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Couple　of　minutes　ago；　Ian　asked　if　I'd　gamble　my　all　to　get　some　drop　dead　money；　big　money。〃　She　gulped　and　added；　〃I　said　okay　and　already　wish　I　hadn't。〃
　Bartlett　thought　a　moment。　〃Casey；　blunt：　You　want　in　or　you　want　out？〃
　〃In。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Then　Bartlett　beamed。　〃Okay；　tai…pan；　now　who　do　we　have　to　kill？〃
　
　Nine　Carat　Chu；　who　was　a　sometime　gold　coolie　for　the　Victoria　Bank　and　also　the　father　of　two　sons　and　two　daughters　…　Lily　Su　who　was　Havergill's　occasional　friend　and　Wisteria　who　was　John　Chen's　mistress；　whose　joss　was　to　be　trampled　to　death　outside　the　Ho…Pak　at　Aberdeen　…　waited　his　turn　at　the　betting　window。
　〃Yes；　old　man？〃　the　impatient　teller　said。
　He　pulled　out　a　roll　of　money。　It　was　all　the　money　he　had　and　all　the　money　he　could　borrow；　leaving　only　enough　for　three　inhalations　of　the　White　Powder　that　he　would　need　to　see　him　through　his　night　shift　tonight。　〃The　double　quinella；　by　all　the　gods！　Eight　and　five　in　the　second　race；　seven　and　one　in　the　fifth。〃
　The　teller　methodically　counted　out　the　crumpled　bills。　728　HK。　He　pressed　the　buttons　of　those　numbers　and　checked　the　first　ticket。　It　was　correct：　five　and　eight　…　second　race；　seven　and　one　…　fifth　race。　Carefully　he　counted　145　tickets；　each　of　5　HK；　the　minimum　bet；　and　gave　them　to　him　with　3　HK　change。　〃Hurry　up；　by　all　the　gods；〃　the　next　in　line　called　out。　〃Are　your　fingers　in　your　Black　Hole？〃
　〃Be　patient！〃　the　old　man　muttered；　feeling　faint；　〃this　is　serious　business！〃　Carefully　he　checked　his　tickets。　The　first；　three　random　ones　and　the　last　were　correct；　and　the　number　of　tickets　correct；　so　he　gave　up　his　place　and　pushed　his　way　out　of　the　press　into　the　air。　Once　in　the　air　he　felt　a　little　b