jamesclavell.noblehouse-第241节

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t。　Of　course　Pug's　General　Stores　shares　will　soar　first　thing　on　Monday。　But　how　in　the　hell　did　Ian　and　Havergill　keep　it　quiet？　Christ　I　could've　made　a　bundle　if　I'd　known；　perhaps　I　still　can！　The　rumors　about　the　Victoria　not　supporting　Struan's　is　obviously　a　lot　of　cobblers。　。。。
　Wait　a　minute；　Sir　Luis　Basilio　was　thinking；　didn't　we　buy　a　huge　block　of　General　Stores　last　week　for　a　nominee　buyer？　Good　God；　has　the　tai…pan　outsmarted　all　of　us？　But　Madonna；　wait　a　minute；　what　about　the　run　on　his　stock；　what　about　the　market　crashing；　what　about　the　cash　he'll　have　to　put　up　to　fix　the　tender；　what　about　。。。
　Even　Gornt　was　counting；　his　mind　flooded　with　fury　that　he　had　not　thought　of　the　ploy　first。　He　knew　the　bid　was　good；　perfect　in　fact；　that　he　could　not　top　it；　not　at　the　moment。　But　then；　Ian　can't　plete。　There's　no　wa…　
　〃Can　we　go　to　press　on　this；　tai…pan？〃　Martin　Haply's　incisive　Canadian　voice　cut　through　the　excited　uproar。
　〃Certainly；　Mr。　Haply。〃
　〃May　I　ask　a　few　questions？〃
　〃It　depends　what　they　are；〃　Dunross　said　easily。　Looking　at　the　penetrating　brown　eyes；　he　was　grimly　amused。　We　could　use　a　right　rotten　young　bastard　in　the　family　…　if　he　could　be　trusted　with　Adryon。　〃What　had　you　in　mind？〃
　〃This's　the　first　time　a　takeover's　ever　been　contested。　May　I　ask　why　you're　doing　it　at　this　time？〃
　〃Struan's　have　always　been　innovative。　As　to　timing；　we　considered　it　perfect。〃
　〃Do　you　consider　this　Sat…　〃
　Biltzmann　interrupted　harshly；　〃We　have　a　deal。　It's　set。　Dickie？〃　He　whirled　on　Pugmire。　〃Eh？〃
　〃It　was　all　set；　Mr。　Biltzmann；〃　Dunross　said　crisply。　〃But　we're　contesting　your　tender；　just　as　it's　done　in　the　States；　according　to　American　rules。　I　presume　you　don't　mind　a　contest？　Of　course　we　are　amateurs　here　but　we　enjoy　trying　to　learn　from　our　peers。　Until　the　stockholders'　meeting　nothing's　final；　that's　the　law　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but　。。。　but　it　was　set！〃　The　tall　gray…haired　man　turned　to　Pugmire；　hardly　able　to　speak　he　was　so　angry。　〃You　said　it　was　all　agreed。〃
　〃Well；　the　directors　had　agreed；〃　Pugmire　said　uneasily；　conscious　of　everyone　listening；　particularly　Haply；　one　half　of　him　ecstatic　with　the　vastly　improved　offer；　the　other　furious　that　he；　too；　had　had　no　advance　warning　so　he　could　have　bought　in　heavily。　〃But；　er；　but　of　course　it　has　to　be　ratified　by　the　stockholders　at　the　Friday　meeting。　We　had　no　idea　there'd　be　a　。。。　Er；　Ian；　er；　Chuck；　don't　you　think　this　is　hardly　the　place　to　dis…　〃
　〃I　agree；〃　the　tai…pan　said。　〃But　at　the　moment　there's　little　to　discuss。　The　offer's　made。　By　the　way；　Pug；　your　own　deal　stands；　except　that　it's　extended　from　five　to　seven　years；　with　a　seat　on　Struan's　board　for　the　same　period。〃
　Pugmire's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃That's　part　of　the　tender？〃
　〃We'd　need　your　expertise；　of　course；〃　Dunross　said　airily；　and　everyone　knew　Pugmire　was　hooked　and　landed。　〃The　rest　of　the　package　as　negotiated　by　you　and　Superfoods　stands。　The　papers　will　be　on　your　desk　by　9：30。　Perhaps　you'll　put　our　tender　to　your　stockholders　on　Friday。〃　He　went　over　to　Biltzmann　and　put　out　his　hand。　〃Good　luck。　I　presume　you'll　be　ing　back　with　a　counteroffer　at　once。〃
　〃Well；　er；　I　have　to　check　with　head　office；　Mr。；　er；　tai…pan。〃　Biltzmann　was　flushed　and　angry。　〃We　。。。　we　put　our　best　foot　forward　and　。。。　That's　a　mighty　fine　offer　you　made。　Yes。　But　with　the　run　on　your　stock；　the　run　on　the　banks　and　the　market　going　down；　that's　going　to　be　kinda　hard　to　close；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Not　at　all；　Mr。　Biltzmann；〃　Dunross　said；　gambling　everything　that　Bartlett　would　not　renege　on　the　promise　of　cash；　that　he　would　close　with　Par…Con；　extricate　himself　from　Gornt　and　put　his　stock　back　into　its　rightful　place　by　next　weekend。　〃We　can　close　with　no　trouble　at　all。〃
　Biltzmann's　voice　sharpened。　〃Dickie；　I　think　you'd　better　consider　our　bid　carefully。　It's　good　till　Tuesday；〃　he　said；　confident　that　by　Tuesday　Struan's　would　be　in　a　shambles。　〃Now　I'll　make　me　a　bet　on　the　next　race。〃　He　stalked　out。　Tension　in　the　box　went　up　several　decibels。
　Everyone　began　talking　but　Haply　called　out；　〃Tai…pan；　may　I　ask　a　question？〃
　Again　attention　zeroed。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃I　understand　it's　customary　in　takeovers　for　there　to　be　a　down　payment；　in　cash；　a　measure　of　good　faith。　May　I　ask　how　much　Struan's　is　putting　up？〃
　Everyone　waited　breathlessly；　watching　Dunross。　He　held　the　pause　as　his　eyes　raked　the　faces；　enjoying　the　excitement；　knowing　everyone　wanted　him　humbled；　almost　everyone；　except　。。。　except　who？　Casey　for　one；　even　though　she's　in　the　know。　Bartlett？　I　don't　know；　not　for　certain。　Claudia？　Oh　yes；　Claudia　was　staring　at　him；　white…faced。　Donald　McBride；　Gavallan；　even　Jacques。
　His　eyes　stopped　on　Martin　Haply。　〃Perhaps　Mr。　Pugmire　would　prefer　to　have　that　detail　in　private；〃　he　said；　leading　them　on。　〃Eh；　Pug？〃
　Gornt　interrupted　Pugmire　and　said；　as　a　challenge；　〃Ian；　since　you've　decided　to　be　unorthodox；　why　not　make　it　all　public？　How　much　you　put　down　measures　the　value　of　your　tender。　Doesn't　it？〃
　〃No。　Not　really；〃　Dunross　said。　He　heard　the　distant　muted　roar　of　the　off　for　the　third　race　and　was　sure；　watching　the　faces；　that　no　one　heard　it　except　him。　〃Oh；　very　well；〃　he　said；　matter…of…fact；　〃Pug；　how　about　2　million；　U。S。；　with　the　papers　at　9：30　Monday？　In　good　faith。〃
　A　gasp　went　through　the　room。　Havergill；　Johnjohn；　Southerby；　Gornt；　were　aghast。　Phillip　Chen　almost　fainted。　Involuntarily　Havergill　began；　〃Ian；　don't　you　think　we；　er；　th…　〃
　Dunross　wheeled　on　him。　〃Oh；　don't　you　consider　it　enough；　Paul？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　yes　of　course；　more　than　enough；　but；　er　。。。〃　Havergill's　words　trailed　off　under　Dunross's　gaze。
　〃Oh　for　a　moment　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped；　pretending　to　have　a　sudden　thought；　〃Oh；　you　needn't　worry；　Paul；　I　haven't　mitted　you　without　your　approval　of　course。　I　have　alternate　financing　for　this　deal；　external　financing；〃　he　continued　with　his　easy　charm。　〃As　you　know；　Japanese　banks　and　many　others　are　anxious　to　expand　into　Asia。　I　thought　it　better　…　to　keep　everything　secret　and　prevent　the　usual　leaks　…　to　finance　this　externally　until　I　was　ready　to　announce。　Fortunately　the　Noble　House　has　friends　all　over　the　world！　See　you　all　later！〃
　He　turned　and　left。　Phillip　Chen　followed。　Martin　Haply　started　for　the　phone　and　then　everyone　was　talking　and　saying　I　don't　believe　it；　Christ　if　Ian's　got　that　sort　of　external　funds　。。。
　In　the　hubbub　Havergill　asked　Johnjohn；　〃Which　Japanese　bank？〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew。　If　Ian's　got　finance　for　this　。。。　my　God；　2　million　U。S。's　twice　as　much　as　he　needed　to　offer。〃
　Southerby；　who　was　alongside　them；　wiped　his　palms。　〃If　Ian　pulls　this　off　it'll　be　worth　10　million　U。S。　the　first　year　at　least。〃　He　smiled　sardonically。　〃Well；　Paul；　now　it　looks　as　though　we're　both　out　of　this　particular　pie。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　does；　but　I　just　don't　see　how　Ian　could　。。。　and　to　keep　it　so　quiet！〃
　Southerby　bent　closer。　〃Meanwhile；〃　he　asked　softly；　〃more　important；　what　about　Tiptop？〃
　〃Nothing；　nothing　yet。　He　hasn't　returned　my　calls；　or　Johnjohn's。〃　Havergill's　eyes　fell　on　Gornt　who　was　now　talking　privately　with　Plumm。　He　turned　his　back　on　him。　〃What　will　Quillan　do　now？〃
　〃Buy　first　thing　Monday　morning。　He　has　to。　Has　to　now；　too　dangerous　to　hold　on；〃　Southerby　said。
　〃I　agree；〃　Sir　Luis　Basilio　added；　joining　them。　〃If　Ian　can　toss　that　sort　of　cash　around；　those　who've　been　selling　him　short　better　watch　out。　e　to　think　of　it；　we've　been　buying　General　Stores　for　nominees　this　last　week。　Probably　Ian；　eh？　He　has　to　have　taken　a　position；　lucky　devil！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Johnjohn　muttered。　〃For　the　life　of　me　I　can't　figure　。。。　Good　sweet　Christ；　and　now　if　he　wins　with　Noble　Star！　With　joss　like　that　he　could　turn　his　whole　mess　about；　you　know　what　Chinese're　like！〃
　〃Yes；〃　Gornt　said；　butting　in；　startling　them。　〃But　thank　God　we're　not　all　Chinese。　We've　yet　to　see　the　cash。〃
　〃He　must　have　it　…　must　have　it；〃　Johnjohn　said。　〃Matter　of　face。〃
　〃Ah；　face。〃　Gornt　was　sardonic。　〃9：30　a。m。；　eh？　If　he'd　really　been　smart　he　would　have　said　noon；　or　3：00　p。m。；　then　we　wouldn't　know　all　day　and　he　could've　manipulated　us　all　day。　As　it　is　now　。。。〃　Gornt　shrugged。　〃I　win　either　way；　millions；　if　not　control。〃　He　glanced　across　the　noisy　box；　nodded　nonmittally　to　Bartlett　and　Casey；　then　turned　away。
　Bartlett　took　Casey's　arm　and　led　her　on　to　the　balcony。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃About　Gornt？〃
　〃About　Dunross。〃
　〃Fantastic！　He's　fantastic。　'Japanese　bank'　…　that　was　a　stunning　red　herring；〃　she　said　excitedly。　〃He's　put　this　whole　group　into　a　tailspin；　you　could　see　that；　and　if　this　group；　the　whole　of　Hong　Kong。　You　heard　what　Southerby　said？〃
　〃Sure。　It　looks　like　we've　all　got　it　made　…　if　he　can　squeeze　out　of　Gornt's　trap。〃
　〃Let's　hope。〃　Then　she　noticed　his　smile。　〃What？〃
　〃You　know　what　we　just　did；　Casey？　We　just　bought　the　Noble　House　for　the　promise　of　2　million　bucks。〃
　〃How？〃
　〃Ian's　gambling　I　will　put　up　the　2。〃
　〃That's　no　gamble；　Linc；　that　was　the　deal。〃
　〃Sure。　But　say　I　don't。　His　whole　pack　of　cards　collapses。　If　he　doesn't　get　the　2　he's　finished。　Yesterday　I　told　Gornt