jamesclavell.noblehouse-第49节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


asculinity　even　from　across　the　room　and　had　been　uneasily　excited　by　him。　As　she　watched；　she　could　almost　touch　the　tension　between　the　two　men　squaring　on　…　two　bulls　in　challenge。
　Andrew　Gavallan　had　told　her　at　once　who　Gornt　was。　She　had　volunteered　nothing；　just　asked　Gavallan　and　Linbar　Struan　why　they　were　so　shocked　at　Gornt's　arrival。　And　then；　as　they　were　alone　now；　the　four　of　them　…　Casey；　Gavallan；　deVille　and　Linbar　Struan　…　they　told　her　about　the　〃Happy　Christmas〃　and　〃One　day　I'll　own　this　house。〃
　〃What　did　the　tai…pan　。。。　what　did　Ian　do？〃　she　asked。
　Gavallan　said；　〃He　just　looked　at　Gornt。　You　knew　if　he　had　a　gun　or　a　knife　or　a　cudgel　he'd've　used　it；　you　just　knew　it；　and　as　he　hadn't　a　weapon　you　knew　any　moment　he　was　going　to　use　his　hands　or　teeth。　。。。　He　just　stood　rock　still　and　looked　at　Gornt　and　Gornt　went　back　a　pace；　out　of　range　…　literally。　But　that　bugger　Gornt's　got　cojones。　He　sort　of　gathered　himself　together　and　stared　back　at　Ian　for　a　moment。　Then；　without　saying　a　word　he　went　around　him　slowly；　very　cautiously；　his　eyes　never　leaving　Ian；　and　he　left。〃
　〃What's　that　bastard　doing　here　tonight？〃　Linbar　muttered。
　Gavallan　said；　〃It's　got　to　be　important。〃
　〃Which　one？〃　Linbar　asked。　〃Which　important？〃
　Casey　looked　at　him　and　at　the　edge　of　her　peripheral　vision　she　saw　Jacques　deVille　shake　his　head　warningly　and　at　once　the　shades　came　down　on　Linbar　and　on　Gavallan。　Even　so　she　asked；　〃What　is　Gornt　doing　here？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Gavallan　told　her；　and　she　believed　him。
　〃Have　they　met　since　that　Christmas？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　many　times；　all　the　time；〃　Gavallan　told　her。　〃Socially　of　course。　Then；　too；　they're　on　the　boards　of　panies；　mittees；　councils　together。〃　Uneasily　he　added；　〃But　。。。　well　I'm　sure　they're　both　just　waiting。〃
　She　saw　their　eyes　wander　back　to　the　two　enemies　and　her　eyes　followed。　Her　heart　was　beating　strongly。　They　saw　Penelope　move　away　to　talk　to　Claudia　Chen。　In　a　moment；　Dunross　glanced　across　at　them。　She　knew　he　was　signaling　Gavallan　in　some　way。　Then　his　eyes　were　on　her。　Gornt　followed　his　glance。　Now　both　men　were　looking　at　her。　She　felt　their　magnetism。　It　intoxicated　her。　A　devil　in　her　pushed　her　feet　toward　them。　She　was　glad　now　that　she　had　dressed　as　she　had；　more　provocatively　than　she　had　planned；　but　Linc　had　told　her　this　was　a　night　to　be　less　businesslike。
　As　she　walked　she　felt　the　brush　of　the　silk；　and　her　nipples　hardened。　She　felt　their　eyes　flow　over　her；　undressing　her；　and　this　time；　strangely；　she　did　not　mind。　Her　walk　became　imperceptibly　more　feline。
　〃Hello；　tai…pan；〃　she　said　with　pretended　innocence。　〃You　wanted　me　to　join　you？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　replied　at　once。　〃I　believe　you　two　know　each　other。〃
　She　shook　her　head　and　smiled　at　both　of　them；　not　noticing　the　trap。　〃No。　We've　never　met。　But　of　course　I　know　who　Mr。　Gornt　is。　Andrew　told　me。〃
　〃Ah；　then　let　me　introduce　you　formally。　Mr。　Quillan　Gornt；　tai…pan　of　Rothwell…Gornt。　Miss　Tcholok　…　Ciranoush　Tcholok　…　from　America。〃
　She　held　out　her　hand；　knowing　the　danger　of　getting　between　the　two　men；　half　her　mind　warmed　by　the　danger；　the　other　half　shouting；　Jesus；　what're　you　doing　here。
　〃I've　heard　a　lot　about　you；　Mr。　Gornt；〃　she　said；　pleased　that　her　voice　was　controlled；　pleased　by　the　touch　of　his　hand　…　different　from　Dunross's；　rougher　and　not　as　strong。　〃I　believe　the　rivalry　of　your　firms　goes　back　generations？〃
　〃Only　three。　It　was　my　grandfather　who　first　felt　the　not　so　tender　mercies　of　the　Struans；〃　Gornt　said　easily。　〃One　day　I'd　enjoy　telling　you　our　side　of　the　legends。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　two　should　smoke　a　pipe　of　peace；〃　she　said。　〃Surely　Asia's　wide　enough　for　both　of　you。〃
　〃The　whole　world　isn't；〃　Dunross　said　affably。
　〃No；〃　Gornt　agreed；　and　if　she　had　not　heard　the　real　story　she　would　have　presumed　from　their　tone　and　manner　they　were　just　friendly　rivals。
　〃In　the　States　we've　many　huge　panies　…　and　they　live　together　peacefully。　In　petition。〃
　〃This　isn't　America；〃　Gornt　said　calmly。　〃How　long　will　you　be　here；　Miss　Tcholok？〃
　〃That　depends　on　Linc　…　Linc　Bartlett　…　I'm　with　Par…Con　Industries。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　I　know。　Didn't　he　tell　you　we're　having　dinner　on　Tuesday？〃
　The　danger　signals　poured　through　her。　〃Tuesday？〃
　〃Yes。　We　arranged　it　this　morning。　At　our　meeting。　Didn't　he　mention　it？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　momentarily　in　shock。　Both　men　were　watching　her　intently　and　she　wished　she　could　back　off　and　e　back　in　five　minutes　when　she　had　thought　this　through。　Jesus；　she　thought　and　fought　to　retain　her　poise　as　all　the　implications　swamped　her。　〃No；〃　she　said　again；　〃Linc　didn't　mention　any　meeting。　What　did　you　arrange？〃
　Gornt　glanced　at　Dunross　who　still　listened　expressionlessly。　〃Just　to　have　dinner　next　Tuesday。　Mr。　Bartlett　and　yourself　…　if　you're　free。〃
　〃That　would　be　nice　…　thank　you。〃
　〃Where's　your　Mr。　Bartlett　now？〃　he　asked。
　〃In　…　in　the　garden；　I　think。〃
　Dunross　said；　〃Last　time　I　saw　him　he　was　on　the　terrace。　Adryon　was　with　him。　Why？〃
　Gornt　took　out　a　gold　cigarette　case　and　offered　it　to　her。
　〃No　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　smoke。〃
　〃Does　it　bother　you　if　I　do？〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　Gornt　lit　a　cigarette　and　looked　at　Dunross。　〃I'd　just　like　to　say　hello　to　him；　before　I　leave；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind　me　ing　for　just　a　few　minutes　…　if　you'll　excuse　me　I　won't　stay　for　dinner。　I　have　some　pressing　business　to　attend　to　。。。　you　understand。〃
　〃Of　course。〃　Dunross　added；　〃Sorry　you　can't　stay。〃
　Neither　man　showed　anything　in　his　face。　Except　the　eyes。　It　was　in　their　eyes。　Hatred。　Fury。　The　depth　shocked　her。　〃Ask　Ian　Dunross　to　show　you　the　Long　Gallery；〃　Gornt　was　saying　to　her。　〃I　hear　there're　some　fine　portraits　there。　I've　never　been　in　the　Long　Gallery　…　only　the　billiard　room。〃　A　chill　went　down　her　spine　as　he　looked　again　at　Dunross　who　watched　him　back。
　〃This　meeting　this　morning；〃　Casey　said；　thinking　clearly　now；　judging　it　wise　to　bring　everything　out　in　front　of　Dunross　at　once。　〃When　was　it　arranged？〃
　〃About　three　weeks　ago；〃　Gornt　said。　〃I　thought　you　were　his　chief　executive；　I'm　surprised　he　didn't　mention　it　to　you。〃
　〃Linc's　our　tai…pan；　Mr。　Gornt。　I　work　for　him。　He　doesn't　have　to　tell　me　everything；〃　she　said；　calmer　now。　〃Should　he　have　told　me；　Mr。　Gornt？　I　mean；　was　it　important？〃
　〃It　could　be。　Yes。　I　confirmed；　formally；　that　we　can　better　any　offer　Struan's　can　make。　Any　oner。〃　Gornt　glanced　back　at　the　tai…pan。　His　voice　hardened　a　fraction。　〃Ian；　I　wanted　to　tell　you；　personally；　that　we're　in　the　same　marketplace。〃
　〃Is　that　why　you　came？〃
　〃One　reason。〃
　〃The　other？〃
　〃Pleasure。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　known　Mr。　Bartlett？〃
　〃Six　months　or　so。　Why？〃
　Dunross　shrugged；　then　looked　at　Casey　and　she　could　read　nothing　from　his　voice　or　face　or　manner　other　than　friendliness。　〃You　didn't　know　of　any　Rothwell…Gornt　negotiations？〃
　Truthfully　she　shook　her　head；　awed　by　Bartlett's　skillful　long…range　planning。　〃No。　Are　negotiations　in　progress；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃I　would　say　yes。〃　Gornt　smiled。
　〃Then　we　shall　see；　won't　we；〃　Dunross　said。　〃We　shall　see　who　makes　the　best　deal。　Thank　you　for　telling　me　personally；　though　there　was　no　need。　I　knew；　of　course；　that　you'd　be　interested　too。　There's　no　need　to　belabor　that。〃
　〃Actually　there's　a　very　good　reason；〃　Gornt　said　sharply。　〃Neither　Mr。　Bartlett　nor　this　lady　may　realize　how　vital　Par…Con　is　to　you。　I　felt　obliged　to　make　the　point　personally　to　them。　And　to　you。　And　of　course　to　offer　my　congratulations。〃
　〃Why　vital；　Mr。　Gornt？〃　Casey　asked；　mitted　now。
　〃Without　your　Par…Con　deal　and　the　cash　flow　it　will　generate；　Struan's　will　go　under；　could　easily　go　under　in　a　few　months。〃
　Dunross　laughed　and　those　few　who　listened　covertly　shuddered　and　moved　their　own　conversations　up　a　decibel；　aghast　at　the　thought　of　Struan's　failing；　at　the　same　time　thinking。　What　deal？　Par…Con？　Should　we　sell　or　buy？　Struan's　or　Rothwell…Gornt？
　〃No　chance　of　that；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Not　a　chance　in　hell！〃
　〃I　think　there's　a　very　good　chance。〃　Gornt's　tone　changed。　〃In　any　event；　as　you　say；　we　shall　see。〃
　〃Yes；　we　will　…　meanwhile　。。。〃　Dunross　stopped　as　he　saw　Claudia　approaching　uneasily。
　〃Excuse　me；　tai…pan；〃　she　said；　〃your　personal　call　to　London's　on　the　line。〃
　〃Oh　thank　you。〃　Dunross　turned　and　beckoned　Penelope。　She　came　over　at　once。　〃Penelope；　would　you　entertain　Quillan　and　Miss　Tcholok　for　a　moment。　I've　got　a　phone　call　…　Quillan's　not　staying　for　dinner　…　he　has　pressing　business。〃　He　waved　cheerily　and　left　them。　Casey　noticed　the　animal　grace　to　his　walk。
　〃You're　not　staying　for　dinner？〃　Penelope　was　saying；　her　relief　evident　though　she　tried　to　cover　it。
　〃No。　I'm　sorry　to　inconvenience　you　…　arriving　so　abruptly；　after　declining　your　kind　invitation。　Unfortunately　I　can't　stay。〃
　〃Oh。　Then　。。。　would　you　excuse　me　a　moment；　I'll　be　back　in　a　second。〃
　〃There's　no　need　to　worry　about　us；〃　Gornt　said　gently。　〃We　can　look　after　ourselves。　Again；　sorry　to　be　a　nuisance　…　you're　looking　marvelous；　Penelope。　You　never　change。〃　She　thanked　him　and　he　willed　her　away。　Gratefully　she　went　over　to　Claudia　Chen