jamesclavell.noblehouse-第106部分

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；　〃Tai…pan；　your　ships。　You　want　them　as　a　separate　agreement？　If　the　attorneys　draw　it　up　it　won't　be　private。　How　do　we　keep　it　private？〃
　〃I'll　draw　up　the　document　and　put　our　chop　on　it。　That'll　make　it　legal　and　binding。　Then　the　agreement　stays　secret　between　the　three　of　us；　eh？〃
　〃What's　a　chop；　Ian？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃It's　the　equivalent　of　a　seal。〃　Dunross　took　out　a　slim；　oblong　bamboo　container；　perhaps　two　inches　long　and　half　an　inch　square；　and　slid　back　the　tight…fitting　top。　He　took　out　the　chop；　which　fitted　the　scarlet　silk…lined　box；　and　showed　it　to　them。　It　was　made　of　ivory。　Some　Chinese　characters　were　carved　in　relief　on　the　bottom。　〃This　is　my　personal　chop　…　it's　hand…carved　so　almost　impossible　to　forge。　You　stick　this　end　in　the　ink　。。。〃　The　ink　was　red　and　almost　solid；　neatly　in　its　partment　in　one　end　of　the　box。　〃。。。　and　imprint　the　paper。　Quite　often　in　Hong　Kong　you　don't　sign　papers；　you　just　chop　them。　Most　aren't　legal　without　a　chop。　The　pany　seal's　the　same　as　this；　only　a　little　bigger。〃
　〃What　do　the　characters　mean？〃　Casey　asked。
　〃They're　a　pun　on　my　name；　and　ancestor。　Literally　they　mean　'illustrious；　razor　sharp；　throughout　the　noble　green　seas。'　The　pun's　on　Green…Eyed　Devil；　as　Dirk　was　called；　the　Noble　House；　and　a　dirk　or　knife。〃　Dunross　smiled　and　put　it　away。　〃It　has　other　meanings　…　the　surface　one's　'tai…pan　of　the　Noble　House。'　In　Chinese　。。。〃　He　glanced　around　at　the　sound　of　a　bicycle　bell。　The　young　bellhop　was　walking　through　the　crowds　carrying　a　small　paging　board　aloft　on　a　pole　that　bore　the　scrawled　name　of　the　person　wanted。　The　page　was　not　for　them　so　he　continued；　〃With　Chinese　writing；　there　are　always　various　levels　of　meanings。　That's　what　makes　it　plex；　and　interesting。〃
　Casey　was　fanning　herself　with　a　menu。　It　was　warm　in　the　foyer　though　the　ceiling　fans　were　creating　a　gentle　breeze。　She　took　out　a　tissue　and　pressed　it　beside　her　nose。　〃Is　it　always　this　humid？〃　she　asked。
　Dunross　smiled。　〃It's　relatively　dry　today。　Sometimes　it's　ninety　degrees　and　ninety…five　humidity　for　weeks　on　end。　Autumn　and　spring　are　the　best　times　to　be　here。　July；　August；　September　are　hot　and　wet。　Actually；　though；　they're　forecasting　rain。　We　might　even　get　a　typhoon。　I　heard　on　the　wireless　there's　a　tropical　depression　gathering　southeast　of　us。　Yes。　If　we're　lucky　it'll　rain。　There's　no　water　rationing　in　the　V　and　A　yet；　is　there？〃
　〃No；〃　Bartlett　said；　〃but　after　seeing　the　pails　in　your　house　last　night；　I　don't　think　I'll　ever　take　water　for　granted　again。〃
　〃Nor　me；〃　Casey　said。　〃It　must　be　terribly　hard。〃
　〃Oh；　you　get　used　to　it。　By　the　way　my　suggestion　about　the　document　is　satisfactory？〃　Dunross　asked　Bartlett；　wanting　it　settled　and　irritated　with　himself　that　he　was　trapped　into　having　to　ask。　He　was　grimly　amused　to　notice　that　Bartlett　hesitated　a　fraction　of　a　second　and　glanced　imperceptibly　at　Casey　before　saying；　〃Sure。〃
　〃Ian；〃　Bartlett　continued；　〃I've　got　Forrester　…　the　head　of　our　foam　division　…　ing　in　on　the　same　flight。　I　thought　we　might　as　well　get　the　show　on　the　road。　There's　no　reason　to　wait　until　we　have　papers；　is　there？〃
　〃No。〃　Dunross　thought　a　moment　and　decided　to　test　his　theory。　〃How　expert　is　he？〃
　〃Expert。〃
　Casey　added；　〃Charlie　Forrester　knows　everything　there　is　to　know　about　polyurethane　foam　…　manufacturing；　distribution　and　sales。〃
　〃Good。〃　Dunross　turned　to　Bartlett　and　said　innocently；　〃Would　you　like　to　bring　him　to　Taipei？〃　He　saw　a　flash　behind　the　American's　eyes　and　knew　that　he　had　been　correct。　Squirm；　you　bastard；　he　thought；　you　haven't　told　her　yet！　I　haven't　forgotten　the　rough　time　you　gave　me　last　night；　with　all　your　secret　information。　Squirm　out　of　this　one　with　face！　〃While　we're　golfing　or　whatever；　I'll　put　Forrester　with　my　experts　…　he　can　check　out　possible　sites　and　set　that　in　motion。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Bartlett　said；　not　squirming　at　all；　and　Dunross's　opinion　of　him　went　up。
　〃Taipei？　Taipei　in　Taiwan？〃　Casey　asked　excitedly。　〃We're　going　to　Taipei？　When？〃
　〃Sunday　afternoon；〃　Bartlett　said；　his　voice　calm。　〃We're　going　for　a　couple　of　days；　Ian　an…　〃
　〃Perfect；　Linc；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。　〃While　you're　golfing；　I　can　check　things　out　with　Charlie。　Let　me　play　next　time　around。　What's　your　handicap；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Ten；〃　Dunross　answered；　〃and　since　Linc　Bartlett　knows　I'm　sure　you　do　too。〃
　She　laughed。　〃I'd　forgotten　that　vital　statistic。　Mine's　fourteen　on　a　very　good　day。〃
　〃Give　or　take　a　stroke　or　two？〃
　〃Sure。　Women　cheat　in　golf　as　much　as　men。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　〃Yes。　But　unlike　men　they　cheat　to　lower　their　handicap。　A　handicap's　a　status　symbol；　right？　The　lower　the　score；　the　more　the　status！　Women　don't　usually　bet　more　than　a　few　dollars　so　a　low　handicap's　not　that　vital　except　for　face。　But　men？　I've　seen　them　hit　one　deliberately　into　the　rough　to　pick　up　two　extra　strokes　if　they　were　on　a　dynamite　round　that　would　drop　their　handicap　a　notch。　Of　course　that　was　only　if　they　weren't　playing　that　particular　round　for　money。　What's　the　stake　between　your　pairs？〃
　〃500　HK。〃
　She　whistled。　〃A　hole？〃
　〃Hell；　no；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃The　game。〃
　〃Even　so；　I　think　I'd　better　kibitz　this　one。'
　Dunross　said；　〃What's　that　mean？〃
　〃To　watch。　If　I'm　not　careful；　Linc　will　put　my　end　of　Par…Con　on　the　line。〃　Her　smile　warmed　both　of　them；　and　then；　because　Dunross　had　deliberately　dropped　Bartlett　into　the　trap；　he　decided　to　extract　him。
　〃That's　a　fine　idea；　Casey；〃　he　said；　watching　her　carefully。　〃But　on　second　thought；　perhaps　it　would　be　better　for　you　and　Forrester　to　check　out　Hong　Kong　before　Taipei　…　this　will　be　our　biggest　market。　And　if　your　lawyer　arrives　Thursday　you　might　wish　to　spend　time　with　him　here。〃　He　looked　at　Bartlett　directly；　the　picture　of　innocence。　〃If　you　want　to　cancel　our　trip；　that's　all　right　too；　you've　plenty　of　time　to　go　to　Taipei。　But　I　must　go。〃
　〃No；〃　Bartlett　said。　〃Casey；　you　cover　this　end。　Seymour　will　need　all　the　help　you　can　give　him。　I'll　make　a　preliminary　tour　this　time　and　we　can　do　it　together　later。〃
　She　sipped　her　drink　and　kept　her　face　clear。　So　I'm　not　invited；　huh？　she　thought　with　a　flash　of　irritation。　〃You're　off　Sunday？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dunross　said；　sure　that　the　finesse　had　worked；　detecting　no　change　in　her。　〃Sunday　afternoon　I　may　be　doing　a　hill　climb　in　the　morning；　so　that's　the　earliest　I　can　make　it。〃
　〃Hill　climb？　Mountain　climbing；　tai…pan？〃
　〃Oh　no。　Just　with　a　motorcar　…　in　the　New　Territories。　You're　both　wele　if　you're　interested。〃　He　added　to　Bartlett；　〃We　could　go　directly　to　the　airport。　If　I　can　clear　your　aircraft；　I　will。　I'll　ask　about　that　tomorrow。〃
　〃Linc；〃　Casey　said；　〃what　about　Armstrong　and　the　police？　You're　grounded　here。〃
　〃I　arranged　that　today；〃　Dunross　said；　〃he's　paroled　into　my　custody。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Fantastic！　Just　don't　jump　bail！〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　〃You're　off　Sunday；　tai…pan？　Back　when？〃
　〃Tuesday；　in　time　for　dinner。〃
　〃Tuesday's　when　we　sign？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Linc；　isn't　that　cutting　it　tight？〃
　〃No。　I'll　be　in　constant　touch。　The　deal's　set。　All　we　need　is　to　put　it　on　paper。〃
　〃Whatever　you　say；　Linc。　Everything　will　be　ready　for　signature　when　you　two　get　back。　Tai…pan；　I'm　to　deal　with　Andrew　if　there's　any　problem？〃
　〃Yes。　Or　Jacques。〃　Dunross　glanced　at　the　far　corner。　Now　their　table　was　occupied　by　others。　Never　mind；　he　told　himself。　Everything　was　done　that　could　be　done。　〃The　phone　service　is　good　to　Taipei　so　there's　no　need　to　worry。　Now；　are　you　free　for　dinner？〃
　〃We　certainly　are；〃　Bartlett　said。
　〃What　sort　of　food　would　you　like？〃
　〃How　about　Chinese？〃
　〃Sorry；　but　you've　got　to　be　more　specific；〃　Dunross　said。　〃That's　like　saying　you　want　European　cooking　…　which　could　run　the　gamut　from　Italian　to　boiled　English。〃
　〃Linc；　shouldn't　we　leave　it　to　the　tai…pan？〃　Casey　said；　and　added；　〃Tai…pan；　I　have　to　confess；　I　like　sweet　and　sour；　egg　rolls；　chop　suey　and　fried　rice。　I'm　not　much　on　anything　far　out。〃
　〃Nor　am　I；〃　Bartlett　agreed。　〃No　snake；　dog　or　anything　exotic。〃
　〃Snake's　very　good　in　season；〃　Dunross　said。　〃Especially　the　bile　…　mixed　with　tea。　It's　very　invigorating；　a　great　pick…me