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jamesclavell.noblehouse-第116部分

小说: jamesclavell.noblehouse 字数: 每页4000字

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 Gornt laughed。 〃I've friends in high places; old chap。 Don't worry; your Achilles' heel's safe with me。〃
 〃We're 。。。 we're in no danger。〃
 〃Of course not。〃 Gornt turned his binoculars back on his horse。 〃Oh by the way; Dunstan; I might need your vote at the next meeting of the bank。〃
 〃On what?〃
 〃I don't know yet。〃 Gornt looked down at him。 〃I just need to know that I can count on you。〃
 〃Yes。 Yes of course。〃 Barre was wondering nervously what Gornt had in mind and where the leak was。 〃Always happy to oblige; old chap。〃
 〃Thank you。 You're selling Ho…Pak short?〃
 〃Of course。 I got all my money out yesterday; thank God。 Why?〃
 〃I heard Dunross's Par…Con deal won't go through。 I'm considering selling him short too。〃
 〃Oh? The deal's not on? Why?〃
 Gornt smiled sardonically。 〃Because; Dunstan … 〃
 〃Hello; Quillan; Dunstan; sorry to interrupt;〃 Donald McBride said; bustling up to them; two men in tow。 〃May I introduce Mr。 Charles Biltzmann; vice…president of American Superfoods。 He'll be heading up the new General Stores…Superfoods merger and based in the Colony from now on。 Mr。 Gornt and Sir Dunstan Barre。〃
 The tall; sandy…haired American wore a gray suit and tie and rimless glasses。 He stuck out his hand affably。 〃Glad to meet you。 This's a nice little track you've got here。〃
 Gornt shook hands without enthusiasm。 Next to Biltzmann was Richard Hamilton Pugmire; the present tai…pan of H。K。 General Stores; a steward of the Turf Club; a short arrogant man in his late forties who carried his smallness as a constant challenge。 〃Hello; you two! Well; who's the winner of the fifth?〃
 Gornt towered over him。 〃I'll tell you after the race。〃
 〃Oh e on; Quillan; you know it'll be fixed before the horses even parade。〃
 〃If you can prove that I'm sure we'd all like to know。 I certainly would; wouldn't you; Donald?〃
 〃I'm sure Richard was just joking;〃 Donald McBride replied。 He was in his sixties; his Eurasian features pleasing; and the warmth of his smile pervaded him。 He added to Biltzmann; 〃There're always these rumors about race fixing but we do what we can and when we catch anyone … off with his head! At least off the course he goes。〃
 〃Hell; races get fixed in the States too but I guess here where it's all amateur and wide open; it's got to be easier;〃 Biltzmann said breezily。 〃That stallion you have; Quillan。 He's Australian; partial pedigree; isn't he?〃
 〃Yes;〃 Gornt said abruptly; detesting his familiarity。
 〃Don here was explaining some of the rules of your racing。 I'd sure like to be part of your racing fraternity … hope I can get to be a voting member too。〃
 The Turf Club was very exclusive and very tightly controlled。 There were two hundred voting members and four thousand non…voting members。 Only voting members could get into the members' box。 Only voting members could own horses。 Only voting members could propose two persons a year to be nonvoting members … the stewards' decision; approval or nonapproval being final; their voting secret。 And only voting members could bee a steward。
 〃Yes;〃 Biltzmann repeated; 〃that'd be just great。〃
 〃I'm sure that could be arranged;〃 McBride said with a smile。 〃The club's always looking for new blood … and new horses。〃
 〃Do you plan to stay in Hong Kong; Mr。 Biltzmann?〃 Gornt asked。
 〃Call me Chuck。 I'm here for the duration;〃 the American replied。 〃I suppose I'm Superfoods of Asia's new tai…pan。 Sounds great; doesn't it?〃
 〃Marvelous!〃 Barre said; witheringly。
 Biltzmann continued happily; not yet tuned to English sarcasm; 〃I'm the fall guy for our board in New York。 As the man from Missouri said; the buck stops here。〃 He smiled but no one smiled with him。 〃I'll be here at least a couple of years and I'm looking forward to every minute。 We're getting ready to settle in right now。 My bride arrives tomorrow an… 〃
 〃You're just married; Mr。 Biltzmann?〃
 〃Oh no; that's just a; an American expression。 We've been married twenty years。 Soon as our new place's fixed the way she wants it; we'd be happy for you to e to dinner。 Maybe a barbecue? We got the steaks organized; all prime; T…bones and New Yorks; being flown over once a month。 And Idaho potatoes;〃 he added proudly。
 〃I'm glad about the potatoes;〃 Gornt said and the others settled back; waiting; knowing that he despised American cooking … particularly charcoaled steaks and hamburgers and 〃gooped…up baked potatoes;〃 as he called them。 〃When does the merger finalize?〃
 〃End of the month。 Our bid's accepted。 Everything's agreed。 I certainly hope our American know…how'll fit into this great little island。〃
 〃I presume you'll build a mansion?〃
 〃No sir。 Dickie here;〃 Biltzmann continued; and everyone winced; 〃Dickie's got us the penthouse of the pany's apartment building on Blore Street; so we're in fat city。〃
 〃That's convenient;〃 Gornt said。 The others bit back their laughter。 The oldest and most famous of the Colony's Houses of Easy Virtue had always been on Blore Street at Number One。 Number One; Blore Street; had been started by one of Mrs。 Fotheringill's 〃young ladies;〃 Nellie Blore; in the 1860's; with money reportedly given her by Culum Struan; and was still operating under its original rules … European or Australian ladies only and no foreign gentlemen or natives allowed。
 〃Very convenient;〃 Gornt said again。 〃But I wonder if you'd qualify。〃
 〃Sir?〃
 〃Nothing。 I'm sure Blore Street is most apt。〃
 〃Great view; but the plumbing's no good;〃 Biltzmann said。 〃My bride'll soon fix that。〃
 〃She's a plumber too?〃 Gornt asked。
 The American laughed。 〃Hell no; but she's mighty handy around the house。〃
 〃If you'll excuse me I have to see my trainer。〃 Gornt nodded to the others and turned away with; 〃Donald; have you a moment? It's about Saturday。〃
 〃Of course; see you in a moment; Mr。 Biltzmann。〃
 〃Sure。 But call me Chuck。 Have a nice day。〃
 McBride fell into step beside Gornt。 When they were alone Gornt said; 〃You're surely not seriously suggesting he should be a voting member?〃
 〃Well; yes。〃 McBride looked unfortable。 〃It's the first time a big American pany's made a bid to e into Hong Kong。 He'd be quite important to us。〃
 〃That's no reason to let him in here; is it? Make him a nonvoting member。 Then he can get into the stands。 And if you want to invite him to your box; that's your affair。 But a voting member? Good God; he'll probably have 'Superfoods' as his racing colors!〃
 〃He's just new and out of his depth; Quillan。 I'm sure he'll learn。 He's decent enough even though he does make a few gaffes。 He's quite well off an… 〃
 〃Since when has money been an open sesame to the Turf Club? Good God; Donald; if that was the case; every upstart Chinese property gambler or stock market gambler who'd made a killing on our market'd swamp us。 We wouldn't have room to fart。〃
 〃I don't agree。 Perhaps the answer's to increase the voting membership。〃
 〃No。 Absolutely not。 Of course you stewards will do what you like。 But I suggest you reconsider。〃 Gornt was a voting member but not a steward。 The two hundred voting members elected the twelve stewards annually by secret ballot。 Each year Gornt's name was put on the open list of nominees for steward and each year he failed to get enough votes。 Most stewards were reelected by the membership automatically until they retired; though from time to time there was lobbying。
 〃Very well;〃 McBride said; 〃when his name's proposed I'll mention your opposition。〃
 Gornt smiled thinly。 〃That'll be tantamount to getting him elected。〃
 McBride chuckled。 〃I don't think so; Quillan; not this time。 Pug asked me to introduce him around。 I must admit he gets off on the wrong foot every time。 I introduced him to Paul Havergill and Biltzmann immediately started paring banking procedures here with those in the States; and not very pleasantly either。 And with the tai…pan 。。。〃 McBride's graying eyebrows soared。 〃。。。 he said he was sure glad to meet him as he wanted to learn about Hag Struan and Dirk Struan and all the other pirates and opium smugglers in his past!〃 He sighed。 〃Ian and Paul'll certainly blackball him for you; so I don't think you've much to worry about。 I really don't understand why Pug sold out to them anyway。〃
 〃Because

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