jamesclavell.noblehouse-第321部分

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　Crosse　followed　him；　equally　glad　for　the　opportunity　to　talk　privately　but　just　as　they　reached　the　kitchen　door　there　was　a　momentary　hush。　Dunross　was　at　the　door　with　Riko；　Gavallan　beside　them。　All　three　were　beaming。
　〃Listen；　Jason；　I　…　〃　Crosse　stopped。　Plumm　had　already　turned　back　to　the　bar　and　if　he　hadn't　been　watching　very　carefully　he　would　never　have　seen　Plumm's　left　hand　deftly　break　the　tiny　vial　over　one　of　the　filled　champagne　glasses；　then　palm　the　shreds　back　into　his　pocket；　pick　up　the　tray　with　four　glasses　on　it　and　head　for　the　door。　Fascinated；　he　watched　Plumm　e　up　to　Dunross　and　offer　the　champagne。
　Dunross　let　Riko　take　a　glass；　then　Gavallan。　Without　any　apparent　prompting　Dunross　took　the　doctored　glass。　Plumm　took　the　last；　giving　the　tray　to　an　embarrassed　waiter。　〃Wele；　Ian；　and　congratulations　on　the　coup；〃　Plumm　said；　casually　toasting　him；　not　making　a　big　thing　of　it。　Those　nearby　politely　followed　suit。　Dunross　of　course　did　not　drink　his　own　toast。
　〃Now；　perhaps　you　should　toast　Richard　Kwang　and　Johnjohn　and　their　merger？〃　Plumm　said；　his　voice　sounding　strange。
　〃Why　not？〃　Dunross　replied　with　a　laugh　and　glanced　across　the　room　at　Johnjohn。　〃Bruce；〃　he　called　out；　raising　his　glass；　and　there　was　a　small　hole　in　the　general　level　of　noise。　〃Here's　to　the　Victoria！〃　His　voice　picked　up　power　and　cut　through　neatly。　Others　glanced　over　and　stopped　in　midsentence。　〃Perhaps　everyone　should　share　the　toast。　I've　just　heard　the　Bank　of　China's　agreed　to　lend　you　and　the　other　banks　half　a　billion　in　cash　in　good　time　for　Monday's　opening。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　vast　silence。　Those　on　the　balcony　came　into　the　room；　Gornt　to　the　fore。　〃What？〃
　〃I've　just　heard　the　Bank　of　China's　lending　Hong　Kong　…　lending　the　Vic　to　lend　to　other　banks　…　half　a　billion　in　cash　and　as　much　more　as　you　want。　All　bank　runs're　over！〃　Dunross　raised　his　glass。　〃To　the　Victoria！〃
　As　pandemonium　broke　out　and　everyone　started　asking　questions；　Crosse　got　his　feet　into　motion　and　the　moment　before　Dunross　could　drink；　appeared　to　stumble　and　collided　with　him；　knocking　the　glass　out　of　his　hand。　It　shattered　as　it　hit　the　parquet　flooring。　〃Oh　Christ；　I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　apologetically。
　Plumm　stared　at　him　appalled。　〃For　chrissa…　〃
　〃Ah；　Jason；　I'm　so　sorry；〃　Crosse　overrode　him；　adding　more　quickly　as　a　waiter　hastily　retrieved　the　pieces；　〃Perhaps　you'd　get　Ian　another　glass。〃
　〃Er；　yes；　but　。。。〃　Numbly　Plumm　went　to　obey　but　stopped　as　Riko　said；　〃Oh；　here；　tai…pan；　please　to　take　mine。〃　Then　Johnjohn　shouted　over　the　uproar；　〃Quiet；　quiet　a　moment！〃　and　pushed　over　to　Dunross。　〃Ian；〃　he　said　in　the　utter　silence；　〃You're　sure？　Sure　about　the　cash？〃
　〃Oh　yes；〃　Dunross　replied　leisurely；　sipping　Riko's　drink；　enjoying　the　moment。　〃Tiptop　called　me　personally。　It'll　be　on　the　nine　o'clock　news。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　great　cheer　and　more　questions　and　answers　and　Dunross　saw　Gornt　staring　at　him　from　across　the　room。　His　smile　hardened　and　he　raised　his　glass；　paying　no　attention　to　the　barrage　of　questions。　〃Your　health；　Quillan！〃　he　called　out；　mocking　him。　Quickly　conversation　died　again。　Everyone's　attention　zeroed　on　them。
　Gornt　toasted　him　back；　equally　mocking。　〃Your　health；　Ian。　We've　really　got　China's　money？〃
　〃Yes；　and　by　the　way；　I've　just　arranged　a　new　revolving　fund　of　50　million　U。S。　Now　the　Noble　House's　the　soundest　hong　in　the　Colony。〃
　〃Secured　by　what？〃　Gornt's　voice　slashed　through　the　abrupt　silence。
　〃The　honor　of　the　Noble　House！〃　With　a　nonchalance　he　did　not　feel；　Dunross　turned　on　Johnjohn。　〃The　loan's　from　the　Royal　Belgium；　a　subsidiary　of　First　Central　of　New　York　and　backed　by　them。〃　Deliberately　he　did　not　look　back　at　Gornt　as　he　repeated；　enjoying　greatly　the　sound；　〃50　million　U。S。　Oh　by　the　way；　Bruce；　tomorrow　I'm　retiring　your　loans　on　both　my　ships。　I　no　longer　need　the　Vic　loan　…　Royal　Belgium's　given　me　better　terms。〃
　Johnjohn　just　stared　at　him。
　〃You're　joking！〃
　〃No。　I've　just　talked　to　Paul。〃　Momentarily　Dunross　glanced　at　Plumm。　〃Sorry；　Jason；　that　was　why　I　was　late。　Naturally　I　had　to　see　him。　Bruce；　old　fellow；　Paul's　already　down　at　the　bank　making　arrangements　for　the　transfer　of　China's　cash　in　time　for　opening　　…　he　asked　if　you'd　go　there；　at　once。〃
　〃Eh？〃
　〃At　once。　Sorry。〃
　Johnjohn　stared　at　him　blankly；　started　to　talk；　stopped；　then　erupted　with　a　cheer　that　everyone　took　up；　and　rushed　out；　cheers　following　him。
　〃Christ；　tai…pan；　but　did　you　。。。〃
　〃Tiptop？　That　means　it's　real！　Don't　you　think　。。。〃
　〃First　Central　of　New　York？　Aren't　they　the　berks　who　。。。〃
　〃Christ；　I've　been　selling　short　。。。〃
　〃Me　too！　Shit；　I'd　better　buy　first　thing　or　。。。〃
　〃Or　I'll　be　wiped　out　and　。。。〃
　Dunross　saw　that　Sir　Luis；　Joseph　Stern　and　Phillip　Chen　had　their　heads　together；　Gornt　still　staring　at　him；　his　face　frozen。　Then　he　saw　Casey　smiling　at　him　so　happily　and　he　raised　his　glass　and　toasted　her。　She　toasted　him　back。　Gornt　saw　this　and　he　went　over　to　her　and　those　nearby　shivered　and　fell　silent。　〃First　Central's　Par…Con's　bank。　Isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　yes　it　is；　Quillan；〃　she　said；　her　voice　sounding　small　but　it　went　through　the　room　and　once　more　all　attention　surrounded　them。
　〃You　and　Bartlett；　you　did　this？〃　Gornt　asked；　towering　over　her。
　Dunross　said　quickly；　〃I　arrange　our　loans。〃
　Gornt　paid　no　attention　to　him；　just　watched　her。　〃You　and　Bartlett。　You　helped　him？〃
　She　looked　back　at　him；　her　heart　thumping。　〃I've　no　control　over　that　bank；　Quillan。〃
　〃Ah　but　your　fingers're　in　that　pie　somewhere；〃　Gornt　said　coldly。　〃Aren't　they？〃
　〃Murtagh　asked　me　if　I　thought　Struan's　a　good　risk；〃　she　said；　her　voice　controlled。　〃I　told　him；　yes；　that　Struan's　was　an　admirable　risk。〃
　〃Struan's　is　on　the　rocks；〃　Gornt　said。
　Dunross　came　up　to　them。　〃The　whole　point　is；　we're　not。　By　the　way；　Quillan；　Sir　Luis　has　agreed　to　withdraw　Struan's　from　trading　until　noon。〃
　All　eyes　went　to　Sir　Luis　who　stood　stoically；　Phillip　Chen　beside　him；　then　went　back　to　Dunross　and　Gornt　again。
　〃Why？〃
　〃To　give　the　market　time　to　adjust　to　the　boom。〃
　〃What　boom？〃
　〃The　boom　we　all　deserve；　the　boom　Old　Blind　Tung　forecast。〃　A　wave　of　electricity　went　through　everyone；　even　Casey。　〃Also　to　adjust　our　stock　value；〃　Dunross's　voice　rasped。　〃We　open　at　30。〃
　〃Impossible；〃　someone　gasped；　and　Gornt　snarled；　〃You　can't！　You　closed　at　9。50　by　God！　Your　stock　closed　at　9。50！〃
　〃So　we　offer　stock　at　30　by　God！〃　Dunross　snarled　back。
　Gornt　whirled　on　Sir　Luis。　〃You're　going　along　with　this　highway　robbery？〃
　〃There　isn't　any；　Quillan；〃　Sir　Luis　said　calmly。　〃I've　agreed；　with　the　mittee's　unanimous　approval；　that　it's　the　best　for　all；　for　the　safety　of　all　investors；　that　there　should　be　a　quiescent　period　…　so　that　everyone　could　prepare　for　the　boom。　Till　noon　seemed　fair。〃
　〃Fair　eh？〃　Gornt　grated。　〃You've　got　lots　of　stock　I've　sold　short。　Now　I　buy　it　all　back。　What　price？〃
　Sir　Luis　shrugged。　〃I'll　deal　at　noon　tomorrow；　on　the　floor；　not　away　from　the　market。〃
　〃I'll　deal　with　you　right　now；　Quillan；〃　Dunross　said　harshly。　〃How　many　shares've　you　sold　short？　700；000？　8？　I'll　let　you　buy　back　in　at　18　if　you　will　sell　the　controlling　interest　in　All　Asia　Air　at　15。〃
　〃All　Asia　Air's　not　for　sale；〃　Gornt　said；　enraged；　his　mind　shouting　that　at　30　he　would　be　wiped　out。
　〃The　offer's　good　till　opening　tomorrow。〃
　〃The　pox　on　you；　tomorrow；　and　your　30！〃　Gornt　whirled　on　Joseph　Stern。　〃Buy　Struan's！　Now；　in　the　morning　or　at　noon！　You're　responsible！〃
　〃At；　at　what　price；　Mr。　Gornt？〃
　〃Just　buy！〃　Gornt's　face　closed　and　he　turned　on　Casey。　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　to　her　and　stomped　off；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　Then　conversation　exploded；　and　Dunross　was　surrounded；　people　pounding　him　on　the　back；　swamping　him　with　questions。　She　stayed　alone　at　the　doorway　of　the　veranda；　shocked　by　the　violence　that　had　been。　Absently；　in　turmoil；　she　saw　Plumm　hurry　off；　Roger　Crosse　following；　but　she　paid　them　little　attention；　just　watched　Dunross；　Riko　now　beside　him。
　
　In　the　small　back　bedroom　Plumm　reached　into　the　drawer　of　a　bureau　that　was　near　the　big　iron…bound　sea　trunk。