jamesclavell.noblehouse-第261章

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the　looming　collapse　of　the　market；　the　banking　system。　Havergill；　Johnjohn；　Richard　Kwang。　Nothing　from　Tightfist　or　Lando　Mata　or　Murtagh。　The　only　bright　spot　had　been　his　call　to　David　MacStruan　in　Toronto：　〃David；　I　want　you　here　for　a　conference　on　Monday。　Can　you　g…　〃　He　had　been　swamped　by　the　bellow　of　joy。
　〃Tai…pan；　I'm　on　my　way　to　the　airport。　Goo…　〃
　〃Hang　on；　David！〃　He　had　explained　his　plan　about　transferring　Jacques　to　Canada。
　〃Och；　laddie；　if　you　do　that　I'm　your　slave　forever！〃
　〃I'm　going　to　need　more　than　slaves；　David；〃　he　had　said　carefully。
　There　was　a　long　pause　and　the　voice　on　the　other　end　hardened。　〃Anything　you　want；　tai…pan；　you've　got。　Anything。〃
　Dunross　smiled；　warmed　by　the　thought　of　his　distant　cousin。　He　let　his　eyes　drift　out　of　the　windows。　The　harbor　was　misted；　the　sky　low　and　dark　but　no　rain　yet。　Good；　he　thought；　so　long　as　it　doesn't　rain　till　after　the　fifth　race。　After　four　o'clock　it　can　rain。　I　want　to　smash　Gornt　and　Pilot　Fish　and　oh　God　let　First　Central　e　up　with　my　money；　or　Lando　Mata　or　Tightfist　or　Par…Con！　Your　bet's　covered；　he　told　himself　stoically；　every　way　you　can。　And　Casey？　Is　she　setting　me　up　like　Bartlett？　And　like　Gornt？　What　about　。。。
　The　inter　clicked　on。　〃Tai…pan；　your　eleven　o'clock　appointment's　here。〃
　〃Claudia；　e　in　a　second。〃　He　took　an　envelope　out　of　his　drawer　with　the　1；000　in　it　and　gave　it　to　her。　〃Betting　money；　as　promised。〃
　〃Oh　thank　you；　tai…pan。〃　There　were　care　lines　in　her　jolly　face　and　shadows　under　the　smile。
　〃You're　in　Phillip's　box？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Yes；　Uncle　Phillip　invited　me。　He　。。。　he　seems　very　upset；〃　she　said。
　〃It's　John。〃　Dunross　wasn't　sure　if　she　knew。　She　probably　does；　he　thought；　or　soon　will。　There're　no　secrets　in　Hong　Kong。　〃What　do　you　fancy？〃
　〃Winner's　Delight　in　the　first。　Buccaneer　in　the　second。〃
　〃Two　outsiders？〃　He　stared　at　her。　〃You've　inside　info？〃
　〃Oh　no；　tai…pan。〃　A　little　of　her　normal　good　humor　came　back。　〃It's　just　the　form。〃
　〃And　in　the　fifth？〃
　〃I'm　not　betting　the　fifth；　but　all　my　hopes're　on　Noble　Star。〃　Claudia　added　worriedly；　〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　to　help；　tai…pan？　Anything？　The　stock　market　and　。。。　we　have　to　slaughter　Gornt　somehow。〃
　〃I'm　rather　fond　of　Gornt　…　he's　such　a　fang…pi。〃　The　Canton　obscenity　was　picturesque　and　she　laughed。　〃Now　show　in　Mrs。　Gresserhoff。〃
　〃Yes；　yes　tai…pan；〃　Claudia　said。　〃And　thanks　for　the　h'eung　yau！〃
　In　a　moment；　Dunross　got　up　to　greet　his　guest。　She　was　the　most　beautiful　woman　he　had　ever　seen。　〃Ikaga　desu　ka？〃　he　asked　in　shock；　his　Japanese　fluent　…　How　are　you？　…　astounded　that　she　could　have　been　married　to　Alan　Medford　Grant　whose　name；　God　help　us；　was　also　supposed　to　be　Hans　Gresserhoff。
　〃Genki；　tai…pan。　Domo。　Genki　desu！　Anatawa？〃　Fine；　tai…pan；　thank　you。　And　you？
　〃Genki。〃　He　bowed　slightly　in　return　and　did　not　shake　hands　though　he　noticed　her　hands　and　feet　were　tiny　and　her　legs　long。　They　chatted　for　a　moment　then　she　switched　to　English　with　a　smile。　〃Your　Japanese　is　oh　very　good；　tai…pan。　My　husband；　he　did　not　tell　me　you　were　so　tall。〃
　〃Would　you　care　for　coffee？〃
　〃Thank　you　。。。　but　oh　please　let　me　get　it　for　you　too。〃　Before　he　could　stop　her　she　had　gone　to　the　coffee　tray。　He　watched　her　pour　delicately。　She　offered　him　the　first　cup　with　a　little　bow。　〃Please。〃　Riko　Gresserhoff　…　Riko　Anjin　…　was　barely　five　feet；　perfectly　proportioned　with　short　hair　and　lovely　smile　and　she　weighed　about　ninety　pounds。　Her　blouse　and　skirt　were　auburn　silk；　well　cut　and　French。　〃Thank　you　for　the　expense　money　Miss　Claudia　gave　me。〃
　〃It's　nothing。　We　owe　your；　your　husband's　estate　about　8；000　pounds。　I'll　have　a　cashier's　check　for　you　tomorrow。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃You　have　me　at　a　disadvantage；　Mrs。　Gresserhoff。　You　kn…　〃
　〃Please　call　me　Riko；　tai…pan。〃
　〃Very　well；　Riko…san。　You　know　me　but　I　know　nothing　about　you。〃
　〃Yes。　My　husband　said　I　was　to　tell　you　whatever　you　wanted　to　know。　He　told　me　that；　that　once　I　had　made　sure　you　were　the　tai…pan；　then　I　was　to　give　you　an　envelope　I　have　brought　from　him　to　you。　May　I　bring　it　later？〃　Again　the　little　interrogative　smile。　〃Please？〃
　〃I'll　e　back　with　you　now　and　collect　it。〃
　〃Oh　no；　that　would　be　too　much　trouble。　Perhaps　I　can　bring　it　to　you　after　luncheon。　Please。〃
　〃How　big　is　it？　The　envelope？〃
　Her　tiny　hands　measured　the　air。　〃It　is　an　ordinary　envelope　but　not　so　thick。　You　could　put　it　easily　into　your　pocket。〃　Again　the　smile。
　〃Perhaps　you'd　like　to　。。。　I　tell　you　what；〃　he　said；　charmed　by　her　presence。　〃In　a　minute　or　two　I'll　send　you　back　by　car。　You　can　fetch　the　envelope　and　e　right　back。〃　Then　he　added；　knowing　it　would　ruin　the　seating　arrangements　but　not　caring；　〃Would　you　join　us　for　lunch　at　the　races？〃
　〃Oh　but　。。。　but　I　would　have　to　change　and　。。。　oh　thank　you　but　no；　it　would　be　too　much　trouble　for　you。　Perhaps　I　could　deliver　the　letter　later；　or　tomorrow？　My　husband　said　I　was　only　to　put　it　into　your　hands。〃
　〃No　need　to　change；　Riko…san。　You　look　lovely。　Oh！　Do　you　have　a　hat？〃
　Perplexed　she　stared　at　him。　〃Please？〃
　〃Yes；　it's；　er；　yes；　it's　our　custom　that　ladies　wear　hats　and　gloves　to　the　races。　Silly　custom　but　do　you？　Have　a　hat？〃
　〃Oh　yes。　Every　lady　has　a　hat。　Of　course。〃
　A　wave　of　relief　went　through　him。　〃Good；　then　that's　settled。〃
　〃Oh！　Then　if　you　say　so。〃　She　got　up。　〃Shall　I　go　now？〃
　〃No；　if　you've　time；　please　sit　down。　How　long　were　you　married？〃
　〃Four　years。　Hans　。。。〃　She　hesitated。　Then　she　said　firmly；　〃Hans　told　me　to　tell　you；　but　you　alone；　if　ever　he　was　to　die　and　I　was　to　e　as　I　have　e；　to　tell　you　that　our　marriage　was　of　convenience。〃
　〃What？〃
　She　reddened　a　little　as　she　continued。　〃Please　excuse　me　but　I　was　to　tell　you。　It　was　a　convenience　to　both　of　us。　I　obtained　a　Swiss　citizenship　and　passport　and　he　obtained　someone　to　care　for　him　when　he　came　to　Switzerland。　I　。。。　I　did　not　wish　to　marry　but　he　asked　me　many　times　and　he　。。。　and　he　stressed　that　it　would　protect　me　when　he　died。〃
　Dunross　was　startled。　〃He　knew　he　was　going　to　die？〃
　〃I　think　so。　He　said　the　marriage　contract　was　for　five　years　only　but　that　we　should　have　no　children。　He　took　me　to　an　advocate　in　Zurich　who　drew　up　a　contract　for　five　years。〃　She　opened　her　purse；　her　fingers　trembling　but　not　her　voice；　and　pulled　out　an　envelope。　〃Hans　told　me　to　give　you　these。　They're　copies　of　the　contract；　my；　my　birth　and　marriage　certificate；　his　will　and　birth　certificate。〃　She　took　out　a　tissue　and　pressed　it　against　her　nose。　〃Please　excuse　me。〃　Carefully　she　untied　the　string　around　the　envelope　and　took　out　a　letter。
　Dunross　accepted　it。　He　recognized　AMG's　handwriting。　〃Tai…pan：　This　will　confirm　my　wife；　Riko　Gresserhoff　…　Riko　Anjin　…　is　who　she　says　she　is。　I　love　her　with　all　my　heart。　She　merits　and　merited　far　better　than　me。　If　she　needs　help　。。。　please　please　please。〃　It　was　signed　Hans　Gresserhoff。
　〃I　do　not　merit　better；　tai…pan；〃　she　said　with　a　sad；　small　confident　voice。　〃My　husband　was　good　to　me；　very　good。　And　I'm　sorry　he　is　dead。〃
　Dunross　watched　her。　〃Was　he　ill？　Did　he　know　he　was　going　to　die　from　an　illness？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He　never　told　me。　One　of　his　asks　before　I　。。。　before　I　married　him　was　that　I　would　not　question　him　or　question　where　he　went；　why；　or　when　he　was　to　return。　I　was　just　to　accept　him　as　he　was。〃　A　small　shiver　went　through　her。　〃It　was　very　hard　living　thus。〃
　〃Why　did　you　agree　to　live　like　that？　Why？　Surely　it　wasn't　necessary？〃
　Again　Riko　hesitated。　〃I　was　born　in　Japan　in　1939　and　went　as　an　infant　with　my　parents　to　Berne　…　my　father　was　a　minor　official　in　the　Japanese　Embassy　there。　In　1943　he　went　back　to　Japan　but　left　us　in　Geneva。　Our　family　is　…　our　family　es　from　Nagasaki。　In　1945　my　father　was　lost　and　all　our　family　was　lost。　There　was　nothing　to　go　back　to　and　my　mother　wanted　to　stay　in　Switzerland；　so　we　went　to　live　in　Zurich　with　a　good　man　who　died　four　years　ago。　He　。。。　they　paid　for　my　education　and　kept　me　and　we　had　a　happy　family。　For　many　years　I　knew　they　were　not　married　though　they　pretended　and　I　pretended。　When　he　died　there　was　no　money；　or　just　a　litt