jamesclavell.noblehouse-第276章

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　〃We　are　home；　and　it　all　es　home　to　roost。　Eventually；〃　Sir　Geoffrey　said　sadly。　〃Anyway；　Ian　made　the　correct　decision；　not　to　ride。〃　He　glanced　at　Havergill　and　his　gaze　sharpened。　〃As　I　said；　Paul；　it's　important　to　make　correct　decisions。　It　would　be　a　very　poor　show　if　the　Ho…Pak's　depositors　were　wiped　out；　perhaps　just　because　of　poor　judgment　by　Richard　Kwang　and　the　lack　of　a　benevolent　decision　by　those　who　could　avoid　such　a　disaster　if　they　wished　…　perhaps　to　great　profit。　Eh？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Sir　Geoffrey　nodded　and　left　them。
　Dunross　said；　〃What　was　that　about？〃
　〃The　governor　thinks　we　should　rescue　the　Ho…Pak；〃　Havergill　said　offhandedly。
　〃Why　don't　you？〃
　〃Let's　talk　about　the　General　Stores　takeover。〃
　〃First　let's　finish　the　Ho…Pak。　The　governor's　right；　it　would　benefit　all　of　us；　Hong　Kong　…　and　the　bank。〃
　〃You'd　be　in　favor？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃
　〃You'll　approve；　you　and　your　block　will　approve　making　the　takeover？〃
　〃I　don't　have　a　block　but　certainly　I'll　support　a　reasonable　takeover。〃
　Paul　Havergill　smiled　thinly。　〃I　was　thinking　of　20　cents　on　the　dollar　on　Richard's　holdings。〃
　Dunross　whistled。　〃That's　not　much。〃
　〃By　Monday　night　he'll　have　zero。　He'll　probably　settle　for　that　…　his　holdings　would　give　the　bank　control。　We　could　easily　stand　surety　for　100　percent　of　his　depositors。〃
　〃He's　got　that　amount　of　securities？〃
　〃No；　but　with　the　normalization　of　the　market　and　our　judicious　management；　over　a　year　or　two　it's　true　the　acquisition　of　the　Ho…Pak　could　greatly　benefit　us。　Oh　yes。　And　there's　a　desperate　need　to　restore　confidence。　Such　a　takeover　would　help　immeasurably。〃
　〃This　afternoon　would　be　a　perfect　announcement　time。〃
　〃I　agree。　Anything　on　Tiptop？〃
　Dunross　studied　him。　〃Why　the　sudden　change　around；　Paul？　And　why　discuss　it　with　me？〃
　〃There's　no　change　around。　I've　considered　the　Ho…Pak　very　carefully。　The　acquisition　would　be　good　bank　policy。〃　Havergill　watched　him。　〃We'll　give　him　face　and　offer　him　a　seat　on　our　board。〃
　〃So　the　rumors　about　the　Big　Bank　are　true？〃
　〃Not　to　my　knowledge；〃　the　banker　said　coldly。　〃As　to　why　discuss　it　with　you？　Because　you're　a　director　of　the　bank；　presently　the　most　important　one；　with　substantial　influence　on　the　board。　That's　a　sensible　thing　to　do；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　but。〃
　Havergill's　eyes　became　colder。　〃The　interests　of　the　bank　have　nothing　to　do　with　my　distaste　for　you；　or　your　methods。　But　you　were　right　about　Superfoods。　You　made　a　good　offer　at　a　perfect　time　and　sent　a　wave　of　confidence　soaring　through　everyone　here。　It's　bound　to　spread　over　all　Hong　Kong。　It　was　brilliant　timing　and　now　if　we　follow　it　up　and　announce　we've　assumed　all　the　Ho…Pak　responsibilities　to　its　depositors；　that's　another　immense　vote　of　confidence。　All　we　need　to　do　is　get　back　confidence。　If　Tiptop　es　to　our　assistance　with　his　cash；　Monday　is　boom　day　for　Hong　Kong。　So　first　thing　on　Monday　morning；　Ian；　we　buy　Struan's　heavily。　By　Monday　evening　we'll　assume　control。　However　I'll　make　you　a　deal　right　now：　we'll　put　up　the　2　million　for　General　Foods　in　return　for　half　your　bank　stock。〃
　〃No　thanks。〃
　〃We'll　have　it　all　by　next　weekend。　We'll　guarantee　that　2　million　in　any　event　to　cover　the　takeover　and　guarantee　the　overall　offer　you　made　to　Pug　…　if　you　fail　to　avoid　your　own　takeover。〃
　〃I　won't。〃
　〃Of　course。　But　you　don't　mind　if　I　mention　it　to　him　and　to　that　nosy　little　cretin　Haply？〃
　〃You're　a　bastard；　aren't　you？〃
　Havergill's　thin　lips　twisted　with　his　smile。　〃This　is　business　…　I　want　your　block　of　bank　stock。　Your　forebears　bought　it　for　nothing；　practically　stole　it　from　the　Brocks　after　smashing　them。　I　want　to　do　the　same。　And　I　want　control　of　the　Noble　House。　Of　course。　Like　a　great　number　of　others。　Probably　even　your　American　friend　Bartlett　if　the　truth　were　known。　Where's　the　2　million　ing　from？〃
　〃It's　manna　from　heaven。〃
　〃We'll　find　out　sooner　or　later。　We're　your　bankers　and　you　owe　us　rather　a　lot　of　money！　Will　Tiptop　bail　us　out？〃
　〃I　can't　be　sure　but　I　talked　to　him　last　night。　He　was　encouraging。　He　agreed　to　e　here　after　lunch　but　he　hasn't　arrived　yet。　That's　ominous。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Havergill　brushed　some　drizzle　off　his　nose。　〃We've　had　a　very　positive　response　from　the　Trade　Bank　of　Moscow。〃
　〃Even　you're　not　that　fat…headed！〃
　〃It's　a　last　resort；　Ian。　A　serious　last　resort。〃
　〃You'll　call　an　immediate　board　meeting　to　discuss　the　Ho…Pak　takeover？〃
　〃Good　lord；　no。〃　Havergill　was　sardonic。　〃You　think　I'm　that　much　of　a　fool？　If　we　did　that　you　could　table　the　other　directors　about　an　extension　of　your　loan。　No；　Ian；　I　propose　to　ask　them　individually；　like　you。　With　your　agreement　I　have　a　majority　already；　the　others　of　course　fall　into　line。　I　do　have　your　agreement？〃
　〃At　20　cents　on　the　dollar　and　full　payout　of　investors；　yes。〃
　〃I　might　need　leeway　to　go　to　30　cents。　Agreed？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Your　word？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　you　have　my　word。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃But　you'll　call　a　board　meeting　before　Monday's　opening？〃
　〃I　agreed　to　consider　it。　Only。　I've　considered　it　and　the　answer　now　is　no。　Hong　Kong's　a　freebooting　society　where　the　weak　fail　and　the　strong　keep　the　fruits　of　their　labors。〃　Havergill　smiled　and　he　glanced　at　the　tote。　The　odds　had　shortened。　2　to　1　on　Butterscotch　Lass；　well　known　for　liking　the　wet。　Pilot　Fish　now　3　to　1。　While　they　watched；　Travkin's　name　flashed　up　alongside　Noble　Star　and　a　huge　roar　acpanied　it。　〃I　think　the　governor　was　wrong；　Ian。　You　should　have　ridden。　Then　I'd've　put　my　modest　bet　on　you。　Yes。　You'd　have　gone　out　in　a　blaze　of　glory。　Yes；　you　would　have　won。　I'm　not　sure　about　Travkin。　Good　afternoon。〃　He　raised　his　hat　and　headed　for　Richard　Kwang　who　stood　with　his　wife　and　trainer　to　one　side。　〃Ah　Richard！　Can　I　have　a　word　wi…　〃　He　was　drowned　by　a　huge　roar　from　the　crowd　as　the　first　of　the　eight　runners　for　the　fifth　race　began　to　trickle　out　from　under　the　stands。　Pilot　Fish　led　the　pack；　the　slight　drizzle　making　his　black　coat　shimmer。
　〃Yes；　Paul？〃　Richard　Kwang　asked；　following　him　into　an　empty　space。　〃I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　but　didn't　want　to　interrupt　you　with　the　governor　and　the　tai…pan。　Now；〃　he　said　with　forced　joviality；　〃I've　a　plan。　Let's　lump　all　the　Ho…Pak's　securities　together　and　if　you'll　lend　me　50　mill…　〃
　〃No　thank　you；　Richard；〃　Havergill　said　crisply。　〃But　we　do　have　a　proposal　that's　good　till　five　o'clock　today。　We'll　bail　out　the　Ho…Pak　and　guarantee　all　your　depositors。　In　return　we'll　buy　your　personal　holdings　at　par　an…　〃
　〃Par？　That's　a　fiftieth　of　their　value！〃　Richard　Kwang　screeched。　〃That's　a　fiftieth　of　their　worth　…　〃
　〃Actually　it's　5　cents　on　the　dollar　which　is　about　all　their　value。　Is　it　a　deal？〃
　〃No　of　course　not。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　am　I　a　dogmeat　madman？〃　Richard　Kwang's　heart　was　almost　bursting。　A　moment　ago　he　had　thought；　impossibly；　that　Havergill　was　granting　him　a　reprieve　from　the　disaster　that　by　now　he　was　convinced　was　absolute；　however　much　he　pretended　otherwise；　however　much　it　was　not　his　fault　but　the　work　of　rumormongers　and　malicious　fools　who　had　led　him　into　inept　banking　deals。　But　now　he　was　in　the　vise。　Oh　ko！　Now　he　would　be　squeezed　and　whatever　he　did　he　could　not　escape　the　tai…pans。　Oh　oh　oh！　Disaster　on　disaster　and　now　that　ungrateful　strumpet　Venus　Poon　making　me　lose　face　in　front　of　Uncle　Four　Fingers；　Charlie　Wang　and　even　Photographer　Ng　and　that　even　after　I　delivered　to　her　personally　the　new　mink　coat　that　she　trails　in　the　mud　so　carelessly。
　〃New？〃　she　had　flared　this　morning。　〃You　claim　this　miserable　secondhand　coat　is　new？〃
　〃Of　course！〃　he　had　shouted。　〃Do　you　think　I　am　a　monkey？　Of　course　it's　new。　It　cost　50；000　cash　oh　ko！〃　The　50；000　was　an　exaggeration　but　the　cash　wasn't　and　they　both　were　well　aware　that　it　would　be　uncivilized　not　to　exaggerate。　The　coat　had　cost　him　14；000；　through　an　intermediary；　after　much　bargaining　from　a　quai　loh　who　had　fallen　on　hard　times　and　another　2；000　to　the　furrier　who　had　overnight　shortened　and　altered　it　enough　to　fit　and　not　to　be　recognized；　with　a　guarantee　that　the　furrier　would　swear　by　all　the　gods　that　he　had　sold　it　under　price　at