贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > jamesclavell.noblehouse >

第54章

jamesclavell.noblehouse-第54章

小说: jamesclavell.noblehouse 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



 〃Good。 As soon as you've seen him; find me。〃
 〃Yes sir。〃
 〃So you think the American girl stunning?〃
 〃Yes sir。〃 Brian sighed inwardly。 He had forgotten that Crosse could lip…read English; French and some Arabic … he spoke no Chinese dialects … and that his eyesight was exceptional。
 〃Actually she's rather obvious;〃 Crosse said。
 〃Yes sir。〃 He saw Crosse concentrating on her lips and knew that he was overhearing her conversation from across the room and he was furious with himself that he had not developed the talent。
 〃She seems to have a passion for puters。〃 Crosse turned his eyes back on them。 〃Curious; what?〃
 〃Yes sir。〃
 〃What did Wine Waiter Feng say?〃
 Brian told him。
 〃Good。 I'll see Feng gets a bonus。 I didn't expect to see Langan and Rosemont here。〃
 〃It could be a coincidence; sir;〃 Brian Kwok volunteered。
 〃They're both keen punters。 They've both been to the tai…pan's box。〃
 〃I don't trust coincidences;〃 Crosse said。 〃As far as Langan's concerned; of course you know nothing; either of you。〃
 〃Yes sir。〃
 〃Good。 Perhaps you'd both better be about our business。〃
 〃Yes sir。〃 Thankfully the two men turned to leave but stopped as there was a sudden hush。 All eyes went to the doorway。 Quillan Gornt stood there; black…browed; black…bearded; conscious that he had been noticed。 The other guests hastily picked up their conversations and kept their eyes averted but their ears concentrated。
 Crosse whistled softly。 〃Now why is he here?〃
 〃Fifty to one says he's up to no good;〃 Brian Kwok said; equally astounded。
 They watched Gornt e into the ballroom and put out his hand to Dunross and Penelope beside him。 Claudia Chen who was nearby was in shock; wondering how she could reorganize Dunross's table at such short notice because of course Gornt would have to be seated there。
 〃I hope you don't mind my changing my mind at the last moment;〃 Gornt was saying; his mouth smiling。
 〃Not at all;〃 Dunross replied; his mouth smiling。
 〃Good evening; Penelope。 I felt I had to give you my congratulations personally。〃
 〃Oh; thank you;〃 she said。 Her smile was intact but her heart was beating very fast now。 〃I; I was sorry to hear about your wife。〃
 〃Thank you。〃 Emelda Gornt had been arthritic and confined to a wheelchair for some years。 Early in the year she had caught pneumonia and had died。 〃She was very unlucky;〃 Gornt said。 He looked at Dunross。 〃Bad joss about John Chen too。〃
 〃Very。〃
 〃I suppose you read the afternoon Gazette?〃
 Dunross nodded and Penelope said; 〃Enough to frighten everyone out of their wits。〃 All the afternoon papers had had huge headlines and dwelt at length on the mutilated ear and the Werewolves。 There was a slight pause。 She rushed to fill it。 〃Your children are well?〃
 〃Yes。 Annagrey's going to the University of California in September … Michael is here on his summer holiday。 They're all in very good shape I'm glad to say。 And yours?〃
 〃They're fine。 I do wish Adryon would go to university though。 Dear me; children are very difficult these days; aren't they?〃
 〃I think they always were。〃 Gornt smiled thinly。 〃My father was always pointing out how difficult I was。〃 He looked at Dunross again。
 〃Yes。 How is your father?〃
 〃Hale and hearty I'm glad to say。 The English climate suits him; he says。 He's ing out for Christmas。〃 Gornt accepted a proffered glass of champagne。 The waiter quailed under his look; and fled。 He raised his glass。 〃A happy life and many congratulations。〃
 Dunross toasted him in return; still astonished that Gornt had arrived。 It was only for politeness and for face that Gornt and other enemies had been sent formal invitations。 A polite refusal was all that was expected … and Gornt had already refused。
 Why's he here?
 He's e to gloat; Dunross thought。 Like his bloody father。 That must be the reason。 But why? What devilment has he done to us? Bartlett? Is it through Bartlett?
 〃This's a lovely room; beautiful proportions;〃 Gornt was saying。 〃And a lovely house。 I've always envied you this house。〃
 Yes; you bastard; I know; Dunross thought furiously; remembering the last time any of the Gornts had been in the Great House。 Ten years ago; in 1953; when Ian's father; Colin Dunross; was still the tai…pan。 It was during Struan's Christmas party; traditionally the biggest of the season; and Quillan Gornt had arrived with his father; William; then tai…pan of Rothwell…Gornt; again unexpectedly。 After dinner there had been a bitter; public clash between the two tai…pans in the billiard room where a dozen or so of the men had gathered for a game。 That was when Struan's had just been blocked by the Gornts and their Shanghainese friends in their attempt to take over South Orient Airways; which; because of the munist conquest of the Mainland; had just bee available。 This feeder airline monopolized all air traffic in and out of Shanghai from Hong Kong; Singapore; Taipei; Tokyo and Bangkok; and if merged with Air Struan; their fledgling airline; Struan's would have virtual feeder monopoly in the Far East based out of Hong Kong。 Both men had accused the other of underhand practices … both accusations were true。
 Yes; Ian Dunross told himself; both men went to the brink that time。 William Gornt had tried every way to bee established in Hong Kong after Rothwell…Gornt's huge losses in Shanghai。 And when Colin Dunross knew Struan's could not prevail; he had snatched South Orient out of William Gornt's grasp by throwing his weight to a safe Cantonese group。
 〃And so you did; Colin Dunross; so you did。 You fell into the trap and you'll never stop us now;〃 William Gornt had gloated。 〃We're here to stay。 We'll hound you out of Asia; you and your god…cursed Noble House。 South Orient's just the beginning。 We've won!〃
 〃The hell you have! The Yan…Wong…Sun group's associated with us。 We have a contract。〃
 〃It's hereby canceled。〃 William Gornt had motioned to Quillan; his eldest son and heir apparent; who took out the copy of an agreement。 〃This contract's between the Yan…Wong…Sun group who're nominees of the Tso…Wa…Feng group;〃 he said happily; 〃who're nominees of Ta…Weng…Sap who sells control of South Orient to Rothwell…Gornt for one dollar more than the original cost!〃 Quillan Gornt had laid it on the billiard table with a flourish。 〃South Orient's ours!〃
 〃I don't believe it!〃
 〃You can。 Happy Christmas!〃 William Gornt had given a great; scorn…filled laugh; and walked out。 Quillan had replaced his billiard cue; laughing too。 Ian Dunross had been near the door。
 〃One day I'll own this house;〃 Quillan Gornt had hissed at him; then turned and called out to the others; 〃If any of you want jobs; e to us。 Soon you'll all be out of work。 Your Noble House won't be noble much longer。〃 Andrew Gavallan had been there; Jacques deVille; Alastair Struan; Lechie and David MacStruan; Phillip Chen; even John Chen。
 Dunross remembered how his father had raged that night; and blamed treachery and nominees and bad joss; knowing all the time that he himself had warned him; many times; and that his warnings had been shoved aside。 Christ; how we lost face! All Hong Kong laughed at us that time … the Noble House peed on from a great height by the Gornts and their Shanghainese interlopers。
 Yes。 But that night finalized Colin Dunross's downfall。 That was the night I decided that he had to go before the Noble House was lost forever。 I used Alastair Struan。 I helped him to shove my father aside。 Alastair Struan had to bee tai…pan。 Until I was wise enough and strong enough to shove him aside。
 Am I wise enough now?
 I don't know; Dunross thought; concentrating on Quillan Gornt now; listening to his pleasantries; hearing himself react with equal charm; while his mind said; I haven't forgotten South Orient; or that we had to merge our airline with yours at a fire…sale price and lose control of the new line renamed All Asia Airways。 Nothing's forgotten。 We lost that time but this time we'll win。 We'll win everything; by God。
 
 Casey was watching both men with fascination。 She had noticed Quillan Gornt from the first moment; recognizing him from the photographs of the dossier。 She had sensed his strength and masculinity even from across the room and had been u

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 2 1

你可能喜欢的