Noble House Read online

  “Because our company operations originated in Shanghai—the greatest city in Asia—where we were dominant. Struan’s has always concentrated on Hong Kong which, until recently, was almost a provincial backwater.”

  “But Shanghai’s a dead issue and has been since the Commies closed off the Mainland in ’49. There’s no foreign trade going through Shanghai today—it’s all through Canton.”

  “Yes. But it’s the Shanghainese who left China and came south with money, brains and guts, who made Hong Kong what it is today and what it’ll be tomorrow: the now and future metropolis of the whole Pacific.”

  “Better than Singapore?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Manila?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Tokyo?”

  “That will ever only be for Japanese.” Gornt’s eyes sparkled, the lines on his face crinkled. “Hong Kong is the greatest city in Asia, Mr. Bartlett. Whoever masters it will eventually master Asia.… Of course I’m talking about trade, financing, shipping and big business.”

  “What about Red China?”

  “We think Hong Kong benefits the PRC—as we call the People’s Republic of China. We’re the controlled ‘open door’ for them. Hong Kong and Rothwell-Gornt represent the future.”

  “Why?”

  “Because since Shanghai was the business and industrial center of China, the pacesetter, Shanghainese are the go-getters of China, always have been and always will be. And now the best are with us here. You’ll soon see the difference between Cantonese and Shanghainese. Shanghainese’re the entrepreneurs, the industrialists, promoters and internationalists. There’s not a great textile or shipping magnate or industrialist who isn’t Shanghainese. Cantonese-run family businesses, Mr. Bartlett, they’re loners, but Shanghainese understand partnerships, corporate situations and above all, banking and financing.” Gornt lit another cigarette. “That’s where our strength is, why we’re better than Struan’s—why we’ll be number one eventually.”

  Linc Bartlett studied the man opposite him. From the dossier that Casey had prepared he knew that Gornt had been born in Shanghai of British parents, was forty-eight, a widower with two grown children, and that he had served as a captain in the Australian infantry ’42–’45 in the Pacific. He knew too that he ruled Rothwell-Gornt very successfully as a private fief and had done so for eight years since he took over from his father.

  Bartlett shifted in the deep leather chair. “If you’ve got this rivalry with Struan’s and you’re so sure you’ll be number one eventually, why wait? Why not take them now?”

  Gornt was watching him, his craggy face set. “There’s nothing in the world that I’d like to do more. But I can’t, not yet. I nearly did three years ago—they’d overreached themselves, the previous tai-pan’s joss had run out.”

  “Joss?”

  “It’s a Chinese word meaning luck, fate, but a bit more.” Gornt watched him thoughtfully. “We’re very superstitious out here. Joss is very important, like timing. Alastair Struan’s joss ran out, or changed. He had a disastrous last year, and then, in desperation, handed over to Ian Dunross. They almost went under that time. A run had started on their stock. I went after them, but Dunross squeezed out of the run and stabilized the market.”

  “How?”

  “Let’s say he exercised an undue amount of influence in certain banking circles.” Gornt remembered with cold fury how Havergill at the bank had suddenly, against all their private, secret agreements, not opposed Struan’s request for a temporary, enormous line of credit that had given Dunross the time to recover.

  Gornt remembered his blinding rage when he had called Havergill. “What the hell did you do that for?” he had asked him. “A hundred million as an Extraordinary Credit? You’ve saved their necks for chrissake! We had them. Why?” Havergill had told him that Dunross had mustered enough votes on the board and put an extreme amount of personal pressure on him. “There was nothing I could do….”

  Yes, Gornt thought, looking at the American. I lost that time but I think you’re the twenty-four-carat explosive key that will trigger the bomb to blow Struan’s to hell out of Asia forever. “Dunross went to the edge that time, Mr. Bartlett. He made some implacable enemies. But now we’re equally strong. It’s what you’d call a stand-off. They can’t take us and we can’t take them.”

  “Unless they make a mistake.”

  “Or we make a mistake.” The older man blew a smoke ring and studied it. At length he glanced back at Bartlett. “We’ll win eventually. Time in Asia’s a little different from time in the U.S.A.”

  “That’s what people tell me.”

  “You don’t believe it?”

  “I know the same rules of survival apply here, there or where the hell ever. Only the degree changes.”

  Gornt watched the smoke from his cigarette curling to the ceiling. His office was large with well-used old leather chairs and excellent oils on the walls and it was filled with the smell of polished leather and good cigars. Gornt’s high-backed chair, old oak and carved, with red plush fitted seat and back looked hard, functional and solid, Bartlett thought, like the man.

  “We can outbid Struan’s and we’ve time on our side, here, there, where the hell ever,” Gornt said.

  Bartlett laughed.

  Gornt smiled too but Bartlett noticed his eyes weren’t smiling. “Look around Hong Kong, Mr. Bartlett. Ask about us, and about them. Then make up your mind.”

  “Yes, I’ll do that.”

  “I hear your aircraft’s impounded.”

  “Yes. Yes it is. The airport cops found some guns aboard.”

  “I heard. Curious. Well, if you need any help to unimpound it, perhaps I can be of service.”

  “You could help right now by telling me why and who.”

  “I’ve no idea—but I’ll wager someone in Struan’s knows.”

  “Why?”

  “They knew your exact movements.”

  “So did you.”

  “Yes. But it was nothing to do with us.”

  “Who knew we were to have this meeting, Mr. Gornt?”

  “You and I. As we agreed. There was no leak from here, Mr. Bartlett. After our private meeting in New York last year, everything’s been by telephone—not even a confirming telex. I subscribe to your wisdom of caution, secrecy and dealing face to face. In private. But who on your side knows of our … our continuing interest?”

  “No one but me.”

  “Not even your lady treasurer executive vice-president?” Gornt asked with open surprise.

  “No sir. When did you learn Casey was a she?”

  “In New York. Come now, Mr. Bartlett, it’s hardly likely we’d contemplate an association without ascertaining your credentials and those of your chief executives.”

  “Good. That will save time.”

  “Curious to have a woman in such a key position.”

  “She’s my right and left arm and the best executive I’ve got.”

  “Then why wasn’t she told of our meeting today?”

  “One of the first rules of survival is to keep your options open.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I don’t run my business by committee. Besides, I like to play off the cuff, to keep certain operations secret.” Bartlett thought a moment then added, “It’s not lack of trust. Actually, I’m making it easier for her. If anyone at Struan’s finds out and asks her why I’m meeting with you now, her surprise will be genuine.”

  After a pause Gornt said, “It’s rare to find anyone really trustworthy. Very rare.”

  “Why would someone want M14’s and grenades in Hong Kong and why would they use my plane?”

  “I don’t know but I’ll make it my business to find out.” Gornt stubbed out his cigarette. The ashtray was porcelain—Sung dynasty. “Do you know Tsu-yan?”

  “I’ve met him a couple of times. Why?”

  “He’s a very good fellow, even though he’s a director of Struan’s.”

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p; “He’s Shanghainese?”

  “Yes. One of the best.” Gornt looked up, his eyes very hard. “It’s possible there could be peripheral benefit to dealing with us, Mr. Bartlett. I hear Struan’s is quite extended just now—Dunross’s gambling heavily on his fleet, particularly on the two super bulk cargo carriers he has on order from Japan. The first’s due to be paid for substantially in a week or so. Then, too, there’s a strong rumor he’s going to make a bid for Asian Properties. You’ve heard of them?”

  “A big land operation, real estate, all over Hong Kong.”

  “Yes. They’re the biggest—even bigger than his own K.I.”

  “Kowloon Investments is part of Struan’s? I thought they were a separate company.”

  “They are, outwardly. But Dunross is tai-pan of K.I.—they always have the same tai-pan.”

  “Always?”

  “Always. It’s in their Heads of Agreement. But Ian’s overriding himself. The Noble House may soon become ignoble. He’s very cash light at the moment.”

  Bartlett thought a moment, then he asked, “Why don’t you join with another company, maybe Asian Properties, and take Struan’s? That’s what I’d do in the States if I wanted a company I couldn’t take alone.”

  “Is that what you want to do here, Mr. Bartlett?” Gornt asked at once, pretending shock. “To ‘take’ Struan’s?”

  “Is it possible?”

  Gornt looked at the ceiling carefully before answering. “Yes—but you’d have to have a partner. Perhaps you could do it with Asian Properties but I doubt it. Jason Plumm, the tai-pan, hasn’t the balls. You’d need us. Only we have the perspicacity, the drive, the knowledge and the desire. Nevertheless, you’d have to risk a very great deal of money. Cash.”

  “How much?”

  Gornt laughed outright. “I’ll consider that. First you’ll have to tell me how serious you are.”

  “And if I am, would you want in?”

  Gornt stared back, his eyes equally level. “First I would have to be sure, very sure, how serious you are. It’s no secret I detest Struan’s generally and Ian Dunross personally, would want them obliterated. So you already know my long-term posture. I don’t know yours. Yet.”

  “If we could take over Struan’s—would it be worth it?”

  “Oh yes, Mr. Bartlett. Oh yes—yes it’d be worth it,” Gornt said jovially, then once more his voice iced. “But I still need to know how serious you are.”

  “I’ll tell you when I’ve seen Dunross.”

  “Are you going to suggest the same thought to him—that together you can swallow Rothwell-Gornt?”

  “My purpose here is to make Par-Con international, Mr. Gornt. Maybe up to a $30 million investment to cover a whole range of merchandising, factories and warehousing. Up to a short time ago I’d never heard of Struan’s—or Rothwell-Gornt. Or your rivalry.”

  “Very well, Mr. Bartlett, we’ll leave it at that. Whatever you do will be interesting. Yes. It will be interesting to see if you can hold a knife.”

  Bartlett stared at him, not understanding.

  “That’s an old Chinese cooking term, Mr. Bartlett. Do you cook?”

  “No.”

  “It’s a hobby of mine. The Chinese say it’s important to know how to hold a knife, that you can’t use one until you can hold it correctly. Otherwise you’ll cut yourself and be off to a very bad start indeed. Won’t you?”

  Bartlett grinned. “Hold a knife, is it? I’ll remember that. No, I can’t cook. Never got around to learning—Casey can’t cook worth a damn either.”

  “The Chinese say there’re three arts in which no other civilization can compare to theirs—literature, brush painting and cooking. I’m inclined to agree. Do you like good food?”

  “The best meal I ever had was in a restaurant just outside Rome on the Via Flaminia, the Casale.”

  “Then we’ve at least that in common, Mr. Bartlett. The Casale’s one of my favorites too.”

  “Casey took me there once—spaghetti alla matriciana al dente and buscetti with an ice-cold bottle of beer followed by the piccata and more beer. I’ll never forget it.”

  Gornt smiled. “Perhaps you’ll have dinner with me while you’re here. I can offer you alla matriciana too—actually it’ll compare favorably; it’s the very same recipe.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “And a bottle of Valpolicella, or a great Tuscany wine.”

  “Personally, I like beer with pasta. Iced American beer out of the can.”

  After a pause Gornt asked, “How long are you staying in Hong Kong?”

  “As long as it takes,” Bartlett said without hesitation.

  “Good. Then dinner one day next week? Tuesday or Wednesday?”

  “Tuesday’d be fine, thanks. May I bring Casey?”

  “Of course.” Then Gornt added, his voice flatter, “By that time perhaps you’ll be more sure of what you want to do.”

  Bartlett laughed. “And by that time you’ll find out if I can hold a knife.”

  “Perhaps. But just remember one thing, Mr. Bartlett. If we ever join forces to attack Struan’s, once the battle is joined, there will be almost no way to withdraw without getting severely mauled. Very severely mauled indeed. I’d have to be very sure. After all, you can always retire hurt to the U.S.A. to fight another day. We stay—so the risks are unequal.”

  “But the spoils are unequal too. You’d gain something priceless which doesn’t mean ten cents to me. You’d become the Noble House.”

  “Yes,” Gornt said, his eyes lidding. He leaned forward to select another cigarette and his left foot moved behind the desk to press a hidden floor switch. “Let’s leave everything until Tues—”

  The intercom clicked on. “Excuse me, Mr. Gornt, would you like me to postpone the board meeting?” his secretary asked.

  “No,” Gornt said. “They can wait.”

  “Yes sir. Miss Ramos is here. Could you spare her a few minutes?”

  Gornt pretended to be surprised. “Just a moment.” He looked up at Bartlett. “Have we concluded?”

  “Yes.” Bartlett got up at once. “Tuesday’s firm. Let’s keep everything cooking till then.” He turned to go but Gornt stopped him. “Just a moment, Mr. Bartlett,” he said, then into the intercom, “ask her to come in.” He clicked off the switch and stood up. “I’m glad to have had the meeting.”

  The door opened and the girl came in. She was twenty-five and stunning with short black hair and sloe eyes, clearly Eurasian, casually dressed in tight, American washed jeans and a shirt. “Hello, Quillan,” she said with a smile that warmed the room, her English slightly American accented. “Sorry to interrupt but I’ve just got back from Bangkok and wanted to say hello.”

  “Glad you did, Orlanda.” Gornt smiled at Bartlett who was staring at her. “This is Linc Bartlett, from America. Orlanda Ramos.”

  “Hello,” Bartlett said.

  “Hi … oh, Linc Bartlett? The American millionaire gun-runner?” she said and laughed.

  “What?”

  “Oh don’t look so shocked, Mr. Bartlett. Everyone in Hong Kong knows—Hong Kong’s just a village.”

  “Seriously—how did you know?”

  “I read it in my morning paper.”

  “Impossible! It only happened at 5:30 this morning.”

  “It was in the Fai Pao—the Express—in the Stop Press column at nine o’clock. It’s a Chinese paper and the Chinese know everything that’s going on here. Don’t worry, the English papers won’t pick it up till the afternoon editions, but you can expect the press on your doorstep around the happy hour.”

  “Thanks.” The last thing I want’s the goddamn press after me, Bartlett thought sourly.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Bartlett, I won’t ask you for an interview, even though I am a free lance reporter for the Chinese press. I’m really very discreet,” she said. “Am I not, Quillan?”

  “Absolutely. I’ll vouch for that,” Gornt said. “Orlanda’s absolutely trustworthy.”
r />   “Of course if you want to offer an interview—I’ll accept. Tomorrow.”

  “I’ll consider it.”

  “I’ll guarantee to make you look marvelous!”

  “The Chinese really know everything here?”

  “Of course,” she said at once. “But quai loh—foreigners—don’t read the Chinese papers, except for a handful of old China hands—like Quillan.”

  “And the whole of Special Intelligence, Special Branch and the police in general,” Gornt said.

  “And Ian Dunross,” she added, the tip of her tongue touching her teeth.

  “He’s that sharp?” Bartlett asked.

  “Oh yes. He’s got Devil Struan’s blood in him.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You will, if you stay here long enough.”

  Bartlett thought about that, then frowned. “You knew about the guns too, Mr. Gornt?”

  “Only that the police had intercepted contraband arms aboard ‘the millionaire American’s private jet which arrived last night.’ It was in my Chinese paper this morning too. The Sing Pao.” Gornt’s smile was sardonic. “That’s The Times in Cantonese. It was in their Stop Press column too. But, unlike Orlanda, I am surprised you haven’t been intercepted by members of our English press already. They’re very diligent here in Hong Kong. More diligent than Orlanda gives them credit for being.”

  Bartlett caught her perfume but persisted. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention it, Mr. Gornt.”

  “Why should I? What do guns have to do with our possible future association?” Gornt chuckled. “If worst comes to worst we’ll visit you in jail, Orlanda and I.”

  She laughed. “Yes indeed.”

  “Thanks a lot!” Again her perfume. Bartlett put aside the guns and concentrated on her. “Ramos—that’s Spanish?”

  “Portuguese. From Macao. My father worked for Rothwell-Gornt in Shanghai—my mother’s Shanghainese. I was brought up in Shanghai until ’49, then went to the States for a few years, to high school in San Francisco.”

  “Did you? LA.’s my hometown—I went to high school in the Valley.”

  “I love California,” she said. “How d’you like Hong Kong?”

  “I’ve just arrived.” Bartlett grinned. “Seems I made an explosive entrance.”