Noble House

"Sure, but now if his captains'll go along with change, in a year you'll have the best-run Chinese operation in Asia."
"That's exactly what I want. Exactly."
"What about opium?"
"The Seaborne Wu have always carried that cargo."
"What about guns?"
"What guns?"
"I heard whispers Four Fingers was going into gun-running." "I know nothing about guns."
"Let's get rid of the opium-heroin racket. Let's stay to hell out of narcotics. Isn't it true he was joining up with those two jokers, Smuggler Yuen and White Powder Lee?"
"Rumors. I'll consider what you suggest. But let me say I'm captain of the fleets and head of the Seaborne Wu now. My decision is final. We'll consult. You'll be consigliere with all that means, but if I make a decision it's final. For instance, I heard about the coup, the stock market coup, that you pulled off without his permission. It was brilliant, yes, but there's to be no more of that—I must be consulted and must know in advance."
"Agreed. But from here on in, I'm also in business on my own account. I've resigned from Gornt's. Next, any private dealings I began with Four Fingers are mine to continue." "What are they?"
"Friday he advanced me 2 million to play the market. My deal was 17.5 percent of the profits. I want all the profits." "50 percent."
"90. As of right now, there's nothing to keep me in Hong Kong. Even at 50 percent, if I sell the present holdings—and only I know what they are by the way—I'm worth around 3 million U.S."
They had haggled and settled at 70 percent, Goldtooth's 30 percent to be deposited in a Swiss bank, a numbered account.
"I figure the market'll be on the come for two more days, then I off-load. My decision, okay?"
"Yes. Profitable suits you, Younger Brother, better than Paul. I'd like to stay with Profitable. What else were you doing with Four Fingers?"
"There was one last scam. He swore me to secrecy, forever. Forever, with blood oaths. I have to honor his wish."
Reluctantly Goldtooth Wu had agreed and now, waiting for the tai-pan to answer him about Japan, the young man's confidence was brimming. I'm rich. I've all Goldtooth's power if I need it, and I've a U.S. passport and I'm going to Hawaii. In Japan there's a chance I can outsmart Dunross—no, not outsmart him, he's far too good for that, but maybe there I can get a safe, fair shake to prove, once and for all, my coin's real. "Would Japan suit you, tai-pan?" he repeated. "I hear you made a killing on the market?" The youth beamed, not expecting the non sequitur. "Yes sir. I'm about 5.5 million U.S. ahead."
Dunross whistled. "That's not bad for a couple of weeks work, Profitable Choy. At 15 percent tax," he added innocently.
The youth winced and fell into the trap. "Hell, I'm a U.S. citizen, so subject to U.S. taxes every which way." He hesitated. "I've a couple of ideas that'd … say, tai-pan, we might make a deal that'd be good for you and good for me."
Dunross saw Paul Choy's eyes flatten and his caution increase. "My Old Man trusted you," the youth said. "You and he were Old Friends. Maybe I could inherit that—be worth that, one day." "Return the coin freely and I'll grant all sorts of favors." "First things first, tai-pan. First we find out if my coin's real. Japan, okay?"
"No. Here, or not at all!" Dunross snapped, deciding to gamble.
Paul.Choy's eyes slitted even more. Abruptly he decided too and reached under his shirt and took out the coin and laid it on the desk.
"I ask a favor in Jin-qua's name from the tai-pan of the Noble
House."
In the silence Dunross stared at the coin. "Well?" "First, I want Old Friend status, equal to Four Fingers with all that that implies. Second: I want to be appointed a director of Struan's for a four-year period at a salary equal to other directors —for face I'll buy a block of shares at market bringing my holdings to 100,000 shares." He felt a bead of sweat drop off his chin in the silence. "Next: I want to joint venture, 50-50 partners, a pharmaceutical plant with Struan's, capitalized at 6 million U.S.—I put up half within 30 days."
Dunross stared at him, perplexed. "To do what?"-
"The market for Pharmaceuticals throughout Asia is vast. We could make a bundle, given your expertise in manufacturing, mine in marketing. Agreed?"
"Is that all? All the favor?"
"Three more things. Th—"
"Only three?" Dunross asked witheringly.
"Three. First, next year I'm going to start another stock exchange. I'll—"
"You'll what?" Dunross gaped at him, thrown.
Profitable Choy grinned and wiped the sweat off his face. "Sure. A stock exchange for Chinese, run by Chinese."
Dunross laughed suddenly, "You've got balls, Profitable Choy. Oh yes. Incidentally, that's not a bad idea at all. What about it, the new exchange?"
"Just your benevolent Old Friend assistance to get started, to stop the big guys from blocking me."
"For 50 percent."
"For very favorable inside terms. Very favorable, guaranteed. Next," the youth held on to his hope, "I want you to introduce me to Lando Mata and tell him you're backing me as part of my father's group to bid for the gambling and gold syndicate monopoly. All right?"
"You said three things. What's last?"
"In three years a stewardship of the Turf Club. In that time I'll guarantee to donate a million U.S. to any charity or charities you name, I'll back all worthy causes and swear by God I'll make it as easy for you as I can." The young man wiped the sweat off. "I'm finished."
Dunross hesitated. "If the coin's real I'll agree to everything except the part about Lando Mata." "No. That's part of the deal." "I don't agree."
"I've asked for nothing illegal, nothing you can't gr—" "Lando Mata's out!"
The young man sighed. He took the coin off the desk, stared at it. "If that's out, then the whole deal's off and I'll put Four Finger
Wu's ask in place. It's still the same coin," he said, readying to play his last card.
"And?"
"And that'll make you party to narcotics, guns and everything you detest but will have to honor. Sorry, tai-pan, but I'm bucking to be an ancestor." He tossed the coin back on the table. "You choose."
Dunross was suddenly perturbed. The favor was cleverly couched. Nothing illegal, nothing extravagant. Paul Choy had done very well against him. Too well. Four Fingers was a known quantity. But this one, this devil's spawn? I can't risk narcotics—he knows that.
To give himself time Dunross reached into his pocket and found the little silk pouch and put his coin on the table. He moved his half into the other. The fit was perfect.
Without knowing it both men exhaled, staring at the now-joined coin that would lock them immutably together. Dunross knew it was a waste of time but he would go to the assayist anyway. For a moment he held the two halves in his hand. What to do about this cocky young bugger, he asked himself. Ah, now there's a good thought! Phillip Chen should be given the problem!
"All right, Profitable Choy," he said putting him very high on his private Suspected Persons list. "I'll agree to grant your favor—if your halfs real—except I'll ask Lando, I can't tell him anything. All right?"
"Thank you, tai-pan, you won't regret it." Wet with relief Profitable Choy took out a list of names. "Here's all the expert assayists in Hong Kong. You like to choose one? I, er, I checked and they're all open to seven o'clock."
Dunross smiled faintly. "You're very sure of yourself, Profitable Choy."
"Just try to keep ahead of the game, sir."
Casey came out of the Struan Building and went to the waiting Rolls. At once Lim opened the door for her. She sank back into the deep cushions feeling nothing, knowing nothing except that her anguish was consuming her and any moment she would break, not even noticing Lim ease the car into the heavy traffic to head for the vehicular ferry.