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acao or not Macao。 You would have changed … you'd have bee bored； men always do。〃
She checked her makeup and her shirt and blew him a kiss and left him。 He stared at the closed door then smiled and stubbed out the cigarette she had given him； never having puffed on it； not wanting the taint of her lips。 He lit a fresh one and hummed a little tune。
Excellent； he thought happily。 Now we'll see； Mr。 Bloody Cocky Confident Yankee Bartlett； now we'll see how you handle that knife。 Pasta with beer indeed！
Then Gornt caught a lingering whiff of her perfume and he was swept back momentarily into memories of their pillowing。 When she was young； he reminded himself。 Thank God there's no premium on youth or beauty out here； and a substitution's as close as a phone call or a hundred…dollar note。
He reached for the phone and dialed a special private number； glad that Orlanda was more Chinese than European。 Chinese are such practical people。
The dial tone stopped and he heard Paul Havergill's crisp voice。 〃Yes？〃
〃Paul； Quillan。 How're things？〃
〃Hello； Quillan … of course you know Johnjohn's taking over the bank in November？〃
〃Yes。 Sorry about that。〃
〃Damnable。 I thought I was going to be confirmed but instead the board chose Johnjohn。 It was official last night。 It's Dunross again； his clique； and the damned stock they have。 How did your meeting go？〃
〃Our American's chomping at the bit； just as I told you he would be。〃 Gornt took a deep drag of his cigarette and tried to keep the excitement out of his voice。 〃How would you like a little special action before you retire？〃
〃What had you in mind？〃
〃You're leaving end of November？〃
〃Yes。 After twenty…three years。 In some ways I won't be sorry。〃
Nor will I； Gornt thought contentedly。 You're out of date and too bloody conservative。 The only thing in your favor is that you hate Dunross。 〃That's almost four months。 That'd give us plenty of time。 You； me and our American friend。〃
〃What do you have in mind？〃
〃You remember one of my hypothetical game plans； the one I called 'petition'？〃
Havergill thought a moment。 〃That was how to take over or eliminate an opposition bank； wasn't it？ Why？〃
〃Say someone dusted off the plan and made a few changes and pushed the go button 。。。 two days ago。 Say someone knew Dunross and the others would vote you out and wanted some revenge。 petition would work perfectly。〃
〃I don't see why。 What's the point of attacking Blacs？〃 The Bank of London； Canton and Shanghai was the Victoria's main opposition。 〃Doesn't make sense。〃
〃Ah； but say someone changed the target； Paul。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃I'll e by at three and explain。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃Richard。〃 Richard Kwang controlled the Ho…Pak Bank … one of the largest of all the many Chinese banks in Hong Kong。
〃Good God！ But that's 。。。〃 There was a long pause。 〃Quillan； you've really begun petition 。。。 to put it into effect？〃
〃Yes； and no one knows about it except you and me。〃
〃But how is that going to work against Dunross？〃
〃I'll explain later。 Can Ian meet his mitments on his ships？〃
There was a pause which Gornt noted。 〃Yes；〃 he heard Havergill say。
〃Yes； but what？〃
〃But I'm sure he'll be all right。〃
〃What other problems has Dunross got？〃
〃Sorry； but that wouldn't be ethical。〃
〃Of course。〃 Gornt added thinly； 〃Let me put it another way： Say their boat was a little rocked。 Eh？〃
There was a longer pause。 〃At the right moment； a smallish wave could scuttle them； or any pany。 Even you。〃
〃But not the Victoria Bank。〃
〃Oh no。〃
〃Good。 See you at three。〃 Gornt hung up and mopped his brow again； his excitement vast。 He stubbed out his cigarette； made a quick calculation； lit another cigarette； then dialed。 〃Charles； Quillan。 Are you busy？〃
〃No。 What can I do for you？〃
〃I want a balance sheet。〃 A balance sheet was a private signal for the attorney to telephone eight nominees who would buy or sell on the stock market on Gornt's behalf； secretly； to avoid the trading being traced back to him。 All shares and all monies would pass solely through the attorney's hands so that neither the nominees nor the brokers would know for whom the transactions were being made。
〃A balance sheet it will be。 What sort； Quillan？〃
〃I want to sell short。〃 To sell short meant he sold shares he did not own on the presumption their value would go down。 Then； before he had to buy them back … he had a maximum margin of two weeks in Hong Kong … if the stock had indeed gone down； he would pocket the difference。 Of course if he gambled wrong and the stock had gone up； he would have to pay the difference。
〃What shares and what numbers？〃
〃A hundred thousand shares of Ho…Pak 。。。〃
〃Holy Christ 。。。〃
〃。。。 the same； as soon as the market opens tomorrow； and another 200 during the day。 I'll give you further instructions then。〃
There was a stunned silence。 〃You did say Ho…Pak？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It'll take time to borrow all those shares。 Good God； Quillan； four hundred thousand？〃
〃While you're about it； get another hundred。 A round half a million。〃
〃But 。。。 but Ho…Pak's as blue a blue chip as we've got。 It hasn't gone down in years。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What've you heard？〃
〃Rumors；〃 Gornt said gravely and chuckled to himself。 〃Would you like an early lunch； eat at the club？〃
〃I'll be there。〃
Gornt hung up； then dialed another private number。
〃Yes？〃
〃It's me；〃 Gornt said cautiously。 〃Are you alone？〃
〃Yes。 And？〃
〃At our meeting； the Yankee suggested a raid。〃
〃Ayeeyah！ And？〃
〃And Paul's in；〃 he said； the exaggeration ing easily。 〃Absolutely secretly； of course。 I've just talked to him。〃
〃Then I'm in。 Provided I get control of Struan's ships； their Hong Kong property operation and 40 percent of their landholdings in Thailand and Singapore。〃
〃You must be joking！〃
〃Nothing's too much to smash them。 Is it； old boy？〃
Gornt heard the well…bred； mocking laugh and hated Jason Plumm for it。 〃You despise him just as much as I do；〃 Gornt said。
〃Ah； but you'll need me and my special friends。 Even with Paul on or off the fence； you and the Yankee can't pull it off； not without me and mine。〃
〃Why else am I talking to you？〃
〃Listen； don't forget I'm not asking for any piece of the American's pie。〃
Gornt kept his voice calm。 〃What's that got to do with anything？〃
〃I know you。 Oh yes。 I know you； old boy。〃
〃Do you now？〃
〃Yes。 You won't be satisfied just with destructing our 'friend；' you'll want the whole pie。〃
〃Will I now？〃
〃Yes。 You've wanted a stake in the U。S。 market too long。〃
〃And you。〃
〃No。 We know where our toast's toasted。 We're content to trail along behind。 We're content with Asia。 We don't want to be a noble anything。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃No。 Then it's a deal？〃
〃No；〃 Gornt said。
〃I'll drop the shipping totally。 Instead I'll take Ian's Kowloon Investments； the Kai Tak operation； and 40 percent of the landholdings in Thailand and Singapore； and I'll accept 25 percent of Par…Con and three places on the board。〃
〃Get stuffed！〃
〃The offer's good till Monday。〃
〃Which Monday？〃
〃Next Monday。〃
〃Dew neh loh moh on all your Mondays！〃
〃And yours！ I'll make you a last offer。 Kowloon Investments and their Kai Tak operation totally； 35 percent of all their landholdings in Thailand and Singapore； and 10 percent of the Yankee pie with three seats on the board。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃Yes。 Again； the offer's good till next Monday。 And don't think you can gobble us in the process。〃
〃Have you gone mad？〃
〃I told you … I know you。 Is it a deal？〃
〃No。〃
Again the soft； malevolent laugh。 〃Till Monday … next Monday。 That's time enough for you to make up your mind。〃
〃Will I see you at Ian's party tonight？〃 Gornt asked thinly。
〃Have you gone bonkers！ I wouldn't go if 。。。 Good God； Quillan； are you really going to accept？ In person？〃
〃I wasn't going to … but now I think I will。 I wouldn't want to miss perhaps the last great party of the Struans' last tai…pan。 。。。〃
7
12：01 P。M。 ：
In the boardroom it was still rough going for Casey。 They would take none of the baits she offered。 Her anxiety had increased and now as she waited she felt a wave of untoward fear go through her。
Phillip Chen was doodling； Linbar fiddling with his papers； Jacques deVille watching her thoughtfully。 Then Andrew Gavallan stopped writing the latest percentages she had quoted。 He sighed and looked up at her。 〃Clearly this should be a co…financing operation；〃 he said； his voice sharp。 Electricity in the room soared and Casey had difficulty suppressing a cheer as he added； 〃How much would Par…Con be prepared to put up； joint financing； for the whole deal？〃
〃18 million U。S。 this year should cover it；〃 she answered immediately； noting happily that they all covered a gasp。
The published net worth of Struan's last year was almost 28 million； and she and Bartlett had gauged their offer on this figure。
〃Make the first offer 20 million；〃 Linc had told her。 〃You should hook 'em at 25 which'd be great。 It's essential we co…finance； but the suggestion's got to e from them。〃
〃But look at their balance sheet； Linc。 You can't tell for sure what their real net worth is。 It could be 10 million either way； maybe more。 We don't know how strong they really are 。。。 or how weak。 Look at this item： '14。7 million retained in subsidiaries。' What subsidiaries； where and what for？ Here's another one： '7。4 million transferred to … ' 〃
〃So what； Casey？ So it's 30 million instead of 25。 Our projection's still valid。〃
〃Yes … but their accounting procedures 。。。 My God； Linc； if we did one percent of this in the States the SEC'd have our asses in a sling and we'd end up in jail for fifty years。〃
〃Yes。 But it's not against their law； which is a major reason for going to Hong Kong。〃
〃20 is too much for openers。〃
〃I'll leave it to you； Casey。 Just remember in Hong Kong we play Hong Kong rules … whatever's legal。 I want in their game。〃
〃Why？ And don't say 'for my goddamn pleasure。' 〃
Linc had laughed。 〃Okay … then for your goddamn pleasure。 Just make the Struan deal！〃
The humidity in the boardroom had increased。 She would have liked to reach for a tissue but she kept still； willing them onward； pretending calm。
Gavallan broke the silence。 〃When would Mr。 Bartlett confirm the offer of 18 million 。。。 if we accepted？〃
〃It's confirmed；〃 she said sweetly； passing over the insult。 〃I have clearance to mit up to 20 million on this deal without consulting Linc or his board；〃 she said； deliberately giving them room to maneuver。 Then she added innocently； 〃Then it's all settled？ Good。〃 She began to sort out her papers。 〃Next： I'd… 〃
〃Just a moment；〃 Gavallan said； off balance。 〃I； er； 18 is 。。。 In any event we have to present the package to the tai…pan。〃
〃Oh；〃 she said； pretending surprise。 〃I thought we were negotiating as equals； that you four gentlemen had powers equal to mine。 Perhaps I'd better talk to Mr。 Dunross directly in the future。〃
Andrew Gavallan flushed。 〃The tai…pan has final say。 In everything。〃
〃I'm very glad to know it； Mr。 Gavallan。 I only have final say up to 20 million。〃 She beamed at them。 〃Very well； put it to your tai…pan。 Meanwhile； shall we set a time limit on the consideration period？〃
Another silence。
〃What do you suggest？〃 Gavallan said； feeling trapped。
〃Whatever the minimum is。 I don't know how fast you like to work；〃 Casey said。
Phillip Chen said； 〃Why not table that answer until after lunch； Andrew？〃
〃Yes … good idea。〃
〃That's fine with me；〃 Casey said。 I've done my job； she thought。 I'll settle for 20 million when it could've been 30 and they're men and expert； and over twenty…one and they think I'm a sucker。 But now I get my drop dead money。 Dear God in heaven let this deal go through because then I'm free forever。
Free to do what？
Never mind； she told herself。 I'll think about that later。
She heard herself continue the pattern： 〃Shall we go through the details of how you'd like the 18 million and 。。。〃
〃18 is hardly adequate；〃 Phillip Chen interrupted； the lie ing very easily。 〃There are all sorts of added costs。 。。。〃
In perfect negotiating style Casey argued and allowed them to push her to 20 million and then； with apparent reluctance； she s