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fine fingers drummed continuously on the conference table and he knew Richard Kwang would never dare disclose that he； Tightfist Tung and Smuggler Mo controlled the bank。 Our bank's one enterprise； he thought angrily； but our bullion's something else。 〃We can't have our bullion； or our cash； in jeopardy！〃
〃Never；〃 Zeppelin Tung said nervously。 〃My father wanted me to make that clear too。 He wants his gold！〃
〃Madre de Dios； we've almost fifty tons of gold in your vaults。〃
〃Actually it's over fifty tons；〃 Zeppelin Tung said； the sweat beading his forehead。 〃My old man gave me the figures … it's 1；792；668 ounces in 298；778 five…tael bars。〃 The air in the large room was warm and humid； the windows open。 Zeppelin Tung was a well…dressed； heavyset man of forty with small narrow eyes； the eldest son of Tightfist Tung； and his accent was upper…class British。 His nickname came from a movie that Tightfist had seen the day of his birth。 〃Richard； isn't that right？〃
Richard Kwang shifted the agenda paper in front of him which listed the quantity of gold and Nelson Trading's current balance。 If he had to give up the bullion and cash tonight it would severely hurt the bank's liquidity and； when the news leaked； as of course it would； that would rock their whole edifice。
〃What're you going to do； you dumbhead dog bone！〃 his wife had screamed at him just before he had left his office。
〃Delay； delay and hope th… 〃
〃No！ Pretend to be sick！ If you're sick you can't give them our money。 You can't go to the meeting！ Rush home and we'll pretend… 〃
〃I can't； the tai…pan called personally。 And so did that dog bone Mata！ I daren't not go！ Oh oh oh！〃
〃Then find out who's hounding us and pay him off！ Where's your head？ Who have you offended？ You must have offended one of those dirty quai lohs。 Find the man and pay him off or we'll lose the bank； lose our membership in the Turf Club； lose the horses； lose the Rolls and lose face forever！ Ayeeyah！ If the bank goes you'll never be Sir Richard Kwang； not that being Lady Kwang matters to me oh no！ Do something！ Find the 。。。〃
Richard Kwang felt the sweat running down his back but he kept his posure and tried to find a way out of the maze。 〃The gold's as safe as it could be and so's your cash。 We've been Nelson Trading's bankers since the beginning； we've never had a sniff of trouble。 We gambled heavily with you in the beginning … 〃
〃e now； Richard；〃 Mata said； keeping his loathing hidden。 〃You don't gamble on gold。 Certainly not on our gold。〃 The gold belonged to the Great Good Luck pany of Macao which had also owned the gambling monopoly for almost thirty years。 The present worth of the pany was in excess of two billion U。S。 Tightfist Tung owned 30 percent； personally； Lando Mata 40 percent personally … and the descendents of Smuggler Mo； who had died last year； the other 30 percent。
And between us； Mata was thinking； we own 50 percent of the Ho…Pak which you； you stupid lump of dog turd； have somehow put into jeopardy。 〃So sorry； Richard； but I vote Nelson Trading changes its bank … at least temporarily。 Tightfist Tung is really very upset 。。。 and I have the Chin family's proxy。〃
〃But Lando；〃 Richard Kwang began； 〃there's nothing to worry about。〃 His finger stabbed at the half…opened newspaper； the China Guardian； that lay on the table。 〃Haply's new article says again that we're sound … that it's all a storm in an oyster shell； all started by malicious ban… 〃
〃That's possible。 But Chinese believe rumors； and the run's a fact；〃 Mata said sharply。
〃My old man believes rumors；〃 Zeppelin Tung said fervently。 〃He also believes Four Finger Wu。 Four Fingers phoned him this afternoon telling him he'd taken out all his money and suggested he do the same； and within the hour we； Lando and I； we were in our Catalina and heading here and you know how I hate flying。 Richard； you know jolly well if the old man wants something done now； it's done now。〃
Yes； Richard Kwang thought disgustedly； that filthy old miser would climb out of his grave for fifty cents cash。 〃I suggest we wait a day or so 。。。〃
Dunross was letting them talk for face。 He had already decided what to do。 Nelson Trading was a wholly owned subsidiary of Struan's so the other directors really had little say。 But even though Nelson Trading had the Hong Kong Government's exclusive gold…importing license； without the Great Good Luck pany's gold business … which meant without Tightfist Tung and Lando Mata's favor … Nelson Trading's profits would be almost zero。
Nelson Trading got a mission of one dollar an ounce on every ounce imported for the pany； delivered to the jetty at Macao； a further one dollar an ounce on exports from Hong Kong。 As a further consideration for suggesting the overall Hong Kong scheme to the pany； Nelson Trading had been granted 10 percent of the real profit。 This year the Japanese Government had arbitrarily fixed their official rate of gold at 55 dollars an ounce … a profit of 15 dollars an ounce。 On the black market it would be more。 In India it would be almost 98 dollars。
Dunross glanced at his watch。 In a few minutes Crosse would arrive。
〃We've assets over a billion； Lando；〃 Richard Kwang repeated。
〃Good；〃 Dunross said crisply jumping in； finalizing the meeting。 〃Then； Richard； it really makes no difference one way or another。 There's no point in waiting。 I've made certain arrangements。 Our transfer truck will be at your side door at eight o'clock precisely。〃
〃But … 〃
〃Why so late； tai…pan？〃 Mata asked。 〃It's not six o'clock yet。〃
〃It'll be dark then； Lando。 I wouldn't want to shift 50 tons of gold in daylight。 There might be a few villains around。 You never know。 Eh？〃
〃My God； you think 。。。 triads？〃 Zeppelin Tung was shocked。 〃I'll phone my father。 He'll have some extra guards。〃
〃Yes；〃 Mata said； 〃call at once。〃
〃No need for that；〃 Dunross told him。 〃The police suggested that we don't make too much of a show。 They said they'll be there in depth。〃
Mata hesitated。 〃Well if you say so； tai…pan。 You're responsible。〃
〃Of course；〃 Dunross said politely。
〃How do we know the Victoria's safe？〃
〃If the Victoria fails we might as well not be in China。〃 Dunross picked up the phone and dialed Johnjohn's private number at the bank。 〃Bruce？ Ian。 We'll need the vault … 8：30 on the dot。〃
〃Very well。 Our security people will be there to assist。 Use the side door … the one on Dirk's Street。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Have the police been informed？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Good。 By the way； Ian； about 。。。 is Richard still with you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Give me a call when you can … I'm at home this evening。 I've been checking and things don't look very good at all for him。 My Chinese banking friends are all very nervous … even the Mok…tung had a mini…run out at Aberdeen； so did we。 Of course we'll advance Richard all the money he needs against his securities； bankable securities； but if I were you I'd get any cash you control out。 Get Blacs to deal with your check first at clearing tonight。〃 All bank clearing of checks and bank loans was done in the basement of the Bank of London； Canton and Shanghai at midnight； five days a week。
〃Thanks； Bruce。 See you later。〃 Then to the others； 〃Tha