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barbecue？ We got the steaks organized； all prime； T…bones and New Yorks； being flown over once a month。 And Idaho potatoes；〃 he added proudly。
〃I'm glad about the potatoes；〃 Gornt said and the others settled back； waiting； knowing that he despised American cooking … particularly charcoaled steaks and hamburgers and 〃gooped…up baked potatoes；〃 as he called them。 〃When does the merger finalize？〃
〃End of the month。 Our bid's accepted。 Everything's agreed。 I certainly hope our American know…how'll fit into this great little island。〃
〃I presume you'll build a mansion？〃
〃No sir。 Dickie here；〃 Biltzmann continued； and everyone winced； 〃Dickie's got us the penthouse of the pany's apartment building on Blore Street； so we're in fat city。〃
〃That's convenient；〃 Gornt said。 The others bit back their laughter。 The oldest and most famous of the Colony's Houses of Easy Virtue had always been on Blore Street at Number One。 Number One； Blore Street； had been started by one of Mrs。 Fotheringill's 〃young ladies；〃 Nellie Blore； in the 1860's； with money reportedly given her by Culum Struan； and was still operating under its original rules … European or Australian ladies only and no foreign gentlemen or natives allowed。
〃Very convenient；〃 Gornt said again。 〃But I wonder if you'd qualify。〃
〃Sir？〃
〃Nothing。 I'm sure Blore Street is most apt。〃
〃Great view； but the plumbing's no good；〃 Biltzmann said。 〃My bride'll soon fix that。〃
〃She's a plumber too？〃 Gornt asked。
The American laughed。 〃Hell no； but she's mighty handy around the house。〃
〃If you'll excuse me I have to see my trainer。〃 Gornt nodded to the others and turned away with； 〃Donald； have you a moment？ It's about Saturday。〃
〃Of course； see you in a moment； Mr。 Biltzmann。〃
〃Sure。 But call me Chuck。 Have a nice day。〃
McBride fell into step beside Gornt。 When they were alone Gornt said； 〃You're surely not seriously suggesting he should be a voting member？〃
〃Well； yes。〃 McBride looked unfortable。 〃It's the first time a big American pany's made a bid to e into Hong Kong。 He'd be quite important to us。〃
〃That's no reason to let him in here； is it？ Make him a nonvoting member。 Then he can get into the stands。 And if you want to invite him to your box； that's your affair。 But a voting member？ Good God； he'll probably have 'Superfoods' as his racing colors！〃
〃He's just new and out of his depth； Quillan。 I'm sure he'll learn。 He's decent enough even though he does make a few gaffes。 He's quite well off an… 〃
〃Since when has money been an open sesame to the Turf Club？ Good God； Donald； if that was the case； every upstart Chinese property gambler or stock market gambler who'd made a killing on our market'd swamp us。 We wouldn't have room to fart。〃
〃I don't agree。 Perhaps the answer's to increase the voting membership。〃
〃No。 Absolutely not。 Of course you stewards will do what you like。 But I suggest you reconsider。〃 Gornt was a voting member but not a steward。 The two hundred voting members elected the twelve stewards annually by secret ballot。 Each year Gornt's name was put on the open list of nominees for steward and each year he failed to get enough votes。 Most stewards were reelected by the membership automatically until they retired； though from time to time there was lobbying。
〃Very well；〃 McBride said； 〃when his name's proposed I'll mention your opposition。〃
Gornt smiled thinly。 〃That'll be tantamount to getting him elected。〃
McBride chuckled。 〃I don't think so； Quillan； not this time。 Pug asked me to introduce him around。 I must admit he gets off on the wrong foot every time。 I introduced him to Paul Havergill and Biltzmann immediately started paring banking procedures here with those in the States； and not very pleasantly either。 And with the tai…pan 。。。〃 McBride's graying eyebrows soared。 〃。。。 he said he was sure glad to meet him as he wanted to learn about Hag Struan and Dirk Struan and all the other pirates and opium smugglers in his past！〃 He sighed。 〃Ian and Paul'll certainly blackball him for you； so I don't think you've much to worry about。 I really don't understand why Pug sold out to them anyway。〃
〃Because he's not his father。 Since old Sir Thomas died General Stores've been slipping。 Still； Pug makes 6 million U。S。 personally and has a five…year unbreakable contract … so he has all the pleasure and none of the headaches and the family's taken care of。 He wants to retire to England； Ascot and all that。〃
〃Ah！ That's a very good deal for old Pug！〃 McBride became more serious。 〃Quillan； the fifth race … the interest's enormous。 I'm worried there'll be interference。 We're going to increase surveillance on all the horses。 There're rumors th… 〃
〃About doping？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃There're always rumors and someone will always try。 I think the stewards do a very good job。〃
〃The stewards agreed last night that we'd institute a new rule： in future we'll have an obligatory chemical analysis before and after each race； as they do at the major tracks in England or America。〃
〃In time for Saturday？ How're you going to arrange that？〃
〃Dr。 Meng； the police pathologist； has agreed to be responsible … until we have an expert arranged。〃
〃Good idea；〃 Gornt said。
McBride sighed。 〃Yes； but the Mighty Dragon's no match for the Local Serpent。〃 He turned and left。
Gornt hesitated； then went to his trainer who stood beside Pilot Fish talking with the jockey； another Australian； Bluey White。 Bluey White was ostensibly a manager of one of Gornt's shipping divisions … the title given to him to preserve his amateur status。
〃G'day； Mr。 Gornt；〃 they said。 The jockey touched his forelock。
〃Morning。〃 Gornt looked at them a moment and then he said quietly； 〃Bluey； if you win； you've a 5；000 bonus。 If you finish behind Noble Star； you're fired。〃
The tough little man whitened。 〃Yes； guv！〃
〃You'd better get changed now；〃 Gornt said； dismissing him。
〃I'll win；〃 Bluey White said as he left。
The trainer said uneasily； 〃Pilot Fish's in very good fettle； Mr。 Gornt。 He'll be try… 〃
〃If Noble Star wins you're fired。 If Noble Star finishes ahead of Pilot Fish you're fired。〃
〃My oath； Mr。 Gornt。〃 The man wiped the sudden sweat off his mouth。 〃I don't fix who ge… 〃
〃I'm not suggesting you do anything。 I'm just telling you what's going to happen to you。〃 Gornt nodded pleasantly and strode off。 He went to the club restaurant； which overlooked the course； and ordered his favorite breakfast； eggs Benedict with his own special hollandaise that they kept for his exclusive use； and Javanese coffee that he also supplied。
On his third cup of coffee the waiter came over。 〃Excuse me； sir； you're wanted on the telephone。〃
He went to the phone。 〃Gornt。〃
〃Hello； Mr。 Gornt； this's Paul Choy 。。。 Mr。 Wu's nephew。 。。。 I hope I'm not disturbing you。〃
Gornt covered his surprise。 〃You're calling rather early； Mr。 Choy。〃
〃Yes sir； but I wanted to be in early the first day；〃 the young man said in a rush； 〃so I was the only one here a couple of minutes ago when the phone rang。 It was Mr。 Bartlett； Linc Bartlett； you know； the guy with the smuggled guns； the millionaire。〃
Gornt was startled。 〃Bartlett？〃
〃Yes sir。 He said he w