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me word。 You ask for the check； it's mai dan； but if you say it just a little wrong； it means fried eggs； they're mai dan too； and one'll get you fifty the waiter'll bring you the fried eggs just to put you down。〃 She sipped her martini and added an extra olive。 〃I needed that。 You want another beer？〃
Bartlett shook his head。 〃This's fine。〃 He had read all the telexes。
Casey sat on the sofa and opened her notepad。 〃Vincenzo Banastasio's secretary phoned and asked me to confirm his suite for Saturday an… 〃
〃I didn't know he was due in Hong Kong。 You？〃
〃I think I remember him saying something about going to Asia the last time we saw him 。。。 at the track last month … at Del Mar … the time John Chen was there。 Terrible about John； isn't it？〃
〃I hope they get those Werewolves。 Bastards to murder him and put that sign on him like that。〃
〃I wrote a condolence note for us to his father and to his wife Dianne … you remember we met her at Ian's and at Aberdeen … Jesus； that seems like a million years ago。〃
〃Yes。〃 Bartlett frowned。 〃I still don't remember Vincenzo saying anything。 He staying here？〃
〃No； he wants to be Hong Kong side。 I confirmed the booking at the Hilton by phone and I'll do it in person tomorrow。 He's on JAL's Saturday morning flight from Tokyo。〃 Casey peered at him over her glasses。 〃You want me to schedule a meeting？〃
〃How long's he staying？〃
〃Over the weekend。 A few days。 You know how vague he is。 How about Saturday after the races？ We'll be Hong Kong side and it's an easy walk from Happy Valley if we can't get a ride。〃
Bartlett was going to say。 Let's make it Sunday； but then he remembered Taipei on Sunday。 〃Sure； Saturday after the races。〃 Then he saw her look。 〃What？〃
〃I was just wondering what Banastasio's about。〃
〃When he bought 4 percent of our Par…Con stock；〃 he said； 〃we ran it through Seymour； the SEC and a few others and they're all satisfied his money was clean。 He's never been arrested or charged； though there're a lot of rumors。 He's never given us any trouble； never wanted in on any board； never turns up for any shareholder meetings； always gives me his proxy； and he came through with the money when we needed it。〃 He stared at her。 〃So？〃
〃So nothing； Linc。 You know my opinion of him。 I agree we can't take the stock back。 He bought it free and clear and asked first； and we sure as hell needed his money and put it to great use。〃 She adjusted her glasses and made a note。 〃I'll fix the meeting and be polite as always。 Next： Our pany account at the Victoria Bank's operating。 I put in 25；000 and here's your checkbook。 We've established a revolving fund and First Central's ready to transfer the initial 7 million to the account whenever we say so。 There's a confirm telex there。 I also opened a personal account for you at the same bank … here's your checkbook with another 25 grand … 20 in an HK treasury bill on a daily rollover。〃 She grinned。 〃That should buy a couple of bowls of chop suey and a good piece of jade though I hear the phonies are hard to tell from the real ones。〃
〃No jade。〃 Bartlett wanted to look at his watch but he did not； just sipped his beer。 〃Next？〃
〃Next： Clive Bersky called and asked a favor。〃
〃You told him to blow it out of his muffler？〃
She laughed。 Clive Bersky was chief executive of their branch of the First Central of New York。 He was very meticulous； pedantic and drove Bartlett crazy with his need for perfect documentation。 〃He asks that if the Struan deal goes through； we put our funds through the 。。。〃 She referred to her pad。 〃。。。 the Royal Belgium and Far East Bank here。〃
〃Why them？〃
〃I don't know。 I'm checking them out。 We've a date for a drink with the local chief exec at eight。 The First Central's just bought his bank … it's got branches here； Singapore； Tokyo。〃
〃You deal with him； Casey。〃
〃Sure。 I can drink and run。 You want to eat afterwards？ We could go down to the Escoffier or up to the Seven Dragons or maybe walk up Nathan Road for some Chinese chow。 Somewhere close … the weatherman says more rain's expected。〃
〃Thanks but not tonight。 I'm going Hong Kong side。〃
〃Oh？ Wh… 〃 Casey stopped。 〃Fine。 When are you leaving？〃
〃About now。 No hurry。〃 Bartlett saw the same easy smile on her face as her eyes went down the list but he was sure she had instantly realized where he was going and suddenly he was furious。 He kept his voice calm。 〃What else do you have？〃
〃Nothing that won't wait；〃 she said in the same nice voice。 〃I've an early meeting with Captain Jannelli about your Taipei trip … Armstrong's office sent over the documentation temporarily lifting the impounding on the airplane。 All you have to do is sign the form agreeing to e back to H。K。 I put Tuesday on it。 Is that right？〃
〃Sure。 Tuesday's D Day。〃
She got up。 〃That's it for tonight； Linc。 I'll deal with the banker and the rest of this stuff。〃 She finished her martini and put the glass back on the mirrored cabinet。 〃Hey that tie； Linc！ Your blue one'd go better。 See you at breakfast。〃 She blew him her usual kiss and walked off as she usually did and closed the door with her usual； 〃Sweet dreams； Linc！〃
〃Why the hell'm I so goddamn mad？〃 he muttered angrily； out loud。 〃Casey's done nothing。 Son of a bitch！〃 Unaware； he had crushed his empty beer can。 Son of a bitch！ Now what？ Do I forget it and go or what？
Casey was walking up the corridor toward her own room； seething。 I'll bet my life he's going out with that goddamn tramp。 I should've drowned her while I had the chance。
Then she noticed that Nighttime Song had opened her door for her and was holding it wide with a smile she read as a smirk。
〃Andyoucanblowitoutofyourasstoo！〃 she snarled at him before she could stop herself； then slammed the door and threw her papers and pad on the bed and was about to cry。 〃You're not to cry；〃 she ordered herself out loud； tears on the words。 〃No goddamn man is going to get you down no way。 No way！〃 She stared down at her fingers； which were trembling with the rage that possessed her。
〃Oh shit on all men！〃
49
7：40 P。M。：
〃Excuse me； your Excellency； you're wanted on the phone。〃
〃Thank you； John。〃 Sir Geoffrey Allison turned back to Dunross and the others。 〃If you'll excuse me a moment； gentlemen？〃
They were in Government House； the governor's official residence above Central； the French doors open to the cool of the evening； the air fresh and washed； trees and shrubs dripping nicely； and the governor walked across the crowded anteroom where pre…dinner cocktails and snacks were being served； very pleased with the way the evening had gone so far。 Everyone seemed to be having a good time。 There was banter and good conversation； some laughter and no friction yet between the Hong Kong tai…pans and the MPs。 At his request； Dunross had gone out of his way to soothe Grey and Broadhurst； and even Grey seemed to have mellowed。
The aide closed the door of his study； leaving him alone with the telephone。 The study was dark green and pleasing； with blue flock wallpaper； fine Persian carpets from his two…year sojourn in the Teheran embassy； cherished crystal and silver and more showcases with fine Chinese porcelains。 〃Hello？〃
〃Sorry