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k you up。〃
〃Thank you； Ian； the invitation read； 'Ladies Hats and Gloves。' Do you really mean that？〃
〃Of course。〃 He frowned。 〃Ladies have always worn hats and gloves at the races。 Why？〃
〃I'll have to buy a hat。 I haven't worn one in years。〃
〃Actually； I like ladies in hats。〃 Dunross glanced around the room。 Armstrong and Sinders were watching him covertly。 Is it a coincidence they're here？ he wondered。
〃You feel the eyes too； tai…pan？ Everyone here seems to know you。〃
〃It's not me； it's just the Noble House and what I represent。〃
The brandy came。 〃Health！〃 They touched glasses。
〃Will you answer my question now？〃
〃The answer's yes。〃 He swirled the brandy in the glass and inhaled it。
〃Yes what？〃
Abruptly he grinned。 〃Yes nothing； yes it's not fair but yes it happens all the time and I'm not going to get into one of those lovely self…analyzing 'Have you stopped beating your wife recently？' things； though I do hear that most ladies like being beaten occasionally but with great care； with or without hats！〃
She laughed and most of her shadows vanished。 〃It depends； does it？〃
〃It depends！〃 He watched her； his calm； easy smile on his face and he was thinking and she was thinking it depends on who and when and where and timing； circumstance and need； and right now it would be grand。
He reached out with his glass and touched hers。 〃Health；〃 he said。 〃And here's to Tuesday。〃
She smiled back and lifted her glass； her heart quickening。 〃Yes。〃
〃Everything can wait till then。 Can't it？〃
〃Yes。 Yes； I hope so； Ian。〃
〃Well； I'll be on my way。〃
〃I had a lovely time。〃
〃So did I。〃
〃Thanks for inviting me。 Tomorr… 〃 She stopped as Nighttime Gup bustled up to them。
〃Excuse me； tai…pan； telephone。〃
〃Oh； thank you。 I'll be right there。〃 Dunross sighed。 〃No peace for the wicked！ Casey； shall we？〃
〃Sure； sure； tai…pan。〃 She got up too； her heart beating strongly； a sad sweet ache possessing her。 〃I'll take care of the check！〃
〃Thanks； but that's already done。 They'll just send it on to the office。〃 Dunross left a tip and guided her toward the elevator； both of them conscious of the eyes following them。 For a second he was tempted to go upstairs with her just to set the tongues wagging。 But that'd really be tempting the devil and I've enough devils surrounding me already； he thought。 〃Good night； Casey； see you tomorrow and don't forget cocktails 7：30 to 9：00 p。m。 Give my best to Linc！〃 He waved cheerily and walked for the front desk。
She watched him go； tall； immaculate and confident。 The elevator doors closed。 If this wasn't Hong Kong you wouldn't escape； not tonight； Ian Dunross。 Oh no； tonight we'd make love。 Oh yes； yes we would。
Dunross stopped at the front desk and picked up the phone。 〃Hello； this is Dunross。〃
〃Tai…pan？〃
〃Oh hello； Lim；〃 he said； recognizing his majordomo's voice。 〃What's up？〃
〃Mr。 Tip Tok…toh just phoned； sir。〃 Dunross's heart picked up tempo。 〃He asked me to try to reach you and would you please call him back。 He said you could call him any time before two o'clock or after 7：00 a。m。〃
〃Thank you。 Anything else？〃
〃Miss Claudia called at eight and said she's settled your guest 。。。〃 There was a rustle of paper。 〃。。。 Mrs。 Gresserhoff at the hotel and that your appointment in your office at 11：00 a。m。's confirmed。〃
〃Good。 Next？〃
〃Missee called from London … everything fine there … and a Dr。 Samson from London。〃
〃Ah！〃 Kathy's specialist。 〃Did he leave a number？〃 Lim gave it to him and he scribbled it down。 〃Anything else？〃
〃No； tai…pan。〃
〃Is Number One Daughter back yet？〃
〃No； tai…pan。 Number One Daughter came in about 7：00 p。m。 for a few minutes with a young man and then they left。〃
〃Was it Martin Haply？〃
〃Yes； yes it was。〃
〃Thanks； Lim。 I'll call Tiptop then get a ferry home。〃
He hung up。 Wanting more privacy； he went to the phone booth that was near the stationer's。 He dialed。
〃Weyyyy？〃
He recognized Tiptop's voice。 〃Good evening； this's Ian Dunross。〃
〃Ah； tai…pan！ Just a minute。〃 There was the sound of a hand being put over the mouthpiece and muffled voices。 He waited。 〃Ah； sorry to keep you waiting。 I've had some very disquieting news。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃Yes。 It seems your police once again are like dog's lungs and wolf's heart。 They have falsely arrested a very good friend of yours； Superintendent Brian Kwok。 He… 〃
〃Brian Kwok？〃 Dunross gasped。 〃But why？〃
〃I understand he's been falsely accused of being a spy for the PRC； an… 〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃I agree。 Ridiculous！ Chairman Mao has no need of capitalist spies。 He should be released at once； at once … and if he wishes to leave Hong Kong he should be permitted to do so and go wherever he wishes to go 。。。 at once！〃
Dunross tried to get his mind working。 If Tiptop said the man called Brian Kwok was to be released at once and permitted to leave Hong Kong if he wished； then Brian was a PRC spy； one of their spies； and that was impossible impossible impossible。 〃I 。。。 I don't know what to say；〃 he said； giving Tiptop the opening he required。
〃I must point out Old Friends could hardly be expected to consider assisting Old Friends when their police are so errored。 Heya？〃
〃I agree；〃 he heard himself saying with the right amount of concern； his mind shouting； Christ almighty； they want to trade Brian for the money！ 〃I'll 。。。 I'll talk to the authorities first thing tom… 〃
〃Perhaps you could do something tonight。〃
〃It's too late to call the governor now but 。。。〃 Then Dunross remembered Sinders and Armstrong and his heart leaped。 〃I'll try。 At once。 I'm sure there's some mistake； Mr。 Tip。 Yes。 It must be a mistake。 In any event I'm sure the governor will be helpful。 And the police。 Surely such a 。。。 a mistake could be handled satisfactorily … like the Victoria's request for the temporary use of the illustrious bank's cash？〃
There was a long silence。 〃It's possible that could be done。 It's possible。 Old Friends should assist Old Friends； and help correct mistakes。 Yes； it could be possible。〃
Dunross heard the unsaid when left hanging and automatically continued the negotiation； most of his mind still beset by what he had been told。 〃Did you happen to get my note； Mr。 Tip？ I've taken care of everything else。 By the way； the Victoria will certainly assist the financing of the thorium。〃 He added delicately； 〃Also most other further requests … at advantageous terms。〃
〃Ah yes； thank you。 Yes； I received your note and your very kind invitation。 So sorry that I was unwell。 Thank you； tai…pan。 How long would your government require the cash loan； if it was possible？〃
〃I imagine thirty days would be more than enough； perhaps even two weeks。 But it's the Victoria； Blacs and the other banks and not the Hong Kong Government。 I could tell you that tomorrow。 Do we have the privilege of seeing you at the races for lunch？〃
〃I regret not for lunch but perhaps after lunch； if that's possible。〃
Dunross smiled grimly。 The perfect promise。 〃Of course。〃
〃Thank you for calling。 By the way； Mr。 Yu was most impressed with you； tai…pan。〃
〃Please give him my regards。 I look forward to seeing him soon。 In Canton。〃
〃I was astonished to read your