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all the hongs … were equally in turmoil。 But that fellow's father； the father of the one the tai…pan's talking to； was the King of the Beggars in Hong Kong。 Begging used to be a huge business here。 Anyway； this man came to see her； so the story goes。 'I e to buy a fifth part of the Noble House；' this man said with great dignity； 'is it for sale？ I offer 200；000 taels of silver；' which was exactly the amount she needed to redeem her paper。 For face they haggled and he settled for a tenth； 10 percent … an incredibly fair deal … both knowing that he could have had 30 or 40 percent for the same amount because by that time the Hag was desperate。 He required no contract other than her chop and her promise that once a year she； or the tai…pan； would e to him or his descendents wherever he or they lived； to ask for the vote of the stock。 'So long as the tai…pan asks … the voting power is given。'
〃 'But why； Honorable King of the Beggars？ Why save me from my enemies？' she asked。
〃 'Because your grandfather； old Green…Eyed Devil； once saved my grandfather's face and helped him bee the first King of the Beggars of Hong Kong。' 〃
Casey sighed。 〃Do you believe that； Peter？〃
〃Oh yes。〃 He looked out at Happy Valley。 〃Once this was all a malarial swamp。 Dirk cleaned that up too。〃 He puffed his cigarette。 〃One day I'll write about Hong Kong。〃
〃If you continue to smoke you'll never write anything。〃
〃Point well taken。 Okay； I'll stop。 Now。 For today。 Because you're pretty。〃 He stubbed the cigarette out。 Another smile； different。 〃Eeeee； but I could tell some stories about lots of the people you met today。 I won't； that's not fair； not right。 I can never tell the real stories； though I know lots！〃 She laughed with him； letting her eyes wander from the strange old couple down to the other stands。 Involuntarily she gasped。 Sitting in the lee of the members' balcony she saw Orlanda。 Linc was with her。 He was very close。 Both were very happy together； that was easy to see； even from this distance。
〃What's th… 〃 Peter Marlowe began； then he saw them too。 〃Oh！ Not to worry。〃
After a pause she took her eyes away。 〃Peter； that favor。 May I ask for that favor； now？〃
〃What do you want as a favor？〃
〃I want to know about Orlanda。〃
〃To destroy her？〃
〃For protection。 Protection for Linc against her。〃
〃Perhaps he doesn't want to be protected； Casey。〃
〃I swear I'll never use it unless I honest to God feel it's necessary。〃
The tall man sighed。 〃Sorry；〃 he said with great passion； 〃but nothing I could tell you about her would give you or Linc protection。 Nothing to destroy her or make her lose face。 Even if I could I wouldn't； Casey。 That really wouldn't be cricket。 Would it？〃
〃No； but I'm still asking。〃 She stared back at him； forcing the issue。 〃You said a favor。 I came when you needed a hand。 I need a hand now。 Please。〃
He watched her a long time。 〃What do you know about her？〃 She told him what she had learned … about Gornt supporting Orlanda； Macao； about the child。
〃Then you know everything I know； except perhaps that you should be sorry for her。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because she's Eurasian； alone； Gornt her only support and that's as precarious as anything in the world。 She's living on a knife edge。 She's young； beautiful and deserves a future。 Here there's none for her。〃
〃Except Linc？〃
〃Except Linc or someone like him。〃 Peter Marlowe's eyes were slate color。 〃Perhaps that wouldn't be so bad from his point of view。〃
〃Because she's Asian and I'm not？〃
Again the curious smile。 〃Because she's a woman and so are you but you hold all the cards； and the only real thing you have to decide is if you really want that war。〃
〃Level with me； Peter； please。 I'm asking。 What's your advice？ I'm running scared … there； I'll admit it to you。 Please？〃
〃All right； but this isn't the favor I owe you；〃 he said。 〃Rumor has it you and Linc are not lovers though you obviously love him。 Rumor has it you've been together for six or seven years in close proximity but with no 。。。 no formal contact。 He's a terrific fellow； you're a terrific lady and you'd make a great couple。 The key word is couple； Casey。 Maybe you want money and power and Par…Con more than you do him。 That's your problem。 I don't think you can have both。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃It seems to me you choose Par…Con and power and riches and no Bartlett； other than as a friend … or you bee Mrs。 Linc Bartlett and behave and love and be the kind of woman there's no doubt in hell Orlanda would be。 Either way you have to be a hundred percent … you and Linc are both too strong and probably have tested each other too many times to be fooled。 He's been divorced once； so he's on guard。 You're over the age of a Juliet blindness so you're equally on guard。〃
〃Are you a psychiatrist too？〃
He laughed。 〃No； nor a father…confessor； though I like to know about people and like to listen but not to lecture and never to give advice … that's the most thankless task in the world。〃
〃So there's no promise？〃
〃I don't think so； but then I'm not you。 You have your own karma。 Irrespective of Orlanda … if it's not her it'll be another woman； better or worse； prettier though maybe not； because win； lose or draw； Orlanda's quality and has what it takes to make a man content； happy； alive as a man。 Sorry； I don't mean to be chauvinistic； but since you asked； I'd advise you to make up your mind quickly。〃
Gavallan hurried into Shitee T'Chung's box and joined the tai…pan。 〃Afternoon；〃 he said politely to the old couple。 〃Sorry； tai…pan； Crosse and the other fellow you wanted had already left。〃
〃Blast！〃 Dunross thought a second； then excused himself and walked out with Gavallan。 〃You're ing to the cocktail party？〃
〃Yes； if you want me there … afraid I'm not very good pany。〃
〃Let's go in here a second。〃 Dunross led the way into his private room。 Tea was laid out and a bottle of Dom Pérignon in an ice bucket。
〃Celebration？〃 Gavallan asked。
〃Yes。 Three things： the General Stores takeover； the Ho…Pak rescue and the dawn of the new era。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃Yes。〃 Dunross began to open the bottle。 〃For instance you： I want you to leave for London Monday evening with the children。〃 Gavallan's eyes widened but he said nothing。 〃I want you to check on Kathy； see her specialist； then take her and the kids to Castle Avisyard。 I want you to take over Avisyard for six months； perhaps a year or two。 Six months certain … take over the whole of the east wing。〃 Gavallan gasped。 〃You're going to head up a new division； very secret； secret from Alastair； my father； every member of the family including David。 Secret from everyone except me。〃
〃What division？〃 Gavallan's excitement and happiness showed。
〃There's a fellow I want you to get close to tonight； Andrew。 Jamie Kirk。 His wife's a bit of a bore but invite them to Avisyard。 I want you to slide into Scotland； particularly Aberdeen。 I want you to buy property； but very quietly： factory areas； wharfage； potential airfields； heliports near the docks。 Are there docks there？〃
〃Christ； tai…pan； I don't know。 I've never been there。〃
〃Nor have I。〃
〃Eh？〃
Dunross laughed at the look on Gavallan's face。 〃Not to worry。 Your initial budg