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but the news would be mon knowledge soon; whatever he or Murtagh did。 Now; how to use everything to the best advantage while it's still secret? he was asking himself; hard put not to dance with joy; the fact of the deal unprecedented and almost impossible to believe。 He began to initial his set of papers; Murtagh another。 He stopped as he heard the front door open and slam。 Adryon shrieked; 〃Ah Tat!〃 and followed up with a flood of amah Cantonese ending; 〃。。。 and did you iron my new blouse by all the gods?〃
〃Blouse? What blouse。 Young Miss with the piercing voice and no patience? The red one? The red one belonging to Chief Wife who told y… 〃
〃Oh; it's mine now; Ah Tat! I told you very seriously to iron it。〃 Murtagh had stopped too; listening to the stream of screeching Cantonese from both of them。 〃Jesus;〃 he said tiredly。 〃I'll never get used to the way the servants go on; no matter what you tell 'em!〃
Dunross laughed and beckoned him; opening the door softly。 Murtagh gasped。 Adryon had her hands on her hips and she was going at Ah Tat who gave it back to her; both of them raucous; both talking over the other and neither listening。
〃Quiet!〃 Dunross said。 Both stopped。 〃Thank you。 You really do go on a bit; Adryon!〃 he said mildly。
She beamed。 〃Oh hello; Father。 Do you th… 〃 She stopped; seeing Murtagh。 Dunross noticed the instant change。 A warning shaft soared through him。
〃Oh; Adryon; may I introduce Dave Murtagh; Vice…President for Asia of the Royal Belgium and Far East Bank?〃 He looked at Murtagh and saw the stunned expression on his face。 〃This is my daughter; Adryon。〃
〃You; er; speak Chinese; Miss; er; Dunross?〃
〃Oh yes; yes of course; Cantonese。 Of course。 You're new in Hong Kong?〃
〃Oh no; ma'am; no; I've; er; I've been here half a year or more。〃
Dunross was watching both of them with growing amusement; knowing that for the moment he was totally forgotten。 Ah; boy meets girl; girl meets boy and maybe this one'd be the perfect foil to throw into Haply's works。 〃Would you like to join us for a drink; Adryon?〃 he asked casually; the moment their conversation lapsed and she prepared to leave。
〃Oh。 Oh thank you; Father; but I don't want to disturb you。〃
〃We're just finishing。 e along。 How're things?〃
〃Oh fine; fine。〃 Adryon turned back to Ah Tat who still stood there solidly … she too had noticed the instant mutual attraction。 〃You'll iron my blouse! Please;〃 she said imperiously in Cantonese。 〃I have to leave in fifteen minutes。〃
〃Ayeeyah on your fifteen minutes; Young Empress。〃 Ah Tat huffed; and went back into the kitchen; grumbling。
Adryon focused on Murtagh who blossomed noticeably; his fatigue vanished。 〃What part of the States are you from?〃
〃Texas; ma'am; though I've spent time in Los Angeles; New York and New Orleans。 You play tennis?〃
〃Oh; yes; I do。〃
〃We've some good courts at the American Club。 You; maybe you'd like a game next week?〃
〃I'd love that。 I've played there before。 Are you good?〃
〃Oh no; ma'am; er; Miss Dunross; just college class。〃
〃College class could mean very good。 Why don't you call me Adryon?〃
Dunross gave her the glass of sherry he had poured and she thanked him with a smile though still concentrating on Murtagh。 You'd better be top of your class; young fellow; he thought; knowing how petitive she was; or you're in for a drubbing。 Carefully keeping his amusement private; he went back to the papers。 When he finished initialing his set; he watched the two of them critically; his daughter sitting casually on the edge of the sofa; beautiful and so assured; very much a woman; and Murtagh tall and well mannered; a little shy; but holding his own very well。
Could I stand a banker in the family? I'd better check up on him! God help us; an American? Well he's Texan; and that's not the same; is it? I wish Penn were back here。
〃。。。 oh no; Adryon;〃 Murtagh was saying。 〃I've a pany apartment over at West Point。 It's a little bitty place but great。〃
〃That makes such a difference; doesn't it? I live here but I'm going to have my own apartment soon。〃 She added pointedly; 〃Aren't I; Father?〃
〃Of course。〃 Dunross added at once; 〃After university! Here's my set; Mr。 Murtagh; do you think you could sign yours?〃
〃Oh yes 。。。 oh sorry!〃 Murtagh almost ran over; hurriedly initialed his set with a flourish。 〃Here you are; sir。 You; er; you said 7:30 at your office tomorrow morning; huh?〃
Adryon arched an eyebrow。 〃You'd better be punctual; Dave; the tai…pan's unfortably ornery at unpunctuality。〃
〃Rubbish;〃 Dunross said。
〃I love you; Father; but that's not rubbish!〃
They chatted for a minute then Dunross glanced at his watch; pretending to be concerned。 〃Damn! I've got to make a phone call then rush。〃 At once Murtagh picked up his briefcase but Dunross added blandly; 〃Adryon; you said you were leaving in a few minutes。 I wonder; would you have time to drop Mr。 Murtagh?〃
The young man said at once; 〃Oh; I can get a cab; there's no need to trouble yoursel… 〃
〃Oh it's no trouble;〃 she said happily; 〃no trouble at all。 West Point's on my way。〃
Dunross said good night and left them。 They hardly noticed his going。 He went to his study and closed the door and with the closing of the door; shut out everything else but Tiptop。 From the fireplace Dirk Struan watched him。 Dunross stared back a moment。
〃I've plan A; B or C;〃 he said aloud。 〃They all add up to disaster if Sinders doesn't perform。〃
The eyes just smiled in their curious way。
〃It was easy for you;〃 Dunross muttered。 〃When someone got in your way you could kill them; even the Hag。〃
Earlier he had discussed the plans with Phillip Chen。 〃They're all fraught with danger;〃 his pradore had said; very concerned。
〃Which do you advise?〃
〃The choice must be yours; tai…pan。 You will have to make personal guarantees。 It's face too; though I'd support you in everything; and you did ask for a favor as an Old Friend。〃
〃What about Sir Luis?〃
〃I've arranged to see him tonight; tai…pan。 I hope for cooperation。〃 Phillip Chen had seemed grayer and older than ever。 〃It's a pity there's nothing we can give Tiptop in case Sinders reneges。〃
〃What about bartering the tanker fleet? Can we lean on Vee Cee? What about thoriums … or Joseph Yu?〃
〃Tiptop needs something to barter with; not a threat; tai…pan。 Did P。B。 say he'd help?〃
〃He promised to phone Tiptop this afternoon … he said he'd also try one of his friends in Peking。〃
At exactly seven o'clock Dunross dialed。 〃Mr。 Tip; please。 Ian Dunross。〃
〃Good evening; tai…pan。 How are you? I hear you may be riding Noble Star next Saturday?〃
〃That's possible。〃 They talked about inconsequential matters; then Tiptop said; 〃And that unfortunate person? At the latest; when is he going to be released?〃
Dunross held on to himself; then mitted his future。 〃Sunset tomorrow; at Lo Wu。〃
〃Do you personally guarantee he will be there?〃
〃I personally guarantee I've done everything in my power to persuade the authorities to release him。〃
〃That's not the same as saying the man will be there。 Is it?〃
〃No。 But he'll be there。 I'm 。。。〃 Dunross stopped。 He was going to say; 〃almost certain〃 and then he knew he would su