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〃The servants say in his office on the next floor；〃 the man said。 His name was Wine Waiter Feng； and he was one of SI's undercover network of intelligence agents。 His cover as a waiter for the pany that catered all Hong Kong's best and most exclusive parties gave him great value。 〃Perhaps it's behind the painting； I heard。 。。。〃 He stopped suddenly and switched to pidgin English。 〃Champigy…nee Missee？〃 he asked toothily； offering the tray to the tiny old Eurasian lady who was ing up to them。 〃Wery wery first class。〃
〃Don't you Missee me； you impertinent young puppy；〃 she rapped haughtily in Cantonese。
〃Yes； Honored Great…Aunt； sorry； Honored Great…Aunt。〃 He beamed and fled。
〃So； young Brian Kwok；〃 the old lady said； peering up at him。
She was eighty…eight； Sarah Chen； Phillip Chen's aunt； a tiny bird…like person with pale white skin and Asian eyes that darted this way and that。 And though she appeared frail her back was upright and her spirit very strong。 〃I'm glad to see you。 Where's John Chen？ Where's my poor grand…nephew？〃
〃I don't know； Great Lady；〃 he said politely。
〃When are you going to get my Number One Grand…nephew back？〃
〃Soon。 We're doing everything we can。〃
〃Good。 And don't you interfere with young Phillip if he wants to pay John's ransom privately。 You see to it。〃
〃Yes。 I'll do what I can。 Is John's wife here？〃
〃Eh？ Who？ Speak up； boy！〃
〃Is Barbara Chen here？〃
〃No。 She came earlier but as soon as that woman arrived she 'got a headache' and left。 Huh； I don't blame her at all！〃 Her old rheumy eyes were watching Dianne Chen across the room。 〃Huh； that woman！ Did you see her entrance？〃
〃No； Great Lady。〃
〃Huh； like Dame Nellie Melba herself。 She swept in； handkerchief to her eyes； her eldest son Kevin in tow … I don't like that boy … and my poor nephew Phillip like a second…class cook boy in the rear。 Huh！ The only time Dianne Chen ever wept was in the crash of '56 when her stocks went down and she lost a fortune and wet her drawers。 Ha！ Look at her now； preening herself！ Pretending to be upset when everyone knows she's acting as though she's already Dowager Empress！ I could pinch her cheeks！ Disgusting！〃 She looked back at Brian Kwok。 〃You find my grand…nephew John … I don't want that woman or her brat loh…pan of our house。〃
〃But he can be tai…pan？〃
They laughed together。 Very few Europeans knew that though tai…pan meant great leader； in the old days in China a tai…pan was the colloquial title of a man in charge of a whorehouse or public toilet。 So no Chinese would ever call himself tai…pan； only loh…pan … which also meant great leader or head leader。 Chinese and Eurasians were greatly amused that Europeans enjoyed calling themselves tai…pan； stupidly passing over the correct title。
〃Yes。 If he's the right pan；〃 the old woman said and they chuckled。 〃You find my John Chen； young Brian Kwok！〃
〃Yes。 Yes we'll find him。〃
〃Good。 Now； what do you think of Golden Lady's chances on Saturday？〃
〃Good； if the going's dry。 At three to one she's worth a bundle。 Watch Noble Star … she's got a chance too。〃
〃Good。 After dinner e and find me。 I want to talk to you。〃
〃Yes； Great Lady。〃 He smiled and watched her go off and knew that all she wanted was to try to act the marriage broker for some great…niece。 Ayeeyah； I'll have to do something about that soon； he thought。
His eyes strayed back to Casey。 He was delighted by the disapproving looks from all the women … and the cautious covert admiration from all their escorts。 Then Casey glanced up and saw him watching her across the room and she stared back at him briefly with equal frank appraisal。
Dew neh loh moh； he thought uneasily； feeling somehow undressed。 I'd like to possess that one。 Then he noticed Roger Crosse with Armstrong beside him。 He put his mind together and headed for them。
〃Evening； sir。〃
〃Evening； Brian。 You're looking very distinguished。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃 He knew better than to volunteer anything pleasant in return。 〃I'm seeing the tai…pan after dinner。〃
〃Good。 As soon as you've seen him； find me。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃So you think the American girl stunning？〃
〃Yes sir。〃 Brian sighed inwardly。 He had forgotten that Crosse could lip…read English； French and some Arabic … he spoke no Chinese dialects … and that his eyesight was exceptional。
〃Actually she's rather obvious；〃 Crosse said。
〃Yes sir。〃 He saw Crosse concentrating on her lips and knew that he was overhearing her conversation from across the room and he was furious with himself that he had not developed the talent。
〃She seems to have a passion for puters。〃 Crosse turned his eyes back on them。 〃Curious； what？〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃What did Wine Waiter Feng say？〃
Brian told him。
〃Good。 I'll see Feng gets a bonus。 I didn't expect to see Langan and Rosemont here。〃
〃It could be a coincidence； sir；〃 Brian Kwok volunteered。
〃They're both keen punters。 They've both been to the tai…pan's box。〃
〃I don't trust coincidences；〃 Crosse said。 〃As far as Langan's concerned； of course you know nothing； either of you。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
〃Good。 Perhaps you'd both better be about our business。〃
〃Yes sir。〃 Thankfully the two men turned to leave but stopped as there was a sudden hush。 All eyes went to the doorway。 Quillan Gornt stood there； black…browed； black…bearded； conscious that he had been noticed。 The other guests hastily picked up their conversations and kept their eyes averted but their ears concentrated。
Crosse whistled softly。 〃Now why is he here？〃
〃Fifty to one says he's up to no good；〃 Brian Kwok said； equally astounded。
They watched Gornt e into the ballroom and put out his hand to Dunross and Penelope beside him。 Claudia Chen who was nearby was in shock； wondering how she could reorganize Dunross's table at such short notice because of course Gornt would have to be seated there。
〃I hope you don't mind my changing my mind at the last moment；〃 Gornt was saying； his mouth smiling。
〃Not at all；〃 Dunross replied； his mouth smiling。
〃Good evening； Penelope。 I felt I had to give you my congratulations personally。〃
〃Oh； thank you；〃 she said。 Her smile was intact but her heart was beating very fast now。 〃I； I was sorry to hear about your wife。〃
〃Thank you。〃 Emelda Gornt had been arthritic and confined to a wheelchair for some years。 Early in the year she had caught pneumonia and had died。 〃She was very unlucky；〃 Gornt said。 He looked at Dunross。 〃Bad joss about John Chen too。〃
〃Very。〃
〃I suppose you read the afternoon Gazette？〃
Dunross nodded and Penelope said； 〃Enough to frighten everyone out of their wits。〃 All the afternoon papers had had huge headlines and dwelt at length on the mutilated ear and the Werewolves。 There was a slight pause。 She rushed to fill it。 〃Your children are well？〃
〃Yes。 Annagrey's going to the University of California in September … Michael is here on his summer holiday。 They're all in very good shape I'm glad to say。 And yours？〃
〃They're fine。 I do wish Adryon would go to university though。 Dear me； children are very difficult these days； aren't they？〃
〃I think they always were。〃 Gornt smiled thinly。 〃My father was always pointing out how difficult I was。〃