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〃I think they always were。〃 Gornt smiled thinly。 〃My father was always pointing out how difficult I was。〃 He looked at Dunross again。
〃Yes。 How is your father？〃
〃Hale and hearty I'm glad to say。 The English climate suits him； he says。 He's ing out for Christmas。〃 Gornt accepted a proffered glass of champagne。 The waiter quailed under his look； and fled。 He raised his glass。 〃A happy life and many congratulations。〃
Dunross toasted him in return； still astonished that Gornt had arrived。 It was only for politeness and for face that Gornt and other enemies had been sent formal invitations。 A polite refusal was all that was expected … and Gornt had already refused。
Why's he here？
He's e to gloat； Dunross thought。 Like his bloody father。 That must be the reason。 But why？ What devilment has he done to us？ Bartlett？ Is it through Bartlett？
〃This's a lovely room； beautiful proportions；〃 Gornt was saying。 〃And a lovely house。 I've always envied you this house。〃
Yes； you bastard； I know； Dunross thought furiously； remembering the last time any of the Gornts had been in the Great House。 Ten years ago； in 1953； when Ian's father； Colin Dunross； was still the tai…pan。 It was during Struan's Christmas party； traditionally the biggest of the season； and Quillan Gornt had arrived with his father； William； then tai…pan of Rothwell…Gornt； again unexpectedly。 After dinner there had been a bitter； public clash between the two tai…pans in the billiard room where a dozen or so of the men had gathered for a game。 That was when Struan's had just been blocked by the Gornts and their Shanghainese friends in their attempt to take over South Orient Airways； which； because of the munist conquest of the Mainland； had just bee available。 This feeder airline monopolized all air traffic in and out of Shanghai from Hong Kong； Singapore； Taipei； Tokyo and Bangkok； and if merged with Air Struan； their fledgling airline； Struan's would have virtual feeder monopoly in the Far East based out of Hong Kong。 Both men had accused the other of underhand practices … both accusations were true。
Yes； Ian Dunross told himself； both men went to the brink that time。 William Gornt had tried every way to bee established in Hong Kong after Rothwell…Gornt's huge losses in Shanghai。 And when Colin Dunross knew Struan's could not prevail； he had snatched South Orient out of William Gornt's grasp by throwing his weight to a safe Cantonese group。
〃And so you did； Colin Dunross； so you did。 You fell into the trap and you'll never stop us now；〃 William Gornt had gloated。 〃We're here to stay。 We'll hound you out of Asia； you and your god…cursed Noble House。 South Orient's just the beginning。 We've won！〃
〃The hell you have！ The Yan…Wong…Sun group's associated with us。 We have a contract。〃
〃It's hereby canceled。〃 William Gornt had motioned to Quillan； his eldest son and heir apparent； who took out the copy of an agreement。 〃This contract's between the Yan…Wong…Sun group who're nominees of the Tso…Wa…Feng group；〃 he said happily； 〃who're nominees of Ta…Weng…Sap who sells control of South Orient to Rothwell…Gornt for one dollar more than the original cost！〃 Quillan Gornt had laid it on the billiard table with a flourish。 〃South Orient's ours！〃
〃I don't believe it！〃
〃You can。 Happy Christmas！〃 William Gornt had given a great； scorn…filled laugh； and walked out。 Quillan had replaced his billiard cue； laughing too。 Ian Dunross had been near the door。
〃One day I'll own this house；〃 Quillan Gornt had hissed at him； then turned and called out to the others； 〃If any of you want jobs； e to us。 Soon you'll all be out of work。 Your Noble House won't be noble much longer。〃 Andrew Gavallan had been there； Jacques deVille； Alastair Struan； Lechie and David MacStruan； Phillip Chen； even John Chen。
Dunross remembered how his father had raged that night； and blamed treachery and nominees and bad joss； knowing all the time that he himself had warned him； many times； and that his warnings had been shoved aside。 Christ； how we lost face！ All Hong Kong laughed at us that time … the Noble House peed on from a great height by the Gornts and their Shanghainese interlopers。
Yes。 But that night finalized Colin Dunross's downfall。 That was the night I decided that he had to go before the Noble House was lost forever。 I used Alastair Struan。 I helped him to shove my father aside。 Alastair Struan had to bee tai…pan。 Until I was wise enough and strong enough to shove him aside。
Am I wise enough now？
I don't know； Dunross thought； concentrating on Quillan Gornt now； listening to his pleasantries； hearing himself react with equal charm； while his mind said； I haven't forgotten South Orient； or that we had to merge our airline with yours at a fire…sale price and lose control of the new line renamed All Asia Airways。 Nothing's forgotten。 We lost that time but this time we'll win。 We'll win everything； by God。
Casey was watching both men with fascination。 She had noticed Quillan Gornt from the first moment； recognizing him from the photographs of the dossier。 She had sensed his strength and masculinity even from across the room and had been uneasily excited by him。 As she watched； she could almost touch the tension between the two men squaring on … two bulls in challenge。
Andrew Gavallan had told her at once who Gornt was。 She had volunteered nothing； just asked Gavallan and Linbar Struan why they were so shocked at Gornt's arrival。 And then； as they were alone now； the four of them … Casey； Gavallan； deVille and Linbar Struan … they told her about the 〃Happy Christmas〃 and 〃One day I'll own this house。〃
〃What did the tai…pan 。。。 what did Ian do？〃 she asked。
Gavallan said； 〃He just looked at Gornt。 You knew if he had a gun or a knife or a cudgel he'd've used it； you just knew it； and as he hadn't a weapon you knew any moment he was going to use his hands or teeth。 。。。 He just stood rock still and looked at Gornt and Gornt went back a pace； out of range … literally。 But that bugger Gornt's got cojones。 He sort of gathered himself together and stared back at Ian for a moment。 Then； without saying a word he went around him slowly； very cautiously； his eyes never leaving Ian； and he left。〃
〃What's that bastard doing here tonight？〃 Linbar muttered。
Gavallan said； 〃It's got to be important。〃
〃Which one？〃 Linbar asked。 〃Which important？〃
Casey looked at him and at the edge of her peripheral vision she saw Jacques deVille shake his head warningly and at once the shades came down on Linbar and on Gavallan。 Even so she asked； 〃What is Gornt doing here？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Gavallan told her； and she believed him。
〃Have they met since that Christmas？〃
〃Oh yes； many times； all the time；〃 Gavallan told her。 〃Socially of course。 Then； too； they're on the boards of panies； mittees； councils together。〃 Uneasily he added； 〃But 。。。 well I'm sure they're both just waiting。〃
She saw their eyes wander back to the two enemies and her eyes followed。 Her heart was beating strongly。 They saw Penelope move away to talk to Claudia Chen。 In a moment； Dunross glanced across at them。 She knew he was signaling Gavallan in some way。 Then his eyes were on her。 Gornt foll