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〃Why？〃
〃You'll see。〃 Happily she opened her handbag and found a crumpled cigarette package and a battered gold lighter。 He took the lighter and flicked it for her but it did not light。 A second and a third time but nothing。
〃Bloody thing；〃 she said。 〃Bloody thing's never worked properly but Father gave it to me。 I love it。 Of course I dropped it a couple of times。〃
He peered at it； blew the wick and fiddled a moment。 〃You shouldn't smoke anyway。〃
〃That's what Father always says。〃
〃He's right。〃
〃Yes。 But I like smoking for the time being。 How old are you； Linc？〃
〃Forty。〃
〃Oh！〃 He saw the surprise。 〃Then you're the same age as Father！ Well； almost。 He's forty…one。〃
〃Both were great years；〃 Linc said dryly； and he thought； Whichever way you figure it； Adryon； I really am old enough to be your father。
Another frown creased her brow。 〃It's funny； you don't seem the same age at all。〃 Then she added in a rush； 〃In two years I'll be twenty…one and that's practically over the hill； I just can't imagine being twenty…five let alone thirty and as to forty 。。。 God； I think I'd rather be pushing up daisies。〃
〃Twenty…one's old … yes ma'am； mighty old；〃 he said。 And he thought； It's a long time since you spent time with such a young one。 Watch yourself。 This one's dynamite。 He flicked the lighter and it lit。 〃What d'you know！〃
〃Thanks；〃 she said and puffed her cigarette alight。 〃You don't smoke？〃 she asked。
〃No； not now。 Used to but Casey sent me illustrated pamphlets on cancer and smoking every hour on the hour until I got the message。 Didn't faze me a bit to stop … once I'd decided。 It sure as hell improved my golf and tennis and 。。。〃 he smiled。 〃And all forms of sports。〃
〃Casey is gorgeous。 Is she really your executive vice…president？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃She's going to 。。。 it'll be very difficult for her here。 The men won't like dealing with her at all。〃
〃Same in the States。 But they're getting used to it。 We built Par…Con in six years。 Casey can work with the best of them。 She's a winner。〃
〃Is she your mistress？〃
He sipped his beer。 〃Are all young English ladies so blunt？〃
〃No。〃 She laughed。 〃I was just curious。 Everyone says 。。。 everyone presumes she is。〃
〃That a fact？〃
〃Yes。 You're the talk of Hong Kong society； and tonight will cap everything。 You both made rather a grand entrance； what with your private jet； the smuggled guns and Casey being the last European to see John Chen； so the papers said。 I liked your interview。〃
〃Eh； those bas… those press guys were waiting on the doorstep this afternoon。 I tried to keep it short and sharp。〃
〃Par…Con's really worth half a billion dollars？〃
〃No。 About 300 million … but it'll be a billion…dollar pany soon。 Yes； it'll be soon now。〃
He saw her looking at him with those frank； gray…green eyes of hers； so adult yet so young。 〃You're a very interesting man； Mr。 Linc Bartlett。 I like talking to you。 I like you too。 Didn't at first。 I screamed bloody murder when Father told me I had to chaperone you； introduce you around for a while。 I haven't done a very good job； have I？〃
〃It's been super。〃
〃Oh e on。〃 She grinned too。 〃I've totally monopolized you。〃
〃Not true。 I met Christian Toxe the editor； Richard Kwang and those two Americans from the consulate。 Lannan wasn't it？〃
〃Langan； Edward Langan。 He's nice。 I didn't catch the other one's name … I don't know them really； they've just been racing with us。 Christian's nice and his wife's super。 She's Chinese so she's not here tonight。〃
Bartlett frowned。 〃Because she's Chinese？〃
〃Oh； she was invited but she wouldn't e。 It's face。 To save her husband's face。 The nobs don't approve of mixed marriages。〃
〃Marrying the natives？〃
〃Something like that。〃 She shrugged。 〃You'll see。 I'd better introduce you to some more guests or I'll get hell！〃
〃How about to Havergill the banker？ What about him？〃
〃Father thinks Havergill's a berk。〃
〃Then by God he's a twenty…two…carat berk from here on in！〃
〃Good；〃 she said and they laughed together。
〃Linc？〃
They looked around at the two figures silhouetted in the shaft of light from the doorway。 He recognized Casey's voice and shape at once but not the man。 It was not possible from where they were to see against the light。
〃Hi； Casey！ How's it going？〃
He took Adryon's arm casually and propelled her toward the silhouette。 〃I've been teaching Adryon the finer points of pool。〃
Adryon laughed。 〃That's the understatement of the year； Casey。 He's super at it； isn't he？〃
〃Yes。 Oh Linc； Quillan Gornt wanted to say hi before he left。〃
Abruptly Adryon jerked to a stop and the color left her face。 Linc stopped； startled。 〃What's wrong？〃 he asked her。
〃Evening； Mr。 Bartlett；〃 Gornt said； moving toward them into the light。 〃Hello； Adryon。〃
〃What're you doing here？〃 she said in a tiny voice。
〃I just came for a few minutes；〃 Gornt said。
〃Have you seen Father？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then get out。 Get out and leave this house alone。〃 Adryon said it in the same small voice。
Bartlett stared at her。 〃What the hell's up？〃
Gornt said calmly； 〃It's a long story。 It can wait until tomorrow … or next week。 I just wanted to confirm our dinner on Tuesday … and if you're free over the weekend； perhaps you two would like to e out on my boat for the day。 Sunday if the weather's good。〃
〃Thanks； I think so； but may we confirm tomorrow？〃 Bartlett asked； still nonplussed by Adryon。
〃Adryon；〃 Gornt said gently； 〃Annagrey's leaving next week； she asked me to ask you to give her a call。〃 Adryon did not answer； just stared at him； and Gornt added to the other two； 〃Annagrey's my daughter。 They're good friends … they've both gone to the same schools most of their lives。 She's off to university in California。〃
〃Oh … then if there's anything we could do for her 。。。〃 Casey said。
〃That's very kind of you；〃 he said。 〃You'll meet her Tuesday。 Perhaps we can talk about it then。 I'll say g… 〃
The door at the far end of the billiard room swung open and Dunross stood there。
Gornt smiled and turned his attention back to them。 〃Good night； Mr。 Bartlett … Ciranoush。 See you both on Tuesday。 Good night； Adryon。〃 He bowed slightly to them and walked the length of the room and stopped。 〃Good night； Ian；〃 he said politely。 〃Thank you for your hospitality。〃
〃 'Night；〃 Dunross said； as politely； and stood aside； a slight smile twisting his lips。
He watched Gornt walk out of the front door and then turned his attention back to the billiard room。 〃Almost time for dinner；〃 he said； his voice calm。 And warm。 〃You must all be starving。 I am。〃
〃What 。。。 what did he want？〃 Adryon said shakily。
Dunross came up to her with a smile； gentling her。 〃Nothing。 Nothing important； my pet。 Quillan's mellowing in his old age。〃
〃You're sure？〃
〃Sure。〃 He put his arm around her and gave her a little hug。 〃No need to worry your pretty head。〃
〃Has he gone？〃
〃Yes。〃
Bartlett started to say something but stopped instantly as he caught Dunross's eye over Adryon's head。
〃Yes。 Everything's grand； my darling；〃 Dunross was saying as he gave her another little hug； and Bartlett saw Adryon gather herself within the warmth。 〃Nothing to worry a