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s intimates。 But even then； whenever she would meet him in public； like tonight； it would always be Mr。 Havergill。 He's not a bad man； she told herself； remembering that though most of his girls never liked him； they fawned on him for he was reasonably generous and could always arrange a sudden loan at low interest for a friend through one of his banking associates； but never at the Vic。
Wise； she thought； amused； and a matter of face。 Ah； but I could write such a book about them all if I wanted to。 I never will … I don't think I ever will。 Why should I； there's no reason。 Even after Macao I've always kept the secrets。 That's another thing Quillan taught me … discretion。
Macao。 What a waste！ I can hardly remember what that young man looked like now； only that he was awful at the pillow and； because of him； my life was destroyed。 The fool was only a sudden； passing fancy； the very first。 It was only loneliness because Quillan was away a month and everyone away； and it was lust for youth … just the youth…filled body that had attracted me and proved to be so useless。 Fool！ What a fool I was！
Her heart began fluttering at the thought of all those nightmares： being caught； being sent to England； having to fight the youth off； desperate to please Quillan； then ing back and Quillan so cool and never pillowing with him again。 And then the greater nightmare of adjusting to a life without him。
Terrifying days。 That awful unquenchable desire。 Being alone。 Being excluded。 All the tears and the misery then trying to begin again but cautiously； always hoping he would relent if I was patient。 Never anyone in Hong Kong； always alone in Hong Kong； but when the urge was too much； going away and trying but never satisfied。 Oh Quillan； what a lover you were！
Not long ago his wife had died and then； when the time was right； Orlanda had gone to see him。 To seduce him back to her。 That night she had thought that she had succeeded but he had only been toying with her。 〃Put your clothes on； Orlanda。 I was just curious about your body； I wanted to see if it was still as exquisite as it was in my day。 I'm delighted to tell you it is … you're still perfection。 But； so sorry； I don't desire you。〃 And all her frantic weepings and pleadings made no difference。 He just listened and smoked a cigarette then stubbed it out。 〃Orlanda； please don't ever e here again uninvited；〃 he had said so quietly。 〃You chose Macao。〃
And he was right； I did； I took his face away。 Why does he still support me？ she asked herself； her eyes wandering the guests； seeking Bartlett。 Do you have to lose something before you find its true value？ Is that what life is？
〃Orlanda！〃
She stopped； startled； as someone stepped in her way。 Her eyes focused。 It was Richard Hamilton Pugmire。 He was slightly shorter than she was。 〃May I introduce Charles Biltzmann from America；〃 he was saying with a leer； his nearness making her skin crawl。 〃Charles's going to be； the； er； the new tai…pan of General Stores。 Chuck； this's Orlanda Ramos！〃
〃Pleased to meet you； ma'am！〃
〃How are you？〃 she said politely； instantly disliking him。 〃I'm sorry … 〃
〃Call me Chuck。 It's Orlanda？ Say； that's a mighty pretty name； mighty pretty dress！〃 Biltzmann produced his visiting card with a flourish。 〃Old Chinese custom！〃
She accepted it but did not reciprocate。 〃Thank you。 Sorry； Mr。 Biltzmann； would you excuse me？ I have to join my friends an… 〃 Before she could prevent it； Pugmire took her arm； led her aside a pace and whispered throatily； 〃How about dinner？ You look fantas… 〃
She jerked her arm away trying not to be obvious。 〃Go away； Pug。〃
〃Listen； Orlan… 〃
〃I've told you politely fifty times to leave me alone！ Now dew neh loh moh on you and all your line！〃 she said and Pugmire flushed。 She had always detested him； even in the old days。 He was always looking at her behind Quillan's back； leching； and when she had been discarded； Pugmire had pestered her and tried every way to get her into bed … still did。 〃If you ever call or talk to me again I'll tell all Hong Kong about you and your peculiar habits。〃 She nodded politely to Biltzmann； let his card drop unnoticed and walked off。 After a moment； Pugmire went back to the American。
〃What a body！〃 Biltzmann said； his eyes still following her。
〃She's … she's one of our well…known whores；〃 Pugmire said with a sneer。 〃I wish to Christ they'd hurry up with the food。 I'm starving。〃
〃She's a tramp？〃 Biltzmann gaped at him。
〃You can never tell here。〃 Pugmire added； keeping his voice down； 〃I'm surprised Shitee T'Chung invited her。 Still； I don't suppose he gives a shit now that his knighthood's dubbed and paid for。 Years ago； Orlanda used to be a girlfriend of a friend but she was up to her old tricks of selling it on the side。 He caught her at it and gave her the Big E。〃
〃The Big E？〃
〃The Elbow … the shove。〃
Biltzmann could not take his eyes off her。 〃Jesus；〃 he muttered； 〃I don't know about the Big E but I'd sure as hell like to give her the Big One。〃
〃That's just a matter of money but I can assure you； old chap； she's not worth it。 Orlanda's dreadful in the sack； I know； and nowadays you can never tell who's been there before； eh？〃 Pugmire laughed at the American's expression。 〃Never fancied her myself after the first time； but if you dip your wick there you'd better use precautions。〃
Dunross had just arrived and he was listening with half an ear to Richard Kwang who was talking grandly about the deals he had made to stave off the run； and how foul certain people were to spread such rumors。
〃I quite agree； Richard；〃 Dunross said； wanting to join the visiting MPs； who were at the far end of the room。 〃There really are a lot of bastards around。 If you'll excuse me 。。。〃
〃Of course； tai…pan。〃 Richard Kwang dropped his voice but could not prevent some of his anxiety showing。 〃I might need a hand。〃
〃Anything； of course； except money。〃
〃You could talk to Johnjohn at the Vic for me。 He'd … 〃
〃He won't； you know that； Richard。 Your only chance is one of your Chinese friends。 What about Smiler Ching？〃
〃Huh； that old crook … wouldn't ask him for any of his dirty money！〃 Richard Kwang said with a sneer。 Smiler Ching had reneged on their deal and had refused to lend him money … or credit。 〃That old crook deserves prison！ There's a run on him too； but that's what he deserves！ I think it's all started by the munists； they're trying to ruin us all。 The Bank of China！ Did you hear about the queues at the Vic in Central？ There're more at Blacs。 Old Big Belly Tok's Bank of East Asia and Japan's gone under。 They won't open their doors tomorrow。〃
〃Christ； are you sure？〃
〃He called me tonight asking for 20 million。 Dew neh loh moh； tai…pan； unless we all get help Hong Kong's going under。 We've 。。。〃 Then he saw Venus Poon in the doorway on the arm of Four Finger Wu and his heart skipped eight beats。 This evening she had been furious when he did not arrive with the mink coat that he had promised her。 She had wept and shouted and her amah had wailed and they would not accept his excuse that his furrier had let him down and they both had gone on and on until he promised without fail that before the races he would bring her the gift that he had promised。
〃Are you taking me to Shi…teh's？〃
〃My wife changed her mind and now she's going； so I can't； but afterwards we'll go … 〃
〃Afterwards I'll be tired！ First no present and now I can't go to the party！ Where's the aquamarine pendant you promised me last month？ Where did my mink go？ On your wife's back I'll bet！ Ayeeyah； my hairdresser and her hairdresser are friends so I'll find out if it did。 Oh woe woe woe you don't really love your Daughter anymore。 I'll have to kill myself or accept Four Finger Wu's invitation。〃
〃Wat？〃
Richard Kwang remembered how he had almost had a hemorrhage then and there； and he had ranted and raved and screamed that her apartment cost him a fortune and her clothes cost thousands a week and she had ranted and raved and screamed back。 〃And what about the run on the bank？ Are you solvent？ What about my savings？ Are they safe heya？〃
〃Ayeeyah you miserable whore； what savings？ The savings I am going to put there for you？ Huh！ Of course they're safe； safe as the Bank of England！〃
〃Woe woe woe I'm penniless now。 Your poor destitute Daughter！ I'll have to sell myself or mit suicide。 Yes； that's it！ Poison 。。。 that's it！ I think I'll take an overdose of 。。。 of aspirins。 Ah Poo！ Bring me an overdose of aspirins！〃
So he had begged and pleaded and eventually she had relented and allowed him to take away the aspirins and he had promised to rush back to the apartment the very moment the banquet was over and now his eyes were almost staring out of his head because there； at the doorway； was Venus Poon on the arm of Four Finger Wu； both resplendent； he puffed with pride； and she demure and innocent； wearing the dress he'd just paid for。
〃What's up； Richard？〃 Dunross asked； concerned。
Richard Kwang tried to speak； couldn't； just tottered away toward his wife who tore her baleful eyes off Venus Poon and put them back on him。
〃Hello； dear；〃 he said； his backbone jelly。
〃Hello； dear；〃 Mai…ling Kwang replied sweetly。 〃Who's tha