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〃And so it was done。
〃At great risk I provided funds and protection。 My darling Dirk Dunross spirited Dr。 Sun out of Canton to the Colony and from there abroad to America。 I wanted Dr。 Sun to acpany young Dirk to England … he was leaving on the tide。 Master of our steamer Sunset Cloud。 That was the week I wanted to hand over to him as real tai…pan but he said； 'No； not until I return。' But he was never to return。 He and all hands were lost at sea somewhere in the Indian Ocean。 Oh how terrible my loss； our loss！
〃But death is a part of life and we the living have our duty to be done。 I do not yet know to whom I should hand over。 It should have been Dirk Dunross； who was named for his grandfather。 His sons are too young； none of the Coopers are adequate； or deVilles； Daglish is possible； none of the MacStruans are yet ready。 Alastair Struan perhaps but there's a weakness there that es down from Robb Struan。
〃I don't mind admitting to you； future tai…pan； that I am weary unto death。 But I am not yet ready to die。 Pray God I am given the strength for a few more years。 There is not one of my line or my beloved Dirk Struan's line worthy of his mantle。 And now there is this Great War to see through； the House to rebuild； our merchant fleet to refurbish … so far German U…boats have sunk thirty of our ships； almost our whole fleet。 Yes； and there is the favor of the second coin still to fulfill。 This Dr。 Sun Yat…sen must and will be supported until he dies and so retain our face in Asia。 。。。〃
And we did； Dunross thought。 The Noble House supported him in all his troubles； even when he tried to join with Soviet Russia； until he died in 1925 and Chiang Kai…shek； his Soviet…trained lieutenant； assumed his mantle and launched China into the future … until his old ally but ancient enemy； Mao Tse…tung； took the future away from him to mount the Dragon Throne in Peking with bloody hands； first of a new dynasty。
Dunross took out a handkerchief and mopped his brow。
The air in the vault was dusty and dry and a little caught in his throat and he coughed。 His hands were sweaty too and he could still feel the chill on his back。 He rummaged carefully to the bottom of the deep metal box and found his corporate chop that he would need over the weekend in case the Royal Belgium…First Central deal came to pass。 I certainly owe Casey more than one favor if the deal is made； he told himself。
His heart was thumping again and he could not resist making sure。 With great care he lifted the secret false bottom of the safety deposit box a fraction。 In the two…inch space beneath were eight blue…covered files。 AMG's real files。 Those that moments ago he had passed over to Sinders had been in the sealed package that Kirk and his wife had brought yesterday … those eight counterfeit files and a letter： 〃Tai…pan： I am terribly worried that both you and I are betrayed and that information contained in previous files may fall into the wrong hands。 The enclosed substitute files are safe and very similar。 They drop vital names and vital information。 You may pass these over if you are forced to do it； but only then。 As to the originals； you should destroy them after you have seen Riko。 Certain pages contain invisible writing。 Riko will give you the key。 Please excuse all these diversionary tactics but espionage is not for children； it deals in death； actual and in the future。 Our lovely Britain is beset with traitors and evil walks the earth。 Bluntly； freedom is under siege as never in history。 I beg you to emulate your illustrious ancestor。 He fought for freedom to trade； to live and to worship。 Sorry； but I don't think he died in a storm。 We'll never know the truth but I believe he was murdered； as I will be。 Not to worry； my young friend。 I've done very well in my life。 I've put a lot of nails in the enemy coffin； more than my fair share … I ask you to do the same。〃
The letter was signed； 〃With great respect。〃
Poor bugger； Dunross thought sadly。
Yesterday he had smuggled the counterfeit files into the vault； replacing the originals in the other box。 He would have liked to have destroyed the originals then but there was no way to do that safely and anyway he had to wait for his meeting with the Japanese woman。 Better and safer to leave them where they are for the moment； he said to himself。 Plenty of ti…
Suddenly he felt eyes。 His hand sneaked for the automatic。 When his fingers had grasped it； he looked around。 His stomach seemed to turn over。 Crosse was watching him。 And Johnjohn。 They were at the entrance to the vault。
After a moment Crosse said； 〃I just wanted to thank you for your cooperation； Ian。 Mr。 Sinders and I appreciate it。〃
Relief poured through Dunross。 〃That's all right。 Glad to help。〃 Trying to be casual he relaxed his hold on the automatic and let it slide away。 The false bottom fell silently into place。 He saw Crosse's scrutiny but shrugged it off。 From where the superintendent stood he did not think it possible for him to have seen the real files。 Dunross blessed his joss that had prevented him from taking one of the files out to leaf through it。 Carelessly he slammed the box shut and his breathing began again。 〃It really is quite stuffy in here； isn't it？〃
〃Yes。 Again； Ian； thank you。〃 Crosse left。
〃How did you open that box？〃 Johnjohn asked coldly。
〃With a key。〃
〃Two keys； Ian。 That's against regulations。〃 Johnjohn held out his hand。 〃May I have our property please。〃
〃Sorry； old chum；〃 Dunross said calmly； 〃it's not your property。〃
Johnjohn hesitated。 〃We always suspected you had a duplicate master key。 Paul is right about one thing： you've too much power； you consider this bank yours； our funds yours and the Colony yours。〃
〃We've had a long and happy association with both； and it's only in the last few years when Paul Havergill's had some measure of power that I've had a hard time； me personally； and my House personally。 But worse than that； he's old…fashioned and I voted him out for that reason only。 You're not； you're modern。 You'll be fairer； far…seeing； less emotional and straighter。〃
Johnjohn shook his head。 〃I doubt it。 If I ever bee tai…pan of the bank I'm going to see it's wholly owned by its stockholders and controlled by directors appointed by them。〃
〃It is now。 We just own 21 percent of the bank。〃
〃You used to own 21 percent。 That stock's pledged against your revolving fund which you can't and probably never will repay。 Besides； 21 percent is not control； thank God。〃
〃It very nearly is。〃
〃My whole point。〃 Johnjohn's voice was metallic。 〃That's dangerous for the bank； very dangerous。〃
〃I don't think so。〃
〃I do。 I want 11 percent back。〃
〃No sale； old lad。〃
〃When I'm tai…pan； old lad； I'll get it by hook or by crook。〃
〃We'll see。〃
〃When I'm tai…pan I'm going to make lots of changes。 All these locks for example。 No master keys； privately owned。〃
〃We'll see。〃 Dunross smiled。
On Kowloon side； Bartlett jumped from the wharf to the pitching boat； helped Orlanda aboard。 Automatically she kicked off her high heels to protect the fine teak deck。
〃Wele aboard the Sea Witch； Mr。 Bartlett。 Evening； Orlanda；〃 Gornt said with a smile。 He was at the helm and at once he motioned to his deckhand who cast off from the wharf that was near the Kowloon ferry terminal。 〃I'm delighted you accepted my invitation to dinner； Mr。 Bartlett。〃
〃I didn't know I had one until Orlanda told me half an hour ago 。。。 hey； this's a great boat！〃
Gornt jovially put the engines into slow astern。 〃Until an hour ago I didn't know you two were going to dinner by yourselves。 I presumed you'd never seen Hong Kong harbor by night so I thought it'd make a change for you。 There were a couple of things I wanted to discuss privately so I asked Orlanda if she'd mind if I invited you aboard。〃
〃I hope it was no trouble to e Kowloon side。〃
〃No trouble； Mr。 Bartlett。 It's routine to pick up guests here。〃 Gornt smiled a secret smile； thinking about Orlanda and all the other guests he had fetched from this Kowloon wharf over the years。 Deftly Gornt backed the motor cruiser away from the Kowloon dock near Golden Ferry where the waves slapped the quay dangerously。 He put the engine levers into half ahead and swung the tiller starboard to get out into the roads and set a westerly course。
The boat was seventy feet； trim； elegant； sparkling and she handled like a speedboat。 They were on the bridge deck； glass…sided； open to the air aft； awnings overhead tight and crackling in the breeze； the wake churning。 Gornt wore rough； casual sea clothes； a light reefer jacket and a jaunty peaked cap sporting the Yacht Club emblem。 The clothes and his trimmed black； gray…flecked beard suited him。 He swayed easily with the motion of the boat； very much at home。
Bartlett was watching him； at home too in sneakers and casual sweat shirt。 Orlanda was beside him and he could feel her though they were not touching。 She wore a dark evening pants suit and a shawl against the sea cold and she stood swaying easily； the wind in her hair； tiny without shoes。
He looked aft across the harbor at the ferries； junks； liners and the immense bulk of the battle…gray nuclear carrier； her decks floodlit； her flag flutter