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Into the mike Dunross said； 〃The stewards appreciate your continued support。〃 He repeated it in Cantonese； adding； 〃There will be a further special announcement in a few minutes。 Thank you！〃 in both languages。
Another huge cheer and those in the rain scurried for cover or for the winning windows； everyone chattering； groaning； cursing the gods or blessing them； choking the exits； long lines of men； women and children seeking the long way home； a wonderful new happiness possessing them。 Only those who possessed the winning double quinella numbers； eight and five in the second； one and seven in the fifth； stood paralyzed； staring at the tote； waiting for the winning odds to be declared。
〃Another announcement； tai…pan？〃 the announcer asked anxiously。
〃Yes；〃 Dunross said。 〃Around five。〃 Havergill had told him that the deal with Richard Kwang had been struck and had asked him to go to the Victoria box as soon as possible。 He reached the exit door and went down the steps three at a time to the next level； very pleased with himself。 Giving the race to Pilot Fish's got to throw Gornt； he thought。 Gornt knew and I knew it was a carve…up and that Alexi was set up whatever he did … which is the major reason I didn't ride。 They'd've tried it on me and I would have killed someone。 But next Saturday 。。。 ah； next Saturday I'll ride and Bluey White won't dare； nor will the other trainers； next Saturday'll be fair game and they'll be on notice by God。 His excitement picked up a beat。 Then ahead in the crowded corridor he saw Murtagh waiting for him。
〃Oh tai…pan； can I se… 〃
〃Of course。〃 Dunross led him through the kitchen into his private room。
〃That was a great race。 I won a bundle；〃 the young man said excitedly； 〃and great about Saturday。〃
〃Good。〃 Then Dunross noticed the sweat on the man's forehead。 Oh Christ； he thought。 〃Are we in business； Mr。 Murtagh？〃
〃Please call me Dave； the brass said； er； they said maybe。 They've scheduled a board meeting for tomorrow； 9：00 a。m。 their time。 Our time that's 。。。〃
〃10：00 p。m。 this evening。 Yes。 Excellent； Mr。 Murtagh； then call me on this number。〃 Dunross wrote it down。 〃Please don't lose it and don't give it to anyone else。〃
〃Oh； of course； tai…pan； I'll call the very moment 。。。 How late can I call？〃
〃The moment you put the phone down to them。 Keep calling till you get me。〃 Dunross got up。 〃Sorry but there's rather a lot to do。〃
〃Oh sure； sure！〃 Murtagh added uneasily； 〃Say； tai…pan； I just heard about the 2 million down on the General Stores tender。 2 million from us by 9：30 Monday's gotta be kinda pushing it。〃
〃I rather expected it would be … for your group。 Fortunately； Mr。 Murtagh； I never planned on that modest amount of cash being your money。 I know First Central is inclined to be like the mills of God … they grind slowly … unless they wish to remove themselves from the arena；〃 he added； remembering many friends who had been hurt by their precipitous withdrawal years back。 〃Not to worry； my new external source of credit's more th… 〃
〃What？〃 Murtagh blanched。
〃My new external source of finance reacts at once to any sudden business opportunities； Mr。 Murtagh。 This took them just eight minutes。 They seem to have more confidence than your principals。〃
〃Hell； tai…pan； please call me Dave； it's not lack of confidence but； well； they've no idea of Asia。 I've got to convince them the General Stores takeover's got to double your gross in three years。〃
〃In one；〃 Dunross interrupted firmly； enjoying himself。 〃So sorry your group won't share in our huge profits from that minor section of our immense expansion plans。 Do have some tea in the box； sorry； I just have to make a phone call。〃 He took Murtagh's elbow and firmly led him out of the door； shutting it after him。
In the kitchen Murtagh was staring at the closed door； the happy clatter of plates and Cantonese obscenities from the twenty cooks and helpers a vast din。 〃Jesus；〃 he muttered in near panic； 〃eight minutes？ Shit； are the goddamn Swiss horning in on our client？〃 He tottered away。
Inside the room Dunross was on his private phone； listening to the ringing tone。 〃Weyyyyy？〃
〃Mr。 Tip please；〃 he said carefully in Cantonese。 〃This is Mr。 Dunross calling。〃
He heard the phone put down with a clatter and the amah shriek； 〃It's the phone！ For you； Father！〃
〃Who is it？〃
〃A foreign devil。〃
Dunross smiled。
〃Hello？〃
〃Ian Dunross； Mr。 Tip。 I was just concerned that your illness wasn't worse。〃
〃Ah； ah； yes； so sorry I could not arrive。 Yes。 I； I had some pressing business； you understand？ Yes。 Very pressing。 Oh by the way； that was bad joss about Noble Star。 I just heard on the wireless that Pilot Fish won by a nose after an objection。 What was the objection？〃
Patiently Dunross explained and answered questions about his General Stores takeover bid； delighted that that news had already reached him。 If Tiptop； then all newspapers。 Good； he thought； waiting Tiptop out but Tiptop outsmarted him。 〃Well； thank you for calling； tai…pan。〃
At once Dunross said； 〃It was my pleasure； oh by the way； confidentially； I understand it may well be possible that the police have discovered one of their underlings has made a mistake。〃
〃Ah。 I presume the mistake will be corrected immediately？〃
〃I would presume very soon； if the person concerned wishes to resign and take advantage of permission to travel abroad。〃
〃How soon might very soon be； tai…pan？〃 Dunross was picking his words carefully； deliberately vague though formal now。 〃There are certain formalities； but it is possible that it could be quickly achieved。 Unfortunately VIPs have to be consulted elsewhere。 I'm sure you understand。〃
〃Certainly。 But the mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent； heya？ I understand there is one of your VVIPs already in Hong Kong。 A Mr。 Sinders？〃
Dunross blinked at the extent of Tiptop's knowledge。 〃I have certain approvals already；〃 he said； disquieted。
〃I would have thought very few approvals were necessary。 True gold fears no fire。〃
〃Yes。 Is there somewhere I could call you this evening … to report progress？〃
〃This number will find me。 Please call me at 9：00 p。m。〃 Tiptop's voice became even drier。 〃I understand it might well be possible that your last suggestion about banking might be serviced。 Of course any bank would need proper documentation to secure an immediate half billion Hong Kong dollars in cash； but I hear that the Victoria's chop； the governor's chop and yours would be all that's required to secure the loan for thirty days。 This 。。。 minor amount of cash is ready； for a limited time； whenever the correct procedures are entered into。 Until that time this matter is confidential； very strictly confidential。〃
〃Of course。〃
〃Thank you for calling。〃
Dunross put the phone down and wiped his palms。 〃For a limited time〃 was branded on his mind。 He knew； and he knew Tiptop knew he understood that the two 〃procedures〃 were absolutely interlinked but not necessarily。 Christ Jesus I love Asia； he thought happily as he rushed off。
The corridors were filled； many people already crowding the elevators to go home。 He peered into his box； caught Gavallan's eye。 〃Andrew； go down to the members' stand and get hold of Roger Crosse … he's there with a fellow called Sinders。 Ask them if they've a moment to join me in my box！ Hurry！〃
Gavallan took off。 Dunross hurried along the corridor past the betting windows。
〃Tai…pan！〃 Casey called out。 〃Sorry about Noble Star！ Did y… 〃
〃Be back in a minute； Casey。 Sorry； can't stop！〃 Dunross called back on the run。 He noticed Gornt at the winning window but it did not take away his happiness。 First things first； he thought。 〃How do you want the 10；000？ Our bet？〃
〃Cash will do very nicely； thank you；〃 Gornt said。
〃I'll send it around later。〃
〃Monday will do just as well。〃
〃Later tonight。 Monday I'll be busy。〃 Dunross walked off with a polite nod。
In the packed Victoria box the uproar was the same as everywhere。 Drinks； laughter； excitement and some cursing about Pilot Fish but already wagers were being placed on next Saturday's race。 As Dunross came in there were more cheers； condolences and another volley of questions。 He fielded them all casually and one from Martin Haply who was jammed beside the door with Adryon。
〃Oh； Father； what rotten luck about Noble Star。 I lost my shirt and my month's allowance！〃
Dunross grinned。 〃Young ladies shouldn't bet！ Hello； Haply！〃
〃Can I ask ab… 〃
〃Later。 Adryon darling； don't forget cocktails。 You're hostess。〃
〃Oh yes； we'll be there。 Father； can you advance me my next mon… 〃
〃Certainly；〃 Dunross said to her astonishment； gave her a hug and pushed his way over to Havergill； Richard Kwang nearby。
〃Hello； Ian；〃 Havergill said。 〃Bad luck； but clearly Pilot Fish had the edge。〃
〃Yes； yes he did。 Hello； Richard。〃 Dunross gave him the copy of the photo finish。 〃Damned bad luck for both of us。〃 Others crowded to see it。
〃Good God； by a whisker 。。。〃
〃I thought Noble Star 。。。〃
Taking advantage of the diversion Dunross bent closer to Havergill。 〃Is everything signed？〃
〃Yes。 20 cents on the dollar。 He agreed to and signed the provisional papers。 Formal papers by the