note 9 has again asked for a license to trade in Hong Kong?" Dunross gasped. "Once they're in we're all on the merry-go– rougd." "We've been offered, privately, substantial Hong Kong dollars immediately."
"The board'll vote against it.""The point is, my dear chap, if you're no longer on the board, the new board can do what the hell it likes," Johnjohn said simply. "If the 'new' board agrees, the governor and the Colonial Office can easily be persuaded. That'd be a small price to pay—to save our dollar. Once an official Soviet bank's here what other devilment could they get up to, eh?""You're worse than bloody Havergill!""No old chum, better!" The jesting left the banker's face. "Any major change and we become the Noble House, like it or not. Many of our directors would prefer you gone, aj; any price. I'm just asking you to do Hong Kong and therefore yourself a favor. Don't forget, Ian, the Victoria won't go under, we'll be hurt but not ruined." He touched a bead of sweat away. "No threats, Ian, but I'm asking for a favor. One day I may be chairman and I won't forget.""Either way.""Of course, old chum," Johnjohn said sweetly and went to the sideboard. "How about one for the road now? Brandy?"Robin Grey was seated in the back of Dunross's Rolls with Hugh Guthrie and Julian Broadhurst, Dunross in the front beside his uniformed chauffeur. The windows were fogged. Idly Grey streaked the mist away, enjoying the deep luxury of the sweet-smelling leather.Soon I'm going to have one of these, he thought. A Rolls of my very own. With a chauffeur. And soon all these bastards'll be crawling, Ian bloody Dunross included. And Penn! Oh yes, my dear sweet sneering sister's going to see the mighty humbled.