Richard Kwang said, "Either way, Miss Tchelek, it would be good to have such a great American company as Par-Con here. Good for you, good for us. Let's hope that a deal can be found that suits Par-Con. If Mr. Bartlett would like any assistance . . ." The banker produced his business card. She took it, opened her silk handbag and offered hers with equal dexterity, having come prepared for the immediate card exchanging that is good manners and obligatory in Asia. The Chinese banker glanced at it then his eyes narrowed."Sorry I haven't had it translated into characters yet," she said. "Our bankers in the States are First Central New York and the California Merchant Bank and Trust Company." Casey mentioned them proudly, sure the combined assets of these banking giants were in excess of 6 billions. "I'd be gl—" She stopped, startled at the sudden chill surrounding her. "Is something wrong?""Yes and no," Gornt said after a moment. "It's just that the First Central New York Bank's not at all popular here.""Why?"Havergill said disdainfully, "They turned out to be a shower— that's, er, English for a bad lot, Miss, er, Miss. The First Central New York did some business here before the war, then expanded in the mid-forties while we at the Victoria and other British institutions were picking ourselves off the floor. In '49 when Chairman Mao threw Chiang Kai-shek off the Mainland to Taiwan, Mao's troops were massed on our border just a few miles north in the New Territories. It was touch and go whether or not the hordes would spill over and overrun the Colony. A lot of people cut and ran, none of us of course, but all the Chinese who could got out. Without any warning, the First Central New York called in all their loans, paid off their depositors, closed their doors and fled—all in the space of one week.""I didn't know," Casey said, aghast."They were a bunch of yellow bastards, my dear, if you'll excuse the expression," Lady Joanna said with open contempt. "Of course, they were the only bank that scarpered—ran away. But then they were . . . well, what can you expect, my dear?""Probably better, Lady Joanna," Casey said, furious with the VP in charge of their account for not warning them. "Perhaps there were mitigating circumstances. Mr. Havergill, were the loans substantial?""At that time, very, I'm afraid. Yes. That bank ruined quite a lot of important businesses and people, caused an enormous amount of grief and loss of face. Still," he said with a smile, "we all benefited by their leaving. A couple of years ago they had the effrontery to apply to the financial secretary for a new charter!"Richard Kwang added jovially, "That's one charter that'll never be renewed! You see, Miss Tchelek, all foreign banks operate on a renewable yearly charter. Certainly we can do very well without that one, or for that matter any other American bank. They're such … well, you'll find the Victoria, Blacs or the Ho-Pak, perhaps all three Miss K.C., can fulfill all Par-Con's needs perfectly. If you and Mr. Harriett would like to chat …""I'd be glad to visit with you, Mr. Kwang. Say tomorrow? Initially I handle most of our banking needs. Maybe sometime in the morning?""Yes, yes of course. You'll find us competitive," Richard Kwang said without a flicker. "At ten?""Great. We're at the V and A, Kowloon. If ten's not good for you just let me know," she said. "I'm pleased to meet you personally too, Mr. Havergill. I presume our appointment for tomorrow is still in order?""Of course. At four, isn't it? I look forward to chatting at length with Mr. Bartlett. .. and you, of course, my dear." He was a tall, lean man and she noticed his eyes rise from her cleavage. She dismissed her immediate dislike. I may need him, she thought, and his bank."Thank you," she said with the right amount of deference and turned her charm on Lady Joanna. "What a pretty dress, Lady Joanna," she said, loathing it and the row of small pearls that circled the woman's scrawny neck."Oh, thank you, my dear. Is yours from Paris too?""Indirectly. It's a Balmain but I got it in New York." She smiled down at Richard Kwang's wife, a solid, well-preserved Cantonese lady with an elaborate coiifure, very pale skin and narrow eyes. She was wearing an immense imperial jade pendant and a seven-carat diamond ring. "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Kwang," she said, awed by the wealth that the jewelry represented. "We were looking for Line Bartlett. Have you seen him?""Not for a while," Havergill volunteered. "I think he went into the east wing. Believe there's a bar there. He was with Adryon— Dunross's daughter.""Adryon's turned out to be such a pretty girl," Lady Joanna said "They make such a nice couple together. Charming man, Mr. Bartlett. He's not married, is he, dear?""No," Casey said, equally pleasantly, adding Lady Joanna Temple-Smith to her private list of loathsome people. "Line's not married.""He'll be gobbled up soon, mark my words. I really believe Adryon's quite smitten. Perhaps you'd like to come to tea on Thursday, my dear? I'd love you to meet some of the girls. That's the day of our Over Thirty Club.""Thank you," Casey said. "I don't qualify—but I'd love to come anyway.""Oh I'm sorry, dear! I'd presumed . . . I'll send a car for you. Quillan, are you staying for dinner?""No, can't. Got pressing business.""Pity." Lady Joanna smiled and showed her bad teeth."If you'll excuse us—just want to find Bartlett and then I have to leave. See you Saturday." Gornt took Casey's arm and guided her away.They watched them leave. "She's quite attractive in a common sort of way, isn't she?" Lady Joanna said. "Chuluk. That's Middle European, isn't it?""Possibly. It could be Mideastern, Joanna, you know, Turkish, something like that, possibly the Balkans. . . ." Havergill stopped. "Oh, I see what you mean. No, I don't think so. She certainly doesn't look Jewish.""One really can't tell these days, can one? She might have had her nose fixed—they do marvelous things these days, don't they?""Never occurred to me to look. Hum! Do you think so?"Richard Kwang passed Casey's card over to his wife who read it instantly and got the same message instantly. "Paul, her card says treasurer and executive VP of the holding company . . . that's quite impressive, isn't it? Par-Con's a big company.""Oh my dear fellow, but they're American. They do extraordinary things in America. Surely it's just a title—that's all.""Giving his mistress face?" Joanna asked.129:00 P.M. :The billiard cue struck the white ball and it shot across the green table and slashed the red into a far pocket and stopped perfectly behind another red.Adryon clapped gleefully. "Oh Line, that was super! I was sure you were just boasting. Oh do it again!"Line Bartlett grinned. "For one dollar that red around the table and into that pocket and the white here." He marked the spot with a flick of chalk."Done!"He leaned over the table and sighted and the white stopped within a millimeter of his mark, the red sunk with marvelous inevitability."Ayeeyah! I haven't got a dollar with me. Damn! Can I owe it to you?""A lady—however beautiful—has to pay her gambling debts at once.""I know. Father says the same. Can I pay you tomorrow?"He watched her, enjoying her, pleased that his skill pleased her. She was wearing a knee-length black skirt and the lovely silk blouse. Her legs were long, very long, and perfect "Nope!" He pretended ill humor and then they laughed together in the huge room, the vast lights low over the full-size billiard table, the rest of the room dark and intimate but for the shaft of light from the open door."You play incredibly well," she said."Don't tell anyone but I made my living in the Army playing pool."