〃A few customers withdrew their savings；〃 Richard Kwang said with a scoff。 〃There's no trouble。〃
But there was trouble。 He knew it and he was afraid everyone knew it。 At first it was just at Aberdeen。 Then； during the day； his other managers had begun to call with ever increasing anxiety。 He had eighteen branches throughout the Colony。 At four of them； withdrawals were untoward and heavy。 At Mong Kok； a bustling hive within the teeming city of Kowloon； a line had formed in early afternoon。 Everyone had wanted all their money。 It was nothing like the frightening proportions at Aberdeen； but enough to show a clear indication of failing confidence。 Richard Kwang could understand that the sea villages would hear about Four Finger Wu's withdrawals quickly； and would rush to follow his lead … but what about Mong Kok？ Why there？ And why Lan Tao？ Why at Tsim Sha Tsui； his most profitable branch； which was almost beside the busy Golden Ferry Terminal where 150；000 persons passed by daily； to and from Hong Kong？
It must be a plot！
Is my enemy and arch…rival Smiler Ching behind it？ Is it those fornicators； those jealous fornicators at Blacs or the Victoria？
Is Thin Tube of Dung Havergill masterminding the attack？ Or is it pton Southerby of Blacs … he's always hated me。 These filthy quai loh！ But why should they attack me？ Of course I'm a much better banker than them and they're jealous but my business is with civilized people and hardly touches them。 Why？ Or has it leaked somehow that against my better judgment； over my objections； my partners who control the bank have been insisting that I borrow short and cheap and lend long and high on property deals； and now； through their stupidity； we are temporarily overextended and cannot sustain a run？
Richard Kwang wanted to shout and scream and tear his hair out。 His secret partners were Lando Mata and Tightfist Tung； major shareholders of Macao's gambling and gold syndicate； along with Smuggler Mo； who had helped him form and finance the Ho…Pak ten years ago。 〃Did you see Old Blind Tung's predictions this morning？〃 he asked； the smile still on his face。
〃No。 What'd he say？〃
Richard Kwang found the paper and passed it over。 〃All the portents show we're ready for boom。 The lucky eight is everywhere in the heavens and we're in the eighth month； my birthday is the eighth of the eighth month。 。。。〃
Barre read the column。 In spite of his disbelief in soothsayers； he had been too long in Asia to dismiss them totally。 His heart quickened。 Old Blind Tung had a vast reputation in Hong Kong。 〃If you believe him we're in for the biggest boom in the history of the world；〃 he said。
〃He's usually much more cautious。 Ayeeyah； that would be good； heya？〃
〃Better than good。 Meanwhile Richard old boy； let's finish our business； shall we？〃
〃Certainly。 It's all a typhoon in an oyster shell； Dunstan。 We're stronger than ever … our stock's hardly a point off。〃 When the market had opened； there had been a mass of small offerings to sell； which； if not reacted to at once would have sent their stock plummeting。 Richard Kwang had instantly ordered his brokers to buy and to keep buying。 This had stabilized the stock。 During the day； to maintain the position； he had had to buy almost five million shares； an unheard of number to be traded in one day。 None of his experts could pinpoint who was selling big。 There was no reason for a lack of confidence； other than Four Finger Wu's withdrawals。 All gods curse that old devil and his fornicating； too smart Harvard…trained nephew！ 〃Why not le… 〃
The phone rang。 〃 'Scuse me；〃 then curtly into the phone； 〃I said no interruptions！〃
〃It's Mr。 Haply from the Guardian； he says it's important；〃 his secretary； his niece； Mary Yok said。 〃And the tai…pan's secretary called。 The Nelson Trading board meeting's brought forward to this afternoon at five o'clock。 Mr。 Mata called to say he would be there too。〃
Richard Kwang's heart skipped three beats。 Why？ he asked himself； aghast。 Dew neh loh moh it was supposed to be postponed to next week。 Oh ko why？ Then quickly he put aside that question to consider Haply。 He decided that to answer now in front of Barre was too dangerous。 〃I'll call him back in a few minutes。〃 He smiled at the red…faced man in front of him。 〃Leave everything for a day or two； Dunstan； we've no problems。〃
〃Can't； old boy。 Sorry。 There was a special meeting； have to settle it today。 The board insisted。〃
〃We've been generous in the past … you've forty million of our money unsecured now … we're joint venturing another seventy million with you on your new building program。〃
〃Yes； indeed you are； Richard； and your profit will be substantial。 But they're another matter and those loans were negotiated in good faith months ago and will be settled in good faith when they're due。 We've never defaulted on a payment to the Ho…Pak or anyone else。〃 Barre passed the newspaper back and with it； signed documents imprinted with his corporate seal。 〃The accounts are consolidated so one check will suffice。〃
The amount was a little over nine and a half million。
Richard Kwang signed the cashier's check and smiled Sir Dunstan Barre out； then； when it was safe； cursed everyone in sight and went back into his office； slamming the door behind him。 He kicked his desk then picked up the phone and shouted at his niece to get Haply and almost broke the phone as he slammed it back onto its cradle。
〃Dew neh loh moh on all filthy quai loh；〃 he shrieked to the ceiling and felt much better。 That lump of dogmeat！ I wonder 。。。 oh； I wonder if I could prevail on the Snake to forbid any lines at all tomorrow？ Perhaps he and his men could break a few arms。
Gloomily Richard Kwang let his mind drift。 It had been a rotten day。 It had begun badly at the track。 He was sure his trainer … or jockey … was feeding Butterscotch Lass pep pills to make her run faster to shorten her odds … she'd be favorite now … then Saturday they'd stop the pills and back an outsider and clean up without him being in on the profit…making。 Dirty dog bones； all of them！ Liars！ Do they think I own a racehorse to lose money？
The banker hawked and spat into the spittoon。
Maggot…mouthed Barre and dog bone Uncle Wu！ Those withdrawals will take most of my cash。 Never mind； with Lando Mata； Smuggler Mo； Tightfist Tung and the tai…pan I'm quite safe。 Oh I'll have to shout and scream and curse and weep but nothing can really touch me or the Ho…Pak。 I'm too important to them。
Yes； it had been a rotten day。 The only bright spot had been his meeting this morning with Casey。 He had enjoyed looking at her； enjoyed her clean…smelling； smart； crisp Americanness of the great outdoors。 They had fenced pleasantly about financing and he felt sure he could get all or certainly part of their business。 Clearly the pickings would be huge。 She's so naive； he thought。 Her knowledge of banking and finance's impressive but of the Asian world； nil！ She's so naive to be so open with their plans。 Thank all gods for Americans。
〃I love America； Miss Casey。 Yes。 Twice a year I go there； to eat good steaks and go to Vegas … and to do business of course。〃
Eeeee； he thought happily； the whores of the Golden Country are the best and most available quai loh in the world； and quai lohs're so cheap pared to Hong Kong girls！ Oh oh oh！ I get such a good feeling pillowing them； with their great deodorized armpits； their great tits and thighs and rears。 But in Vegas it's the best。 Remember the golden…haired beauty that towered over me but lying down she 。。。
His private phone rang。 He picked it up； irritated as always that he had had to install it。 But he had had no option。 When his previous secretary of many years had left to get married； his wife had planted her favorite niece firmly in her place； of course to spy on me； he thought sourly。 Eeeee； what can a man do？
〃Yes？〃 he asked； wondering what his wife wanted now。
〃You didn't call me all day。 。。。 I've been waiting for hours！〃
His heart leapt at the unexpected sound of the girl's voice。 He dismissed the petulance； her Cantonese sweet like her Jade Gate。 〃Listen； Little Treasure；〃 he said； his voice placating。 〃Your poor Father's been very busy today。 I