She waited, watching him, a warm glow within, adoring the game of life while his mind was abuzz with variations of the plan and how to use his creation, Misamoto.

I will start at once, he was thinking. Hosaki has a good mind and is clever at putting my ideas together. But, eeee, to articulate that about the boy was baka in the extreme, however correct an Act of State such an action might be.

Women have no finesse.

In the Settlement this morning, just before dawn, Jamie McFay had given Nemi a final kiss and then together they walked down the corridor to Malcolm Struan's suite. He knocked gently. At once the door opened and the young girl, Shizuka, came out, eased the door closed, smiled curiously and began whispering to Nemi who took McFay by the arm and hurried him to the landing.

"What? Bad news, heya?" McFay asked nervously--he had caught a glimpse of Struan fast asleep in the huge four-poster before the door closed but all had seemed well.

Nemi paid no attention to him and continued to cross-question the girl.

Exasperated, McFay said, "Nemi, what?

What bad?"

She hesitated, then with an initial flood of singsong apologetic Japanese, caught herself and beamed, "No bad, Jami-san, you-ah cum Yoshiwara t'morrow, yes no?" She put on her cloak and began to go down the stairs but he stopped her.

"What bad, Nemi?" he asked suspiciously.

She stared up at him a moment, then more Japanese and pidgin that did not make sense.

Finally she shrugged, "S'kr't, wakarimasu ka?" "S'kr't? Iy`e, for God's sake.

What skre't, heya?"

"S'krit, Jami-san, hai?"

"Ah, secret, for God's sake!

Wakarimasu! Secret what?"

She sighed with relief and beamed. "S'kret, gud! S'kret, Jami-san, Shizuka, Nemi. Hai? Hai?"

"Hai. Us keep secret. Now what?"

More incomprehensible Japanese and more pidgin as they put on their outer robes and then, frustrated because she could not explain properly or that she had to explain at all, Nemi parodied plenty of movement and whispered, "Shizuka gud, work gud o'rr night."

"Tai-pan good?"

Her eyes soared. "Hai, Jami-san, Shizuka gud!"

All his questions had only produced more bowing and smiles from both of them, so he had thanked Shizuka, her fee already arranged--"tai-pan credit plenti werri gud," the mama-san had told him. For a last time Nemi swore him to secrecy. The waiting servant took them back to the Yoshiwara.

Perturbed but not knowing why, though sure he not been told all the truth, he had tiptoed back and stood over the bed but Struan was fast asleep, breathing peacefully, so he had left and gone to his office and worked.

Until just after ten.

"Hello, Doctor, come in, good to see you, what's new?"

Hoag's face was grim. "Ah Tok sent for me and I've just seen Malcolm, that's what's new. I wish to Christ you'd asked me first before you--oh for God's sake, Jamie," the squat, good man added quickly, seeing him flush, "I know he asked you to arrange it, I just wish you'd thought to ask me first--I would have thought it bloody obvious it would be bloody dangerous and bloody ridiculous to try so soon after that wound with half your inside patched and near to bursting..." He stopped and sat down. "Sorry, but I had to let that out."

"That's all right--is it bad?"

"I don't know, some blood in his urine and plenty of pain in his loins. It seems she was very vigorous, he got carried away and when he climaxed he said his stomach spasmed with the surge and then cramped up. Poor fellow, though he's in a lot of pain now, he did tell me she was worth it."

"He said that?"

"Yes, in some detail--don't mention that I told you, eh? I've given him some painkiller so he'll sleep for an hour or two. I'll be back later." Hoag sighed and got up with a grim smile. "I had another note from Mrs.Struan, did you?"

"Yes, more of the same. Will you order him back to Hong Kong now?"

"I can't order him to do anything. He goes when he wants to go, this is the storm season for God's sake. He's wise to stay-- unless there's anything pressing in Hong Kong."

"There are dozens of reasons--that's the seat of power, there's nothing for him to do here really."

Hoag shrugged. "I agree Hong Kong would be better--I'd planned to go back with the mail ship but after last night I think I'll wait for a few more days for him."

"Take him with you, please, on the mail ship."

"I already suggested it and was told, rather impolitely "no." Forget it, Jamie, it's not wrong for him to rest here and a foul sea voyage would be extremely bad for him, maybe a killer. By the way, I hear there may be another ball next Tuesday with Angel T's the guest of honor."

"Malcolm didn't mention it."

"Under the auspices of Ambassador Seratard, of dubious ancestry, father of all the French. Well I must be going--keep me advised and if Malcolm asks for a similar bout, check with me first, privately."

"All right. Thanks, Doctor."

Later Vargas knocked, "Senhor, Ah Tok says the tai-pan wants to see you."

Climbing the staircase, there was a sudden nasty twinge in Jamie's stomach, imagining himself in Malcolm's place.

"Senhor McFay!" Vargas called up from the stairwell. "Excuse me, but the Choshu samurai have just arrived, about ordering the rifles, senhor."

"I'll be right back."

McFay knocked and opened the door.

"Hello, Tai-pan," he said kindly.

Struan was propped in bed, his eyes strange, a flat smile on his face. "How're you today?"

"You saw Hoag?"

"Yes."

"Good, then you know she was very satisfactory and, well, thanks, Jamie. She helped tremendously though..." Struan laughed nervously, "though the finish shook me up a bit.

Terrific body. It was all very satisfactory but I don't think I'll need a repeat performance until I'm really better. She certainly got rid of the, the logjam." Again the short, nervous laugh. "Didn't realize, Jamie, how strong a little girl like that could be, or how much... you understand, eh?"

"Of course. Everything went according to plan?"

For an instant Struan wavered, then he said firmly, "Yes, better than that--I want you to double her fee."

"Certainly." McFay read the underlying anxiety and his heart went out to him. Obviously whatever happened Malcolm's deal with Shizuka was secret. If that's the way he wants it, fine. Not up to me. What's done is done. Just another secret to add to all the rest. "Glad it was all right."

"Better than all right. Did the girl say anything?"

"Only that she, er, worked hard all night, to, well, to try to please you."

A bright knock on the door and Angelique sailed in, blooming with good health, chic in a new lavender dress, parasol, feathered hat, gloves and shawl. "Hello, my love, hello Jamie, how are you today? Oh Malcolm, I'm so pleased to see you." As she bent over the bed to kiss Struan tenderly, "Oh, cheri, how I've missed you."

The moment the door had opened the hearts of both men stretched. McFay's nervousness soared, at once his eyes checked the bed and room to see if there were any telltale signs. But all was neat and tidy, clean new sheets and pillowcases daily--more Struan fastidiousness about cleanliness, to the point of foolishness, he thought-- clean shirt every day? Ridiculous, once or twice a month more than enough but then he knew the habit had been implanted by Dirk Struan and whatever the tai-pan had decreed was law for Tess Struan and therefore her family. Struan was freshly shaved, clean nightshirt, the windows opened to the sea breeze that would carry away any trace of perfume. He began to breathe easier then she said, "I saw Dr. Hoag," and both men almost went into spasm again.

"You poor darling," she said with hardly a pause, "he told me you'd had a bad night, poor darling, and that you won't come to Sir William's soiree this evening, so I thought I'd just drop in and sit with you until lunch."