Welcome back to Noble House, all ye moles, double crossers, and amahs! Together we shall ask many questions in this section, and only raise further questions in response. Summary ahead, and questions in the comments. Let's hope I get this right!

Chapter 41.

Dunross' secretaries gossip about the date Sandra has with Brian Kwok; Dunross comes in, learns the news about John Chen, asks to speak to Lando Mata, and speaks to the governer. He sends Linbar Struan to Australia, and gets a message from Alan Medford Grant by way of a man named Jamie Kirk. There is a tense meeting at the Victoria Bank. A doctor visits the Marlowes after their dip in Aberdeen harbour, and tells Peter that Fleur may miscarry their baby.

Chapter 42.

Orlanda brings Bartlett home with her, he wanders her flat and compares it to Casey's house (favourably). Bartlett and Orlanda share a kiss, and Orlanda tells him about her history with Gornt. She reveals that they had a child together. Bartlett wonders what to do, since he wants to marry Casey but also wants to sleep with Orlanda (poor baby \s), and we learn that he was already married once.

Chapter 43.

The downpour in Hong Kong starts to cause problems in the resettlement area (I think they mean Kowloon?). The narration talks about Hong Kong having scores of cheap labour, and mentions a six week time period when the Chinese borders mysteriously opened, only to mysteriously close again afterwards. During that time, tens of thousands of people crossed the border. Spectacles Wu appears, escorting his niece while on the way to see his dying grandfather. There is a landslide which nearly carries the girl away.

Chaoter 44.

The police start their sting to get to Ah Tam. Armstrong finds out that SI have found an operative, and asks if this is do with Sevrin. We find out that bribery is rampant, but Armstrong tries not to give in, even when offered the exact amount to cover his debts. The operation goes off without a hitch, making use of the multi-lingual nature of Hong Kong. Spectacles Wu takes the lead in getting Ah Tam to talk, and Armstrong finds some incriminating photographs. Armstrong and Wu interrogate Ah Tam at SI headquarters, then Armstrong makes Wu stay indoors for the next few days. Armstrong and Brian talk about Iran, and also the files that Armstrong brought in, talking about the links between Tsu-Yan and Bastasio (and also possibly Bartlett). Brian passes out, Crosse walks in and congratulates Armstrong on catching a communist spy. Crosse suggests Dunross could be a Sevrin plant.

Chapter 45.

The stock exchange closes after another hard day for the noble house. The staff hear that the Ho Pak has closed its doors for good. Dunross and Gornt have a short conversation, and we see Casey thinking about how much better things are going for her at the moment, with people treating her better after the fire, and Bartlett being more attentive. She realises that all three men around her are dangerous, and that she is attracted to all of them. Bartlett and Casey ask Dunross if Gornt could take over; he says that Gornt could get onto the board, and destroy things from within. We find out that Dunross knows about the two million Bartlett has promised Gornt. We also find out how the stock is divided in his family. Dunross makes an appointment to see Four Fingers Wu after he sees Brian Kwok. He then meets Jamie Kirk and his wife, and gets rid of the wife so that he and Jamie can speak in private. Dunross finds out that Kirk specialises in finding crude oil. Once Kirk has gone, Dunross opens the parcel to find a new letter warning him of a major leak in the company (giving three names), and telling him to phone a particular number and ask for a particular name. It also predicts a shift in the power structure of the middle East, and tells Dunross that a wise man would invest in wharfs and portside buildings in Aberdeen. Dunross then gets a phone call from his son about coming to see him and his new girlfriend, then finally phones the Geneva number and talks to the Japanese woman on the other end.

Whew!