Chapter 33
Summary
- The China Cloud enters the Hong Kong harbor through the western channel
- Struan sees the Resting Cloud and transport ships with the flag of the East India Company, a Russian barque with the flag of the czar, and more sampans and junks than usual in the harbor
- Struan also sees activity near Glessing Point and Europeans and beggars on the Queen's Road
- Struan goes to the Resting Cloud and speaks with Captain Orlov, who agrees to go to the Arctic and bring back furs and sandalwood from the Sandwich Islands
- Struan also asks Orlov to take Culum with him and teach him the fur trade
- Struan gives Culum a letter for his mother and tells him about the trip
- Struan is visited by Richard Crosse, who gives him a letter from his father, Sir Charles Crosse, a member of Parliament
- The letter informs Struan that the British government plans to annex Hong Kong and wants his support
- Struan agrees to support the annexation in exchange for protection for Hong Kong from the Chinese
- Struan meets with Culum, who is upset that Struan is supporting the annexation and has made a deal with the British government
- Struan explains to Culum that he is doing what is best for Hong Kong and the Noble House
- Culum agrees to go on the trip with Orlov
- Struan meets with May-May and Ah Sam and asks Ah Sam about the rumor about the son of his rival frequenting a brothel and mistreating the women
- May-May and Ah Sam do not believe the rumor and May-May threatens to give Ah Sam a beating
- Ah Sam swears that the rumor is true and says the owner of the brothel, Mrs. Fortheringill, told her