“What should I be drinking?” “Well, they have Tiger and Kadling beer,” De Lhandes answered, “cold, but they make a mean gin fizz.” “I’ll have one of those, then,” Nicholai said, taking some piastres from his pocket. “May I?” “You’re a gentleman.” Nicholai ordered and paid for two gin fizzes, then, in Chinese, politely declined the invitation of a working girl who tried to perch herself on his lap and offered carnal delights previously unheard of in the mundane world. “You are a man of iron will,” De Lhandes observed. “A veritable fortress of restraint.” “I will admit it is tempting.” “Give
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