“My mother’s all for Southeast Asia Petroleum. She knows the Chairman of the Board, Lord Aldehyde.” “She knows Lord Aldehyde? But how extraordinary!” The tone of delighted astonishment was thoroughly convincing. “Joe Aldehyde is a friend of mine. I write for his papers. I even serve as his private ambassador. Confidentially,” he added, “that’s why we took that trip to the copper mines. Copper is one of Joe’s sidelines. But of course his real love is oil.” Murugan tried to look shrewd. “What would he be prepared to offer?” Will picked up the cue and answered, in the best movie-tycoon style,
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