Chapter 8 Summary

While the traders are loading the lorchas and preparing to leave, Dirk is writing a dispatch to Robb. He tells Robb to buy as much land as possible at the land sale, and to particularly buy the knoll, because he knows that Brock wants it. His chief clerk, Manoel de Vargas, tells him that all of their items have been packed and loaded and that there are rumors that they will be intercepted and killed along the way. Other rumors are that they will be allowed to return to the settlement within a month. There is also a rumor of bullion in Canton that is a gift to appease the emperor. Dirk tells him that the rumors are nonsense. He gives his chief clerk the letter to Robb and tells him to hire workmen and have them in Hong Kong in two weeks...