'œSee what that noise is about, would you Maladhar?'
Maladhar bows slightly.
'œYes Sahib'
He smartly exits the room, closing the large double door behind him. Hilton turns back to face the group, and resumes his usually friendly tone.
'œYour suppositions are both correct but flawed, my friends.'
He turns to Sinclair, 'œYou, Doctor, have correctly identified the man who I was meeting with before you: Sir Arthur Beresford, a high ranking company official with authority over all matters of country trade in the presidency. Impressive' he adds, nodding slowly. 'œYou are clearly knowledgeable of Calcutta's high society.'
'œHowever', he continues turning away, 'œit is incorrect to suggest that the company, or Arthur for that matter, is in need of our help. Indeed, it is quite the reverse.
The company places strict controls on the production of its Opium. The annual total production is currently regulated to 4,000 chests per year, at 140 pounds per chest. The result of this regulation, combined with the growing market in China has been a steady increase in market price, and profitability. A chest of finest Bengal opium currently auctions at an average of 400 rupees in Calcutta, and the wiliest merchants can earn over four times that figure in profits from the voyage to Canton!
Additionally, the locally built ships rely on the monsoon winds to make the trip to Canton, and hence Opium runs can only be made on an annual basis. The result is a fiercely competitive market, the company has more than enough traders willing to carry the opium for them, and it is a trough that we too shall have to dip our snouts in.
You see, the company is starting to wake up to the true potential of this commodity. It is possible that opium might have use as pure profit earner, and not just the trade offset tool that it has been used as to date. The increase in demand for Chinese tea shows no signs of abating, and the price of Opium continues to rise. Many merchants in Calcutta, myself included, are beginning to realise that this', he says gesturing with an open palm to the ball of black tar, 'œis the future of trade in Indo-China.'
At this point the door opens, and Maladhar re-enters the room. He smiles, and for once shows a slight sign of excitement himself.
'œShe is here Sahib' he says simply.
At first the Colonel seems to not comprehend his statement, but slowly it seems to dawn on him and his expression changes to one of pleasurable disbelief.
'œNo! Surely not! Already?'
'œYes Sahib, three days early no less!' he replies.
'œGood God! Oh, such a fortuitous arrival. She really couldn't have timed it better!' he gushes, hands clasped together. He seems almost overjoyed.
'œEveryone, please do follow me. There is a very special Lady that I would like you all to meet. Come, all will be explained!'
And with that he leaves the office with Maladhar, walking out onto the steps at the front door to the office, beckoning everyone to follow him
