Chapter 23 Summary

Dirk returns home as he promised May-may. He thinks of his conversation with Zergeyev. If he gets the Russian monopoly he will be almost untouchable and can ignore convention. He can marry May-may. As he is thinking about this, May-may appears in her ball gown. Her hair is in ringlets. Dirk thinks she looks ridiculous. At his reaction, May-may pales and runs to her quarters, locking the door behind her. He kicks down the door when she won't open it. He tells her that he was just surprised and that they are going to the ball. She tears the dress to shreds and Dirk knows that nothing will ever be the same between them. She is screaming in Chinese, and Dirk finally silences her by slapping her. She loses consciousness. When she regains consciousness, he tells her to dress in her usual clothes...