Three wealthy gentleman

Dear Sir Williard,

I have met, by chance, several high officers in the East Orion Trading company. One of these fine gentlemen is well stationed in the local bank, and has extend a personal loan to help cover the expenses of setting up a household. Allow me to back-track a little to explain this generous offer. As I approached the waterfront I was hailed by a trio of gentlemen in somber but meticulously tailored walking jackets strolling along the Riverwalk. When I heaved to, they exclaimed in delight at seeing the powerboat upon the river again and insisted that I join them in a drink so they could make my acquaintance.

The tallest of the three a man by the name of Sir Eduard Black whose bearing and mannerism made me immediately think he had military training, introduced me to his comrades-in-arms as he called them, a short slightly overweight senior officer in the Company bank, and a dark-haired man with spectacles only a few years older than me who traded in Soma futures and who had the habit of periodically glancing at his watch as if he had an appointment to keep. The three led me to a exclusive gentlemen's club that made the Edwardian Royal Hotel look squalid in comparison and sat me amongst them in a booth with leather-backed couches and a marble-topped table that must have weighed over twenty stone. Two of the three lit expensive cigars while myself and the banker declined. Without a word, the tall leader of the three signaled for four glasses of scotch.

As I began to introduce myself to the gentlemen they assured me that as Dr. Miller's new assistant I had no need to give my name and that I was already the talk of the town. Or at least, as one of them added jovially, the talk of their wives. I confess, my lord, that I thought perhaps these three officers of the Company might be the very men that I had been cuckolding in the name of medical treatments, but the three offered me nothing but compliments and best wishes. We talked about the wonders of Rajah, which led to questions about my power boat and if the Anna-Leigh was fully operational. I expressed my opinion that the boat was far more ready than its captain and related a tale of the first time I tried to dock her in the boathouse. In the end, I explained to the laughing men, I had to jump into the muddy water and drag the boat through the water-gate. The youngest of the men pointed out that surely my handling of the craft had improved and offered as evidence the smart way I had brought the boat around and docked it along the riverwalk. I conceded that after that first disastrous outing I had practiced docking until bringing the boat into the boathouse under power was no longer a cause for terror. My modesty and good nature appeared to have made a good impression with the trio as they insisted that I stay as their guest for dinner.

As conversation rambled from topic to topic - the American raids on Kandar and the effects this might have on Soma prices, to the forecast for this year's production numbers and the possibility of expanding the mines to a secound location. I sat in silence and listened, having little to offer among such an august company. Occasionally the officers would pause to explain one peculiarity or another to me, but for the most part I was ignored until talk turned to teasing the Soma trader about his upcoming nuptials. It seems the young man was to be wed to one of the city's most sought after debutants in a little over a month's time and that his bride was much admired by the other two officers. They then asked if I had set my sights on any of the young women parading about town. I did my very best to not be distracted by the memory of Alice strapped to the examination table and how unreservedly she had responded to my intimate touch, or for that matter some of the wealthy clients in Dr. Miller's clinic moaning and wiggling on my member as I did my best to fill their wombs. Instead, I answered that until I could get settled, I was concentrating my energy on my duties at Dr. Miller's clinic. This careful response was met by knowing chuckles and the soft 'clink' of our tumblers; I cannot say for sure Sir Williard, but I wonder if those men had at least a suspicion of some of the debauchery that takes place behind those whitewashed walls.

I turned the conversation back to safer topics. None of the men whose company I kept had made even passing references to the Blush and to address the topic in this secluded environment seemed deeply taboo. One of the most remarkable things about this gentlemen's club was the complete absence of any females, for the first time since settling in my new house I found myself surrounded by only men of high station and I found it to be remarkably relaxing. Perhaps this is one of the ways in which the officers of the Company shield themselves from the constant fight or the planetary curse. I resolved that as soon as I could to petition a fine club like this for memberships so that I too could escape the stress of women whose delicate bodies seamed to bring out the worst in me.

When the check came, none of the men would hear of me paying my share, and so I informed them that as soon as my first payment from the Company had been deposited in the bank that I would be sure to invite them to my house to repay their kindness. What followed happened to quickly that it is hard to relate, but young trader told the banker to have his institution extend me a loan, and then the tallest of the three simply pulled out a checkbook and wrote me a note for the amount of 500 pounds. I protested that I was unsure how long it would take to repay his generous offer and that I had nothing to offer as collateral.

"Why bother with the fuss and paperwork of a bank?" He asked as he pressed the crisp note into my hand, "among gentlemen like us there must be trust and honour." His two companions offered 'huzzahs' and even though we had just settled the account we all had one more round of the excellent scotch before leaving the club.

Tomorrow I intend to buy myself some of the supplies that I have been going without for the past several weeks. The money is most welcome, because of a chance encounter as I returned to my boat. I will detail the most pleasant event tomorrow, as I it is well past time for me to retire.