Free The market maker by Michael Ridpath Page A

Brazil. But I suspect the climate's better."
    Luis laughed. "That's true. It makes enjoying life
    easier."
    "It's a fascinating country. I'd love to find out more about it."
    Luis took my arm. "Do you know Tolstoy's story, 'Master and Man'?"
    I smiled. "I was teaching it just three weeks ago."
    "That could apply perfectly to Brazil."
    "What's that, Papail" Isabel asked.
    " You tell her/' Luis said to me.
    "A nobleman and his servant are stranded in a snowstorm. The nobleman rides off to safety with their oiily horse, leaving his servant to walk. After a while the nobleman is thrown off his horse. As he trudges through the snow, he reflects on the uselessness of his life, and probably his death, spent alone and in selfishness. So he returns to find his servant lying freezing in the snow. Tlie nobleman spreads himself on the servant like a cloak. In the morning, when the storm has blown over, they are discovered. The servamt survives, but the nobleman is dead."
    Isabel's large dark eyes were watching me, following every word. "That's beautiful."
    "It expressed Tolstoy's beliefs in the obligations of the nobility," I said.

    ''Beliefs that we would do well to heed in Brazil/' said Luis.
    "Unfortunately, not many of Tolstoy's contemporaries took much notice either. Forty years later there was a revolution."
    "We won't have another revolution here. Just anarchy, violence, and poverty."
    "Has Isabel told you what we're doing here?" I asked.
    Isabel looked embarrassed.
    "My daughter doesn't like to talk to me much about her work," he said. "My bank and hers often find ourselves rivals, so it's probably best that way."
    I wasn't sure whether I was about to give away a trade secret, so I glanced at Isabel. She shrugged. So I told him about the favela deal. He listened intently, glancing occasionally at Isabel, who avoided his eyes.
    There was silence when I had finished. Finally he asked a question. "When do you say the bond issue will be launched?"
    "In two weeks, we hope," answered Isabel.
    "Well, have your people give me a call. I will make sure that the bank buys some."
    " But, Papai, you never deal with Dekker!"
    "I know. But this is different. I think it's important for Banco Horizonte to support initiatives like this."
    Isabel's mouth hung open.
    "Don't look so shocked, my darling."
    "Papai, you're not doing this just to humor me, are you?"
    "No, of course not. It's a good idea. It deserves support. I'm glad to see you are doing so well. Ah, here's lunch."
    We sat down as Maria brought us some steak and salad. The meat was tender with a much stronger taste

    than its British counteq^art. The salad included all kinds of vegetables I had never seen before.
    There was silence as we set about our food. Then Luis broke it. "Isabel, I've been thinking. Would you like to come and work at the bank?" . Isabel looked at me anxiously, then at her father. "Doing what, exactly?"
    "Oh, I don't know. I'm sure we could find you something. You have lots of experience now. You could be very useful doing lots of things."
    'Tapai—"
    "It would be good for you. You could come back to Rio. Settle down—"
    "Papai!" Isabel glanced quickly at me and then glared at her father. She launched into a torrent of angry Portuguese. Luis tried to protest, but was cut off. Finally they both lapsed into silence.
    I cut my steak slowly and with great concentration. Luis began to speak. "I must apologize for my daughter—"
    "Don't worry about it," I said. "There's no point in having a family if you can't have a lively discussion every now and then. I was wondering," I continued quickly, "would it be possible to see afavela?"
    I said it for something to say, a way of breaking the tension. And I was intrigued by these communities that I had heard so much about, but had not yet actually seen.
    "You could take him to see Cordelia," said Luis.
    Isabel was still sulking, but she stirred herself. "Yes, we could do that if you want."
    I coughed. "Good," I said. Then,