ian fleming.casino royale-第7章

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　'Excellent；'　he　said　to　the　barman；　'but　if　you　can　get　a　vodka　made　with　grain　instead　of　potatoes；　you　will　find　it　still　better。'
　'Mais　n'enculons　pas　des　mouches；'　he　added　in　an　aside　to　the　barman。　The　barman　grinned。
　'That's　a　vulgar　way　of　saying　〃we　won't　split　hairs〃；'　explained　Bond。
　But　Leiter　was　still　interested　in　Bond's　drink。　'You　certainly　think　things　out；'　he　said　with　amusement　as　they　carried　their　glasses　to　a　corner　of　the　room。　He　lowered　his　voice。
　'You'd　better　call　it　the　'Molotov　Cocktail'　after　the　one　you　tasted　this　afternoon。'
　They　sat　down。　Bond　laughed。
　'I　see　that　the　spot　marked　〃X〃　has　been　roped　off　and　they're　making　cars　take　a　detour　over　the　pavement。　I　hope　it　hasn't　frightened　away　any　of　the　big　money。'
　'People　are　accepting　the　munist　story　or　else　they　think　it　was　a　burst　gas…main。　All　the　burnt　trees　are　ing　down　tonight　and　if　they　work　things　here　like　they　do　at　Monte　Carlo；　there　won't　be　a　trace　of　the　mess　left　in　the　morning。'
　Leiter　shook　a　Chesterfield　out　of　his　pack。　'I'm　glad　to　be　working　with　you　on　this　job；'　he　said；　looking　into　his　drink；　'so　I'm　particularly　glad　you　didn't　get　blown　to　glory。　Our　people　are　definitely　interested。　They　think　it's　just　as　important　as　your　friends　do　and　they　don't　think　there's　anything　crazy　about　it　at　all。　In　fact；　Washington's　pretty　sick　we're　not　running　the　show；　but　you　know　what　the　big　brass　is　like。　I　expect　your　fellows　are　much　the　same　in　London。'
　Bond　nodded。　'Apt　to　be　a　bit　jealous　of　their　scoops；'　he　admitted。
　'Anyway；　I'm　under　your　orders　and　I'm　to　give　you　any　help　you　ask　for。　With　Mathis　and　his　boys　here；　there　may　not　be　much　that　isn't　taken　care　of　already。　But；　anyway；　here　I　am。'
　'I'm　delighted　you　are；'　said　Bond。　'The　opposition　has　got　me；　and　probably　you　and　Mathis　too；　all　weighed　up　and　it　seems　no　holds　are　going　to　be　barred。　I'm　glad　Le　Chiffre　seems　as　desperate　as　we　thought　he　was。　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　got　anything　very　specific　for　you　to　do；　but　I'd　be　grateful　if　you'd　stick　around　the　Casino　this　evening。　I've　got　an　assistant；　a　Miss　Lynd；　and　I'd　like　to　hand　her　over　to　you　when　I　start　playing。　You　won't　be　ashamed　of　her。　She's　a　good　looking　girl。'　He　smiled　at　Leiter。　'And　you　might　mark　his　two　gunmen。　I　can't　imagine　he'll　try　a　rough　house；　but　you　never　know。'
　'I　may　be　able　to　help；'　said　Leiter。　'I　was　a　regular　in　our　Marine　Corps　before　I　joined　this　racket；　if　that　means　anything　to　you。'　He　looked　at　Bond　with　a　hint　of　self…deprecation。
　'It　does；'　said　Bond。
　It　turned　out　that　Leiter　was　from　Texas。　While　he　talked　on　about　his　job　with　the　Joint　Intelligence　Staff　of　NATO　and　the　difficulty　of　maintaining　security　in　an　organization　where　so　many　nationalities　were　represented；　Bond　reflected　that　good　Americans　were　fine　people　and　that　most　of　them　seemed　to　e　from　Texas。
　Felix　Leiter　was　about　thirty…five。　He　was　tall　with　a　thin　bony　frame　and　his　lightweight；　tan…coloured　suit　hung　loosely　from　his　shoulders　like　the　clothes　of　Frank　Sinatra。　His　movements　and　speech　were　slow；　but　one　had　the　feeling　that　there　was　plenty　of　speed　and　strength　in　him　and　that　he　would　be　a　tough　and　cruel　fighter。　As　he　sat　hunched　over　the　table；　he　seemed　to　have　some　of　the　jack…knife　quality　of　a　falcon。　There　was　this　impression　also　in　his　face；　in　the　sharpness　of　his　chin　and　cheekbones　and　the　wide　wry　mouth。　His　grey　eyes　had　a　feline　slant　which　was　increased　by　his　habit　of　screwing　them　up　against　the　smoke　of　the　Chesterfields　which　he　tapped　out　of　the　pack　in　a　chain。　The　permanent　wrinkles　which　this　habit　had　etched　at　the　corners　gave　the　impression　that　he　smiled　more　with　his　eyes　than　with　his　mouth。　A　mop　of　straw…coloured　hair　lent　his　face　a　boyish　look　which　closer　examination　contradicted。　Although　he　seemed　to　talk　quite　openly　about　his　duties　in　Paris；　Bond　soon　noticed　that　he　never　spoke　of　his　American　colleagues　in　Europe　or　in　Washington　and　he　guessed　that　Leiter　held　the　interests　of　his　own　organization　far　above　the　mutual　concerns　of　the　North　Atlantic　Allies。　Bond　sympathized　with　him。
　By　the　time　Leiter　had　swallowed　another　whisky　and　Bond　had　told　him　about　the　Muntzes　and　his　short　reconnaissance　trip　down　the　coast　that　morning；　it　was　seven…thirty；　and　they　decided　to　stroll　over　to　their　hotel　together。　Before　leaving　the　Casino；　Bond　deposited　his　total　capital　of　twenty…four　million　at　the　caisse；　keeping　only　a　few　notes　of　ten　mille　as　pocket　money。
　As　they　walked　across　to　the　Splendide；　they　saw　that　a　team　of　workmen　was　already　busy　at　the　scene　of　the　explosion。　Several　trees　were　uprooted　and　hoses　from　three　municipal　tank　cars　were　washing　down　the　boulevard　and　pavements。　The　bomb…crater　had　disappeared　and　only　a　few　passers…by　had　paused　to　gape。　Bond　assumed　that　similar　face…lifting　had　already　been　carried　out　at　the　Hermitage　and　to　the　shops　and　frontages　which　had　lost　their　windows。
　In　the　warm　blue　dusk　Royale…les…Eaux　was　once　again　orderly　and　peaceful。
　'Who's　the　concierge　working　for？'　asked　Leiter　as　they　approached　the　hotel。　Bond　was　not　sure；　and　said　so。
　Mathis　had　been　unable　to　enlighten　him。　'Unless　you　have　bought　him　yourself；'　he　had　said；　'you　must　assume　that　he　has　been　bought　by　the　other　side。　All　concierges　are　venal。　It　is　not　their　fault。　They　are　trained　to　regard　all　hotel　guests　except　maharajahs　as　potential　cheats　and　thieves。　They　have　as　much　concern　for　your　fort　or　well…being　as　crocodiles。'
　Bond　remembered　Mathis's　pronouncement　when　the　concierge　hurried　up　to　inquire　whether　he　had　recovered　from　his　most　unfortunate　experience　of　the　afternoon。　Bond　thought　it　well　to　say　that　he　still　felt　a　little　shaky。　He　hoped　that　if　the　intelligence　were　relayed；　Le　Chiffre　would　at　any　rate　start　playing　that　evening　with　a　basic　misinterpretation　of　his　adversary's　strength。　The　concierge　proffered　glycerine　hopes　for　Bond's　recovery。
　Leiter's　room　was　on　one　of　the　upper　floors　and　they　parted　pany　at　the　lift　after　arranging　to　see　each　other　at　the　Casino　at　around　half　past　ten　or　eleven；　the　usual　hour　for　the　high　tables　to　begin　play。
　
　
　CHAPTER　8　…　PINK　LIGHTS　AND　CHAMPAGNE
　Bond　walked　up　to　his　room；　which　again　showed　no　sign　of　trespass；　threw　off　his　clothes；　took　a　long　hot　bath　followed　by　an　ice…cold　shower　and　lay　down　on　his　bed。　There　remained　an　hour　in　which　to　rest　and　pose　his　thoughts　before　he　met　the　girl　in　the　Splendide　bar；　an　hour　to　examine　minutely　the　details　of　his　plans　for　the　game；　and　for　after　the　game；　in　all　the　various　circumstances　of　victory　or　defeat。　He　had　to　plan　the　attendant　roles　of　Mathis；　Leiter；　and　the　girl　and　visualize　the　reactions　of　the　enemy　in　various　contingencies。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　his　thoughts　pursued　his　imagination　through　a　series　of　carefully　constructed　scenes　as　if　he　was　watching　the　tumbling　chips　of　coloured　glass　in　a　kaleidoscope。
　At　twenty　minutes　to　nine　he　had　exhausted　all　the　permutations　which　might　result　from　his　duel　with　Le　Chiffre。　He　rose　and　dressed；　dismissing　the　future　pletely　from　his　mind。
　As　he　tied　his　thin；　double…ended；　black　satin　tie；　he　paused　for　a　moment　and　examined　himself　levelly　in　the　mirror。　His　grey…blue　eyes　looked　calmly　back　with　a　hint　of　ironical　inquiry　and　the　short　lock　of　black　hair　which　would　never　stay　in　place　slowly　subsided　to　form　a　thick　ma　above　his　right　eyebrow。　With　the　thin　vertical　scar　down　his　right　cheek　the　general　effect　was　faintly　piratical。　Not　much　of　Hoagy　Carmichael　there；　thought　Bond；　as　he　filled　a　flat；　light　gunmetal　box　with　fifty　of　the　Morland　cigarettes　with　the　triple　gold　band。　Mathis　had　told　him　of　the　girl's　ment。
　He　slipped　the　case　into　his　hip　pocket　and　snapped　his　oxidized　Ronson　to　see　if　it　needed　fuel。　After　pocketing　the　thin　sheaf　of　ten…mille　notes；　he　opened　a　drawer　and　took　out　a　light　chamois　leather　holster　and　slipped　it　over　his　left　shoulder　so　that　it　hung　about　three　inches　below　his　arm…pit。　He　then　took　from　under　his　shirts　in　another　drawer　a　very　flat　。25　Beretta　automatic　with　a　skeleton　grip；　extracted　the　clip　and　the　single　round　in　the　barrel　and　whipped　the　action　to　and　fro　several　times；　finally　pulling　the　trigger　on　the　empty　chamber。　He　charged　the　weapon　again；　loaded　it；　put　up　the　safety　catch　and　dropped　it　into　the　shallow　pouch　of　the　shoulder…holster。　He　looked　carefully　round　the　room　to　see　if　anything　had　been　forgotten　and　slipped　his　single…breasted　dinner…jacket　coat　over　his　heavy　silk　evening　shirt。　He　felt　cool　and　fortable。　He　verified　in　the　mirror　that　there　was　absolutely　no　sign　of　the　flat　gun　under　his　left　arm；　gave　a　final　pull　at　his　narrow　tie　and　walked　out　of　the　door　and　locked　it。
　When　he　turned　at　the　foot　of　the　short　stairs　towards　the　bar　he　heard　the　lift…door　open　behind　him　and　a　cool　voice　call　'Good　evening'。
　It　was　the　girl。　She　stood　and　waited　for　him　to　e　up　to　her。
　He　had　remembered　her　beauty　exactly。　He　was　not　surprised　to　be　thrilled　by　it　again。
　Her　dress　was　of　black　velvet；　simple　and　yet　with　the　touch　of　splendour　that　only　half　a　dozen　couturiers　in　the　world　can　achieve。　There　was　a　thin　necklace　of　diamonds　at　her　throat　and　a　diamond　clip　in　the　low　vee　which　just　exposed　the　jutting　swell　of　her　breasts。　She　carried　a　plain　black　evening　bag；　a　flat　object　which　she　now　held；　her　arm　akimbo；　at　her　waist。　Her　jet　black　hair　hung　straight　and　simple　to　the　final　inward　curl　below　the　chin。
　She　looked　quite　superb　and　Bond's　heart　lifted。
　'You　look　absolutely　lovely。　Business　must　be　good　in　the　radio　world！'
　She　put　her　arm　through　his。　'Do　you　mind　if　we　go　straight　into　dinner？'　she　asked。　'I　want　to　make　a　grand　entrance　and　the　truth　is　there's　a　horrible　secret　about　black　velvet。　It　marks　when　you　sit　down。　And；　by　the　way；　if　you　hear　me　scream　tonight；　I　shall　have　sat　on　a　cane　chair。'
　Bond　laughed。　'Of　course；　let's　go　straight　in。　We'll　have　a　glass　of　vodka　while　we　order　our　dinner。'
　She　gave　him　an　amused　glance　and　he　corrected　himself：　'Or　a　cocktail；　of　course；　if　you　prefer　it。　The　food　here's　the　best　in　Royale。'
　For　an　instant　he　felt　nettled　at　the　irony；　the　light　shadow　of　a　snub；　with　which　she　had　met　his　decisiveness；　and　at　the　way　he　had　risen　to　her　quick　glance。
　But　it　was　only　an　infinitesimal　clink　of　foils　and　as　the　bowing　ma？tre　d'h？tel　led　them　through　the　crowded　room；　it　was　forgotten　as　Bond　in　her　wake　watched　the　heads　of　the　diners　turn　to　look　at　her。
　The　fashionable　part　of　the　restaurant　was　beside　the　wide　crescent　of　window　built　out　like　the　broad　stern　of　a　ship　over　the　hotel　gardens；　but　Bond　had　chosen　a　table　in　one　of　the　mirrored　alcoves　at　the　back　of　the　great　room。　These　had　survived　from　the　Edwardian　days　and　they　were　secluded　and　gay　in　white　and　gilt；　with　the　red　silk…shaded　table　and　wall　lights　of　the　late　Empire。
　As　they　deciphered　the　maze　of　purple　ink　which　covered　the　double　folio　menu；　Bond　beckoned　to　the　sommelier。　He　turned　to　his　panion。
　'Have　you　decided？'
　'I　would　love　a　glass　of　vodka；'　she　said　simply；　and　went　back　to　her　study　of