ian fleming.casino royale-第11部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Bond　drank　some　champagne　and　continued。
　'Now　what　happens　at　the　game　is　this。　The　banker　announces　an　opening　bank　of　five　hundred　thousand　francs；　of　five　hundred　pounds　as　it　is　now。　Each　seat　is　numbered　from　the　right　of　the　banker　and　the　player　next　to　the　banker；　or　Number　1；　can　accept　this　bet　and　push　his　money　out　on　to　the　table；　or　pass　it；　if　it　is　too　much　for　him　or　he　doesn't　want　to　take　it。　Then　Number　2　has　the　right　to　take　it；　and　if　he　refuses；　then　Number　3；　and　so　on　round　the　table。　If　no　single　player　takes　it　all；　the　bet　is　offered　to　the　table　as　a　whole　and　everyone　chips　in；　including　sometimes　the　spectators　round　the　table；　until　the　five　hundred　thousand　is　made　up。
　'That　is　a　small　bet　which　would　immediately　be　met；　but　when　it　gets　to　a　million　or　two　it's　often　difficult　to　find　a　taker　or　even；　if　the　bank　seems　to　be　in　luck；　a　group　of　takers　to　cover　the　bet。　At　the　moment　I　shall　always　try　and　step　in　and　accept　the　bet　…　in　fact；　I　shall　attack　Le　Chiffre's　bank　whenever　I　get　a　chance　until　either　I've　bust　his　bank　or　he's　bust　me。　It　may　take　some　time；　but　in　the　end　one　of　us　is　bound　to　break　the　other；　irrespective　of　the　other　players　at　the　table；　although　they　can；　of　course；　make　him　richer　or　poorer　in　the　meantime。
　'Being　the　banker；　he's　got　a　slight　advantage　in　the　play；　but　knowing　that　I'm　making　a　dead　set　at　him　and　not　knowing；　I　hope；　my　capital；　is　bound　to　play　on　his　nerves　a　bit；　so　I'm　hoping　that　we　start　about　equal。'
　He　paused　while　the　strawberries　came　and　the　avocado　pear。
　For　a　while　they　ate　in　silence；　then　they　talked　of　other　things　while　the　coffee　was　served。　They　smoked。　Neither　of　them　drank　brandy　or　a　liqueur。　Finally；　Bond　felt　it　was　time　to　explain　the　actual　mechanics　of　the　game。
　'It's　a　simple　affair；'　he　said；　'and　you'll　understand　it　at　once　if　you've　ever　played　vingt…et…un；　where　the　object　is　to　get　cards　from　the　banker　which　add　up　more　closely　to　a　count　of　twenty…one　than　his　do。　In　this　game；　I　get　two　cards　and　the　banker　gets　two；　and　unless　anyone　wins　outright；　either　or　both　of　us　can　get　one　more　card。　The　object　of　the　game　is　to　hold　two；　or　three　cards　which　together　count　nine　points；　or　as　nearly　nine　as　possible。　Court　cards　and　tens　count　nothing；　aces　one　each；　any　other　card　its　face　value。　It　is　only　the　last　figure　of　your　count　that　signifies。　So　nine　plus　seven　equals　six　…　not　sixteen。
　'The　winner　is　the　one　whose　count　is　nearest　to　nine。　Draws　are　played　over　again。'
　Vesper　listened　attentively；　but　she　also　watched　the　look　of　abstract　passion　on　Bond's　face。
　'Now；'　Bond　continued；　'when　the　banker　deals　me　my　two　cards；　if　they　add　up　to　eight　or　nine；　they're　a　'natural'　and　I　turn　them　up　and　I　win；　unless　he　has　an　equal　or　a　better　natural。　If　I　haven't　got　a　natural；　I　can　stand　on　a　seven　or　a　six；　perhaps　ask　for　a　card　or　perhaps　not；　on　a　five；　and　certainly　ask　for　a　card　if　my　count　is　lower　than　five。　Five　is　the　turning　point　of　the　game。　According　to　the　odds；　the　chances　of　bettering　or　worsening　your　hand　if　you　hold　a　five　are　exactly　even。
　'Only　when　I　ask　for　a　card　or　tap　mine　to　signify　that　I　stand　on　what　I　have；　can　the　banker　look　at　his。　If　he　has　a　natural；　he　turns　them　up　and　wins。　Otherwise　he　is　faced　with　the　same　problems　as　I　was。　But　he　is　helped　in　his　decision　to　draw　or　not　to　draw　a　third　card　by　my　actions。　If　I　have　stood；　he　must　assume　that　I　have　a　five；　six；　or　seven：　if　I　have　drawn；　he　will　know　that　I　had　something　less　than　a　six　and　I　may　have　improved　my　hand　or　not　with　the　card　he　gave　me。　And　this　card　was　dealt　to　me　face　up。　On　its　face　value　and　a　knowledge　of　the　odds；　he　will　know　whether　to　take　another　card　or　to　stand　on　his　own。
　'So　he　has　a　very　slight　advantage　over　me。　He　has　a　tiny　help　over　his　decision　to　draw　or　to　stand。　But　there　is　always　one　problem　card　at　this　game　…　shall　one　draw　or　stand　on　a　five　and　what　will　your　opponent　do　with　a　five？　Some　players　always　draw　or　always　stand。　I　follow　my　intuition。
　'But　in　the　end；'　Bond　stubbed　out　his　cigarette　and　called　for　the　bill；　'it's　the　natural　eights　and　nines　that　matter；　and　I　must　just　see　that　I　get　more　of　them　than　he　does。'
　
　
　CHAPTER　10　…　THE　HIGH　TABLE
　While　telling　the　story　of　the　game　and　anticipating　the　ing　fight；　Bond's　face　had　lit　up　again。　The　prospect　of　at　least　getting　to　grips　with　Le　Chiffre　stimulated　him　and　quickened　his　pulse。　He　seemed　to　have　pletely　forgotten　the　brief　coolness　between　them；　and　Vesper　was　relieved　and　entered　into　his　mood。
　He　paid　the　bill　and　gave　a　handsome　tip　to　the　sommelier。　Vesper　rose　and　led　the　way　out　of　the　restaurant　and　out　on　to　the　steps　of　the　hotel。
　The　big　Bentley　was　waiting　and　Bond　drove　Vesper　over；　parking　as　close　to　the　entrance　as　he　could。　As　they　walked　through　the　ornate　ante…rooms；　he　hardly　spoke。　She　looked　at　him　and　saw　that　his　nostrils　were　slightly　flared。　In　other　respects　he　seemed　pletely　at　ease；　acknowledging　cheerfully　the　greetings　of　the　Casino　functionaries。　At　the　door　to　the　salle　privée　they　were　not　asked　for　their　membership　cards。　Bond's　high　gambling　had　already　made　him　a　favoured　client　and　any　panion　of　his　shared　in　the　glory。
　Before　they　had　penetrated　very　far　into　the　main　room；　Felix　Leiter　detached　himself　from　one　of　the　roulette　tables　and　greeted　Bond　as　an　old　friend。　After　being　introduced　to　Vesper　Lynd　and　exchanging　a　few　remarks；　Leiter　said：　'Well；　since　you're　playing　baccarat　this　evening；　will　you　allow　me　to　show　Miss　Lynd　how　to　break　the　bank　at　roulette？　I've　got　three　lucky　numbers　that　are　bound　to　show　soon；　and　I　expect　Miss　Lynd　has　some　too。　Then　perhaps　we　could　e　and　watch　you　when　your　game　starts　to　warm　up。'
　Bond　looked　inquiringly　at　Vesper。
　'I　should　love　that；'　she　said；　'but　will　you　give　me　one　of　your　lucky　numbers　to　play　on？'
　'I　have　no　lucky　numbers；'　said　Bond　unsmilingly。　'I　only　bet　on　even　chances；　or　as　near　them　as　I　can　get。　Well；　I　shall　leave　you　then。'　He　excused　himself。　'You　will　be　in　excellent　hands　with　my　friend　Felix　Leiter。'　He　gave　a　short　smile　which　embraced　them　both　and　walked　with　an　unhurried　gait　towards　the　caisse。
　Leiter　sensed　the　rebuff。
　'He's　a　very　serious　gambler；　Miss　Lynd；'　he　said。　'And　I　guess　he　has　to　be。　Now　e　with　me　and　watch　Number　17　obey　my　extra…sensory　perceptions。　You'll　find　it　quite　a　painless　sensation　being　given　plenty　of　money　for　nothing。'
　Bond　was　relieved　to　be　on　his　own　again　and　to　be　able　to　clear　his　mind　of　everything　but　the　task　on　hand。　He　stood　at　the　caisse　and　took　his　twenty…four　million　francs　against　the　receipt　which　had　been　given　him　that　afternoon。　He　divided　the　notes　into　equal　packets　and　put　half　the　sum　into　his　right…hand　coat　pocket　and　the　other　half　into　the　left。　Then　he　strolled　slowly　across　the　room　between　the　thronged　tables　until　he　came　to　the　top　of　the　room　where　the　broad　baccarat　table　waited　behind　the　brass　rail。
　The　table　was　filling　up　and　the　cards　were　spread　face　down　being　stirred　and　mixed　slowly　in　what　is　known　as　the　'croupiers'　shuffle'；　supposedly　the　shuffle　which　is　most　effective　and　least　susceptible　to　cheating。
　The　chef　de　partie　lifted　the　velvet…covered　chain　which　allowed　entrance　through　the　brass　rail。
　'I've　kept　Number　6　as　you　wished；　Monsieur　Bond。'
　There　were　still　three　other　empty　places　at　the　table。　Bond　moved　inside　the　rail　to　where　a　huissier　was　holding　out　his　chair。　He　sat　down　with　a　nod　to　the　players　on　his　right　and　left。　He　took　out　his　wide　gunmetal　cigarette…case　and　his　black　lighter　and　placed　them　on　the　green　baize　at　his　right　elbow。　The　huissier　wiped　a　thick　glass　ash…tray　with　a　cloth　and　put　it　beside　them。　Bond　lit　a　cigarette　and　leant　back　in　his　chair。
　Opposite　him；　the　banker's　chair　was　vacant。　He　glanced　round　the　table。　He　knew　most　of　the　players　by　sight；　but　few　of　their　names。　At　Number　7；　on　his　right；　there　was　a　Monsieur　Sixte；　a　wealthy　Belgian　with　metal　interests　in　the　Congo。　At　Number　9　there　was　Lord　Danvers；　a　distinguished　but　weak…looking　man　whose　francs　were　presumably　provided　by　his　rich　American　wife；　a　middle…aged　woman　with　the　predatory　mouth　of　a　barracuda；　who　sat　at　Number　3。　Bond　reflected　that　they　would　probably　play　a　pawky　and　nervous　game　and　be　amongst　the　early　casualties。　At　Number　1；　to　the　right　of　the　bank　was　a　well…known　Greek　gambler　who　owned；　as　in　Bond's　experience　apparently　everyone　does　in　the　Eastern　Mediterranean；　a　profitable　shipping　line。　He　would　play　coldly　and　well　and　would　be　a　stayer。
　Bond　asked　the　huissier　for　a　card　and　wrote　on　it；　under　a　neat　question　mark；　the　remaining　numbers；　2；　4；　5；　8；　10；　and　asked　the　huissier　to　give　it　to　the　chef　de　partie。
　Soon　it　came　back　with　the　names　filled　in。
　Number　2；　still　empty；　was　to　be　Carmel　Delane；　the　American　film　star　with　alimony　from　three　husbands　to　burn　and；　Bond　assumed；　a　call　on　still　more　from　whoever　her　present　panion　at　Royale　might　be。　With　her　sanguine　temperament　she　would　play　gaily　and　with　panache　and　might　run　into　a　vein　of　luck。
　Then　came　Lady