ian fleming.casino royale-第16部分

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keep　you　two　pany？'
　'You　get　your　sleep；'　said　Bond。　'Don't　worry　about　us。　They　won't　be　interested　in　me　without　the　money　and　I've　got　an　idea　for　looking　after　that。　Thanks　for　all　you've　done。　I　hope　we　get　on　a　job　again　one　day。'
　'Suits　me；'　said　Leiter；　'so　long　as　you　can　draw　a　nine　when　it's　needed　…　and　bring　Vesper　along　with　you；'　he　added　dryly。　He　went　out　and　closed　the　door。
　Bond　turned　back　to　the　friendliness　of　his　room。
　After　the　crowded　arena　of　the　big　table　and　the　nervous　strain　of　the　three　hours'　play；　he　was　glad　to　be　alone　for　a　moment　and　be　weled　by　his　pyjamas　on　the　bed　and　his　hairbrushes　on　the　dressing…table。　He　went　into　the　bathroom　and　dashed　cold　water　over　his　face　and　gargled　with　a　sharp　mouthwash。　He　felt　the　bruises　on　the　back　of　his　head　and　on　his　right　shoulder。　He　reflected　cheerfully　how　narrowly　he　had　twice　that　day　escaped　being　murdered。　Would　he　have　to　sit　up　all　that　night　and　wait　for　them　to　e　again；　or　was　Le　Chiffre　even　now　on　his　way　to　Le　Havre　or　Bordeaux　to　pick　up　a　boat　for　some　corner　of　the　world　where　he　could　escape　the　eyes　and　the　guns　of　SMERSH？
　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。　Sufficient　unto　that　day　had　been　its　evil。　He　gazed　for　a　moment　into　the　mirror　and　wondered　about　Vesper's　morals。　He　wanted　her　cold　and　arrogant　body。　He　wanted　to　see　tears　and　desire　in　her　remote　blue　eyes　and　to　take　the　ropes　of　her　black　hair　in　his　hands　and　bend　her　long　body　back　under　his。　Bond's　eyes　narrowed　and　his　face　in　the　mirror　looked　back　at　him　with　hunger。
　He　turned　away　and　took　out　his　pocket　the　cheque　for　forty　million　francs。　He　folded　this　very　small。　Then　he　opened　the　door　and　looked　up　and　down　the　corridor。　He　left　the　door　wide　open　and　with　his　ears　cocked　for　footsteps　or　the　sound　of　the　lift；　he　set　to　work　with　a　small　screwdriver。
　Five　minutes　later　he　gave　a　last…minute　survey　to　his　handiwork；　put　some　fresh　cigarettes　in　his　case；　closed　and　locked　the　door　and　went　off　down　the　corridor　and　across　the　hall　and　out　into　the　moonlight。
　
　
　CHAPTER　14　…　'LA　VIE　EN　ROSE？'
　The　entrance　to　the　Roi　Galant　was　a　seven…foot　golden　picture…frame　which　had　once；　perhaps；　enclosed　the　vast　portrait　of　a　noble　European。　It　was　in　a　discreet　corner　of　the　'kitchen'　…　the　public　roulette　and　boule　room；　where　several　tables　were　still　busy。　As　Bond　took　Vesper's　arm　and　led　her　over　the　gilded　step；　he　fought　back　a　hankering　to　borrow　some　money　from　the　caisse　and　plaster　maximums　over　the　nearest　table。　But　he　knew　that　this　would　be　a　brash　and　cheap　gesture　pour　épater　la　bourgeoisie。　Whether　he　won　or　lost；　it　would　be　a　kick　in　the　teeth　to　the　luck　which　had　been　given　him。
　The　night…club　was　small　and　dark；　lit　only　by　candles　in　gilded　candelabra　whose　warm　light　was　repeated　in　wall　mirrors　set　in　more　gold　picture…frames。　The　walls　were　covered　in　dark　red　satin　and　the　chairs　and　banquettes　in　matching　red　plush。　In　the　far　corner；　a　trio；　consisting　of　a　piano；　an　electric　guitar　and　drums；　was　playing　'La　Vie　en　Rose'　with　muted　sweetness。　Seduction　dripped　on　the　quietly　throbbing　air。　It　seemed　to　Bond　that　every　couple　must　be　touching　with　passion　under　the　tables。
　They　were　given　a　corner　table　near　the　door。　Bond　ordered　a　bottle　of　Veuve　Clicquot　and　scrambled　eggs　and　bacon。
　They　sat　for　a　time　listening　to　the　music　and　then　Bond　turned　to　Vesper：　'It's　wonderful　sitting　here　with　you　and　knowing　the　job's　finished。　It's　a　lovely　end　to　the　day　…　the　prize…giving。'
　He　expected　her　to　smile。　She　said：　'Yes；　isn't　it；'　in　a　rather　brittle　voice。　She　seemed　to　be　listening　carefully　to　the　music。　One　elbow　rested　on　the　table　and　her　hand　supported　her　chin；　but　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　not　on　the　palm；　and　Bond　noticed　that　her　knuckles　showed　white　as　if　her　fist　was　tightly　clenched。
　Between　the　thumb　and　first　two　fingers　of　her　right　hand　she　held　one　of　Bond's　cigarettes；　as　an　artist　holds　a　crayon；　and　though　she　smoked　with　posure；　she　tapped　the　cigarette　occasionally　into　an　ash…try　when　the　cigarette　had　no　ash。
　Bond　noticed　these　small　things　because　he　felt　intensely　aware　of　her　and　because　he　wanted　to　draw　her　into　his　own　feeling　of　warmth　and　relaxed　sensuality。　But　he　accepted　her　reserve。　He　thought　it　came　from　a　desire　to　protect　herself　from　him；　or　else　it　was　her　reaction　to　his　coolness　to　her　earlier　in　the　evening；　his　deliberate　coolness；　which　he　knew　had　been　taken　as　a　rebuff。
　He　was　patient。　He　drank　champagne　and　talked　a　little　about　the　happenings　of　the　day　and　about　the　personalities　of　Mathis　and　Leiter　and　about　the　possible　consequences　for　Le　Chiffre。　He　was　discreet　and　he　only　talked　about　the　aspects　of　the　case　on　which　she　must　have　been　briefed　by　London。
　She　answered　perfunctorily。　She　said　that；　of　course；　they　had　picked　out　the　two　gunmen；　but　had　thought　nothing　of　it　when　the　man　with　the　stick　had　gone　to　stand　behind　Bond's　chair。　They　could　not　believe　that　anything　would　be　attempted　in　the　Casino　itself。　Directly　Bond　and　Leiter　had　left　to　walk　over　to　the　hotel；　she　had　telephoned　Paris　and　told　M's　representative　of　the　result　of　the　game。　She　had　had　to　speak　guardedly　and　the　agent　had　rung　off　without　ment。　She　had　been　told　to　do　this　whatever　the　result。　M　had　asked　for　the　information　to　be　passed　on　to　him　personally　at　any　time　of　the　day　or　night。
　This　was　all　she　said。　She　sipped　at　her　champagne　and　rarely　glanced　at　Bond。　She　didn't　smile。　Bond　felt　frustrated。　He　drank　a　lot　of　champagne　and　ordered　another　bottle。　The　scrambled　eggs　came　and　they　ate　in　silence。
　At　four　o'clock　Bond　was　about　to　call　for　the　bill　when　the　ma？tre　d'h？tel　appeared　at　their　table　and　inquired　for　Miss　Lynd。　He　handed　her　a　note　which　she　took　and　read　hastily。
　'Oh；　it's　only　Mathis；'　she　said。　'He　says　would　I　e　to　the　entrance　hall。　He's　got　a　message　for　you。　Perhaps　he's　not　in　evening　clothes　or　something。　I　won't　be　a　minute。　Then　perhaps　we　could　go　home。'
　She　gave　him　a　strained　smile。　'I'm　afraid　I　don't　feel　very　good　pany　this　evening。　It's　been　rather　a　nerve…racking　day。　I'm　so　sorry。'
　Bond　made　a　perfunctory　reply　and　rose；　pushing　back　the　table。　'I'll　get　the　bill；'　he　said；　and　watched　her　take　the　few　steps　to　the　entrance。
　He　sat　down　and　lit　a　cigarette。　He　felt　flat。　He　suddenly　realized　that　he　was　tired。　The　stuffiness　of　the　room　hit　him　as　it　had　hit　him　in　the　Casino　in　the　early　hours　of　the　previous　day。　He　called　for　the　bill　and　took　a　last　mouthful　of　champagne。　It　tasted　bitter；　as　the　first　glass　too　many　always　does。　He　would　have　liked　to　have　seen　Mathis's　cheerful　face　and　heard　his　news；　perhaps　even　a　word　of　congratulation。
　Suddenly　the　note　to　Vesper　seemed　odd　to　him。　It　was　not　the　way　Mathis　would　do　things。　He　would　have　asked　them　both　to　join　him　at　the　bar　of　the　Casino　or　he　would　have　joined　them　in　the　night…club；　whatever　his　clothes。　They　would　have　laughed　together　and　Mathis　would　have　been　excited。　He　had　much　to　tell　Bond；　more　than　Bond　had　to　tell　him。　The　arrest　of　the　Bulgarian；　who　had　probably　talked　some　more；　the　chase　after　the　man　with　the　stick；　Le　Chiffre's　movements　when　he　left　the　Casino。
　Bond　shook　himself。　He　hastily　paid　the　bill；　not　waiting　for　the　change。　He　pushed　back　his　table　and　walked　quickly　through　the　entrance　without　acknowledging　the　good…nights　of　the　ma？tre　d'h？tel　and　the　doorman。
　He　hurried　through　the　gaming…room　and　looked　carefully　up　and　down　the　long　entrance　hall。　He　cursed　and　quickened　his　step。　There　were　only　one　or　two　officials　and　two　or　three　men　and　women　in　evening　clothes　getting　their　things　at　the　vestiaire。
　No　Vesper。　No　Mathis。
　He　was　almost　running。　He　got　to　the　entrance　and　looked　along　the　steps　to　left　and　right　down　and　amongst　the　few　remaining　cars。
　The　missionaire　came　towards　him。
　'A　taxi；　monsieur？'
　Bond　waved　him　aside　and　started　down　the　steps；　his　eyes　staring　into　the　shadows；　the　night　air　cold　on　his　sweating　temples。
　He　was　half…way　down　when　he　heard　a　faint　cry；　then　the　slam　of　a　door　way　to　the　right。　With　a　harsh　growl　and　stutter　from　the　exhaust　a　beetle…browed　Citro？n　shot　out　of　the　shadows　into　the　light　of　the　moon；　its　front　wheel　drive　dry…skidding　through　the　loose　pebbles　of　the　forecourt。
　Its　tail　rocked　on　its　soft　springs　as　if　a　violent　struggle　was　taking　place　on　the　back　seat。
　With　a　snarl　it　raced　out　to　the　wide　entrance　gate　in　a　spray　of　gravel。　A　small　black　object　shot　out　of　an　open　rear　window　and　thudded　into　a　flower…bed。　There　was　a　scream　of　tortured　rubber　as　the　tyres　caught　the　boulevard　in　a　harsh　left…handed　turn；　the　deafening　echo　of　a　Citro？n's　exhaust　in　second　gear；　a　crash　into　top；　then　a　swiftly　diminishing　crackle　as　the　car　hared　off　between　the　shops　on　the　main　street　towards　the　coast　road。
　Bond　knew　he　would　find　Vesper's　evening　bag　among　the　flowers。
　He　ran　back　with　it　across　the　gravel　to　the　brightly…lit　steps　and　scrabbled　through　its　contents　while　the　missionaire　hovered　round　him。
　The　crumpled　note　was　there　amongst　the　usual　feminine　baggage。
　
　Can　you　e　out　to　the　entra