ian fleming.casino royale-第4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！


ith　the　invisible　ink　and　the　dark　glasses。　He　and　the　Deuxième　bowled　them　out　in　the　end　and　007　turned　in　a　million　francs　he　had　won　at　shemmy。　Good　money　in　those　days。'
　
　*
　
　James　Bond's　interview　with　M　had　been　short。
　'What　about　it；　Bond？'　asked　M　when　Bond　came　back　into　his　room　after　reading　Head　of　S's　memorandum　and　after　gazing　for　ten　minutes　out　of　the　waiting…room　window　at　the　distant　trees　in　the　park。
　Bond　looked　across　the　desk　into　the　shrewd；　clear　eyes。
　'It's　very　kind　of　you；　sir；　I'd　like　to　do　it。　But　I　can't　promise　to　win。　The　odds　at　baccarat　are　the　best　after　trente…et…quarante　…　evens　except　for　the　tiny　cagnotte　…　but　I　might　get　a　bad　run　against　me　and　get　cleaned　out。　Play's　going　to　he　pretty　high　…　opening'll　go　up　to　half　a　million；　I　should　think。'
　Bond　was　stopped　by　the　cold　eyes。　M　knew　all　this　already；　knew　the　odds　at　baccarat　as　well　as　Bond。　That　was　his　job　…　knowing　the　odds　at　everything；　and　knowing　men；　his　own　and　the　opposition's。　Bond　wished　he　had　kept　quiet　about　his　misgivings。
　'He　can　have　a　bad　run　too；'　said　M。　'You'll　have　plenty　of　capital。　Up　to　twenty…five　million；　the　same　as　him。　We'll　start　you　on　ten　and　send　you　another　ten　when　you've　had　a　look　round。　You　can　make　the　extra　five　yourself。'　He　smiled。　'Go　over　a　few　days　before　the　big　game　starts　and　get　your　hand　in。　Have　a　talk　to　Q　about　rooms　and　trains；　and　any　equipment　you　want。　The　Paymaster　will　fix　the　funds。　I'm　going　to　ask　the　Deuxième　to　stand　by。　It's　their　territory　and　as　it　is　we　shall　be　lucky　if　they　don't　kick　up　rough。　I'll　try　and　persuade　them　to　send　Mathis。　You　seemed　to　get　on　well　with　him　in　Monte　Carlo　on　that　other　Casino　job。　And　I'm　going　to　tell　Washington　because　of　the　NATO　angle。　CIA　have　got　one　or　two　good　men　at　Fontainebleau　with　the　joint　intelligence　chaps　there。　Anything　else？'
　Bond　shook　his　head。　'I'd　certainly　like　to　have　Mathis；　sir。'
　'Well；　we'll　see。　Try　and　bring　it　off。　We're　going　to　look　pretty　foolish　if　you　don't。　And　watch　out。　This　sounds　an　amusing　job；　but　I　don't　think　it's　going　to　be。　Le　Chiffre　is　a　good　man。　Well；　best　of　luck。'
　'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　Bond　and　went　to　the　door。
　'Just　a　minute。'
　Bond　turned。
　I　think　I'll　keep　you　covered；　Bond。　Two　heads　are　better　than　one　and　you'll　need　someone　to　run　your　munications。　I'll　think　it　over。　They'll　get　in　touch　with　you　at　Royale。　You　needn't　worry。　It'll　be　someone　good。'
　Bond　would　have　preferred　to　work　alone；　but　one　didn't　argue　with　M。　He　left　the　room　hoping　that　the　man　they　sent　would　be　loyal　to　him　and　neither　stupid；　nor；　worse　still；　ambitious。
　
　
　CHAPTER　4　…　L'ENNEMI　éCOUTE
　As　two　weeks　later；　James　Bond　awoke　in　his　room　at　the　H？tel　Splendide；　some　of　this　history　passed　through　his　mind。
　He　had　arrived　at　Royale…les…Eaux　in　time　for　luncheon　two　days　before。　There　had　been　no　attempt　to　contact　him　and　there　had　been　no　flicker　of　curiosity　when　he　had　signed　the　register　'James　Bond；　Port　Maria；　Jamaica'。
　M　had　expressed　no　interest　in　his　cover。
　'Once　you　start　to　make　a　set　at　Le　Chiffre　at　the　tables；　you'll　have　had　it；'　he　said。　'But　wear　a　cover　that　will　stick　with　the　general　public。'
　Bond　knew　Jamaica　well；　so　he　asked　to　be　controlled　from　there　and　to　pass　as　a　Jamaican　plantocrat　whose　father　had　made　his　pile　in　tobacco　and　sugar　and　whose　son　chose　to　play　it　away　on　the　stock　markets　and　in　casinos。　If　inquiries　were　made；　he　would　quote　Charles　DaSilva　of　Chaffery's；　Kingston；　as　his　attorney。　Charles　would　make　the　story　stick。
　Bond　had　spent　the　last　two　afternoons　and　most　of　the　nights　at　the　Casino；　playing　plicated　progression　systems　on　the　even　chances　at　roulette。　He　made　a　high　banco　at　chemin…de…fer　whenever　he　heard　one　offered。　If　he　lost；　he　would　suivi　once　and　not　chase　it　further　if　he　lost　the　second　time。
　In　this　way　he　had　made　some　three　million　francs　and　had　given　his　nerves　and　card…sense　a　thorough　work…out。　He　had　got　the　geography　of　the　Casino　clear　in　his　mind。　Above　all；　he　had　been　able　to　observe　Le　Chiffre　at　the　tables　and　to　note　ruefully　that　he　was　a　faultless　and　lucky　gambler。
　Bond　liked　to　make　a　good　breakfast。　After　a　cold　shower；　he　sat　at　the　writing…table　in　front　of　the　window。　He　looked　out　at　the　beautiful　day　and　consumed　half　a　pint　of　iced　orange　juice；　three　scrambled　eggs　and　bacon　and　a　double　portion　of　coffee　without　sugar。　He　lit　his　first　cigarette；　a　Balkan　and　Turkish　mixture　made　for　him　by　Morlands　of　Grosvenor　Street；　and　watched　the　small　waves　lick　the　long　seashore　and　the　fishing…fleet　from　Dieppe　string　out　towards　the　June　heat…haze　followed　by　a　paper…chase　of　herring…gulls。
　He　was　lost　in　his　thoughts　when　the　telephone　rang。　It　was　the　concierge　announcing　that　a　Director　of　Radio　Stentor　was　waiting　below　with　the　wireless　set　he　had　ordered　from　Paris。
　'Of　course；'　said　Bond。　'Send　him　up。'
　This　was　the　cover　fixed　by　the　Deuxième　Bureau　for　their　liaison　man　with　Bond。　Bond　watched　the　door；　hoping　that　it　would　be　Mathis。
　When　Mathis　came　in；　a　respectable　business…man　carrying　a　large　square　parcel　by　its　leather　handle；　Bond　smiled　broadly　and　would　have　greeted　him　with　warmth　if　Mathis　had　not　frowned　and　held　up　his　free　hand　after　carefully　closing　the　door。
　'I　have　just　arrived　from　Paris；　monsieur；　and　here　is　the　set　you　asked　to　have　on　approval　…　five　valves；　superhet；　I　think　you　call　it　in　England；　and　you　should　be　able　to　get　most　of　the　capitals　of　Europe　from　Royale。　There　are　no　mountains　for　forty　miles　in　any　direction。'
　'It　sounds　all　right；'　said　Bond；　lifting　his　eyebrows　at　this　mystery…making。
　Mathis　paid　no　attention。　He　placed　the　set；　which　he　had　unwrapped；　on　the　floor　beside　the　unlit　panel　electric　fire　below　the　mantelpiece。
　'It　is　just　past　eleven；'　he　said；　'and　I　see　that　the　pagnons　de　la　Chanson　should　now　be　on　the　medium　wave　from　Rome。　They　are　touring　Europe。　Let　us　see　what　the　reception　is　like。　It　should　be　a　fair　test。'
　He　winked。　Bond　noticed　that　he　had　turned　the　volume　on　to　full　and　that　the　red　light　indicating　the　long　waveband　was　illuminated；　though　the　set　was　still　silent。
　Mathis　fiddled　at　the　back　of　the　set。　Suddenly　an　appalling　roar　of　static　filled　the　small　room。　Mathis　gazed　at　the　set　for　a　few　seconds　with　benevolence　and　then　turned　it　off　and　his　voice　was　full　of　dismay。
　'My　dear　monsieur　…　forgive　me　please　…　badly　tuned；'　and　he　again　bent　to　the　dials。　After　a　few　adjustments　the　close　harmony　of　the　French　came　over　the　air　and　Mathis　walked　up　and　clapped　Bond　very　hard　on　the　back　and　wrang　his　hand　until　Bond's　fingers　ached。
　Bond　smiled　back　at　him。　'Now；　what　the　hell？'　he　asked。
　'My　dear　friend；'　Mathis　was　delighted；　'you　are　blown；　blown；　blown。　Up　there；'　he　pointed　at　the　ceiling；　'at　this　moment；　either　Monsieur　Muntz　or　his　alleged　wife；　allegedly　bedridden　with　the　grippe；　is　deafened；　absolutely　deafened；　and　I　hope　in　agony。'　He　grinned　with　pleasure　at　Bond's　frown　of　disbelief。
　Mathis　sat　down　on　the　bed　and　ripped　open　a　packet　of　Caporal　with　his　thumbnail。　Bond　waited。
　Mathis　was　satisfied　with　the　sensation　his　words　had　caused。　He　became　serious。
　'How　it　has　happened　I　don't　know。　They　must　have　been　on　to　you　for　several　days　before　you　arrived。　The　opposition　is　here　in　real　strength。　Above　you　is　the　Muntz　family。　He　is　German。　She　is　from　somewhere　in　Central　Europe；　perhaps　a　Czech。　This　is　an　old…fashioned　hotel。　There　are　disused　chimneys　behind　these　electric　fires。　Just　here；'　he　pointed　a　few　inches　above　the　panel　fire；　'is　suspended　a　very　powerful　radio　pick…up。　The　wires　run　up　the　chimney　to　behind　the　Muntzes'　electric　fire　where　there　is　an　amplifier。　In　their　room　is　a　wire…recorder　and　a　pair　of　earphones　on　which　the　Muntzes　listen　in　turn。　That　is　why　Madame　Muntz　has　the　grippe　and　takes　all　her　meals　in　bed　and　why　Monsieur　Muntz　has　to　be　constantly　at　her　side　instead　of　enjoying　the　sunshine　and　the　gambling　of　this　delightful　resort。
　'Some　of　this　we　knew　because　in　France　we　are　very　clever。　The　rest　we　confirmed　by　unscrewing　your　electric　fire　a　few　hours　before　you　got　here。'
　Suspiciously　Bond　walked　over　and　examined　the　screws　which　secured　the　panel　to　the　wall。　Their　grooves　showed　minute　scratches。
　'Now　it　is　time　for　a　little　more　play…acting；'　said　Mathis。　He　walked　over　to　the　radio；　which　was　still　transmitting　close　harmony　to　its　audience　of　three；　and　switched　it　off。
　'Are　you　satisfied；　monsieur？'　he　asked。　'You　notice　how　clearly　they　came　over。　Are　they　not　a　wonderful　team？'　He　made　a　winding　motion　with　his　right　hand　and　raised　his　eyebrows。
　'They　are　so　good；'　said　Bond；　'that　I　would　like　to　hear　the　rest　of　the　programme。'　He　grinned　at　the　thought　of　the　angry　glances　which　the　Muntzes　must　be　exchanging　overhead。　'The　machine　itself　seems　splendid。　Just　what　I　was　looking　for　to　take　back　to　Jamaica。'
　Mathis　made　a　sarcastic　grimace　and　switched　back　to　the　Rome　programme。
　'You　and　your　Jamaica；'　he　said；　and　sat　down　again　on　the　bed。
　Bond　frowned　at　him。　'Well；　it's　no　good　crying　over　spilt