ian fleming.casino royale-第9节

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t　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　the　menu。
　'A　small　carafe　of　vodka；　very　cold；'　ordered　Bond。　He　said　to　her　abruptly：　'I　can't　drink　the　health　of　your　new　frock　without　knowing　your　Christian　name。'
　'Vesper；'　she　said。　'Vesper　Lynd。'
　Bond　gave　her　a　look　of　inquiry。
　'It's　rather　a　bore　always　having　to　explain；　but　I　was　born　in　the　evening；　on　a　very　stormy　evening　according　to　my　parents。　Apparently　they　wanted　to　remember　it。'　She　smiled。　'Some　people　like　it；　others　don't。　I'm　just　used　to　it。'
　'I　think　it's　a　fine　name；'　said　Bond。　An　idea　struck　him。　'Can　I　borrow　it？'　He　explained　about　the　special　martini　he　had　invented　and　his　search　for　a　name　for　it。　'The　Vesper；'　he　said。　'It　sounds　perfect　and　it's　very　appropriate　to　the　violet　hour　when　my　cocktail　will　now　be　drunk　all　over　the　world。　Can　I　have　it？'
　'So　long　as　I　can　try　one　first；'　she　promised。　'It　sounds　a　drink　to　be　proud　of。'
　'We'll　have　one　together　when　all　this　is　finished；'　said　Bond。　'Win　or　lose。　And　now　have　you　decided　what　you　would　like　to　have　for　dinner？　Please　be　expensive；'　he　added　as　he　sensed　her　hesitation；　'or　you'll　let　down　that　beautiful　frock。'
　'I'd　made　two　choices；'　she　laughed；　'and　either　would　have　been　delicious；　but　behaving　like　a　millionaire　occasionally　is　a　wonderful　treat　and　if　you're　sure　。　。　。　well；　I'd　like　to　start　with　caviar　and　then　have　a　plain　grilled　rognon　de　veau　with　pommes　soufflés。　And　then　I'd　like　to　have　fraises　des　bois　with　a　lot　of　cream。　Is　it　very　shameless　to　be　so　certain　and　so　expensive？'　She　smiled　at　him　inquiringly。
　'It's　a　virtue；　and　anyway　it's　only　a　good　plain　wholesome　meal。'　He　turned　to　the　ma？tre　d'h？tel；　'and　bring　plenty　of　toast。'
　'The　trouble　always　is；'　he　explained　to　Vesper；　'not　how　to　get　enough　caviar；　but　how　to　get　enough　toast　with　it。'
　'Now；'　he　turned　back　to　the　menu；　'I　myself　will　acpany　Mademoiselle　with　the　caviar；　but　then　I　would　like　a　very　small　tournedos；　underdone；　with　sauce　Béarnaise　and　a　coeur　d'artichaut。　While　Mademoiselle　is　enjoying　the　strawberries；　I　will　have　half　an　avocado　pear　with　a　little　French　dressing。　Do　you　approve？'
　The　ma？tre　d'h？tel　bowed。
　'My　pliments；　mademoiselle　and　monsieur。　Monsieur　George；'　he　turned　to　the　sommelier　and　repeated　the　two　dinners　for　his　benefit。
　'Parfait；'　said　the　sommelier；　proffering　the　leather…bound　wine　list。
　'If　you　agree；'　said　Bond；　'I　would　prefer　to　drink　champagne　with　you　tonight。　It　is　a　cheerful　wine　and　it　suits　the　occasion　…　I　hope'　he　added。
　'Yes　I　would　like　champagne；'　she　said。
　With　his　finger　on　the　page；　Bond　turned　to　the　sommelier：　'The　Taittinger　45？'
　'A　fine　wine；　monsieur；'　said　the　sommelier。　But　if　Monsieur　will　permit；'　he　pointed　with　his　pencil；　'the　Blanc　de　Blanc　Brut　1943　of　The　same　marque　is　without　equal。'
　Bond　smiled。　'So　be　it；'　he　said。
　'That　is　not　a　well…known　brand；'　Bond　explained　to　his　panion；　'but　it　is　probably　the　finest　champagne　in　the　world。'　He　grinned　suddenly　at　the　touch　of　pretension　in　his　remark。
　'You　must　forgive　me；'　he　said。　'I　take　a　ridiculous　pleasure　in　what　I　eat　and　drink。　It　es　partly　from　being　a　bachelor；　but　mostly　from　a　habit　of　taking　a　lot　of　trouble　over　details。　It's　very　pernickety　and　old…maidish　really；　but　then　when　I'm　working　I　generally　have　to　eat　my　meals　alone　and　it　makes　them　more　interesting　when　one　takes　trouble。'
　Vesper　smiled　at　him。
　'I　like　it；'　she　said。　'I　like　doing　everything　fully；　getting　the　most　out　of　everything　one　does。　I　think　that's　the　way　to　live。　But　it　sounds　rather　schoolgirlish　when　one　says　it；'　she　added　apologetically。
　The　little　carafe　of　vodka　had　arrived　in　its　bowl　of　crushed　ice　and　Bond　filled　their　glasses。
　'Well；　I　agree　with　you　anyway；'　he　said；　'and　now；　here's　luck　for　tonight；　Vesper。'
　'Yes；'　said　the　girl　quietly；　as　she　held　up　her　small　glass　and　looked　at　him　with　a　curious　directness　straight　in　the　eyes。　'I　hope　all　will　go　well　tonight。'
　She　seemed　to　Bond　to　give　a　quick　involuntary　shrug　of　the　shoulders　as　she　spoke；　but　then　she　leant　impulsive