if.moonraker-第10部分

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entrate。〃
　Bond　picked　up　his　hand。　It　was　average。　A　bare　two…and…a…half　quick　tricks；　the　suits　evenly　distributed。　He　reached　for　his　cheroot　and　gave　it　a　final　draw；　then　killed　it　in　the　ashtray。
　〃Three　clubs；〃　said　Drax。　No　bid　from　Bond。　Four　clubs　from　Meyer。　No　bid　from　M。
　Hm；　thought　Bond。　He's　not　quite　got　the　cards　for　a　game　call　this　tune。　Shut…out　call…knows　that　his　partner　has　got　a　bare　raise。　M。　may　have　got　a　perfectly　good　bid。　We　may　have　all　the　hearts　between　us；　for　instance。　But　M。　never　gets　a　bid。　Presumably　they'll　make　four　clubs。
　They　did；　with　the　help　of　one　finesse　through　Bond。　M。　turned　out　not　to　have　had　hearts；　but　a　long　string　of　diamonds；　missing　only　the　king；　which　was　in　Meyer's　hand　and　would　have　been　caught。　Drax　didn't　have　nearly　enough　length　for　a　three　call。　Meyer　had　the　rest　of　the　clubs。
　Anyway；　thought　Bond　as　he　dealt　the　next　hand；　we　were　lucky　to　escape　without　a　game　call。
　Their　good　luck　continued。　Bond　opened　a　No　Trump；　was　put　up　to　three　by　M。；　and　they　made　it　with　an　over…trick。　On　Meyer's　deal　they　went　one　down　in　five　diamonds；　but　on　the　next　hand　M。　opened　four　spades　and　Bond's　three　small　trumps　and　an　outside　king；　queen　were　all　M。　needed　for　the　contract。
　First　rubber　to　M。　and　Bond。　Drax　looked　annoyed。　He　had　lost　￡900　on　the　rubber　and　the　cards　seemed　to　be　running　against　them。
　〃Shall　we　go　straight　on？〃　he　asked。　〃No　point　in　cutting。〃　M。　smiled　across　at　Bond。　The　same　thought　was　in　both　their　minds。　So　Drax　wanted　to　keep　the　deal。　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　〃No　objection；〃　said　M。　〃These　seats　seem　to　be　doing　their　best　for　us。〃
　〃Up　to　now；〃　said　Drax；　looking　more　cheerful。　And　with　reason。　On　the　next　hand　he　and　Meyer　bid　and　made　a　small　slam　in　spades　that　required　two　hair…raising　finesses；　both　of　which　Drax；　after　a　good　deal　of　pantomime　and　hemming　and　hawing；　negotiated　smoothly；　each　time　menting　loudly　on　his　good　fortune。
　〃Hugger；　you're　wonderful；〃　said　Meyer　fulsomely。　〃How　the　devil　do　you　do　it？〃
　Bond　thought　it　time　to　sow　a　tiny　seed。　〃Memory；〃　he　said。
　Drax　looked　at　him；　sharply。　〃What　do　you　mean；　memory？〃　he　said。　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　taking　a　finesse？〃
　〃I　was　going　to　add　'and　card　sense'；〃　said　Bond　smoothly。　〃They're　the　two　qualities　that　make　great　card…players。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Drax　slowly。　〃Yes；　I　see。〃　He　cut　the　cards　to　Bond　and　as　Bond　dealt　he　felt　the　other　man's　eyes　examining　him　carefully。
　The　game　proceeded　at　an　even　pace。　The　cards　refused　to　get　hot　and　no　one　seemed　inclined　to　take　chances。　M。　doubled　Meyer　in　an　incautious　four…spade　bid　and　got　him　two　down　vulnerable；　but　on　the　next　hand　Drax　went　out　with　a　lay　down　three　No　Trumps。　Bond's　win　on　the　first　rubber　was　wiped　out　and　a　bit　more　besides。
　〃Anyone　care　for　a　drink？〃　asked　M。　as　he　cut　the　cards　to　Drax　for　the　third　rubber。　〃James。　A　little　more　champagne。　The　second　bottle　always　tastes　better。〃
　〃I'd　like　that　very　much；〃　said　Bond。
　The　waiter　came。　The　others　ordered　whiskies　and　sodas。
　Drax　turned　to　Bond。　〃This　game　needs　livening　up；〃　he　said。　〃A　hundred　we　win　this　hand。〃　He　had　pleted　the　deal　and　the　cards　lay　in　neat　piles　in　the　centre　of　the　table。
　Bond　looked　at　him。　The　damaged　eye　glared　at　him　redly。　The　other　was　cold　and　hard　and　scornful。　There　were　beads　of　sweat　on　either　side　of　the　large；　beaky　nose。
　Bond　wondered　if　he　was　having　a　fly　thrown　over　him　to　see　if　he　was　suspicious　of　the　deal。　He　decided　to　leave　the　man　in　doubt。　It　was　a　hundred　down　the　drain；　but　it　would　give　him　an　excuse　for　increasing　the　stakes　later。
　〃On　your　deal？〃　he　said　with　a　smile。　〃Well；〃　he　weighed　imaginary　chances。　〃Yes。　All　right。〃　An　idea　seemed　to　e　to　him。　〃And　the　same　on　the　next　hand。　If　you　like；〃　he　added。
　〃All　right；　all　right；〃　said　Drax　impatiently。　〃If　you　want　to　throw　good　money　after　bad。〃
　〃You　seem　very　certain　about　this　hand；〃　said　Bond　indifferently；　picking　up　his　cards。　They　were　a　poor　lot　and　he　had　no　answer　to　Drax's　opening　No　Trump　except　to　double　it。　The　bluff　had　no　effect　on　Drax's　partner。　Meyer　said
　〃Two　No　Trumps〃　and　Bond　was　relieved　when　M。；　with　no　long　suit；　said　〃No　bid〃。　Drax　left　it　in　two　No　Trumps　and　made　the　contract。
　〃Thanks；〃　he　said　with　relish；　and　wrote　carefully　on　his　score。　〃Now　let's　see　if　you　can　get　it　back。〃
　Much　to　his　annoyance；　Bond　couldn't。　The　cards　still　ran　for　Meyer　and　Drax　and　they　made　three　hearts　and　the　game。
　Drax　was　pleased　with　himself。　He　took　a　long　swallow　at　his　whisky　and　soda　and　wiped　down　his　face　with　his　bandana　handkerchief。
　〃God　is　with　the　big　battalions；〃　he　said　jovially。　〃Got　to　have　the　cards　as　well　as　play　them。　ing　back　for　more　or　had　enough？〃
　Bond's　champagne　had　e　and　was　standing　beside　him　in　its　silver　bucket。　There　was　a　glass　goblet　three…quarters　full　beside　it　on　the　side　table。　Bond　picked　it　up　and　drained　it；　as　if　to　give　himself　Dutch　courage。　Then　he　filled　it　again。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said　thickly；　〃a　hundred　on　the　next　two　hands。〃
　And　promptly　lost　them　both；　and　the　rubber。
　Bond　suddenly　realized　that　he　was　nearly　￡1；500　down。　He　drank　another　glass　of　champagne。　〃Save　trouble　if　we　just　double　the　stakes　on　this　rubber；〃　he　said　rather　wildly。　〃All　right　with　you？〃
　Drax　had　dealt　and　was　looking　at　his　cards。　His　lips　were　wet　with　anticipation。　He　looked　at　Bond　who　seemed　to　be　having　difficulty　lighting　his　cigarette。　〃Taken；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃A　hundred　pounds　a　hundred　and　a　thousand　on　the　rubber。〃　Then　he　felt　he　could　risk　a　touch　of　sportsmanship。　Bond　could　hardly　cancel　the　bet　now。　〃But　I　seem　to　have　got　some　good　tickets　here；〃　he　added。　〃Are　you　still　on？〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　said　Bond；　clumsily　picking　up　his　hand。　〃I　made　the　bet；　didn't　I？〃
　〃All　right；　then；〃　said　Drax　with　satisfaction。　〃Three　No　Trumps　here。〃
　He　made　four。
　Then；　to　Bond's　relief；　the　cards　turned。　Bond　bid　and　made　a　small　slam　in　hearts　and　on　the　next　hand　M。　ran　out　in　three　No　Trumps。
　Bond　grinned　cheerfully　into　the　sweating　face。　Drax　was　picking　angrily　at　his　nails。　〃Big　battalions；〃　said　Bond；　rubbing　it　in。
　Dax　growled　something　and　busied　himself　with　the　score。
　Bond　looked　across　at　M。；　who　was　putting　a　match；　with　evident　satisfaction　at　the　way　the　game　had　gone；　to　his　second　cheroot　of　the　evening；　an　almost　unheard　of　indulgence。
　〃Traid　this'll　have　to　be　my　last　rubber；〃　said　Bond。　〃Got　to　get　up　early。　Hope　you'll　forgive　me。〃
　M。　looked　at　his　watch。　〃It's　past　midnight；〃　he　said。　〃What　about　you；　Meyer？〃
　Meyer；　who　had　been　a　silent　passenger　for　most　of　the　evening　and　who　had　the　look　of　a　man　caught　in　a　cage　with　a　couple　of　tigers；　seemed　relieved　at　being　offered　a　chance　of　making　his　escape。　He　leapt　at　the　idea　of　getting　back　to　his　quiet　flat　in　Albany　and　the　soothing　panionship　of　his　collection　of　Battersea　snuff…boxes。
　〃Quite　all　right　with　me；〃Admiral；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃What　about　you；　Hugger？　Nearly　ready　for　bed？〃
　Drax　ignored　him。　He　looked　up　from　his　score…sheet　at　Bond。　He　noticed　the　signs　of　intoxication。　The　moist　forehead；　the　black　ma　of　hair　that　hung　untidily　over　the　right　eyebrow；　the　sheen　of　alcohol　in　the　grey…blue　eyes。
　〃Pretty　miserable　balance　so　far；〃　he　said。　〃I　make　it　you　win　a　couple　of　hundred　or　so。　Of　course　if　you　want　to　run　out　of　the　game　you　can。　But　how　about　some　fireworks　to　finish　up　with？　Treble　the　stakes　on　the　last　rubber？　Fifteen　and　fifteen？　Historic　match。　Am　I　on？〃
　Bond　looked　up　at　him。　He　paused　before　answering。　He　wanted　Drax　to　remember　every　detail　of　this　last　rubber；　every　word　that　had　been　spoken；　every　gesture。
　〃Well；〃　said　Drax　impatiently。　〃What　about　it？〃
　Bond　looked　into　the　cold　left　eye　in　the　flushed　face。　He　spoke　to　it　alone。
　〃One　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　a　hundred；　and　￡1；500　on　the　rubber；〃　he　said　distinctly。　〃You're　on。〃
　
　CHAPTER　VII
　
　THE　QUICKNESS　OF　THE　HAND
　
　THERE　WAS　a　moment's　silence　at　the　table。　It　was　broken　by　the　agitated　voice　of　Meyer。
　〃Here　I　say；〃　he　said　anxiously。　〃Don't　include　me　in　on　this；　Hugger。〃　He　knew　it　was　a　private　bet　with　Bond；　but　he　wanted　to　show　Drax　that　he　was　thoroughly　nervous　about　the　whole　affair。　He　saw　himself　making　some　ghastly　mistake　that　would　cost　his　partner　a　lot　of　money。
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；　Max；〃　said　Drax　harshly。　〃You　play　your　hand。　This　is　nothing　to　do　with　you。　Just　an　enjoyable　little　bet　with　our　rash　friend　here。　e　along；　e　along。　My　deal；　Admiral。〃
　M。　cut　the　cards　and　the　game　began。　Bond　lit　a　cigarette　with　hands　that　had　suddenly　bee　quite　steady。　His　mind　was　clear。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　had　to　do；　and　when；　and　he　was　glad　that　the　moment　of　decision　had　e。
　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　for　a　moment　he　had　the　impression　that　there　was　a　crowd　behind　him　at　each　elbow；　and　that　faces　were　peering　over　his　shoulder；　waiting　to　see　his　cards。　He　somehow　felt　that　the　ghosts　were　friendly；　that　they　approved　of　the　rough　justice　that　was　about　to　be　done。
　He　smiled　as　he　caught　himself　sending　this　pany　of　dead　gamblers　a　message；　that　they　should　see　that　all　went　well。
　The　background　noise　of　the　famous　gaming　room　broke　in　on　his　thoughts。　He　looked　round。　In　the　middle　of　the　long　room；　under　the　central　chandelier；　there　were　several　onlookers　round　the　poker　game。　'Raise　you　a　hundred。'　'And　a　hundred。'　'And　a　hundred。'　'Damn　you。　I'll　look'；　and　a　shout　of　triumph　followed　by　a　hubbub　of　ment。　In　the　distance　he　could　hear　the　rattle　of　a　croupier's　rake　against　the　counters　at　the　Shemmy　game。　Nearer　at　hand；　at　his　end　of　the　room；　there　were　three　other　tables　of　bridge　over　which　the　smoke　of　cigars　and　cigarettes　rose　towards　the　barrelled　ceiling。
　Nearly　every　night　for　more　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　years　there　had　been　just　such　a　scene；　he　reflected；　in　this　famous　room。　The　same　cries　of　victory　and　defeat；　the　same　dedicated　faces；　the　same　smell　of　tobacco　and　drama。　For　Bond；　who　loved　gambling；　it　was　the　most　exciting　spectacle　in　the　world。　He　gave　it　a　last　glance　to　fix　it　all　in　his　mind　and　then　he　turned　back　to　his　table。
　He　pi