if.moonraker-第4部分

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　〃And　then　there　were　months　of　delay　and　everyone　got　impatient。　Questions　in　the　House。　The　Opposition　nearly　forced　a　vote　of　Confidence。　And　then　the　announcement　by　the　Prime　Minister　that　the　design　had　been　approved　by　the　Woomera　Range　experts　of　the　Ministry　of　Supply；　and　that　the　Queen　had　been　graciously　pleased　to　accept　the　gift　on　behalf　of　the　people　of　Britain　and　had　conferred　a　knighthood　on　the　donor。〃
　Bond　paused；　almost　carried　away　by　the　story　of　this　extraordinary　man。
　〃Yes；〃　said　M。　〃Peace　in　Our　Time…This　Time。　I　remember　the　headline。　A　year　ago。　And　now　the　rocket's　nearly　ready。　'The　Moonraker〃。　And　from　all　I　hear　it　really　should　do　what　he　says。　It's　very　odd。〃　He　relapsed　into　silence；　gazing　out　of　the　window。
　He　turned　back　and　faced　Bond　across　the　desk。
　〃That's　about　it；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　don't　know　much　more　than　you　do。　A　wonderful　story。　Extraordinary　man。〃　He　paused；　reflecting。　〃There's　only　one　thing。。。〃　M。　tapped　the　stem　of　his　pipe　against　his　teeth。
　〃What's　that；　sir？〃　asked　Bond。
　M。　seemed　to　make　up　his　mind。　He　looked　mildly　across　at　Bond。
　〃Sir　Hugo　Drax　cheats　at　cards。〃
　
　CHAPTER　III　
　
　'BELLY　STRIPPERS'；　ETC。
　
　〃CHEATS　AT　cards？〃
　M。　frowned。　〃That's　what　I　said；〃　he　mented　drily。　〃It　doesn't　seem　to　you　odd　that　a　multi…millionaire　should　cheat　at　cards？〃
　Bond　grinned　apologetically。　〃Not　as　odd　as　all　that；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃I've　known　very　rich　people　cheat　themselves　at　Patience。　But　it　just　didn't　fit　in　with　my　picture　of　Drax。　Bit　of　an　anti…climax。〃
　〃That's　the　point；〃　said　M。　〃Why　does　he　do　it？　And　don't　forget　that　cheating　at　cards　can　still　smash　a　man。　In　so…called　Society；　it's　about　the　only　crime　that　can　still　finish　you；　whoever　you　are。　Drax　does　it　so　well　that　nobody's　caught　him　yet。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　doubt　if　anyone　has　begun　to　suspect　him　except　Basildon。　He's　the　Chairman　of　Blades。　He　came　to　me。　He's　got　a　vague　idea　I've　got　some　thing　to　do　with　Intelligence　and　I've　given　him　a　hand　over　one　or　two　little　troubles　in　the　past。　Asked　my　advice。　Said　he　didn't　want　a　fuss　at　the　club；　of　course；　but　above　all　he　wants　to　save　Drax　from　making　a　fool　of　himself。　He　admires　him　as　much　as　we　all　do　and　he's　terrified　of　an　incident。　You　couldn't　stop　a　scandal　like　that　getting　out。　A　lot　of　MPs　are　members　and　it　would　soon　get　talked　about　in　the　Lobby。　Then　the　gossip…writers　would　get　hold　of　it。　Drax　would　have　to　resign　from　Blades　and　the　next　thing　there'd　be　a　libel　action　brought　in　his　defence　by　one　of　his　friends。　Tranby　Croft　all　over　again。　At　least；　that's　how　Basildon's　mind　is　working　and　I　must　say　I　can　see　it　that　way　too。　Anyway；〃　said　M。　with　finality；　〃I've　agreed　to　help　and〃；　he　looked　levelly　at　Bond；　〃that's　where　you　e　in。　You're　the　best　card…player　in　the　Service；　or；〃　he　smiled　ironically；　〃you　should　be　after　the　casino　jobs　you've　been　on；　and　I　remembered　that　we'd　spent　quite　a　lot　of　money　putting　you　through　a　course　in　card…sharping　before　you　went　after　those　Roumanians　in　Monte　Carlo　before　the　war。〃
　Bond　smiled　grimly。　〃Steffi　Esposito；〃　he　said　softly。　〃That　was　the　chap。　American。　Made　me　work　ten　hours　a　day　for　a　week　learning　a　thing　called　the　Riffle　Stack　and　how　to　deal　Seconds　and　Bottoms　and　Middles。　I　wrote　a　long　report　about　it　at　the　time。　Must　be　buried　in　Records。　He　knew　every　trick　in　the　game。　How　to　wax　the　aces　so　that　the　pack　will　break　at　them；　Edge　Work　and　Line　Work　with　a　razor　on　the　backs　of　the　high　cards；　Trimming；　Arm　Pressure　Holdouts…mechanical　gadgets　up　your　sleeve　that　feed　you　cards。　Belly　Strippers…trimming　a　whole　pack　less　than　a　millimetre　down　both　sides；　but　leaving　a　slight　belly　on　the　cards　you're　interested　in…the　aces；　for　instance。　Shiners；　tiny　mirrors　built　into　rings；　or　fitted　into　the　bottom　of　a　pipe…bowl。　Actually；〃　Bond　admitted；　〃it　was　his　tip　about　Luminous　Readers　that　helped　me　on　that　Monte　Carlo　job。　A　croupier　was　using　an　invisible　ink　the　team　could　pick　out　with　special　glasses。　But　Steffi　was　a　wonderful　chap。　Scotland　Yard　found　him　for　us。　He　could　shuffle　the　pack　once　and　then　cut　the　four　aces　out　of　it。　Absolute　magic。〃
　〃Sounds　a　bit　too　professional　for　our　man；〃　mented　M。　〃That　sort　of　work　needs　hours　of　practice　every　day；　or　an　acplice；　and　I　can't　believe　he'd　find　that　at　Blades。　No；　there's　nothing　sensational　about　his　cheating　and　for　all
　I　know　it　might　be　a　fantastic　run　of　luck。　It's　odd。　He's　not　a　particularly　good　player…he　only　plays　bridge　by　the　way…but　quite　often　he　brings　off　bids　or　doubles　or　finesses　that　are　absolutely　phenomenal…quite　against　the　odds。　Or　the　conventions。　But　they　e　off。　He's　always　a　big　winner　and　they　play　high　at　Blades。　He　hasn't　lost　on　a　weekly　settlement　since　he　joined　a　year　ago。　We've　got　two　or　three　of　the　finest　players　in　the　world　in　the　Club　and　none　of　them　has　ever　had　a　record　like　that　over　twelve　months。　It's　getting　talked　about　in　a　sort　of　joking　way　and　I　think　Basil…don's　right　to　do　something　about　it。　What　system　do　you　suppose　Drax　has　got？〃
　Bond　was　longing　for　his　lunch。　The　Chief　of　Staff　must　have　given　him　up　half　an　hour　ago。　He　could　have　talked　to　M。　about　cheating　for　hours；　and　M。；　who　never　seemed　to　be　interested　in　food　or　sleep；　would　have　listened　to　everything　and　remembered　it　afterwards。　But　Bond　was　hungry。
　〃Assuming　he's　not　a　professional；　sir；　and　can't　doctor　the　cards　in　any　way；　there　are　only　two　answers。　He's　either　looking；　or　else　he's　got　a　system　of　signals　with　his　partner。　Does　he　often　play　with　the　same　man？〃
　〃We　always　cut　for　partners　after　each　rubber；〃　said　M。　〃Unless　there's　a　challenge。　And　on　guest　nights；　Mondays　and　Thursdays；　you　stick　to　your　guest。　Drax　nearly　always　brings　a　man　called　Meyer；　his　metal　broker。　Nice　chap。　Jew。　Very　fine　player。〃
　〃I　might　be　able　to　tell　if　I　watched；〃　said　Bond。
　〃That's　what　I　was　going　to　say；〃　said　M。　〃How　about　ing　along　tonight？　At　any　rate　you'll　get　a　good　dinner。　Meet　you　there　about　six。　I'll　take　some　money　off　you　at　piquet　and　we'll　watch　the　bridge　for　a　little。　After　dinner　we'll　have　a　rubber　or　two　with　Drax　and　his　friend。　They're　always　there　on　Monday。　All　right？　Sure　I'm　not　taking　you　away　from　your　work？〃
　〃No；　sir；〃　said　Bond　with　a　grin。　〃And　I'd　like　to　e　very　much。　Bit　of　a　busman's　holiday。　And　if　Drax　is　cheating；　I'll　show　him　I've　spotted　it　and　that　should　be　enough　to　warn　him　off。　I　wouldn't　like　to　see　him　get　into　a　mess。　That　all；　sir？〃
　〃Yes；　James；〃　said　M。　〃And　thank　you　for　your　help。　Drax　must　be　a　bloody　fool。　Obviously　a　bit　of　a　crank。　But　it　isn't　the　man　I'm　worried　about。　I　wouldn't　like　to　chance　anything　going　wrong　with　this　rocket　of　his。　And　Drax　more　or　less　is　the　Moonraker。　Well；　see　you　at　six。　Don't　bother　about　dressing。　Some　of　us　do　for　dinner　and　some　of　us　don't。　Tonight　we　won't。　Better　go　along　now　and　sandpaper　your　fingertips　or　whatever　you　sharpers　do。〃
　Bond　smiled　back　at　M。　and　got　to　his　feet。　It　sounded　a　promising　evening。　As　he　walked　over　to　the　door　and　let　himself　out　he　reflected　that　here　at　last　was　an　interview　with　M。　that　didn't　cast　a　shadow。
　M's　secretary　was　still　at　her　desk。　There　was　a　plate　of　sandwiches　and　a　glass　of　milk　beside　her　typewriter。　She　looked　sharply　at　Bond；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　read　in　his　expression。
　〃I　suppose　he　gave　up；〃　said　Bond。
　〃Nearly　an　hour　ago；〃　said　Miss　Moneypenny　reproachfully。　〃It's　half…past　two。　He'll　be　back　any　minute　now。〃
　〃I'll　go　down　to　the　canteen　before　it　closes；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　him　I'll　pay　for　his　lunch　next　time。〃　He　smiled　at　her　and　walked　out　into　the　corridor　and　along　to　the　lift。
　There　were　only　a　few　people　left　in　the　officers'　canteen。　Bond　sat　by　himself　and　ate　a　grilled　sole；　a　large　mixed　salad　with　his　own　dressing　laced　with　mustard；　some　Brie　cheese　and　toast；　and　half　a　carafe　of　white　Bordeaux。　He　had　two　cups　of　black　coffee　and　was　back　in　his　office　by　three。　With　half　his　mind　preoccupied　with　M。's　problem；　he　hurried　through　the　rest　of　the　NATO　file；　said　goodbye　to　his　secretary　after　telling　her　where　he　would　be　that　evening；　and　at　four…thirty　was　collecting　his　car　from　the　staff　garage　at　the　back　of　the　building。
　〃Supercharger's　whining　a　bit；　sir；〃　said　the　ex…RAF　mechanic　who　regarded　Bond's　Bentley　as　his　own　property。　〃Take　it　down　tomorrow　if　you　won't　be　needing　her　at　lunch…time。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　said　Bond；　〃that'll　be　fine。〃　He　took　the　car　quietly　out　into　the　park　and　over　to　Baker　Street；　the　two…inch　exhaust　bubbling　fatly　in　his　wake。
　He　was　home　in　fifteen　minutes。　He　left　the　car　under　the　plane　trees　in　the　little　square　and　let　himself　into　the　ground　floor　of　the　converted　Regency　house；　went　into　the　book…lined　sitting…room　and；　after　a　moment's　search；　pulled　Scarne　on　Cards　out　of　its　shelf　and　dropped　it　on　the　ornate　Empire　desk　near　the　broad　window。
　He　walked　through　into　the　smallish　bedroom　with　the　white　and　gold　Cole　wallpaper　and　the　deep　red　curtains；　undressed　and　threw　his　clothes；　more　or　less　tidily；　on　the　dark　blue　counterpane　of　the　double　bed。　Then　he　went　into　the　bathroom　and　had　a　quick　shower。　Before　leaving　the　bathroom　he　examined　his　face　in　the　glass　and　decided　that　he　had　no　intention　of　sacrificing　a　lifetime　prejudice　by　shaving　twice　in　one　day。
　In　the　glass；　the　grey…blue　eyes　looked　back　at　him　with　the　extra　light　they　held　when　his　mind　was　focused　on　a　problem　that　interested　him。　The　lean；　hard　face　had　a　hungry；　petitive　edge　to　it。　There　was　something　swift　and　intent　in　the　way　he　ran　his　fingers　along　his　jaw　and　in　the　impatient　stroke　of　the　hairbrush　to　put　back　the　ma　of　black　hair　that　fell　down　an　inch　above　his　right　eyebrow。　It　crossed　his　mind　that；　with　the　fading　of　his　sunburn；　the　scar　down　the　right　cheek　that　had　shown　so　white　was　beginning　to　be　less　prominent；　and　automatically　he　glanced　down　his　naked　body　and　registered　that　the　almost　indecent　white　area　left　by　his　bathing　trunks　was　less　sharply　defined。　He　smiled　at　some　memory　and　went　through　into　the　bedroom。
　Ten　minutes　later；　in　a　heavy　white　silk　shirt；　dark　blue　trousers　of　N