if.thunderball-第26章

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　It　is　good　for　the　banker　when　he　has　got　past　the　third　banco。　It　often　means　the　bank　is　going　to　run。　Bond　knew　this　perfectly　well。　He　was　also　painfully　aware　that　his　total　capital　was　only　one　thousand　dollars。　But　the　fact　that　everyone　was　so　nervous　of　Largo's　luck　made　him　bold。　And；　after　all；　the　table　has　no　memory。　Luck；　he　told　himself；　is　strictly　for　the　birds。　He　said；　〃Banco。〃
　
　〃Ah；　my　good　friend　Mr。　Bond。〃　Largo　held　out　a　hand。　〃Now　we　have　the　big　money　ing　to　the　table。　Perhaps　I　should　pass　the　bank。　The　English　know　how　to　play　at　railway　trains。　But　still〃…　he　smiled　charmingly…〃if　I　have　to　lose　I　would　certainly　like　to　lose　to　Mr。　Bond。〃
　
　The　big　brown　hand　gave　the　shoe　a　soft　slap。　Largo　eased　out　the　pink　tongue　of　playing　card　and　moved　it　across　the　baize　to　Bond。　He　took　one　for　himself　and　then　pressed　out　one　more　for　each　of　them。　Bond　picked　up　his　first　card　and　flicked　it　face　up　into　the　middle　of　the　table。　It　was　a　nine；　the　nine　of　diamonds。　Bond　glanced　sideways　at　Largo。　He　said；　〃That　is　always　a　good　start…so　good　that　I　will　also　face　my　second　card。〃　He　casually　flicked　it　out　to　join　the　nine。　It　turned　over　in　mid…air　and　fell　besides　the　nine。　It　was　a　glorious　ten；　the　ten　of　spades。　Unless　Largo's　two　cards　also　added　up　to　nine　or　nineteen；　Bond　had　won。
　
　Largo　laughed；　but　the　laugh　had　a　hard　edge　to　it。　〃You　certainly　make　me　try；〃　he　said　gaily。　He　threw　his　cards　to　follow　Bond's。　They　were　the　eight　of　hearts　and　the　king　of　clubs。　Largo　had　lost　by　a　pip…two　naturals；　but　one　just　better　than　the　other；　the　crudest　way　to　lose。　Largo　laughed　hugely。　〃Somebody　had　to　be　second；〃　he　said　to　the　table　at　large。　〃What　did　I　say？　The　English　can　pull　what　they　like　out　of　the　shoe。〃
　
　The　croupier　pushed　the　chips　across　to　Bond。　Bond　made　a　small　pile　of　them。　He　gestured　at　the　heap　in　front　of　Largo：　〃So；　it　seems；　can　the　Italians。　I　told　you　this　afternoon　we　should　go　into　partnership。〃
　
　Largo　laughed　delightedly。　〃Well；　let's　just　try　once　again。　Put　in　what　you　have　won　and　I　will　banco　it　in　partnership　with　Mr。　Snow　on　your　right。　Yes；　Mr。　Snow？〃
　
　Mr。　Snow；　a　tough…looking　European　who；　Bond　remembered；　was　one　of　the　shareholders；　agreed。　Bond　put　in　the　eight　hundred　and　they　each　put　in　four　against　him。　Bond　won　again；　this　time　with　a　six　against　a　five　for　the　table…once　more　by　one　point。
　
　Largo　shook　his　head　mournfully。　〃Now　indeed　we　have　seen　the　writing　on　the　wall。　Mr。　Snow；　you　will　have　to　continue　alone。　This　Mr。　Bond　has　green　fingers　against　me；　I　surrender。〃
　
　Now　Largo　was　smiling　only　with　his　mouth。　Mr。　Snow　suivied　and　pushed　forward　sixteen　hundred　dollars　to　cover　Bond's　stake。　Bond　thought：　I　have　made　sixteen　hundred　dollars　in　two　coups；　over　five　hundred　pounds。　And　it　would　be　fun　to　pass　the　bank　and　for　the　bank　to　go　down　on　the　next　hand。　He　withdrew　his　stake　and　said；　〃　La　main　passe　。〃　There　was　a　buzz　of　ment。　Largo　said　dramatically；　〃Don't　do　it　to　me！　Don't　tell　me　the　bank's　going　to　go　down　on　the　next　hand！　If　it　does　I　shoot　myself。　Okay；　okay；　I　will　buy　Mr。　Bond's　bank　and　we　will　see。〃　He　threw　some　plaques　out　on　to　the　table…sixteen　hundred　dollars'　worth。
　
　And　Bond　heard　his　own　voice　say　banco！　He　was　bancoing　his　own　bank…telling　Largo　that　he　had　done　it　to　him　once；　then　twice；　and　now　he　was　going　to　do　it；　inevitably；　again！
　
　Largo　turned　round　to　face　Bond。　Smiling　with　his　mouth；　he　narrowed　his　eyes　and　looked　carefully；　with　a　new　curiosity；　at　Bond's　face。　He　said　quietly；　〃But　you　are　hunting　me；　my　dear　fellow。　You　are　pursuing　me。　What　is　this？　Vendetta？〃
　
　Bond　thought：　I　will　see　if　an　association　of　words　does　something　to　him。　He　said；　〃When　I　came　to　the　table　I　saw　a　spectre。〃　He　said　the　word　casually；　with　no　hint　at　double　meaning。
　
　The　smile　came　off　Largo's　face　as　if　he　had　been　slapped。　It　was　at　once　switched　on　again；　but　now　the　whole　face　was　tense；　strained；　and　the　eyes　had　gone　watchful　and　very　hard。　His　tongue　came　out　and　touched　his　lips。　〃Really？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　Bond　said　lightly；　〃The　spectre　of　defeat。　I　thought　your　luck　was　on　the　turn。　Perhaps　I　was　wrong。〃　He　gestured　at　the　shoe。　〃Let's　see。〃
　
　The　table　had　gone　quiet。　The　players　and　spectators　felt　that　a　tension　had　e　between　these　two　men。　Suddenly　there　was　the　smell　of　enmity　where　before　there　had　been　only　jokes。　A　glove　had　been　thrown　down；　by　the　Englishman。　Was　it　about　the　girl？　Probably。　The　crowd　licked　its　lips。
　
　Largo　laughed　sharply。　He　stitched　gaiety　and　bravado　back　on　his　face。　〃Aha！〃　His　voice　was　boisterous　again。　〃My　friend　wishes　to　put　the　evil　eye　upon　my　cards。　We　have　a　way　to　deal　with　that　where　I　e　from。〃　He　lifted　a　hand；　and　with　only　the　first　and　little　fingers　outstretched　in　a　fork；　he　prodded　once；　like　a　snake　striking　toward　Bond's　face。　To　the　crowd　it　was　a　playful　piece　of　theater；　but　Bond；　within　the　strong　aura　of　the　man's　animal　magnetism；　felt　the　ill　temper；　the　malevolence　behind　the　old　Mafia　gesture。
　
　Bond　laughed　good…naturedly。　〃That　certainly　put　the　hex　on　me。　But　what　did　it　do　to　the　cards？　e　on；　your　spectre　against　my　spectre！〃
　
　Again　the　look　of　doubt　came　over　Largo's　face。　Why　again　the　use　of　this　word？　He　gave　the　shoe　a　hefty　slap。　〃All　right；　my　friend。　We　are　wrestling　the　best　of　three　falls。　Here　es　the　third。〃
　
　Quickly　his　first　two　fingers　licked　out　the　four　cards。　The　table　had　hushed。　Bond　faced　his　pair　inside　his　hand。　He　had　a　total　of　five…a　ten　of　clubs　and　a　five　of　hearts。　Five　is　a　marginal　number。　One　can　either　draw　or　not。　Bond　folded　the　cards　face　down　on　the　table。　He　said；　with　the　confident　look　of　a　man　who　has　a　six　or　a　seven；　〃No　card；　thank　you。〃
　
　Largo's　eyes　narrowed　as　he　tried　to　read　Bond's　face。　He　turned　up　his　cards；　flicked　them　into　the　middle　of　the　table　with　a　gesture　of　disgust。　He　also　had　a　count　of　five。　Now　what　was　he　to　do？　Draw　or　not　draw？　He　looked　again　at　the　quiet　smile　of　confidence　on　Bond's　face…and　drew。　It　was　a　nine；　the　nine　of　spades。　By　drawing　another　card　instead　of　standing　on　his　five　and　equaling　Bond；　he　had　drawn　and　now　had　a　four　to　Bond's　five。
　
　Impassively　Bond　turned　up　his　cards。　He　said；　〃I'm　afraid　you　should　have　killed　the　evil　eye　in　the　pack；　not　in　me。〃
　
　There　was　a　buzz　of　ment　round　the　table。　〃But　if　the　Italian　had　stood　on　his　five　。　。　。〃　〃I　always　draw　on　a　five。〃　〃I　never　do。〃　〃It　was　bad　luck。〃　〃No；　it　was　bad　play。〃
　
　Now　it　was　an　effort　for　Largo　to　keep　the　snarl　off　his　face。　But　he　managed　it；　the　forced　smile　lost　its　twist；　the　balled　fists　relaxed。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　held　out　his　hand　to　Bond。　Bond　took　it；　folding　his　thumb　inside　his　palm　just　in　case　Largo　might　give　him　a　bone…crusher　with　his　vast　machine　tool　of　a　hand。　But　it　was　a　firm　grasp　and　no　more。　Largo　said；　〃Now　I　must　wait　for　the　shoe　to　e　round　again。　You　have　taken　all　my　winnings。　I　have　a　hard　evening's　work　ahead　of　me　just　when　I　was　going　to　take　my　niece　for　a　drink　and　a　dance。〃　He　turned　to　Domino。　〃My　dear；　I　don't　think　you　know　Mr。　Bond；　except　on　the　telephone。　I'm　afraid　he　has　upset　my　plans。　You　must　find　someone　else　to　squire　you。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃How　do　you　do。　Didn't　we　meet　in　the　tobacconist's　this　morning？〃
　
　The　girl　screwed　up　her　eyes。　She　said　indifferently；　〃Yes？　It　is　possible。　I　have　such　a　bad　memory　for　faces。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃Well；　could　I　give　you　a　drink？　I　can　just　afford　even　a　Nassau　drink　now；　thanks　to　the　generosity　of　Mr。　Largo。　And　I　have　finished　here。　This　sort　of　thing　can't　last。　I　mustn't　press　my　luck。〃
　
　The　girl　got　up。　She　said　ungraciously；　〃If　you　have　nothing　better　to　do。〃　She　turned　to　Largo：　〃Emilio；　perhaps　if　I　take　this　Mr。　Bond　away；　your　luck　will　turn　again。　I　will　be　in　the　supper　room　having　caviar　and　champagne。　We　must　try　and　get　as　much　of　your　funds　as　we　can　back　in　the　family。〃
　
　Largo　laughed。　His　spirits　had　returned。　He　said；　〃You　see；　Mr。　Bond；　you　are　out　of　the　frying　pan　into　the　fire。　In　Dominetta's　hands　you　may　not　fare　so　well　as　in　mine。　See　you　later；　my　dear　fellow。　I　must　now　get　back　to　the　salt　mines　where　you　have　consigned　me。〃
　
　Bond　said；　〃Well；　thanks　for　the　game。　I　will　order　champagne　and　caviar　for　three。　My　spectre　also　deserves　his　reward。〃　Wondering　again　whether　the　shadow　that　flickered　in　Largo's　eyes　at　the　word　had　more　significance　than　Italian　superstition；　he　got　up　and　followed　the　girl　between　the　crowded　tables　to　the　supper　room。　Domino　made　for　a　shadowed　table　in　the　farthest　corner　of　the　room。　Walking　behind　her；　Bond　had　noticed　for　the　first　time　she　had　the　smallest　trace　of　a　limp。　He　found　it　endearing；　a　touch　of　childish　sweetness　beneath　the　authority　and　blatant　sex　appeal　of　a　girl　to　whom　he　had　been　inclined　to　award　that　highest；　but　toughest；　French　title…a　courtisane　de　marque　。
　
　When　the　Clicquot　rosé　and　fifty　dollars'　worth　of　Beluga　caviar　came…anything　less；　he　had　mented　to　her；　would　be　no　more　than　a　spoonful…he　asked　her　about　the　limp。　〃Did　you　hurt　yourself　swimming　today？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　gravely。　〃No。　I　have　one　leg　an　inch　shorter　than　the　other。　Does　it　displease　you？〃
　
　〃No。　It's　pretty。　It　makes　you　something　of　a　child。〃　〃Instead　of　a　hard　old　kept　woman。　Yes？〃　Her　eyes　challenged　him。
　
　〃Is　that　how　you　see　yourself？〃
　
　〃It's　rather　obvious　isn't　it？　Anyway；　it's　what　everyone　in　Nassau　thinks。〃　She　looked　him　squarely　in　the　eyes；　but　with　a　touch　of　pleading。
　
　〃Nobody's　told　me　that。　Anyway；　I　make　up　my　own　mind　about　men　and　women。　What's　the　good　of　other　people's　opinions？　Animals　don't　consult　each　other　about　other　animals。　They　look　and　sniff　and　feel。　In　love　and　hate；　and　everything　in　between；　those　are　the　only　tests　that　matter。　But　people　are　unsure　of　their　own　instincts。　They　want　reassurance。　So　they　ask　someone　else　whether　they　should　like　a　particular　person　or　not。　And　as　the　world　loves　bad　news；　they　nearly　always　get　a　bad　answer…or　at　least　a　qualified　one。　Would　you　like　to　know　what　I　think　of　you？〃
　
　She　smiled。　〃Every　woman　likes　to　hear　about　herself。　Tell　me；　but　make　it　sound　true；　otherwise　I　shall　stop　listening。〃
　
　〃I　think　you're　a　young　girl；　younger　than　you　pretend　to　be；　younger　than　you　dress。　I　think　you　were　carefully　brought　up；　in　a　red…carpet　sort　of　way；　and　then　the　red　carpet　was　suddenly　jerked　away　from　under　your　feet　and　you　were　thrown　more　or　less　into　the　street。　So　you　picked　yourself　up　and　started　to　work　your　own　way　back　to　the　red　carpet　you　had　got　used　to。　You　were　probably　fairly　ruthless　about　it。　You　had　to　be。　You　only　had　a　woman's　weapons　and　you　probably　used　them　pretty　coolly。　I　expect　you　used　your　body。　It　would　be　a　wonderful　asset。　But　in　using　it　to　get　what　you　wanted；　your　sensibilities　had　to　be　put　aside。　I　don't　expect　they're　very　far　underground。　They　certainly　haven't　atrophied。　They've　just　lost　their　voice　because　you　wouldn't　listen　to　them。　You　couldn't　afford　to　listen　to　them　if　you　were　to　get　back　on　that　red　carpet　and　have　the　things　you　wa