It was twelve o'clock when Bond left the hotel. He decided to drive down
the coast road. He wanted to look at Le Chiffre's villa.
An hour later, Bond walked into the Hermitage Bar. He went to a table
near one of the windows. He ordered a drink and looked round at the
expensively-dressed customers.
After some minutes, he saw Mathis on the pavement outside. He was
with a dark-haired girl. Bond waited for them to come into the bar. He
pretended not to see them.
'It's Monsieur Bond!' said Mathis. 'Are you waiting for someone? No?
This is my assistant, Mademoiselle Lynd. My dear, this gentleman is from
Jamaica. I took a radio to his hotel this morning.'
'Would you both like to have a drink with me?' asked Bond. He called the
waiter and ordered drinks. Then the two men talked about the weather and
about Royale-les- Eaux.
The girl sat silently. Her hair was very black, her eyes were deep blue.
Bond was excited by her beauty. But the girl seemed cool and uninterested.
After some time, Mathis turned to her.
'Excuse me,' he said, 'but I must telephone the Dubernes about dinner
tonight. Do you mind eating alone this evening?'
'No,' she answered, 'It's all right.'
Mathis went to the telephone near the bar. Bond looked at the girl.
'It's not good to eat alone,' he said to her. 'Would you like to have dinner
with me tonight?'