That evening, Bond walked across to the Casino. He had always been a
gambler. He liked the luxury of the card-rooms and casinos. Sometimes he
was lucky, sometimes not. But Bond believed that luck should he loved and
not feared.
Bond changed a million francs into plaques and took a seat at Roulette
Table Number 1. He played seventeen games. He lost some games and won
some games. He finished with winnings of one million francs.
An American was sitting opposite. When Bond got up from the table, the
American got up too.
'Let me buy you a drink,' the man said to Bond.
Bond guessed that the American was from the CIA. M had told him that
they would send someone.
'My name's Felix Leiter,' said the American, as they walked to the bar.
'Mine is Bond - James Bond.'
They ordered drinks.
'A dry martini,' said Bond to the barman. 'But I want it in a large glass.'
'I'm pleased to be working with you,' Leiter said. He lit a cigarette. 'Our
people in Washington are very interested in this job.'
'Our enemies already know about me,' said Bond. 'They probably know
about you and Mathis, too. Please be at the Casino this evening. I've got an
assistant, Miss Lynd. I'd like her to be with you when I start playing.' He smiled
at Leiter. 'Be careful of Le Chiffre's two gunmen. They probably won't make
any trouble. But we can't be sure.'