with fair hair. Leiter moved and spoke slowly. But Bond knew
that he would be a good fighter.
Bond told him about his trip down the coast that
morning. Leiter drank his second glass of whisky and listened
carefully. Then, at seven-thirty, they walked back to the
hotel together.
Leiter's room was on a higher floor than Bond's room.
The two men arranged to see each other later, at the Casino.
Bond had a long, hot bath followed by an ice-cold shower.
He lay down on his bed and thought about his plans for
Mathis, Leiter and the girl. Then he thought about Le
Chiffre and his other enemies.
At twenty minutes to nine, he dressed in trousers and a
silk shirt. Next, he opened a drawer. He took out a light
leather holster and put it over his shoulder. Then he took a
gun from the drawer. He dropped the gun into the holster
and put his dinner jacket on. The gun was hidden under the
jacket.
He felt cool and comfortable as he walked out of his room
and locked the door. When he arrived in the hotel lobby, he
heard a voice call,
'Good evening.'
The girl stepped out of the lift and waited for Bond. Her
black velvet dress was simple but expensive. A thin diamond
necklace hung around her throat. She carried a black
evening bag.
Bond thought that she looked beautiful.
The girl held his arm as they went in to dinner. People in
the crowded restaurant turned to look at her. Bond watched
them and smiled. They went to a table in a quiet comer of
the room.
'Would you like a drink?' asked Bond.
'I would love a glass of vodka,' she said.
Bond ordered two very cold vodkas.