if.goldfinger-第26节

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he　one　to　which　he　thought　Bond　would　respond　…　the　ruthlessly　efficient；　cold…blooded　tycoon。　Perhaps；　after　all；　Bond's　spying　in　the　house；　which　Goldfinger　must　at　least　presume；　had　revealed　something　about　Bond　that　Goldfinger　was　pleased　to　know　…　that　Bond　had　a　crooked　side　to　him；　that　he　wasn't　'a　gentleman'　in　more　than　appearance。　Now　there　should　be　more　probing　and　then；　with　luck；　the　proposition　would　follow。
　Bond　sat　back　and　lit　a　cigarette。　He　said；　'That's　a　beautiful　car　you've　got。　Must　be　about　the　last　of　the　series。　About　1925；　wasn't　it　…　two　blocks　of　three　cylinders　with　two　plugs　for　each　cylinder；　one　set　fired　from　the　mag。　and　the　other　from　the　coil？'
　'You　are　correct。　But　in　other　respects。　I　have　had　to　introduce　some　modifications。　I　have　added　five　leaves　to　the　springs　and　fitted　disc　brakes　to　the　rear　wheels　to　increase　the　braking　power。　The　Servo…operated　front…wheel　brakes　were　not　sufficient。'
　'Oh。　Why　not？　The　top　speed　wouldn't　be　more　than　fifty。　The　body　can't　be　all　that　heavy。'
　Goldfinger　raised　his　eyebrows。　'You　think　not？　One　ton　of　armour　plating　and　armour…plated　glass　make　a　big　difference。'
　Bond　smiled。　'Ah！　I　see。　You　certainly　do　take　good　care　of　yourself。　But　how　does　that　work　flying　the　Channel？　Doesn't　the　car　go　through　the　floor　of　the　plane？'
　T　take　a　plane　to　myself。　The　Silver　City　pany　knows　the　car。　It　is　a　regular　routine；　twice　a　year。'
　'Just　touring　round　Europe？'
　'A　golfing　holiday。'
　'Great　fun。　Always　wanted　to　do　it　myself。'
　Goldfinger　didn't　take　the　bait。　'You　can　afford　to　now。'
　Bond　smiled。　'Oh；　that　extra　ten　thousand　dollars。　But　I　may　need　that　if　I　decide　to　move　to　Canada。'
　'You　think　you　could　make　money　there？　Do　you　want　to　make　a　lot　of　money？'
　Bond's　voice　was　eager。　'Very　much。　There's　no　other　point　in　working。'
　'Unfortunately　most　ways　of　making　big　money　take　a　long　time。　By　the　time　one　has　made　the　money　one　is　too　old　to　enjoy　it。'
　'That's　the　trouble。　I'm　always　on　the　lookout　for　shortcuts。　You　won't　find　them　here。　Taxation's　too　heavy。'
　'Quite。　And　the　laws　are　strict。'
　'Yes。　I　found　that　out。'
　'Indeed？'
　'Got　on　the　fringe　of　the　heroin　racket。　Only　just　got　out　without　burning　my　fingers。　Of　course　this'll　go　no　further？'
　Goldfinger　shrugged　his　shoulders。　'Mr　Bond；　someone　said　that　〃law　is　the　crystallized　prejudices　of　the　munity〃。　I　agree　with　that　definition。　It　happens　to　apply　most　strongly　to　the　traffic　in　drugs。　Even　if　it　didn't；　I　am　not　concerned　with　assisting　the　police。'
　'Well；　it　was　like　this。。。'　Bond　launched　into　the　story　of　the　Mexican　traffic；　swapping　roles　with　Blackwell。　He　ended　up；　'I　was　lucky　to　get　away　with　it；　but　it　didn't　make　me　particularly　popular　with　Universal　Export。'
　'I　daresay　not。　An　interesting　story。　You　seem　to　have　shown　resource。　You　are　not　tempted　to　continue　in　the　same　line　of　business？'
　Bond　shrugged　his　shoulders。　'A　bit　too　tricky。　To　judge　by　this　Mexican；　the　big　men　in　the　business　aren't　quite　big　enough　when　it　es　to　the　pinch。　When　things　got　tough　he　didn't　fight　back　…　except　with　his　mouth。'
　'Well；　Mr　Bond；'　Goldfinger　got　up　from　the　table　and　Bond　followed　suit。　'It's　been　an　interesting　evening。　I　don't　know　that　I　would　go　back　into　heroin。　There　are　safer　ways　of　making　big　money。　You　want　to　be　certain　that　the　odds　are　right　and　then　you　should　hazard　everything。　Doubling　one's　money　isn't　easy　and　the　chances　don't　occur　frequently。　You　would　like　to　hear　another　of　my　aphorisms？'
　'Yes。'
　'Well；　Mr　Bond；'　Goldfinger　gave　the　rich　man's　thin　smile。　'The　safest　way　to　double　your　money　is　fold　it　twice　and　put　it　in　your　pocket。'
　Bond；　the　bank　clerk　barkening　to　the　bank　manager；　smiled　dutifully　but　made　no　ment。　This　just　wasn't　good　enough。　He　was　getting　nowhere。　But　instinct　told　him　not　to　put　his　foot　down　on　the　accelerator。
　They　went　back　into　the　hall。　Bond　held　out　his　hand。　'Well；　many　thanks　for　the　excellent　dinner。　Time　I　went　and　got　some　sleep。　Perhaps　we　shall　run　into　each　other　again　some　day。'
　Goldfinger　pressed　Bond's　hand　briefly　and　pushed　it　away　from　him。　It　was　another　mannerism　of　the　millionaire　subconsciously　afraid　of'the　touch'。　He　looked　hard　at　Bond。　He　said　enigmatically；　'I　shouldn't　be　at　all　surprised；　Mr　Bond。'
　On　his　way　across　the　Isle　of　Thanet　in　the　moonlight；　Bond　turned　the　phrase　over　and　over　in　his　mind。　He　undressed　and　got　into　bed　thinking　of　it；　unable　to　guess　its　significance。　It　could　mean　that　Goldfinger　intended　to　get　in　touch　with　Bond；　or　it　could　mean　that　Bond　must　try　and　keep　in　touch　with　Goldfinger。　Heads　the　former；　tails　the　latter。　Bond　got　out　of　bed　and　took　a　coin　from　the　dressing…table　and　tossed　it。　It　came　down　tails。　So　it　was　up　to　him　to　keep　close　to　Goldfinger！
　So　be　it。　But　his　cover　would　have　to　be　pretty　darn　good　the　next　time　they　'ran　into'　each　other。　Bond　got　back　into　bed　and　was　instantly　asleep。
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　
　LONG　TAIL　ON　A　GHOST
　
　PUNCTUALLY　AT　nine　the　next　morning　Bond　got　on　to　the　Chief　of　Staff：　'James　here。　I've　had　a　look　at　the　property。　Been　all　over　it。　Had　dinner　last　night　with　the　owner。　I　can　say　pretty　well　for　certain　that　the　managing　director's　view　is　right。　Something　definitely　wrong　about　the　property。　Not　enough　facts　to　send　you　a　surveyor's　report。
　Owner's　going　abroad　tomorrow；　flying　from　Ferryfield。　Wish　I　knew　his　departure　time。　Like　to　have　another　sight　of　his　Rolls。　Thought　I'd　make　him　a　present　of　a　portable　wireless　set。　I'll　be　going　over　a　bit　later　in　the　day。　Could　you　get　Miss　Ponsonby　to　book　me？　Destination　unknown　for　the　present。　I'll　be　keeping　in　touch。　Anything　your　end？'
　'How　did　the　game　of　golf　go？'
　'I　won。'
　There　was　a　chuckle　at　the　other　end。　'Thought　you　had。　Pretty　big　stakes；　weren't　they？'
　'How　did　you　know？'
　'Had　Mr　Scotland　on　last　night。　Said　he'd　had　a　tip　on　the　telephone　that　someone　of　your　name　was　in　possession　of　a　large　amount　of　undeclared　dollars。　Had　we　got　such　a　person　and　was　it　true？　Chap　wasn't　very　senior　and　didn't　know　about　Universal。　Told　him　to　have　a　word　with　the　missioner　and　we　got　an　apology　this　morning　about　the　same　time　as　your　secretary　found　an　envelope　containing　ten　thousand　dollars　in　your　mail！　Pretty　sly　of　your　man；　wasn't　it？'
　Bond　smiled。　Typical　of　Goldfinger　to　have　thought　of　a　way　of　getting　him　into　trouble　over　the　dollars。　Probably　made　the　call　to　Scotland　Yard　directly　after　the　game。　He　had　wanted　to　show　Bond　that　if　you　gave　Goldfinger　a　knock　you'd　get　at　least　a　thorn　in　your　hand。　But　the　Universal　Export　cover　seemed　to　have　stuck。　Bond　said；　'That's　pretty　hot！　The　twister！　You　might　tell　the　managing　director　that　this　time　it　goes　to　the　White　Cross。　Can　you　fix　the　other　things？'
　'Of　course。　Call　you　back　in　a　few　minutes。　But　watch　your　step　abroad　and　call　us　at　once　if　you　get　bored　and　need　pany。　So　long。'
　〃Bye。'　Bond　put　down　the　receiver。　He　got　up　and　set　about　packing　his　bag。　He　could　see　the　scene　in　the　Chief　of　Staff's　office　as　the　conversation　was　played　back　off　the　tape　while　the　Chief　of　Staff　translated　the　call　to　Miss　Money…penny。　'Says　he　agrees　that　Goldfinger　is　up　to　something　big　but　he　can't　make　out　what。　G。　is　flying　this　morning　with　his　Rolls　from　Ferryfield。　007　wants　to　follow。　（Let's　say　two　hours　later　to　let　G。　get　well　away　on　the　other　side。　Fix　the　reservation；　would　you？）　He　wants　us　to　have　a　word　with　Customs　so　that　he　can　take　a　good　look　at　the　Rolls　and　plant　a　Homer　in　the　boot。　（Fix　that　too；　please。）　He'll　keep　in　touch　through　stations　in　case　he　needs　help。。。'
　And　so　forth。　It　was　an　efficient　machine。　Bond　finished　packing　and；　when　the　London　call　came　giving　him　his　various　clearances；　he　went　downstairs；　paid　his　bill　and　got　quickly　out　of　Ramsgate　on　to　the　Canterbury　road。
　London　had　said　that　Goldfinger　was　booked　on　a　special　flight　leaving　at　twelve。　Bond　got　to　Ferryfield　by　eleven；　made　himself　known　to　the　Chief　Passport　Control　and　the　Customs　officers　who　were　expecting　him；　had　his　car　taken　out　of　sight　into　an　empty　hangar　and　sat　and　smoked　and　talked　minor　shop　with　the　passport　men。　They　thought　he　was　from　Scotland　Yard。　He　let　them　go　on　thinking　it。　No；　he　said；　Goldfinger　was　all　right。　It　was　possible　that　one　of　his　servants　was　trying　to　smuggle　something　out　of　the　country。　Rather　confidential。　If　Bond　could　just　be　left　alone　with　the　car　for　ten　minutes？　He　wanted　to　have　a　look　at　the　tool　kit。　Would　the　Customs　give　the　rest　of　the　Rolls　their　Grade　A　going　over　for　hidden　partments？　They'd　be　glad　to　do　so。
　At　eleven…forty…five　one　of　the　Customs　men　put　his　head　round　the　door。　He　winked　at　Bond。　'ing　in　now。　Chauffeur　on　board。　Going　to　ask　both　to　board　the　plane　before　the　car。　Tell　them　it's　something　to　do　with　the　weight　distribution。　Not　so　phoney　as　it　sounds。　We　know　this　old　crate。　She's　armour…plated。　Weighs　about　three　tons。　Call　you　when　we're　ready。'
　'Thanks。'　The　room　emptied。　Bond　took　the　fragile　little　parcel　out　of　his　pocket。　It　contained　a　dry…cell　battery　wired　to　a　small　vacuum　tube。　He　ran　his　eye　o