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'About an hour,' said Bond

'Then it is reratulate you Few h Perhaps that is some consolation As Monsieur Mathis can tell you, I have had in my time to treat a number of patients who have suffered sih it as you have done'

The doctor looked at Bond for a moment and then turned brusquely to Mathis

'You may have ten minutes and then you will be forcibly elected If you put the patient's teave them both a broad smile and left the room

Mathis caood man,' said Bond 'I like him'

'He's attached to the Bureau,' said Mathis 'He is a very good man and I will tell you about hiy - and so do I

'However, that can wait As you can i pestered by Paris and, of course, London, and even by Washington via our good friend Leiter Incidentally,' he broke off, 'I have a personal e from M He spoke to me himself on the telephone He simply said to tell you that he is much impressed I asked if that was all and he said: "Well, tell hi off'

Bond grinned with pleasure Whatup Mathis This was quite unheard of The very existence of M, let alone his identity, was never adine the flutter this anization in London

'A tall thin man with one arm came over fro from his own experience that these shop details would interest Bond ive him most pleasure, 'and he fixed up the nurses and looked after everything Even your car's being repaired for you He seeave her strict instructions to look after you'

Head of S, thought Bond They're certainly giving me the red carpet treatment

'Now,' said Mathis, 'to business Who killed Le Chiffre?'

'SMERSH,' said Bond

Mathis gave a lohistle

'My God,' he said respectfully 'So they were on to him What did he look like?'

Bond explained briefly what had happened up to theall but the lad when it was done Casting his htan to pour off his forehead and a deep throb of pain started up in his body

Mathis realized that he was going too far Bond's voice was getting feebler and his eyes were clouding Mathis snapped shut his shorthand book and laid a hand on Bond's shoulder

'Forgive me, my friend,' he said 'It is all over now and you are in safe hands All is well and the whole plan has gone splendidly We have announced that Le Chiffre shot his two accomplices and then committed suicide because he could not face an inquiry into the union funds Strasbourg and the north are in an uproar He was considered a great hero there and a pillar of the Communist Party in France This story of brothels and casinos has absolutely knocked the botto around like scalded cats At theout that he was off his head But that hasn't helped o They're just a God kno they're going to unscramble the whole business'

Mathis saw that his enthusiashter

'One last o' He looked at his watch 'The doctor will be after my skin in a moment Nohat about the money? Where is it? Where did you hide it? We too have been over your roorinned

'It is,' he said, 'more or less On the door of each room there is a small square of black plastic with the number of the room on it On the corridor side, of course When Leiter left ht, I simply opened the door and unscrewed my number plate and put the folded cheque underneath it and screwed the plate back It'll still be there' He slish can teach the clever French'

Mathis laughed delightedly

'I suppose you think that's paidwhat the Muntzes were up to Well, I'll call it quits Incidentally, we've got the They were just soet a few years'

He rose hastily as the doctor stormed into the room and took one look at Bond