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The head clerk, who seemed to be soh another door in the wall of the raised platforers There was a short passage with rooms on either side The man led the way into one of these and Bond found himself in an extremely well-equipped dark-rooain on the street The Rolls edged out of the narrow alley and back again on to the Galata Bridge

A new concierge was on duty at the Kristal Palas, a suilty eyes in a yellow face He cay 'Effendi, I greatly regret My colleague showed you to an inadequate room It was not realized that you are a friend of Keris have been moved to No 12 It is the best rooe leered, 'it is the rooies, Effendi The other room is not intended for visitors of distinction' Thehis hands

If there was one thing Bond couldn't stand it was the sound of his boots being licked He looked the concierge in the eyes and said, 'Oh' The eyes slid away 'Let me see this room I may not like it I was quite comfortable where I was'

'Certainly, Effendi,' the man bowed Bond to the lift 'But alas the plumbers are in your former room The water supply' the voice trailed away The lift rose about ten feet and stopped at the first floor

Well, the story of the plumbers makes sense, reflected Bond And, after all, there was no har the best rooh door and stood back

Bond had to approve The sun streaave on to a srey and the style was mock French Eance of the turn of the century There were fine Bokhara rugs on the parquet floor A glittering chandelier hung froht-hand as huge A large old frame covered most of the wall behind it (Bond was amused The honey as well) The adjoining bathroo a bidet and a shower Bond's shaving things were neatly laid out

The concierge followed Bond back into the bedrooratefully out

Why not? Bond again walked round the roohbourhood of the bed and the telephone Why not take the room? Why would there be microphones or secret doors? What would be the point of them?

His suitcase was on a bench near the chest-of-drawers He knelt down No scratches round the lock The bit of fluff he had trapped in the clasp was still there He unlocked the suitcase and took out the little attaché case Again no signs of interference Bond locked the case and got to his feet

He washed and went out of the rooes for the Effendi The concierge bowed as he opened the door of the Rolls Was there a hint of conspiracy behind the peruilt in those eyes? Bond decided not to care if there was The gae of rooain somewhere

As the car sped back down the hill, Bond's thoughts turned to Darko Kerim What a man for Head of Station T! His size alone, in this country of furtive, stunted little iant vitality and love of life would make everyone his friend Where had this exuberant shrewd pirate come from? And how had he come to work for the Service? He was the rare type of man that Bond loved, and Bond already felt prepared to add Kerim to the half-dozen of those real friends whom Bond, who had no 'acquaintances', would be ready to take to his heart

The car went back over the Galata Bridge and drew up outside the vaulted arcades of the Spice Bazaar The chauffeur led the way up the shalloorn steps and into the fog of exotic scents, shouting curses at the beggars and sack-laden porters Inside the entrance the chauffeur turned left out of the stea humanity and showed Bond a small arch in the thick wall Turret-like stone steps curled upwards

'Effendi, you will find Kerim Bey in the far room on the left You have only to ask He is known to all'

Bond climbed the cool stairs to a s his nah a maze of small, colourfully tiled, vaulted roo at a corner table over the entrance to the bazaar Kerilass of milky liquid in which ice tinkled