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Patients, thought Bond That's the second tiirl "How do you do Yes, we'd certainly both of us like to get to our rooms"

May embraced them both with a warm smile She said in a low, attractive voice, "I do hope you'll both be co breakfast as soon as I heard you had coht of double lift-doors set in the wall opposite The girl led the way to the right Bond and Honeychile folloith Sister Lily taking up the rear

Numbered doors led off the corridor on either side Now the decor was in the lightest pink with a dove grey carpet The numbers on the doors were in the tens The corridor came to an abrupt end with two doors side by side, 14 and 15 May opened the door of 14, and they followed her in

It was a charreen walls, dark polished s, and well-designed bae red roses on a white background There was a co-room and another that led into an extremely luxurious modern bathroom with a step-down bath and a bidet

It was like being shown into the very latest Florida hotel suite-except for two details which Bond noticed There were no s and no inside handles to the doors

May looked hopefully from one to the other

Bond turned to Honeychile He smiled at her "It looks very coirl played with the edge of her skirt She nodded, not looking at him

There was a tiirl, as pretty as May, tripped in with a loaded tray balanced on her upturned hand She put it down on the centre table and pulled up two chairs She whisked off the speckless linen cloth that covered the dishes and pattered out of the room There was a delicious smell of bacon and coffee

May and Sister Lily backed to the door The older woman stopped on the threshold "And noe'll leave you two dear people in peace If you want anything, just ring The bells are by the bed Oh, and by the way, you'll find plenty of fresh clothes in the cupboards Chinese style, I'etically, "but I hope they're the right sizes The wardrobe roo The Doctor has given strict orders that you're not to be disturbed He'd be delighted if you'd join hi He wants you to have the whole of the rest of the day to yourselves-to get settled down, you know" She paused and looked fro inquiry "Shall I say you?"

"Yes, please," said Bond "Tell the Doctor we shall be delighted to join him for dinner"

"Oh, I know he'll be so pleased" With a last twitter the tomen softly withdrew and closed the door behind them

Bond turned towards Honeychile She looked embarrassed She still avoided his eyes It occurred to Bond that she could never have met such soft treatment or seen such luxury in her life To her, all this one through outside She stood and fiddled at the hem of her Man Friday skirt There were streaks of dried sweat and salt and dust on her face Her bare legs were filthy and Bond noticed that her toes were ripped nervously into the wonderful thick pile carpet

Bond laughed He laughed with real pleasure that her fear had been drowned in the basic predicahed at the picture they s and he in his dirty blue shirt and black jeans and muddy canvas shoes

He went to her and took her hands They were cold He said, "Honey, we're a couple of scarecrows There's only one probleet out of these rags and have a bath and eat the breakfast when it's cold? Don't worry about anything else We're here in this wonderful little house and that's all that matters Now then, what shall we do?"

She smiled uncertainly The blue eyes searched his face for reassurance "You're not worried about what's going to happen to us?" She nodded at the room "Don't you think this is all a trap?"

"If it's a trap we're in it There's nothing we can do now but eat the cheese The only question is whether we eat it hot or cold" He pressed her hands "Really, Honey Leave the worrying to o Isn't this better? Now cos Bath or breakfast?"

She said reluctantly, "Well, if you think I et clean first" She added quickly, "But you've got to help me" She jerked her head towards the bathroom door