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James Bond watched her expression She was pleased After a few minutes she read out:
"M PERSONAL FOR OHOHSEVEN EYES ONLY STOP YOUR REPORT AND DITTO FROM TOP FRIENDS [a euphemism for the CIA] RECEIVED STOP YOU HAVE DONE WELL AND EXECUTED AYE DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS OPERATION TO MY ENTIRE REPEAT ENTIRE SATISFACTION STOP TRUST YOUR HEALTH UNIMPAIRED [Bond gave an angry snort] STOP WHEN WILL YOU BE REPORTING FOR FURTHER DUTY QUERY"
Mary Goodnight shtedly "I've never seen him be so complimentary! Have you, James? That repeat of entire! It's tre of the black clouds frohted He knehat Mary couldn't know--that M was telling hioing to show his pleasure to Mary Goodnight Today she was one of the wardresses confining hily, "Not bad for the old et me back to that bloody desk Anyway, it's a lot of jazz so far What co as the little machine whirred and clicked not to be interested
"Oh, Jaht exploded with excitement "Wait! I'm almost finished It's tremendous!"
"I know," commented Bond sourly "Free luncheon vouchers every second Friday Key to M's personal lavatory New suit to replace the one that's soot full of holes" But he kept his eyes fixed on the flitting fingers, infected by Mary Goodnight's excite so steamed up about? And all on his behalf! He examined her with approval Perched there, ie skirt, one neat foot curled round the other in concentration, the golden face under the shortish fair hair incandescent with pleasure, she was, thought Bond, a girl to have around always As a secretary? As what? Mary Goodnight turned, her eyes shining, and the question went, as it had gone for weeks, without an answer
"Now, just listen to this, James" She shook the notebook at hieonly"
Bond sht, Mary Go ahead E to bust any stitches" He put his book down on his lap
Mary Goodnight's face became portentous She said seriously, "Just listen to this!" She read very carefully:
"IN VIEW OF THE OUTSTANDING NATURE OF THE SERVICES REFERRED TO ABOVE AND THEIR ASSISTANCE TO THE ALLIED CAUSE COMMA WHICH IS PERHAPS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN YOU IMAGINE COMMA THE PRIME MINISTER PROPOSES TO RECOMMEND TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE IMMEDIATE GRANT OF A KNIGHTHOOD STOP THIS TO TAKE THE FORM OF THE ADDITION OF A KATIE AS PREFIX TO YOUR CHARLIE MICHAEL GEORGE"
Jah
"Good old cypherines They wouldn't think of just putting K C M G --Much too easy! Go ahead, Mary This is good!"
"IT IS COMMON PRACTICE TO INQUIRE OF PROPOSED RECIPIENT WHETHER HE ACCEPTS THIS HIGH HONOUR BEFORE HER MAJESTY PUTS HER SEAL UPON IT STOP WRITTEN LETTER SHOULD FOLLOW YOUR CABLED CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE PARAGRAPH THIS AWARD NATURALLY HAS MY SUPPORT AND ENTIRE APPROVAL AND EYE SEND YOU MY PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS ENDIT MAILED-FIST"
Jaain hid himself behind the throay line "Why in hell does he always have to sign hilish word EmIt's a h for the Chief He's a roet ht lowered her eyelashes She knew that Bond's reflex concealed his pleasure--a pleasure he wouldn't for the life of him have displayed Who wouldn't be pleased, proud? She put on a businesslike expression "Well, would you likefor you to send? I can be back with it at six, and I know they'll let h Coins with 'I present my humble duty to Her Majesty" I've had to help with the Jamaica honours at New Year and her birthday Everyone seems to want to know the form"
James Bond wiped his forehead with his handkerchief Of course he was pleased! But above all pleased with M's commendation The rest, he kneas not in his stars He had never been a public figure, and he did not wish to becoainst letters after one's na above all he treasured His privacy His anonymity To becoland , of any country, ould be called upon to open things, lay foundation stones, ht the sweat to his armpits "James Bond!" No middle name No hyphen A quiet, dull, anonymous name Certainly he was a Commander in the Special Branch of the RNVR, but he rarely used the rank His CMG likewise He wore it perhaps once a year, together with his ts of lettuce, because there was a dinner for the Old Boys--the fraternity of ex-Secret Service risly reunion held in the banqueting hall at Blades, it gave enormous pleasure to a lot of people who had been brave and resourceful in their day but now had old men's and old woedies Tales which, since they would never be recorded in the history books, ht, over the Cockburn '12, when "The Queen" had been drunk, to sohbour such as Ja to happen tomorrow That hen he wore his lettuce and the CMG below his black tie--to give pleasure and reassurance to the Old Children at their annual party For the rest of the year, until May polished theathered dust in some secret repository where May kept theht, avoiding her eyes, "Mary, this is an order Take dohat follows and send it tonight Right?
"Begins: quote MAILED-FIST EYES ONLY [Bond interjected, I ht have said Promoneypenny When did M last touch a cypher machine?] STOP YOUR [Put in the number, Mary] ACKNOWLEDGED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED STOP AM INFORMED BY HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES THAT EYE SHALL BE RETURNED LONDONWARDS DUTIABLE IN ONE MONTH STOP REFERRING YOUR REFERENCE TO AYE HIGH HONOUR EYE BEG YOU PRESENT MY HUMBLE DUTY TO HER MAJESTY AND REQUEST THAT EYE MAY BE PERMITTED COMMA IN ALL HUMILITY COMMA TO DECLINE THE SIGNAL FAVOUR HER MAJESTY IS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO PROPOSE TO CONFER UPON HER HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT SERVANT BRACKET TO MAILED-FIST PLEASE PUT THIS IN THE APPROPRIATE WORDS TO THE PRIME MINISTER STOP MY PRINCIPAL REASON IS THAT EYE DONT WANT TO PAY MORE AT HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS BRACKET"