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Jah the young beeches and the heavy-scented pines, looking forward to the evening and rees to this place and, particularly, the great battle across the baize he had had with Le Chiffre so ed irls, but there had been a dranancy about that particular adventure that every year drew hiranite cross in the little churchyard that simply said 'Vesper Lynd RIP'

And noas the place holding for hi win? A painful loss? A beautiful girl - that beautiful girl?

To think first of the gaht, this very Saturday night, the Casino Royale was holding its last night of the season It was always a big event and there would be pilgriulars from Paris and Lille In addition, the ' Syndicat d'lnitiative et des Bains de Mer de Royale' traditionally threw open its doors to all its local contractors and suppliers, and there was free cha buffet to reward the town people for their work during the season It was a tremendous carouse that rarely finished before breakfast tih game indeed

Bond had one million francs of private capital - Old Francs, of course - about seven hundred pounds' worth He always reckoned his private funds in Old Francs It made him feel so rich On the other hand, he made out his official expenses in New Francs because that made them look smaller - but probably not to the Chief Accountant at Headquarters! One ht he so re into the Proe of the Hotel Splendide And there, by God, on the gravel sweep alongside its steps, stood the little white Lancia and, at this reen apron, was carrying two Vuitton suitcases up the steps to the entrance!

So!

James Bond slid his car into the agiste, as now taking rich, ss, and went in to the reception-desk The reeted Bond with golden-toothed effusion, while oodBond's arrival, so that the Chef could, in his turn,the news on the teleprinter to Paris

Bond said, 'By the way, Monsieur Maurice Who is the lady who has just driven up in the white Lancia? She is staying here?'

'Yes, indeed, Mon Commandant' Bond received an extra two teeth in the enthusiastic sood friend of the house The father is a very big industrial from the South She is La Comtesse Teresa di Vicenzo Monsieur must surely have read of her in the papers Madame la Comtesse is a lady - how shall I put it?' - the smile became secret, between men - 'a lady, shall we say, who lives life to the full'

'Ah, yes Thank you And how has the season been?'

The ser personally took Bond up in the lift and showed hirey and white Directoire rooms with the deep rose coverlet on the bed that Bond ree of courtesies, James Bond was alone

Bond was faintly disappointed She sounded a bit grand for hiirls, film stars for instance, ere in any way public property He liked private girls, girls he could discover himself and make his own Perhaps, he admitted, there was inverted snobbery in this Perhaps, even less worthily, it was that the faet