Casino Royale. Казино “Руаяль”. Книга для чтения на английском языке. Ян Флеминг

were cool and direct and quizzical.

      “Should be all right. He won a bit of a victory at the FO this morning and he’s not got anyone for the next half an hour.” She smiled encouragingly at Head of S whom she liked for himself and for the importance of his section.

      “Well, here’s the dope, Bill.” He handed over the black folder with the red star which stood for Top Secret. “And for God’s sake look enthusiastic when you give it him. And tell him I’ll wait here and read a good code-book while he’s considering it. He may want some more details, and anyway I want to see you two don’t pester him with anything else until he’s finished.”

      “All right, sir.” The Chief of Staff pressed a switch leant towards the intercom on his desk.

      “Yes?” asked a quiet, flat voice.

      “Head of S has an urgent docket for you, sir.”

      There was a pause.

      “Bring it in,” said a voice.

      The Chief of Staff released the switch and stood up.

      “Thanks, Bill. I’ll be next door,” said Head of S.

      The Chief of Staff crossed his office and went through the double doors leading into M’s room. In a moment he came out and over the entrance a small blue light burned the warning that M was not to be disturbed.

⁂

      Later, a triumphant Head of S said to his Number Two: “We nearly cooked ourselves with that last paragraph. He said it was subversion and blackmail. He got pretty sharp about it. Anyway, he approves. Says the idea’s crazy, but worth trying if the Treasury will play and he thinks they will. He’s going to tell them it’s a better gamble than the money we’re putting into deserting Russian colonels who turn double after a few months’ ‘asylum’ here. And he’s longing to get at Le Chiffre, and anyway he’s got the right man and wants to try him out on the job.”