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The tall back of the chair looked impassively out across the dead body in its arms。
There was a faint movement behind Bond。 A hand came from behind and grasped his chin and pulled it back。
For a moment Bond looked up into two glittering eyes behind a narrow black mask。 There was the impression of a crag…like face under a hat…brim； the collar of a fawn mackintosh。 He could take in nothing more before his head was pushed down again。
'You are fortunate；' said the voice。 'I have no orders to kill you。 Your life has been saved twice in one day。 But you can tell your organization that SMERSH is only merciful by chance or by mistake。 In your case you were saved first by chance and now by mistake； for I should have had orders to kill any foreign spies who were hanging round this traitor like flies round a dog's mess。
'But I shall leave you my visiting…card。 You are a gambler。 You play at cards。 One day perhaps you will play against one of us。 It would be well that you should be known as a spy。'
Steps moved round to behind Bond's right shoulder。 There was the click of a knife opening。 An arm in some grey material came into Bond's line of vision。 A broad hairy hand emerging from a dirty white shirt…cuff was holding a thin stiletto like a fountain…pen。 It poised for a moment above the back of Bond's right hand； immovably bound with flex to the arm of the chair。 The point of the stiletto executed three quick straight slashes。 A fourth slash crossed them where they ended； just short of the knuckles。 Blood in the shape of an inverted 'M' welled out and slowly started to drip on to the floor。
The pain was nothing to what Bond was already suffering； but it was enough to plunge him again into unconsciousness。
The steps moved quietly away across the room。 The door was softly closed。
In the silence； the cheerful small sounds of the summer's day crept through the closed window。 High on the left…hand wall hung two small patches of pink light。 They were reflections cast upwards from the floor by the zebra stripes of June sunshine； cast upwards from two separate pools of blood a few feet apart。
As the day progressed the pink patches marched slowly along the wall。 And slowly they grew larger。
CHAPTER 19 … THE WHITE TENT
You are about to awake when you dream that you are dreaming。
During the next two days James Bond was permanently in this state without regaining consciousness。 He watched the procession of his dreams go by without any effort to disturb their sequence； although many of them were terrifying and all were painful。 He knew that he was in a bed and that he was lying on his back and could not move and in one of his twilight moments he thought there were people round him； but he made no effort to open his eyes and re…enter the world。
He felt safer in the darkness and he hugged it to him。
On the morning of the third day a bloody nightmare shook him awake； trembling and sweating。 There was a hand on his forehead which he associated with his dream。 He tried to lift an arm and smash it sideways into the owner of the hand； but his arms were immovable； secured to the sides of his bed。 His whole body was strapped down and something like a large white coffin covered him from chest to feet and obscured his view of the end of the bed。 He shouted a string of obscenities； but the effort took all his strength and the words tailed off into a sob。 Tears of forlornness and self…pity welled out of his eyes。
A woman's voice was speaking and the words gradually penetrated to him。 It seemed to be a kind voice and it slowly came to him that he was being forted and that this was a friend and not an enemy。 He could hardly believe it。 He had been so certain that he was still a captive and that the torture was about to begin again。 He felt his face being softly wiped with a cool cloth which smelt of lavender and then he sank back into his dreams。
When he awoke again some hours later all his terrors had gone and he felt warm and languorous。 Sun was streaming into the bright room and garden sounds came through the window。 In the background there was the noise of small waves on a beach。 As he moved his head he heard a rustle； and a nurse who had been sitting beside his pillow rose and came into his line of vision。 She was pretty and she smiled as she put her hand on his pulse。
'Well； I'm certainly glad you've woken up at last。 I've never heard such dreadful language in my life。'
Bond smiled back at her。
'Where am I？' he asked and was surprised that his voice sounded firm and clear。
'You're in a nursing home at Royale and I've been sent over from England to look after you。 There are two of us and I'm Nurse Gibson。 Now just lie quiet and I'll go and tell the doctor you're awake。 You've been unconscious since they brought you in and we've been quite worried。'
Bond closed his eyes and mentally explored his body。 The worst pain was in his wrists and ankles and in his right hand where the Russian had cut him。 In the centre of the body there was no feeling。 He assumed that he had been given a local anaesthetic。 The rest of his body ached dully as if he had been beaten all over。 He could feel the pressure of bandages everywhere and his unshaven neck and chin prickled against the sheets。 From the feel of the bristles he knew that he must have been at least three days without shaving。 That meant two since the morning of the torture。
He was preparing a short list of questions in his mind when the door opened and the doctor came in followed by the nurse and in the background the dear figure of Mathis； a Mathis looking anxious behind his broad smile； who put a finger to his lips and walked on tiptoe to the window and sat down。
The doctor； a Frenchman with a young and intelligent face； had been detached from his duties with the Deuxième Bureau to look after Bond's case。 He came and stood beside Bond and put his hand on Bond's forehead while he looked at the temperature chart behind the bed。
When he spoke he was forthright。
'You have a lot of questions to ask； my dear Mr Bond；' he said in excellent English； 'and I can tell you most of the answers。 I do not want you to waste your strength； so I will give you the salient facts and then you may have a few minutes with Monsieur Mathis who wishes to obtain one or two details from you。 It is really too early for this talk； but I wish to set your mind at rest so that we can proceed with the task of repairing your body without bothering too much about your mind。'
Nurse Gibson pulled up a chair for the doctor and left the room。
'You have been here about two days；' continued the doctor。 'Your car was found by a farmer on the way to market in Royale and he informed the police。 After some delay Monsieur Mathis heard that it was your car and he immediately went to Les Noctambules with his men。 You and Le Chiffre were found and also your friend； Miss Lynd； who was unharmed and according to her account suffered no molestation。 She was prostrated with shock； but is now fully recovered and is at her hotel。 She has been instructed by her superiors in London to stay at Royale under your orders until you are sufficiently recovered to go back to England。
'Le Chiffre