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eting was still peaceful he straightened himself and waited。 Goldfinger said； 'You will have many questions to ask； Mr Bond。 They will all be answered this afternoon。 Beginning at two…thirty。 It is now exactly twelve o'clock。' Bond glanced at his watch and adjusted it。 'You and Miss Masterton will attend the meeting at which the proposition will be put to the heads of the six organizations I have mentioned。 No doubt these people will ask the same questions as occur to you。 Everything will be explained。 Afterwards you will settle down to detailed work with Miss Masterton。 Ask for what you want。 Oddjob will see to your welfare and also be on permanent guard。 Do not be obstreperous or you will in stantly be killed。 And do not waste time trying to escape or to contact the outside world。 I have hired your services and I shall require every ounce of them。 Is that a bargain？'
Bond said drily； 'I've always wanted to be a millionaire。'
Goldfinger didn't look at him。 He looked at his fingernails。 Then he gave Bond one last hard glance and went out and shut the door behind him。
Bond sat and gazed at the closed door。 He brusquely ran both hands through his hair and down over his face。 He said 'Well； well' aloud to the empty room； got up and walked through the bathroom to the girl's bedroom。 He knocked on the door。
'Who is it？'
'Me。 Are you visible？'
'Yes。' The voice was unenthusiastic。 'e in。'
She was sitting on the edge of the bed； pulling on a shoe。 She was wearing the things Bond had first seen her in。 She looked cool and collected and unsurprised by her surroundings。 She looked up at Bond。 Her eyes were aloof； disdainful。 She said coldly； precisely； 'You've got us into this。 Get us out。'
Bond said amiably； 'I may be able to。 I got us out of our graves。'
'After getting us into them。'
Bond looked thoughtfully at the girl。 He decided it would be ungallant to spank her； so to speak； on an empty stomach。 He said； 'This won't get us anywhere。 We're in this together； whether we like it or not。 What do you want for breakfast or lunch？ It's a quarter past twelve。 I've eaten。 I'll order yours and then e back and tell you the score。 There's only one way out of here and Oddjob； that Korean ape； is guarding it。 Now then； breakfast or lunch？'
She unbent an inch。 'Thank you。 Scrambled eggs and coffee； please。 And toast and marmalade。'
'Cigarettes？'
'No； thank you。 I don't smoke。'
Bond went back to his room and knocked on the door。 It opened an inch。
Bond said； 'All right； Oddjob。 I'm not going to kill you yet。'
The door opened farther。 Oddjob's face was impassive。 Bond gave the order。 The door closed。 Bond poured himself a bourbon and soda。 He sat on the edge of the bed and wondered how he was going to get the girl on his side。 From the beginning she had resented him。 Was that only because of her sister？ Why had Goldfinger made that cryptic remark about her 'inclinations'？ What was there about her that he himself felt … something withdrawn； inimical。 She was beautiful … physically desirable。 But there was a cold； hard centre to her that Bond couldn't understand or define。 Oh well； the main thing was to get her to go along。 Otherwise life in prison would be intolerable。
Bond went back into her room。 He left both doors open so that he could hear。 She was still sitting on the bed wrapped in a coiled immobility。 She watched Bond carefully。 Bond leaned against the jamb of the door。 He took a long pull at his whisky。 He said； looking her in the eye； 'You'd better know that I'm from Scotland Yard' … the euphemism would serve。 'We're after this man Goldfinger。 He doesn't mind。 He thinks no one can find us for at least a week。 He's probably right。 He saved our lives because he wants us to work for him on a crime。 It's big business。 Pretty scatter…brained。 But there's a lot of planning and paperwork。 We've got to look after that side。 Can you do shorthand and typing？'
'Yes。' Her eyes were alight。 'What's the crime？'
Bond told her。 He said； 'Of course it all sounds ridiculous and I daresay a few questions and answers will show these gangsters； if they don't show Goldfinger； that the whole thing's impossible。 But I don't know。 Goldfinger's an extraordinary man。 From what I know about him； he never moves unless the odds are right。 And I don't think he's mad … at least not madder than other kinds of geniuses … scientists and so on。 And there's no doubt he's a genius in his particular field。'
'So what are you going to do about it？'
Bond lowered his voice。 He said； 'What are we going to do about it； you mean。 We are going to play along。 And to the hilt。 No shirking and no funny business。 We're going to be greedy for the money and we're going to give him absolutely top…notch service。 Apart from saving our lives； which mean less than nothing to him； it's the only hope we； or rather I because that's my line of country； can have of a chance to queer his pitch。'
〃How are you going to do that？〃
'I haven't the faintest idea。 Something may turn up。'
'And you expect me to go along with you？'
'Why not？ Any other suggestions？'
She pursed her lips obstinately。 'Why should I do what you say？'
Bond sighed。 'There's no point in being a suffragette about this。 It's either that or get yourself killed after breakfast。 It's up to you。'
The mouth turned down with distaste。 She shrugged her shoulders。 She said ungraciously； 'Oh； all right then。' Suddenly her eyes flared。 'Only don't ever touch me or I shall kill you。'
There came the click of Bond's bedroom door。 Bond looked mildly down at Tilly Masterton。 'The challenge is attractive。 But don't worry。 I won't take it up。' He turned and strolled out of the room。
One of the Koreans passed him carrying the girl's breakfast。 In his room another Korean had brought in a typist's desk and chair and a Remington portable。 He arranged them in the corner away from the bed。 Oddjob was standing in the doorway。 He held out a sheet of paper。 Bond went up to him and took it。
It was a foolscap memo sheet。 The writing； with a ball point； was neat； careful； legible； undistinguished。 It said：
Prepare ten copies of this agenda。
Meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr Gold
Secretaries： J。 Bond
Miss Tilly Masterton
Present
Helmut M。 Springer The Purple Gang。 Detroit
Jed Midnight Shadow Syndicate。 Miami and Havana
Billy （The Grinner） Ring The Machine。 Chicago Jack Strap The Spangled Mob。 Las Vegas
Mr Solo Unione Siciliano
Miss Pussy Galore The Cement Mixers。 Har lem。 New York City Agenda
A project with the code name OPERATION GRAND SLAM。
（Refreshments。）
At the end of this was written； 'You and Miss Masterton will be fetched at 2。20。 Both will be prepared to take notes。 Formal dress； please。5
Bond smiled。 The Koreans left the room。 He sat down at the desk； slipped paper and carbons into the typewriter and set to。 At least he would show the girl that he was prepared to do his stint。 Gosh； what a crew！ Even the Mafia had e in。 How had Goldfinger persu