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nd black homburg came forward behind the missionaire。 On the sidewalk； Halloran introduced him。
'Mr。 Bond； meet Captain Dexter。' He was deferential。 'Can I pass him along to you now； Captain？'
'Sure； sure。 Just have his bags sent up。 Room 2100。 Top floor。 I'll go ahead with Mr。 Bond and see he has everything he wants。'
Bond turned to say good…bye to Halloran and thank him。 For a moment Halloran had his back to him as he said something about Bond's luggage to the missionaire。
Bond looked past him across 55th Street。 His eyes narrowed。 A black sedan； a Chevrolet； was pulling sharply out into the thick traffic； right in front of a Checker cab that braked hard； its driver banging his fist down on the horn and holding it there。 The sedan kept going； just caught the tail of the green light； and disappeared north up Fifth Avenue。
It was a smart； decisive bit of driving； but what startled Bond was that it had been a negress at the wheel； a fine…looking negress in a black chauffeur's uniform； and through the rear window he had caught a glimpse of the single passenger … a huge grey…black face which had turned slowly towards him and looked directly back at him； Bond was sure of it； as the car accelerated towards the Avenue。
Bond shook Halloran by the hand。 Dexter touched his elbow impatiently。
'We'll go straight in and through the lobby to the elevators。 Half…right across the lobby。 And would you please keep your hat on； Mr。 Bond。'
As Bond followed Dexter up the steps into the hotel he reflected that it was almost certainly too late for these precautions。 Hardly anywhere in the world will you find a negress driving a car。 A negress acting as a chauffeur is still more extraordinary。 Barely conceivable even in Harlem； but that was certainly where the car was from。
And the giant shape in the back seat？ That grey…black face？ Mister Big？
'Hm；' said Bond to himself as he followed the slim back of Captain Dexter into the elevator。
The elevator slowed up for the twenty…first floor。
'We've got a little surprise ready for you； Mr。 Bond；' said Captain Dexter； without； Bond thought； much enthusiasm。
They walked down the corridor to the corner room。
The wind sighed outside the passage windows and Bond had a fleeting view of the tops of other skyscrapers and； beyond； the stark fingers of the trees in Central Park。 He felt far out of touch with the ground and for a moment a strange feeling of loneliness and empty space gripped his heart。
Dexter unlocked the door of No。 2100 and shut it behind them。 They were in a small lighted lobby。 They left their hats and coats on a chair and Dexter opened the door in front of them and held it for Bond to go through。
He walked into an attractive sitting…room decorated in Third Avenue 'Empire' … fortable chairs and a broad sofa in pale yellow silk； a fair copy of an Aubusson on the floor； pale grey walls and ceiling； a bow…fronted French sideboard with bottles and glasses and a plated ice…bucket； a wide window through which the winter sun poured out of a Swiss…clear sky。 The central heating was just bearable。
The municating door with the bedroom opened。
'Arranging the flowers by your bed。 Part of the famous CIA 〃Service With a Smile〃。' The tall thin young man came forward with a wide grin； his hand outstretched； to where Bond stood rooted with astonishment。
'Felix Leiter！ What the hell are you doing here？' Bond grasped the hard hand and shook it warmly。 'And what the hell are you doing in my bedroom； anyway？ God！ it's good to see you。 Why aren't you in Paris？ Don't tell me they've put you on this job？'
Leiter examined the Englishman affectionately。
'You've said it。 That's just exactly what they have done。 What a break！ At least； it is for me。 CIA thought we did all right together on the Casino job1 so they hauled me away from the Joint Intelligence chaps in Paris； put me through the works in Washington and here I am。 I'm sort of liaison between the Central Intelligence Agency and our friends of the FBI。' He waved towards Captain Dexter； who was watching this unprofessional ebullience without enthusiasm。 'It's their case； of course； at least the American end of it is； but as you know there are some big overseas angles which are CIA's territory； so we're running it joint。 Now you're here to handle the Jamaican end for the British and the team's plete。 How does it look to you？ Sit down and let's have a drink。 I ordered lunch directly I got the word you were downstairs and it'll be on its way。' He went over to the sideboard and started mixing a Martini。
'Well； I'm damned；' said Bond。 'Of course that old devil M never told me。 He just gives one the facts。 Never tells one any good news。 I suppose he thinks it might influence one's decision to take a case or not。 Anyway； it's grand。'
Bond suddenly felt the silence of Captain Dexter。 He turned to him。
'I shall be very glad to be under your orders here； Captain；' he said tactfully。 'As I understand it； the case breaks pretty neatly into two halves。 The first half lies wholly on American territory。 Your jurisdiction； of course。 Then it looks as if we shall have to follow it into the Caribbean。 Jamaica。 And I understand I am to take over outside United States territorial waters。 Felix here will marry up the two halves so far as your government is concerned。 I shall report to London through CIA while I'm here； and direct to London； keeping CIA informed； when I move to the Caribbean。 Is that how you see it？'
Dexter smiled thinly。 'That's just about it； Mr。 Bond。 Mr。 Hoover instructs me to say that he's very pleased to have you along。 As our guest；' he added。 'Naturally we are not in any way concerned with the British end of the case and we're very happy that CIA will be handling that with you and your people in London。 Guess everything should go fine。 Here's luck；' and he lifted the cocktail Leiter had put into his hand。
They drank the cold hard drink appreciatively； Leiter with a faintly quizzical expression on his hawk…like face。
There was a knock on the door。 Leiter opened it to let in the bellboy with Bond's suitcases。 He was followed by two waiters pushing trolleys loaded with covered dishes； cutlery and snow…white linen； which they proceeded to lay out on a folding table。
'Soft…shell crabs with tartare sauce； flat beef Hamburgers； medium…rare； from the charcoal grill； french…fried potatoes； broccoli； mixed salad with thousand…island dressing； icecream with melted butterscotch and as good a Liebfraumilch as you can get in America。 Okay？'
〃It sounds fine；' said Bond with a mental reservation about the melted butterscotch。
They sat down and ate steadily through each delicious course of American cooking at its rare best。
They said little； and it was only when the coffee had been brought and the table cleared away that Captain Dexter took the fifty…cent cigar from his mouth and cleared his throat decisively。
'Mr。 Bond；' he said； 'now perhaps you would tell us what you know about this case。'
Bond slit open a fresh pack of King Size Chesterfields with his thumb…nail and； as he settled back in his fortable chair in the warm luxurious room； his mind went back two weeks to the bitter raw da