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Even more in Bonn。〃
〃The orders to expel arrived after the birds had flown； M interjected。
〃So； now you know they're here in the U。K。 and you want some solid evidence？〃 An unpleasant thought had crept into Bond's mind。
Bill Tanner came over； dragging a chair with him so that he could sit close to Bond。 〃Fact is； we've got wind at an early stage。 We presume they think we don't know about them。 Our brothers at Five have been cooperative for once 〃They're here and active then？〃 Bond tried to remain calm； for it was not like M or Tanner to beat about the bush。
〃You want hard evidence？〃 he asked again。
Tanner took in a deep breath； like a man about to unburden his soul。 〃M wants to mount a dangle；' he said quietly。
〃Tethered goat。 Bait；' M growled。
〃Me？〃 Bond slipped a hand into his breast pocket withdrawing his gunmetal cigarette case。
〃By all means' said M in acknowledgment that Bond might smoke； and he lit one of his H。 Simmons specials； bought in bulk from the old shop in the Burlington Arcade where they were still to he had。
〃Me？〃 Bond repeated。 〃The tethered goat？〃
〃Something like that。〃
〃With respect； sir； that's like talking of a woman being slightly pregnant。 He gave a bleak smile。 〃Either I'm to be the bait； or I'm not。
〃Yes。〃 M cleared his throat； plainly embarrassed by what he was about to suggest。 〃Well 。 。 。 it really came to us because of your your little windfall。〃 He stressed the word 〃little'。
〃I don't see what that's got to do with it 。 。 〃Let me put a couple of questions to you。〃 M fiddled with his pipe。 〃How many people know you've er； e into money？〃
〃Obviously those with need…to…know in the Service； sir。
Apart from that only my solicitor； my late uncle's solicitor and myself。 〃Not reported in any newspapers； not bandied about； not public knowledge？〃
〃Certainly not public knowledge； sir。〃 M and Tanner exchanged glances。 〃You have been living at a somewhat extravagant pace； 007；' said M； scowling。
Bond remained silent； waiting for the news to be laid on him。 As he had thought； it was not good。
Tanner took up the conversation。 〃You see； James； there's been some talk。 Gossip。 People notice things and the word around Whitehall is that mander Bond is living a shade dangerously … gambling； the new Bentley； er。 。 。 ladies； money changing hands 〃So？〃 Bond was not going to make it any easier for them。
〃So； even our gallant allies in Grosvenor Square have been over asking questions … they do； when a senior officer suddenly changes his habits。〃
〃The Americans think I'm a security risk？〃 Bond bridled。
〃Damned cheek。〃 M rapped on the desk。 〃Enough of that； 007。 They have every right to ask。 You have been acting the playboy recently； and that kind of thing always makes them suspicious。〃
〃And if they get touchy； then there's no knowing what thoughts are running through the minds of those watching from Kensington Gardens；' said Tanner with a forced smile。
〃Rubbish；' Bond almost spat。 〃They know me too well。
They'll ferret out the legacy in no time … if they're interested。
〃Oh； they're interested all right；' Tanner continued。
〃You haven't noticed anything？〃 Bond's brow creased as he shook his head。
〃No？ Well； why should you？ They've been very discreet。 Not a twenty…four…hour surveillance or anything like that； but our people on the street have reported that you're under observation。 Odd days； occasional nights； questions in unlikely places。
Bond swore silently。 He felt foolish。 Even at home； behave as though you 〃re in the field； they taught。 Elementary； and he had not even noticed。 〃Where's this leading； then？〃 he asked； dreading the answer。
〃To the dangle。〃 Tanner gave a half…smile。 〃To a small charade； with you as the central character； James。〃 Bond nodded。 〃Like I said； I'm going to be the bait。
〃It seems reasonable enough。〃 M turned his attention to his pipe。
〃The situation is ideal 。 。
This time Bond did explode； voicing his feelings with some force。
It was the most stupid ploy he had ever heard of。 No recruiting officer from any foreign agency would seriously consider him … and； if any did； their masters would put a blight on it in ten seconds flat。
〃You're not really serious about this； are you？〃 he ended lamely。
〃Absolutely； 007。 1 agree； on the face of it they'll steer clear of you。 But we have to look at the facts … they are more than interested already 。
〃Never in a thousand years 。 。 。 Bond started again。
〃We've already formulated the plan； 007； and we're proceeding with it。 Do I have to remind you that you're under my orders？〃 There were no options； and Bond； feeling the whole business was sheer madness； could only sit and listen to the dialogue as M and Tanner outlined the bare bones of the scheme； like a pair of theatrical directors explaining motivation to a rather dull actor。
〃At an appropriate moment we haul you in； said M with a sour smile。
〃Enquiry in camera； counterpointed Bill Tanner。
〃Making certain the Press are tipped off。〃
〃Questions in the House。〃
〃Hints of scandal。 Corruption in the Service。
〃And you resign。〃
〃Giving the impression that； in reality； we've cast you into outer darkness。 And if that doesn't lure the ambulance chasers； then there's something else in the wind。
Wait and do as I say； 007。〃 And so it had happened … though not because of the ambulance chasers； as they had told him。 Rumours ran along the corridors of power； there was gossip in the clubs； tattle in the powder rooms of government departments； hints to the Press； hints by the Press； even questions in the House of mons； and finally the resignation of mander James Bond。
IN THE MONTH before the Kruxator robbery Bond himself had been following a hedonistic routine。 He stayed in bed until noon and ventured forth only in the evenings； to restaurants； clubs and gaming houses； usually with a pretty girl in tow。 Since the Paymaster General's lamentable performance in the House； attempting to make light of certain scandals associated with one of the Foreign Office's field operators and to dismiss Opposition charges of a security cover…up； the Press had； perhaps surprisingly； hardly approached Bond again。 He had no contact at all with his former employers。 In fact； they went out of their way to avoid him。 One evening he found himself at the Inn on the Park seated only two tables from Anne Reilly； the attractive and talented assistant to the Armourer in Q Branch。 Bond caught her eye and smiled but she merely looked through him as though he did not exist。
Then； towards the end of April； around noon one mild； bright Thursday； the telephone rang in Bond's flat。
Bond； who had been shaving； grabbed at the handset； as though he would have liked to strangle the trilling。
〃Yes？〃 he growled。
〃Oh！〃 The voice was female； and surprised。 〃Is that 59
Dean Street？ The Record Shop？〃
〃It's not 59 anything。〃 Bond did not even smile。
〃But I'm sure I dialled 734 8777 。
〃Well； you didn't get it。〃 He slammed the receiver back； irritated by what appeared to be a misrouted call。
Later in the afternoon； he telephoned his date； a favourite blon