86
He checked the time. He had an hour to kill. He
decided to use it to go through the events so far.
The facts as he saw them were that a Dr Goldnojaws,
obviously a false name, a man who kept himself to himself, had recently
returned to Stockport, his home town. Once there, and in a very short time, he
had bought a shoe factory, a casino, the local football club and the Air Raid
Shelters. These were the businesses Bond knew about. There could be more. But
what was wrong with that? He was buying property, something that business
entrepreneurs do all the time. And what a man does with his money is his own
business, even though, as it appeared, the money was ill-gotten. And if that
was what was meant by Goldnojaws’ dominating Stockport there was nothing
to be done about it and even less to worry about. Unless he wanted to dominate
Stockport for some other reason? Unless he had a hidden, sinister agenda. Bond
thought some more but nothing came up. But it would eventually, he was
sure.
He checked his appearance in the mirror. His hair wasn’t quite perfect so he re-combed it and
dressed it with the hairspray especially made for him by Bartlett’s of Bristol. Then he added
to his top pocket one of the monogrammed silk handkerchiefs especially made for him by James
of Knightsbridge. Finally he charged his wallet with a three pack of the condoms especially
made for him by the London Rubber Company then set out for his dinner date with Mrs and Gloria
Snockers.
