Goldfinger, sir.’ Alfred looked discouraging.
‘Oh, Goldfinger. I know the chap. Met him the other day in America.’
‘You did, sir?’ Alfred obviously found it difficult to believe that anyone knew Mr Goldfinger. He watched Bond’s face carefully for any further reaction.
‘Any good?’
‘So-so, sir. Pretty useful off nine.’
‘Must take his game damned seriously if he plays with you every day.’
‘Well, yes, sir.’ The professional’s face had the expression Bond remembered so well. It meant that Blacking had an unfavourable view of a particular member but that he was too good a servant of the club to pass it on.
Bond smiled. He said, ‘You haven’t changed, Alfred. What you mean is that no one else will play with him. Remember Farquharson? Slowest player in England. I remember you going round and round with him twenty years ago. Come on. What’s the matter with Goldfinger?’
The professional laughed. He said, ‘It’s you that hasn’t changed, Mr James. You always were dashed inquisitive.’ He came a step closer and lowered his voice. ‘The truth is, sir, some members think Mr Goldfinger is just a little bit hot. You know, sir. Improves his lie and so forth.’ The professional took the driver he was holding, took up a stance, gazed towards an imaginary hole and banged the head of the club up and down on the floor as if addressing an imaginary ball. ‘Let me see now, is this a brassie lie? What d’you think, caddie?’ Alfred Blacking chuckled. ‘Well, of course, by the time he’s finished hammering the ground behind the ball, the ball’s been raised an inch and it is a brassie lie.’ Alfred Blacking’s face closed up again. He said non-committally, ‘But that’s only gossip, sir. I’ve never seen anything. Quiet-spoken gentleman. He’s got a place at Reculver. Used to come here a lot. But for the last few years he’s only been coming to England for a few weeks at a time. Rings up and asks if anyone’s wanting a game and when there isn’t anyone he books Cecil or me. Rang up this morning and asked if there was anyone about. There’s sometimes a stranger drops in.’ Alfred Blacking looked quizzically at Bond. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t care to take him on this afternoon? It’ll look odd you being here and short of a game. And you knowing him and all. He might think I’d been trying to keep him to myself or something. That wouldn’t do.’
‘Nonsense, Alfred. And you’ve got your living to make. Why don’t we play a three-ball?’
‘He won’t play them, sir. Says they’re too slow. And I agree with him. And don’t you worry about my fee. There’s a lot of work to do in the shop and I’ll be glad of an afternoon to get down to it.’ Alfred Blacking glanced at his watch. ‘He’ll be along any minute now. I’ve got a caddie for you. Remember Hawker?’ Alfred Blacking laughed indulgently. ‘Still the same old Hawker. He’ll be another that’ll be glad to see you down here again.’
Bond said, ‘Well thanks, Alfred. I’d be interested to see how this chap plays. But why not leave it like this? Say I’ve dropped in to get a club made up. Old member. Used to play here before the war. And I need a new number four wood anyway. Your old one has started to give at the seams a bit. Just be casual. Don’t say you’ve told me he’s about. I’ll stay in the shop so it’ll give him a chance to take his choice without offending me. Perhaps he won’t like my face or something. Right?’
‘Very good, Mr James. Leave it to me. That’s his car coming now, sir.’ Blacking pointed through the window. Half a mile away, a bright yellow car was turning off the road and coming up the private drive. ‘Funny looking contraption. Sort of motor car we used to see here when I was a boy.’
Bond watched the old Silver Ghost sweep majestically up the drive towards the club. She was a beauty! The sun glittered off the silver radiator and off the engine-turned aluminium shield
‘Oh, Goldfinger. I know the chap. Met him the other day in America.’
‘You did, sir?’ Alfred obviously found it difficult to believe that anyone knew Mr Goldfinger. He watched Bond’s face carefully for any further reaction.
‘Any good?’
‘So-so, sir. Pretty useful off nine.’
‘Must take his game damned seriously if he plays with you every day.’
‘Well, yes, sir.’ The professional’s face had the expression Bond remembered so well. It meant that Blacking had an unfavourable view of a particular member but that he was too good a servant of the club to pass it on.
Bond smiled. He said, ‘You haven’t changed, Alfred. What you mean is that no one else will play with him. Remember Farquharson? Slowest player in England. I remember you going round and round with him twenty years ago. Come on. What’s the matter with Goldfinger?’
The professional laughed. He said, ‘It’s you that hasn’t changed, Mr James. You always were dashed inquisitive.’ He came a step closer and lowered his voice. ‘The truth is, sir, some members think Mr Goldfinger is just a little bit hot. You know, sir. Improves his lie and so forth.’ The professional took the driver he was holding, took up a stance, gazed towards an imaginary hole and banged the head of the club up and down on the floor as if addressing an imaginary ball. ‘Let me see now, is this a brassie lie? What d’you think, caddie?’ Alfred Blacking chuckled. ‘Well, of course, by the time he’s finished hammering the ground behind the ball, the ball’s been raised an inch and it is a brassie lie.’ Alfred Blacking’s face closed up again. He said non-committally, ‘But that’s only gossip, sir. I’ve never seen anything. Quiet-spoken gentleman. He’s got a place at Reculver. Used to come here a lot. But for the last few years he’s only been coming to England for a few weeks at a time. Rings up and asks if anyone’s wanting a game and when there isn’t anyone he books Cecil or me. Rang up this morning and asked if there was anyone about. There’s sometimes a stranger drops in.’ Alfred Blacking looked quizzically at Bond. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t care to take him on this afternoon? It’ll look odd you being here and short of a game. And you knowing him and all. He might think I’d been trying to keep him to myself or something. That wouldn’t do.’
‘Nonsense, Alfred. And you’ve got your living to make. Why don’t we play a three-ball?’
‘He won’t play them, sir. Says they’re too slow. And I agree with him. And don’t you worry about my fee. There’s a lot of work to do in the shop and I’ll be glad of an afternoon to get down to it.’ Alfred Blacking glanced at his watch. ‘He’ll be along any minute now. I’ve got a caddie for you. Remember Hawker?’ Alfred Blacking laughed indulgently. ‘Still the same old Hawker. He’ll be another that’ll be glad to see you down here again.’
Bond said, ‘Well thanks, Alfred. I’d be interested to see how this chap plays. But why not leave it like this? Say I’ve dropped in to get a club made up. Old member. Used to play here before the war. And I need a new number four wood anyway. Your old one has started to give at the seams a bit. Just be casual. Don’t say you’ve told me he’s about. I’ll stay in the shop so it’ll give him a chance to take his choice without offending me. Perhaps he won’t like my face or something. Right?’
‘Very good, Mr James. Leave it to me. That’s his car coming now, sir.’ Blacking pointed through the window. Half a mile away, a bright yellow car was turning off the road and coming up the private drive. ‘Funny looking contraption. Sort of motor car we used to see here when I was a boy.’
Bond watched the old Silver Ghost sweep majestically up the drive towards the club. She was a beauty! The sun glittered off the silver radiator and off the engine-turned aluminium shield
Similar Books
