Neuf a la Banc!

It was a beautiful June night at the Casino Lisboa, with temperatives in the lower 70's. There was a chance of rain later in the evening as an occluded front moved across the area, but right then it was only partially overcast. A southerly breeze brought the sweet smell of the South China Sea, although at a cost of increased humidity. It had been a particulary wet spring for the area, and the gardens and shrubbery of the casino were looking magnificent.

All this, however, was lost on the occupants of the Aston Martin DB4 Zagato that pulled up to the entrance of the casino. A most glamorous couple emerged from the vehicle. HE was dressed in a Louis Vuitton Single Button Notch Lapel black tuxedo, with top hat. SHE looked pretty good too, in a Gustave Tassell pink silk outfit, with matching wrap and long dress gloves. They were in fine spirits.

"I say, Lady M, if I live to be 100 I'll never have such a daring and exciting adventure as when we escaped from General Tang and his gang of CHICOMS," said Lord Woodpecker-Smythe as he nonchalantly tossed the Aston Martin's keys to the casino valet. Lady Marzipan replied, "That's just what I was thinking, Woody. I thought we were goners for sure, but your plan really saved our bacon. It would make a great story."

As they walked up the Grand Stairway at the entrance to the building W-S was still a bit confused. "I say, Lady M, I'm still a bit confused. Tell me again why we needed to come to this casino?" Lady M bristled, just ever so slightly, "Let me explain it to you AGAIN then. Are you sure you're not drunk? Anyhoo, since the commies destroyed the Q-Device, thereby stranding us in in 1966, we need to find-slash-build a new one. And there's a gentleman here that I believe can help us. His name is Scaramanga, and he deals in high tech villainy in a similar style and nature to myself."

She continued as they entered the Grand Salon, "Our plan is simple. You will use your considerable gambling skills to amass the small fortune we'll need to procure the material for another Q-Device, while I use my even more considerable feminine charms to gain access to Scaramanga's laboratory facilities so we can put the device together."

"Consider it done, my dear," said W-S.

The two then parted company. SHE made a bee-line for Scaramanga, adjusting her decolletage for its most deadly effect. HE headed for the baccarat table, by way of the bar.