Chapter 20, Men Pantoufles Summary

Bond sleeps on the plane and has an anxiety dream about getting married. He dreams that he and Tracy, in evening dress, arrive at an elegant, ritzy party. Tracy is excited and happy while Bond is miserable. He is on display, like a prize. When he wakes, he reassures himself that life with Tracy will not be like his nightmare.

When Bond arrives in London, Mary Goodnight is waiting for him, even though it's Christmas day. She teases him about his uncouth appearance and explain that M, the Secret Service science expert, and a man from Agriculture and Fisheries will meet with Bond at M's house. Bond cleans up, dictates a report to Mary Goodnight, and prepares himself for the meeting.

At M's house, Bond finds M engaging in his hobby of painting watercolors of orchids. M reviews Bond's...