Chapter 20, The Nature of Evil; Chapter 21, Vesper Summary

Three days later, Mathis returns to Bond's hotel room. He brings Bond his check. He says there is little trace of the SMERSH man and he is most likely long gone. Bond learns the M the SMERSH man carved in his hand is actually the Russian letter 'SH,' signifying Bond is a spy. Much to Mathis' surprise, Bond tells him he is planning on retiring. He says he likes being alive and does not want to die.

Bond becomes philosophical. He says when he was young it was easy to tell the difference between the bad guys and the good guys, between right and wrong, now it is difficult. Bond thinks of the two people he was forced to kill in the past. He says he was awarded his '...