第5部分(第1/7 頁)

Van　Aldin　did　not　go　direct　to　Curzon　Street。　He　went　first　to　the　City；　where　he　had　two　interviews　which　added　to　his　satisfaction。　From　there　he　took　the　tube　to　Down　Street。　As　he　was　walking　along　Curzon　Street；　a　figure　came　out　of　No。　160；　and　turned　up　the　street　towards　him；　so　that　they　passed　each　other　on　the　pavement。　For　a　moment；　the　millionaire　had　fancied　it　might　be　Derek　Kettering　himself；　the　height　and　build　were　not　unlike。　But　as　they　came　face　to　face；　he　saw　that　the　man　was　a　stranger　to　him。　At　least　…　no；　not　a　stranger；　his　face　awoke　some　call　of　recognition　in　the　millionaire's　mind；　and　it　was　associated　definitely　with　something　unpleasant。

He　cudgelled　his　brains　in　vain；　but　the　thing　eluded　him。　He　went　on；　shaking　his　head　irritably。　He　hated　to　be　baffled。

Ruth　Kettering　was　clearly　expecting　him。　She　ran　to　him　and　kissed　him　when　he　entered。

〃Well；　Dad；　how　are　things　going？〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃but　I　have　got　a　word　or　two　to　say　to　you；　Ruth。〃

Almost　insensibly　he　felt　the　change　in　her；　something　shrewd　and　watchful　replaced　the　impulsiveness　of　her　greeting。　She　sat　down　in　a　big　armchair。

〃Well；　Dad？〃　she　asked。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃I　saw　your　husband　this　morning；〃　said　Van　Aldin。

〃You　saw　Derek？〃

〃I　did。　He　said　a　lot　of　things；　most　of　which　were　darned　cheek。　Just　as　he　was　leaving；　he　said　something　that　I　didn't　understand。　He　advised　me　to　be　sure　that　there　was　perfect　frankness　between　father　and　daughter。　What　did　he　mean　by　that；　Ruthie？〃

Mrs　Kettering　moved　a　little　in　her　chair。

〃I　…　I　don't　know；　Dad。　How　should　I？〃

〃Of　course　you　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　said　something　else；　about　his　having　his　friends　and　not　interfe