第6部分(第1/7 頁)

She　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　then　became　practical　once　more。

〃You　don't　understand　these　things；　Dereek；　you　are　only　a　man。　Van　Aldin　will　give　these　rubies　to　his　daughter；　I　suppose。　Is　she　his　only　child？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　when　he　dies；　she　will　inherit　all　his　money。　She　will　be　a　rich　woman。〃

〃She　is　a　rich　woman　already；〃　said　Kettering　drily。　〃He　settled　a　couple　of　millions　on　her　at　her　marriage。〃

〃A　couple　of　millions！　But　that　is　immense。　And　if　she　died　suddenly；　eh？　That　would　all　e　to　you？〃

〃As　things　stand　at　present；〃　said　Kettering　slowly；　〃it　would。　As　far　as　I　know　she　has　not　made　a　will。〃

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　said　the　dancer。　〃If　she　were　to　die；　what　a　solution　that　would　be。〃

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　and　then　Derek　Kettering　laughed　outright。

〃I　like　your　simple；　practical　mind；　Mirelle；　but　I　am　afraid　what　you　desire　won't　e　to　pass。　My　wife　is　an　extremely　healthy　person。〃

〃Eh；　bien！〃　said　Mirelle；　〃there　are　accidents。〃

He　looked　at　her　sharply　but　did　not　answer。

She　went　on。

〃But　you　are　right；　mon　ami；　we　must　not　dwell　on　possibilities。　See　now；　my　little　Dereek；　there　must　be　no　more　talk　of　this　divorce。　Your　wife　must　give　up　the　idea。〃

〃And　if　she　won't？〃

The　dancer's　eyes　widened　to　slits。

〃I　think　she　will；　my　friend。　She　is　one　of　those　who　would　not　like　the　publicity。　There　are　one　or　two　pretty　stories　that　she　would　not　like　her　friends　to　read　in　the　newspapers。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Kettering　sharply。

Mirelle　laughed；　her　head　thrown　back。

〃Parbleu！　I　mean　the　gentleman　who　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche。　I　know　all　about　him。　I　am　Parisienne；　you　remember。　He　was　her　lover　before　she　married　y