第26部分(第4/7 頁)

y　as　I　could。〃

〃Why　lie　about　it　to　the　police？〃　asked　Katherine。

〃Because　I'm　not　a　plete　fool。　I've　realized　from　the　beginning　that；　from　the　point　of　view　of　motive；　I'm　the　ideal　murderer。　If　I　once　admitted　that　I　had　been　in　her　partment　just　before　she　was　murdered；　I'd　do　for　myself　once　and　for　all。〃

〃I　see。〃

Did　she　see？　She　could　not　have　told　herself。　She　was　feeling　the　magic　attraction　of　Derek's　personality；　but　there　was　something　in　her　that　resisted；　that　held　back。。。

〃Katherine　…〃

〃Yes？〃

〃You　know　that　I　care　for　you。　Do　…　do　you　care　for　me？〃

〃I　…　I　don't　know。〃

Weakness　there。　Either　she　knew　or　she　did　not　know。

If　…　if　only　…

She　cast　a　look　round　desperately　as　though　seeking　something　that　would　help　her。　A　soft　colour　rose　in　her　cheeks　as　a　tall　fair　man　with　a　limp　came　hurrying　along　the　path　towards　them　…　Major　Knighton。

There　was　relief　and　an　unexpected　warmth　in　her　voice　as　she　greeted　him。

Derek　stood　up　scowling；　his　face　black　as　a　thundercloud。

〃Lady　Tamplin　having　a　flutter？〃　he　said　easily。　〃I　must　join　her　and　give　her　the　benefit　of　my　system。〃

He　swung　round　on　his　heel　and　left　them　together。　Katherine　sat　down　again。　Her　heart　was　beating　rapidly　and　unevenly；　but　as　she　sat　there　talking　monplaces　to　the　quiet；　rather　shy　man　beside　her；　her　self…mand　came　back。

Then　she　realized　with　a　shock　that　Knighton　also　was　laying　bare　his　heart；　much　as　Derek　had　done；　but　in　a　very　different　manner。

He　was　shy　and　stammering。　The　words　came　haltingly　。

〃From　the　first　moment　I　saw　you　…　I　…　I　ought　not　to　have　spoken　so　soon　…　but　Mr　Van　Aldin　may　leave　here　any　day；　and　I　might　not　have　another　chance。　I