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第5部分（第1页）

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　millionaires　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　didnt　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　dont　know；　Dad。　How　should　I？〃

〃Of　course　you　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　said　something　else；　about　his　having　his　friends　and　not　interfering　with　yours。　What　did　he　mean　by　that？〃

〃I　dont　know；〃　said　Ruth　Kettering　again。

Van　Aldin　sat　down。　His　mouth　set　itself　in　a　grim　line。

〃See　here；　Ruth。　I　am　not　going　into　this　with　my　eyes　closed。　I　am　not　at　all　sure　that　that　husband　of　yours　doesnt　mean　to　make　trouble。　Now；　he　cant　do　it；　I　am　sure　of　that。　I　have　got　the　means　to　silence　him；　to　shut　his　mouth　for　good　and　all；　but　I　have　got　to　know　if　theres　any　need　to　use　those　means。　What　did　he　mean　by　your　having　your　own　friends？〃

Mrs　Kettering　shrugged　her　shoulders。

〃I　have　got　lots　of　friends；〃　she　said　uncertainly。　〃I　dont　know　what　he　meant；　I　am　sure。〃

〃You　do；〃　said　Van　Aldin。

He　was　speaking　now　as　he　might　have　spoken　to　a　business　adversary。

〃I　will　put　it　plainer。　Who　is　the　man？〃

〃What　man？〃

〃The　man。　Thats　what　Derek　was　driving　at。　Some　special　man　who　is　a　friend　of　yours。　You　neednt　worry；　honey；　I　know　there　is　nothing　in　it；　but　we　have　got　to　look　at　everything　as　it　might　appear　to　the　Court。　They　can　twist　these　things　about　a　good　deal；　you　know。　I　want　to　know　who　the　man　is；　and　just　how　friendly　you　have　been　with　him。〃

Ruth　didnt　answer。　Her　hands　were　kneading　themselves　together　in　intense　nervous　absorption。

〃e；　honey；〃　said　Van　Aldin　in　a　softer　voice。　〃Dont　be　afraid　of　your　old　Dad。　I　was　not　too　harsh；　was　I；　even　that　time　in　Paris？　…　By　gosh！〃

He　stopped；　thunderstruck。

〃Thats　who　it　was；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃I　thought　I　knew　his　face。〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Dad？　I　dont　understand。〃

The　millionaire　strode　across　to　her　and　took　her　firmly　by　the　wrist。

〃See　here；　Ruth；　have　you　been　seeing　that　fellow　again？〃

〃What　fellow？〃

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