天锡小说网

第3部分（第1页）

Van　Aldin　laughed　amusedly。

〃I　guess　so。　You　see；　they　are　my　little　present　for　Ruthie。〃

The　secretary　smiled　discreetly。

〃I　can　understand　now　Mrs　Ketterings　anxiety　over　the　telephone；〃　he　murmured。　But　Van　Aldin　shook　his　head。　The　hard　look　returned　to　his　face。

〃You　are　wrong　there；〃　he　said。　〃She　doesnt　know　about　these；　they　are　my　little　surprise　for　her。〃

He　shut　the　case；　and　began　slowly　to　wrap　it　up　again。

〃Its　a　hard　thing；　Knighton；〃　he　said；　〃how　little　one　can　do　for　those　one　loves。　I　can　buy　a　good　portion　of　the　earth　for　Ruth；　if　it　would　be　any　use　to　her；　but　it　isnt。　I　can　hang　these　things　round　her　neck　and　give　her　a　moment　or　twos　pleasure；　maybe；　but　…〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃When　a　woman　is　not　happy　in　her　home　…〃

He　left　the　sentence　unfinished。　The　secretary　nodded　discreetly。　He　knew；　none　better；　the　reputation　of　the　Hon　Derek　Kettering。　Van　Aldin　sighed。　Slipping　the　parcel　back　in　his　coat　pocket；　he　nodded　to　Knighton　and　left　the　room。

Chapter　4

IN　CURZON　STREET

The　Hon　Mrs　Derek　Kettering　lived　in　Curzon　Street。　The　butler　who　opened　the　door　recognized　Rufus　Van　Aldin　at　once　and　permitted　himself　a　discreet　smile　of　greeting。　He　led　the　way　upstairs　to　the　big　double　drawing…room　on　the　first　floor。

A　woman　who　was　sitting　by　the　window　started　up　with　a　cry。

〃Why；　Dad；　if　that　isnt　too　good　for　anything！　Ive　been　telephoning　Major　Knighton　all　day　to　try　and　get　hold　of　you；　but　he　couldnt　say　for　sure　when　you　were　expected　back。〃

Ruth　Kettering　was　twenty…eight　years　of　age。　Without　being　beautiful；　or　in　the　real　sense　of　the　word　even　pretty；　she　was　striking　looking　because　of　her　colouring。　Van　Aldin　had　been　called　Carrots　and　Ginger　in　his　time；　and　Ruths　hair　was　almost　pure　auburn。　With　it　went　dark　eyes　and　very　black　lashes　…　the　effect　somewhat　enhanced　by　art。　She　was　tall　and　slender；　and　moved　well。　At　a　careless　glance　it　was　the　face　of　a　Raphael　Madonna。　Only　if　one　looked　closely　did　one　perceive　the　same　line　of　jaw　and　chin　as　in　Van　Aldins　face；　bespeaking　the　same　hardness　and　determination。　It　suited　the　man；　but　suited　the　woman　less　well。　From　her　childhood　upward　Ruth　Van　Aldin　had　been　accustomed　to　having　her　own　way；　and　anyone　who　had　ever　stood　up　against　her　soon　realized　that　Rufus　Van　Aldins　daughter　never　gave　in。

〃Knighton　told　me　youd　phoned　him；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃I　only　got　back　from　Paris　half　an　hour　ago。　Whats　all　this　about　Derek？〃

Ruth　Kettering　flushed　angrily。

〃Its　unspeakable。　Its　beyond　all　limits；〃　she　cried。　〃He　…　he　doesnt　seem　to　listen　to　anything　I　say。〃

There　was　bewilderment　as　well　as　anger　in　her　voice。

〃Hell　listen　to　me；〃　said　the　millionaire　grimly。

Ruth　went　on。

〃Ive　hardly　seen　him　for　the　last　month。　He　goes　about　everywhere　with　that　woman。〃

〃With　what　woman？〃

〃Mirelle。　She　dances　at　the　Parthenon；　you　know。〃

Van　Aldin　nodded。

〃I　was　down　at　Leconbury　last　week。　I　…　I　spoke　to　Lord　Leconbury。　He　was　awfully　sweet　to　me；　sympathized　entirely。　He　said　hed　give　Derek　a　good　talking　to。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Van　Aldin。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　Ah！；　Dad？〃

〃Just　what　you　think　I　mean；　Ruthie。　Poor　old　Leconbury　is　a　wash…out。　Of　course　he　sympathized　with　you；　of　course　he　tried　to　soothe　you　down。　Having　got　his　son　and　heir　married　to　the　daughter　of　one　of　the　richest　men　in　the　States；　he　naturally　doesnt　want　to　mess　the　thing　up。　But　hes　got　one　foot　in　the　grave　already；　everyone　knows　that；　and　anything　he　may　say　will　cut　darned　little　ice　with　Derek。〃

〃Cant　you　do　anything；　Dad？〃　urged　Ruth；　after　a　minute　or　two。

〃I　might；〃　said　the　millionaire。　He　waited　a　second　reflectively；　and　then　went　on。

〃There　are　several　things　I　might　do；　but　theres　only　one　that　will　be　any　real　good。　How　much　pluck　have　you　got；　Ruthie？〃

She　stared　at　him。　He　nodded　back　at　her。

〃I　mean　just　what　I　say。　Have　you　got　the　grit　to　admit　to　all　the　world　that　youve　made　a　mistake？　Theres　only　one　way　out　of　this　mess；　Ruthie。　Cut　your　losses　and　start　afresh。〃

〃You　mean　…〃

〃Divorce。〃

〃Divorce！〃

Van　Aldin　smiled　drily。