天锡小说网

第9部分（第1页）

The　tone　of　the　demands　was　still　polite。

Derek　knew　how　soon　that　polite　tone　would　change　if　…　if　certain　news　became　public　property。

He　flung　himself　moodily　into　a　large　leather…covered　chair。　A　damned　hole　…　that　was　what　he　was　in。　Yes；　a　damned　hole！

And　ways　of　getting　out　of　that　damned　hole　were　not　too　promising。

Pavett　appeared　with　a　discreet　cough。

〃A　gentleman　to　see　you　…　sir　…　Major　Knighton。〃

〃Knighton；　eh？〃

Derek　sat　up；　frowned；　became　suddenly　alert。　He　said　in　a　softer　tone；　almost　to　himself：

〃Knighton　…　I　wonder　what　is　in　the　wind　now？〃

〃Shall　I　…　er　…　show　him　in；　sir？〃

His　master　nodded。　When　Knighton　entered　the　room　he　found　a　charming　and　genial　host　awaiting　him。

〃Very　good　of　you　to　look　me　up；〃　said　Derek。

Knighton　was　nervous。

The　others　keen　eyes　noticed　that　at　once。

The　errand　on　which　the　secretary　had　e　was　clearly　distasteful　to　him。　He　replied　almost　mechanically　to　Dereks　easy　flow　of　conversation。　He　declined　a　drink；　and；　if　anything；　his　manner　became　stiffer　than　before。

Derek　appeared　at　last　to　notice　it。

〃Well；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃what　does　my　esteemed　father…in…law　want　with　me？　You　have　e　on　his　business；　I　take　it？〃

Knighton　did　not　smile　in　reply。

〃I　have；　yes；〃　he　said　carefully。　〃I　…　I　wish　Mr　Van　Aldin　had　chosen　someone　else。〃

Derek　raised　his　eyebrows　in　mock　dismay。

〃Is　it　as　bad　as　all　that？　I　am　not　very　thin　skinned；　I　can　assure　you；　Knighton。〃

〃No；〃　said　Knighton；　〃but　this　…〃

He　paused。

Derek　eyed　him　keenly。

〃Go　on；　out　with　it；〃　he　said　kindly。　〃I　can　imagine　my　dear　father…in…laws　errands　might　not　always　be　pleasant　ones。〃

Knighton　cleared　his　throat。　He　spoke　formally　in　tones　that　he　strove　to　render　free　of　embarrassment。

〃I　am　directed　by　Mr　Van　Aldin　to　make　you　a　definite　offer。〃

〃An　offer？〃　For　a　moment　Derek　showed　his　surprise。　Knightons　opening　words　were　clearly　not　what　he　had　expected。　He　offered　a　cigarette　to　Knighton；　lit　one　himself；　and　sank　back　in　his　chair；　murmuring　in　a　slightly　sardonic　voice：

〃An　offer？　That　sounds　rather　interesting。〃

〃Shall　I　go　on？〃

〃Please。　You　must　forgive　my　surprise；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　my　dear　father…in…law　has　rather　climbed　down　since　our　chat　this　morning。　And　climbing　down　is　not　what　one　associates　with　strong　men。　Napoleons　of　finance；　etc。　It　shows　…　I　think　it　shows　that　he　finds　his　position　weaker　than　he　thought　it。〃