天锡小说网

第25部分（第2页）

〃You　would　like　my　answer　now？〃

〃If　you　please；　Monsieur。〃

〃Then　here　it　is。　You　can　go　to　the　devil。　See？〃

Leaving　the　te　too　astonished　to　speak；　Derek　turned　on　his　heel　and　swung　out　of　the　room。

Once　out　of　the　hotel　he　hailed　a　taxi　and　drove　to　Mirelles　hotel。　On　inquiring；　he　learned　that　the　dancer　had　just　e　in。　Derek　gave　the　concierge　his　card。

〃Take　this　up　to　Mademoiselle　and　ask　if　she　will　see　me。〃

A　very　brief　interval　elapsed；　and　then　Derek　was　bidden　to　follow　a　chasseur。

A　wave　of　exotic　perfume　assailed　Dereks　nostrils　as　he　stepped　over　the　threshold　of　the　dancers　apartments。　The　room　was　filled　with　carnations；　orchids；　and　mimosa。　Mirelle　was　standing　by　the　window　in　a　peignoir　of　foamy　lace。

She　came　towards　him；　her　hands　outstretched。

〃Derek　…　you　have　e　to　me。　I　knew　you　would。〃

He　put　aside　the　clinging　arms　and　looked　down　on　her　sternly。

〃Why　did　you　send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　me？〃

She　looked　at　him　in　astonishment；　which　he　took　to　be　genuine。

〃I？　Send　the　te　de　la　Roche　to　you？　But　for　what？〃

〃Apparently　…　for　blackmail；〃　said　Derek　grimly。

Again　she　stared。　Then　suddenly　she　smiled　and　nodded　her　head。

〃Of　course。　It　was　to　be　expected。　It　is　what　he　would　do；　ce　type　là。　I　might　have　known　it。　No；　indeed；　Dereek；　I　did　not　send　him。〃

He　looked　at　her　piercingly；　as　though　seeking　to　read　her　mind。

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Mirelle。　〃I　am　ashamed；　but　I　will　tell　you。　The　other　day　you　prehend；　I　ade　an　eloquent　gesture。　〃My　temperament；　it　is　not　a　patient　one。　I　want　to　be　revenged　on　you；　and　so　I　go　to　the　te　de　la　Roche；　and　I　tell　him　to　go　to　the　police　and　say　so　and　so；　and　so　and　so。　But　have　no　fear；　Dereek。　Not　pletely　did　I　lose　my　head；　the　proof　rests　with　me　alone。　The　police　can　do　nothing　without　my　word；　you　understand？　And　now　…　now？〃

She　nestled　up　close　to　him；　looking　up　at　him　with　melting　eyes。

He　thrust　her　roughly　away　from　him。　She　stood　there；　her　breast　heaving；　her　eyes　narrowing　to　a　catlike　slit。

〃Be　careful；　Dereek；　be　very　careful。　You　have　e　back　to　me；　have　you　not？〃

〃I　shall　never　e　back　to　you；〃　said　Derek　steadily。

〃Ah！〃

More　than　ever　the　dancer　looked　like　a　cat。　Her　eyelids　flickered。

〃So　there　is　another　woman？　The　one　with　whom　you　lunched　that　day。　Eh；　am　I　right？〃

〃I　intend　to　ask　that　lady　to　marry　me。　You　might　as　well　know。〃

〃That　prim　Englishwoman！　Do　you　think　that　I　will　support　that　for　one　moment？　Ah；　no。〃　Her　beautiful　lithe　body　quivered。

〃Listen；　Dereek；　do　you　remember　that　conversation　we　had　in　London？　You　said　the　only　thing　that　could　save　you　was　the　death　of　your　wife。　You　regretted　that　she　was　so　healthy。　Then　the　idea　of　an　accident　came　to　your　brain。　And　more　than　an　accident。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Derek　contemptuously；　〃that　it　was　this　conversation　that　you　repeated　to　the　te　de　la　Roche。〃

Mirelle　laughed。

〃Am　I　a　fool？　Could　the　police　do　anything　with　a　vague　story　like　that？　See　…　I　will　give　you　a　last　chance。　You　shall　give　up　this　Englishwoman。　You　shall　return　to　me。　And　then；　cheri；　never；　never　will　I　breathe　…〃

〃Breathe　what？〃

She　laughed　softly。　〃You　thought　no　one　saw　you　…〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃As　I　say；　you　thought　no　one　saw　you　…　but　I　saw　you；　Dereek；　mon　ami；　I　saw　you　ing　out　of　the　partment　of　Madame　your　wife　just　before　the　train　got　into　Lyons　that　night。　And　I　know　more　than　that。　I　know　that　when　you　came　out　of　her　partment　she　was　dead。〃

He　stared　at　her。　Then；　like　a　man　in　a　dream　he　turned　very　slowly　and　went　out　of　the　room；　swaying　slightly　as　he　walked。