第3部分(第1/7 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　Kettering's　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　doesn't　know　about　these；　they　are　my　little　surprise　for　her。〃

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

〃It's　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　isn't。　I　can　hang　these　things　round　her　neck　and　give　her　a　moment　or　two's　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　isn't　too　good　for　anything！　I've　been　telephoning　Major　Knighton　all　day　to　try　and　get　hold　of　you；　but　he　couldn't　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　bee