第4部分(第1/7 页)

ly　possible　way　out。　Ruth　had　agreed　to　the　proposed　solution　with　more　readiness　than　he　had　hoped　for。　Yet；　in　spite　of　her　acquiescence；　he　was　left　with　a　vague　sense　of　uneasiness。　Something　about　her　manner；　he　felt；　had　not　been　quite　natural。　He　frowned　to　himself。

〃Maybe　I'm　fanciful；〃　he　muttered；　〃and　yet　…　I　bet　there's　something　she　has　not　told　me。〃

Chapter　5

A　USEFUL　GENTLEMAN

Rufus　Van　Aldin　had　just　finished　the　sparse　breakfast　of　coffee　and　dry　toast；　which　was　all　he　ever　allowed　himself　when　Knighton　entered　the　room。

〃Mr　Goby　is　below；　sir；　waiting　to　see　you。〃

The　millionaire　glanced　at　the　clock。　It　was　just　half…past　nine。

〃All　right；〃　he　said　curtly。　〃He　can　e　up。〃

A　minute　or　two　later；　Mr　Goby　entered　the　room。　He　was　a　small；　elderly　man；　shabbily　dressed；　with　eyes　that　looked　carefully　all　round　the　room；　and　never　at　the　person　he　was　addressing。

〃Good　morning；　Goby；〃　said　the　millionaire。　〃Take　a　chair。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr　Van　Aldin。〃

Mr　Goby　sat　down　with　his　hands　on　his　knees；　and　gazed　earnestly　at　the　radiator。

〃I　have　got　a　job　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃

〃My　daughter　is　married　to　the　Hon　Derek　Kettering；　as　you　may　perhaps　know。〃

Mr　Goby　transferred　his　gaze　from　the　radiator　to　the　left…hand　drawer　of　the　desk；　and　permitted　a　deprecating　smile　to　pass　over　his　face。　Mr　Goby　knew　a　great　many　things；　but　he　always　hated　to　admit　the　fact。

〃By　my　advice；　she　is　about　to　file　a　petition　for　divorce。　That；　of　course；　is　a　solicitor's　business。　But；　for　private　reasons；　I　want　the　fullest　and　most　plete　information。〃

Mr　Goby　looked　at　the　cornice　and　murmured：

〃About　Mr　Kettering？〃

〃About　Mr　Ketteri