蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)-第5部分

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Van　Aldin　did　not　go　direct　to　Curzon　Street。　He　went　first　to　the　City；　where　he　had　two　interviews　which　added　to　his　satisfaction。　From　there　he　took　the　tube　to　Down　Street。　As　he　was　walking　along　Curzon　Street；　a　figure　came　out　of　No。　160；　and　turned　up　the　street　towards　him；　so　that　they　passed　each　other　on　the　pavement。　For　a　moment；　the　millionaire　had　fancied　it　might　be　Derek　Kettering　himself；　the　height　and　build　were　not　unlike。　But　as　they　came　face　to　face；　he　saw　that　the　man　was　a　stranger　to　him。　At　least　…　no；　not　a　stranger；　his　face　awoke　some　call　of　recognition　in　the　millionaire's　mind；　and　it　was　associated　definitely　with　something　unpleasant。　

He　cudgelled　his　brains　in　vain；　but　the　thing　eluded　him。　He　went　on；　shaking　his　head　irritably。　He　hated　to　be　baffled。　

Ruth　Kettering　was　clearly　expecting　him。　She　ran　to　him　and　kissed　him　when　he　entered。　

〃Well；　Dad；　how　are　things　going？〃　

〃Very　well；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃but　I　have　got　a　word　or　two　to　say　to　you；　Ruth。〃　

Almost　insensibly　he　felt　the　change　in　her；　something　shrewd　and　watchful　replaced　the　impulsiveness　of　her　greeting。　She　sat　down　in　a　big　armchair。　

〃Well；　Dad？〃　she　asked。　〃What　is　it？〃　

〃I　saw　your　husband　this　morning；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃You　saw　Derek？〃　

〃I　did。　He　said　a　lot　of　things；　most　of　which　were　darned　cheek。　Just　as　he　was　leaving；　he　said　something　that　I　didn't　understand。　He　advised　me　to　be　sure　that　there　was　perfect　frankness　between　father　and　daughter。　What　did　he　mean　by　that；　Ruthie？〃　

Mrs　Kettering　moved　a　little　in　her　chair。　

〃I　…　I　don't　know；　Dad。　How　should　I？〃　

〃Of　course　you　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃He　said　something　else；　about　his　having　his　friends　and　not　interfering　with　yours。　What　did　he　mean　by　that？〃　

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ruth　Kettering　again。　

Van　Aldin　sat　down。　His　mouth　set　itself　in　a　grim　line。　

〃See　here；　Ruth。　I　am　not　going　into　this　with　my　eyes　closed。　I　am　not　at　all　sure　that　that　husband　of　yours　doesn't　mean　to　make　trouble。　Now；　he　can't　do　it；　I　am　sure　of　that。　I　have　got　the　means　to　silence　him；　to　shut　his　mouth　for　good　and　all；　but　I　have　got　to　know　if　there's　any　need　to　use　those　means。　What　did　he　mean　by　your　having　your　own　friends？〃　

Mrs　Kettering　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃I　have　got　lots　of　friends；〃　she　said　uncertainly。　〃I　don't　know　what　he　meant；　I　am　sure。〃　

〃You　do；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

He　was　speaking　now　as　he　might　have　spoken　to　a　business　adversary。　

〃I　will　put　it　plainer。　Who　is　the　man？〃　

〃What　man？〃　

〃The　man。　That's　what　Derek　was　driving　at。　Some　special　man　who　is　a　friend　of　yours。　You　needn't　worry；　honey；　I　know　there　is　nothing　in　it；　but　we　have　got　to　look　at　everything　as　it　might　appear　to　the　Court。　They　can　twist　these　things　about　a　good　deal；　you　know。　I　want　to　know　who　the　man　is；　and　just　how　friendly　you　have　been　with　him。〃　

Ruth　didn't　answer。　Her　hands　were　kneading　themselves　together　in　intense　nervous　absorption。　

〃e；　honey；〃　said　Van　Aldin　in　a　softer　voice。　〃Don't　be　afraid　of　your　old　Dad。　I　was　not　too　harsh；　was　I；　even　that　time　in　Paris？　…　By　gosh！〃　

He　stopped；　thunderstruck。　

〃That's　who　it　was；〃　he　murmured　to　himself。　〃I　thought　I　knew　his　face。〃　

〃What　are　you　talking　about；　Dad？　I　don't　understand。〃　

The　millionaire　strode　across　to　her　and　took　her　firmly　by　the　wrist。　

〃See　here；　Ruth；　have　you　been　seeing　that　fellow　again？〃　

〃What　fellow？〃　

〃The　one　we　had　all　that　fuss　about　years　ago。　You　know　who　I　mean　well　enough。〃　

〃You　mean　…〃　she　hesitated　…　〃you　mean　the　te　de　la　Roche？〃　

〃te　de　la　Roche！〃　snorted　Van　Aldin。　〃I　told　you　at　the　time　that　the　man　was　no　better　than　a　swindler。　You　had　entangled　yourself　with　him　then　very　deeply；　but　I　got　you　out　of　his　clutches。〃　

〃Yes；　you　did；〃　said　Ruth　bitterly。　〃And　I　married　Derek　Kettering。〃　

〃You　wanted　to；〃　said　the　millionaire　sharply。　

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃And　now；〃　said　Van　Aldin　slowly；　〃you　have　been　seeing　him　again　…　after　all　I　told　you。　He　has　been　in　the　house　today。　I　met　him　outside；　and　couldn't　place　him　for　the　moment。〃　

Ruth　Kettering　had　recovered　her　posure。　

〃I　want　to　tell　you　one　thing；　Dad；　you　are　wrong　about　Armand　…　the　te　de　la　Roche；　I　mean。　Oh；　I　know　there　were　several　regrettable　incidents　in　his　youth　…　he　has　told　me　about　them；　but　…　well；　he　has　cared　for　me　always。　It　broke　his　heart　when　you　parted　us　in　Paris；　and　now　…〃　

She　was　interrupted　by　the　snort　of　indignation　her　father　gave。　

〃So　you　fell　for　that　stuff；　did　you？　You；　a　daughter　of　mine！　My　God！〃　

He　threw　up　his　hands。　

〃That　women　can　be　such　darned　fools！〃　he　murmured。　

Chapter　6　

MIRELLE

Derek　Kettering　emerged　from　Van　Aldin's　suite　so　precipitantly　that　he　collided　with　a　lady　passing　across　the　corridor。　He　apologised；　and　she　accepted　his　apologies　with　a　smiling　reassurance　and　passed　on；　leaving　him　with　a　pleasant　impression　of　a　soothing　personality　and　rather　fine　grey　eyes。
For　all　his　nonchalance；　his　interview　with　his　father…in…law　had　shaken　him　more　than　he　cared　to　show。　He　had　a　solitary　lunch；　and　after　it；　frowning　to　himself　a　little；　he　went　round　to　the　sumptuous　flat　that　housed　the　lady　known　as　Mirelle。　A　trim　Frenchwoman　received　him　with　smiles。
'But　enter　then；　Monsieur。　Madame　reposes　herself。'
He　was　ushered　into　the　long　room　with　its　eastern　setting　which　he　knew　so　well。　Mirelle　was　lying　on　the　divan；　supported　by　an　incredible　amount　of　cushions；　all　in　varying　shades　of　amber；　to　harmonise　with　the　yellow　ochre　of　her　plexion。　The　dancer　was　a　beautifully　made　woman；　and　if　her　face；　beneath　its　mask　of　yellow；　was　in　truth　somewhat　haggard；　it　had　a　bizarre　charm　of　its　own；　and　her　orange　lips　smiled　invitingly　at　Derek　Kettering。
He　kissed　her；　and　flung　himself　into　a　chair。
'What　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself？　Just　got　up；　I　suppose？'
The　orange　mouth　widened　into　a　long　smile。
'No；'　said　the　dancer。　'I　have　been　at　work。'
She　flung　out　a　long；　pale　hand　towards　the　piano；　which　was　littered　with　untidy　music　scores。
'Ambrose　has　been　here。　He　has　been　playing　me　the　new　Opera。'
Kettering　nodded　without　paying　much　attention。　He　was　profoundly　uninterested　in　Claud　Ambrose　and　the　latter's　operatic　setting　of　Ibsen's　Peer　Gynt。　So　was　Mirelle；　for　that　matter；　regarding　it　merely　as　a　unique　opportunity　for　her　own　presentation　as　Anitra。
'It　is　a　marvellous　dance；'　she　murmured。　'I　shall　put　all　the　passion　of　the　desert　into　it。　I　shall　dance　hung　over　with　jewels　…　ah！　and；　by　the　way；　mon　ami；　there　is　a　pearl　that　I　saw　yesterday　in　Bond　Street　…　a　black　pearl。'
She　paused；　looking　at　him　invitingly。
'My　dear　girl；'　said　Kettering；　'it's　no　use　talking　of　black　pearls　to　me。　At　the　present　minute；　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　the　fat　is　in　the　fire。'
She　was　quick　to　respond　to　his　tone。　She　sat　up；　her　big　black　eyes　widening。
'What　did　you　say；　Dereek？　What　has　happened？'

〃My　esteemed　father…in…law；〃　said　Kettering；　〃is　preparing　to　go　off　the　deep…end。〃　

〃Eh？〃　

〃In　other　words；　he　wants　Ruth　to　divorce　me。〃　

〃How　stupid！〃　said　Mirelle。　〃Why　should　she　want　to　divorce　you？〃　

Derek　Kettering　grinned。　

〃Mainly　because　of　you；　cherie！〃　he　said。　

Mirelle　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃That　is　foolish；〃　she　observed　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice。　

〃Very　foolish；〃　agreed　Derek。　

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃　demanded　Mirelle。　

〃My　dear　girl；　what　can　I　do？　On　the　one　side；　the　man　with　unlimited　money；　on　the　other　side；　the　man　with　unlimited　debts。　There　is　no　question　as　to　who　will　e　out　on　top。〃　

〃They　are　extraordinary；　these　Americans；〃　mented　Mirelle。　〃It　is　not　as　though　your　wife　were　fond　of　you。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Derek；　〃what　are　we　going　to　do　about　it？〃　

She　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　He　came　over　and　took　both　her　hands　in　his。　

〃Are　you　going　to　stick　to　me？〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？　After　…〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Kettering。　〃After；　when　the　creditors　e　down　like　wolves　on　the　fold。　I　am　damned　fond　of　you；　Mirelle；　are　you　going　to　let　me　down？〃　

She　pulled　her　hands　away　from　him。　

〃You　know　I　adore　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　caught　the　note　of　evasion　in　her　voice。　

〃So　that's　that；　is　it？　The　rats　will　leave　the　sinking　ship。〃　

〃Ah；　Dereek！〃　

〃Out　with　it；〃　he　said　violently。　〃You　will　fling　me　over；　is　that　it？〃　

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃I　am　fond　of　you；　mon　ami　…　indeed　I　am　fond　of　you。　You　are　very　charming　…　un　beau　gar？on；　but　ce　n'est　pas　pratique。〃　

〃You　are　a　rich　man's　luxury；　eh？　Is　that　it？〃　

〃If　you　like　to　put　it　that　way。〃　

She　leaned　back　on　the　cushions；　her　head　flung　back。　

〃All　the　same；　I　am　fond　of　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　went　over　to　the　window　and　stood　there　some　time　looking　out；　with　his　back　to　her。　Presently　the　dancer　raised　herself　on　her　elbow　and　stared　at　him　curiously。　

〃What　are　you　thinking　of；　mon　ami？〃　

He　grinned　at　her　over　his　shoulder；　a　curious　grin　that　made　her　vaguely　uneasy。　

〃As　it　happened；　I　was　thinking　of　a　woman；　my　dear。〃　

〃A　woman；　eh？〃　

Mirelle　pounced　on　something　that　she　could　understand。　

〃You　are　thinking　of　some　other　woman；　is　that　it？〃　

〃Oh；　you　needn't　worry；　it　is　purely　a　fancy　portrait。　'Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes。'〃　

Mirelle　said　sharply；　〃When　did　you　meet　her？〃　

Derek　Kettering　laughed；　and　his　laughter　had　a　mocking；　ironical　sound。　

〃I　ran　into　the　lady　in　the　corridor　of　the　Savoy　Hotel。〃　

〃Well！　what　did　she　say？〃　

〃As　far　as　I　can　remember；　I　said；　'I　beg　your　pardon；'　and　she　said；　'It　doesn't　matter；'　or　words　to　that　effect。〃　

〃And　then？〃　persisted　the　dancer。　

Kettering　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃And　then　…　nothing。　That　was　the　end　of　the　incident。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　a　word　of　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　declared　the　dancer。　

〃Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes；〃　murmured　Derek　reflectively。　〃Just　as　well　I　am　never　likely　to　meet　her　again。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃She　might　bring　me　bad　luck。　Women　do。〃　

Mirelle　slipped　quickly　from　her　couch；　and　came　across　to　him；　laying　one　long；　snake…like　arm　round　his　neck。　

〃You　are　foolish；　Dereek；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　are　very　foolish。　You　are　beau　gar？on；　and　I　adore　you；　but　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor　…　no；　decidedly　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor。　Now　listen　to　me；　everything　is　very　simple。　You　must　make　it　up　with　your　wife。〃　

〃I　am　afraid　that's　not　going　to　be　actually　in　the　sphere　of　practical　politics；〃　said　Derek　drily。　

〃How　do　you　say？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃Van　Aldin；　my　dear；　is　not　taking　any。　He　is　the　kind　of　man　who　makes　up　his　mind　and　sticks　to　it。〃　

〃I　have　heard　of　him；〃　nodded　the　dancer。　〃He　is　very　rich；　is　he　not？　Almost　the　richest　man　in　America。　A　few　days　ago；　in　Paris；　he　bought　the　most　wonderful　ruby　in　the　world　…　'Heart　of　Fire'　it　is　called。〃　

Kettering　did　not　answer。　The　dancer　went　on　musingly：　

〃It　is　a　wonderful　stone　…　a　stone　that　should　belong　to　a　woman　like　me。　I　love　jewels；　Dereek；　they　say　something　to　me。　Ah！　to　wear　a　ruby　like　'Heart　of　Fire。'〃　

She　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　then　became　practical　once　more。　

〃You　don't　understand　these　thing