蓝色特快上的秘密-蓝色列车之谜-蓝色列车(英文版)- 第4部分

She　had　taken　the　stones　from　the　case　and　was　holding　them　against　her　breast。　

The　millionaire　watched　her。　He　was　thinking　of　the　series　of　women　who　had　worn　the　jewels。　The　heartaches；　the　despairs；　the　jealousies。　'Heart　of　Fire；'　like　all　famous　stones；　had　left　behind　it　a　trail　of　tragedy　and　violence。　Held　in　Ruth　Kettering's　assured　hand；　it　seemed　to　lose　its　potency　of　evil。　an　of　the　western　world　seemed　a　negation　to　tragedy　or　heart…burnings。　Ruth　returned　the　stones　to　their　case；　then；　jumping　up；　she　flung　her　arms　round　her　father's　neck。　

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you；　Dad！　They　are　wonderful！　You　do　give　me　the　most　marvelous　presents　always。〃　

〃That's　all　right；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　patting　her　shoulder。　〃You　are　all　I　have；　you　know；　Ruthie。〃　

〃You　will　stay　to　dinner；　won't　you；　father？〃　

〃I　don't　think　so。　You　were　going　out；　weren't　you？〃　

〃Yes；　but　I　can　easily　put　that　off。　Nothing　very　exciting。〃　

〃No；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Keep　your　engagement。　I　have　got　a　good　deal　to　attend　to。　See　you　tomorrow；　my　dear。　Perhaps　if　I　phone　you；　we　can　meet　at　Galbraiths？〃　

Messrs。　Galbraith；　Galbraith；　Cuthbertson；　&　Galbraith　were　Van　Aldin's　London　solicitors。　

〃Very　well；　Dad。〃　She　hesitated。　〃I　suppose　it　…　this　…　won't　keep　me　from　going　to　the　Riviera？〃　

〃When　are　you　off？〃　

〃On　the　fourteenth。〃　

〃Oh；　that　will　be　all　right。　These　things　take　a　long　time　to　mature。　By　the　way；　Ruth；　I　shouldn't　take　those　rubies　abroad　if　I　were　you。　Leave　them　at　the　bank。〃　

Mrs　Kettering　nodded。　

〃We　don't　want　to　have　you　robbed　and　murdered　for　the　sake　of　'Heart　of　Fire；'〃　said　the　millionaire　jocosely。　

〃And　yet　you　carried　it　about　in　your　pocket　loose；〃　retorted　his　daughter；　smiling。　

〃Yes　…〃　

Something；　some　hesitation；　caught　her　attention。　

〃What　is　it；　Dad？〃　

〃Nothing。〃　He　smiled。　〃Thinking　of　a　little　adventure　of　mine　in　Paris。〃　

〃An　adventure？〃　

〃Yes；　the　night　I　bought　these　things。〃　

He　made　a　gesture　towards　the　jewel　case。　

〃Oh；　do　tell　me。〃　

〃Nothing　to　tell；　Ruthie。　Some　apache　fellows　got　a　bit　fresh　and　I　shot　at　them　and　they　got　off。　That's　all。〃　

She　looked　at　him　with　some　pride。　

〃You're　a　tough　proposition；　Dad。〃　

〃You　bet　I　am；　Ruthie。〃　

He　kissed　her　affectionately　and　departed。　On　arriving　back　at　the　Savoy；　he　gave　a　curt　order　to　Knighton。　

〃Get　hold　of　a　man　called　Goby；　you'll　find　his　address　in　my　private　book。　He's　to　be　here　tomorrow　morning　at　half…past　nine。〃　

〃Yes；　sir。〃　

〃I　also　want　to　see　Mr　Kettering。　Run　him　to　earth　for　me　if　you　can。　Try　his　Club　…　at　any　rate；　get　hold　of　him　somehow；　and　arrange　for　me　to　see　him　here　tomorrow　morning。　Better　make　it　latish；　about　twelve。　His　sort　aren't　early　risers。〃　

The　secretary　nodded　in　prehension　of　these　instructions。　Van　Aldin　gave　himself　into　the　hands　of　his　valet。　His　bath　was　prepared；　and　as　he　lay　luxuriating　in　the　hot　water；　his　mind　went　back　over　the　conversation　with　his　daughter。　On　the　whole　he　was　well　satisfied。　His　keen　mind　had　long　since　accepted　the　fact　that　divorce　was　the　only　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　Kettering。〃　

〃Very　good；　sir。〃　

Mr　Goby　rose　to　his　feet。　

〃When　will　you　have　it　ready　for　me？〃　

〃In　a　hurry；　sir？〃　

〃I'm　always　in　a　hurry；〃　said　the　millionaire。　

Mr　Goby　smiled　understandingly　at　the　wall。　〃Two　o'clock　this　afternoon；　sir？〃　

〃Excellent；〃　approved　the　other。　〃Good　morning；　Goby。〃　

〃Good　morning；　Mr　Van　Aldin。〃　

〃That's　a　very　useful　man；〃　said　the　millionaire　as　Goby　went　out　and　his　secretary　came　in。　〃In　his　own　line　he's　a　specialist。〃　

〃What　is　his　line？〃　

〃Information。　Give　him　twenty…four　hours　and　he　would　lay　the　private　life　of　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　bare　for　you。〃　

〃A　useful　sort　of　chap；〃　said　Knighton；　with　a　smile。　

〃He　has　been　useful　to　me　once　or　twice；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Now　then；　Knighton；　I'm　ready　for　work。〃　

The　next　few　hours　saw　a　vast　quantity　of　business　rapidly　transacted。　It　was　half…past　twelve　when　the　telephone　bell　rang；　and　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　informed　that　Mr　Kettering　had　called。　Knighton　looked　at　Van　Aldin；　and　interpreted　his　brief　nod。　

〃Ask　Mr　Kettering　to　e　up；　please。〃　

The　secretary　gathered　up　his　papers　and　departed。　He　and　the　visitor　passed　each　other　in　the　doorway；　and　Derek　Kettering　stood　aside　to　let　the　other　go　out。　Then　he　came　in；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。　

〃Good　morning；　sir。　You　are　very　anxious　to　see　me；　I　hear。〃　

The　lazy　voice　with　its　slightly　ironic　inflection　roused　memories　in　Van　Aldin。　

There　was　charm　in　it　…　there　had　always　been　charm　in　it。　He　looked　piercingly　at　his　son…in…law。　Derek　Kettering　was　thirty…four；　lean　of　build；　with　a　dark；　narrow　face；　which　had　even　now　something　indescribabiy　boyish　in　it。　

〃e　in；〃　said　Van　Aldin　curtly。　〃Sit　down。〃　

Kettering　flung　himself　lightly　into　an　armchair。　He　looked　at　his　father…in…law　with　a　kind　of　tolerant　amusement。　

〃Not　seen　you　for　a　long　time；　sir；〃　he　remarked　pleasantly。　〃About　two　years；　I　should　say。　Seen　Ruth　yet？〃　

〃I　saw　her　last　night；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Looking　very　fit；　isn't　she？〃　said　the　other　lightly。　

〃I　didn't　know　you　had　had　much　opportunity　of　judging；〃　said　Van　Aldin　drily。　

Derek　Kettering　raised　his　eyebrows。　

〃Oh；　we　sometimes　meet　at　the　same　night　club；　you　know；〃　he　said　airily。　

〃I　am　not　going　to　beat　about　the　bush；〃　Van　Aldin　said　curtly。　〃I　have　advised　Ruth　to　file　a　petition　for　divorce。〃　

Derek　Kettering　seemed　unmoved。　

〃How　drastic！〃　he　murmured。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　smoke；　sir？〃　

He　lit　a　cigarette；　and　puffed　out　a　cloud　of　smoke　as　he　added　nonchalantly：　

〃And　what　did　Ruth　say？〃　

〃Ruth　proposes　to　take　my　advice；〃　said　her　father。　

〃Does　she　really？〃　

〃Is　that　all　you　have　got　to　say？〃　demanded　Van　Aldin　sharply。　

Kettering　flicked　his　ash　into　the　grate。　

〃I　think；　you　know；〃　he　said；　with　a　detached　air；　〃that　she's　making　a　great　mistake。〃　

〃From　your　point　of　view　she　doubtless　is；〃　said　Van　Aldin　grimly。　

〃Oh；　e　now；〃　said　the　other；　〃don't　let's　be　personal。　I　really　wasn't　thinking　of　myself　at　the　moment。　I　was　thinking　of　Ruth。　You　know　my　poor　old　Governor　really　can't　last　much　longer；　all　the　doctors　say　so。　Ruth　had　better　give　it　a　couple　more　years；　then　I　shall　be　Lord　Leconbury；　and　she　can　be　chatelaine　of　Leconbury；　which　is　what　she　married　me　for。〃　

〃I　won't　have　any　of　your　darned　impudence；〃　roared　Van　Aldin。　

Derek　Kettering　smiled　at　him　quite　unmoved。　

〃I　agree　with　you。　It's　an　obsolete　idea；〃　he　said。　〃There's　nothing　in　a　title　nowadays。　Still；　Leconbury　is　a　very　fine　old　place；　and；　after　all；　we　are　one　of　the　oldest　families　in　England。　It　will　be　very　annoying　for　Ruth　if　she　divorces　me　to　find　me　marrying　again；　and　some　other　woman　queening　it　at　Leconbury　instead　of　her。〃　

〃I　am　serious；　young　man；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

〃Oh；　so　am　I；〃　said　Kettering。　〃I　am　in　very　low　water　financially；　it　will　put　me　in　a　nasty　hole　if　Ruth　divorces　me；　and；　after　all；　if　she　has　stood　it　for　ten　years；　why　not　stand　it　a　little　longer？　I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　that　the　old　man　can't　possibly　last　out　another　eighteen　months；　and；　as　I　said　before；　it's　a　pity　Ruth　shouldn't　get　what　she　married　me　for。〃　

〃You　suggest　that　my　daughter　married　you　for　your　title　and　position？〃　

Derek　Kettering　laughed　a　laugh　that　was　not　all　amusement。　

〃You　don't　think　it　atch？〃　he　asked。　

〃I　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin　slowly；　〃that　you　spoke　very　differently　in　Paris　ten　years　ago。〃　

〃Did　I？　Perhaps　I　did。　Ruth　was　very　beautiful；　you　know　…　rather　like　an　angel　or　a　saint；　or　something　that　had　stepped　down　from　a　niche　in　a　church。　I　had　fine　ideas；　I　remember；　of　turning　over　a　new　leaf；　of　settling　down　and　living　up　to　the　highest　traditions　of　English　home…life　with　a　beautiful　wife　who　loved　me。〃　

He　laughed　again；　rather　more　discordantly。　

〃But　you　don't　believe　that；　I　suppose？〃　he　said。　

〃I　have　no　doubt　at　all　that　you　married　Ruth　for　her　money；〃　said　Van　Aldin　unemotionally。　

〃And　that　she　married　me　for　love？〃　asked　the　other　ironically。　

〃Certainly；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　

Derek　Kettering　stared　at　him　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　he　nodded　reflectively。　

〃I　see　you　believe　that；〃　he　said。　〃So　did　I　at　the　time。　I　can　assure　you；　my　dear　father…in…law；　I　was　very　soon　undeceived。〃　

〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　getting　at；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃and　I　don't　care。　You　have　treated　Ruth　darned　badly。〃　

〃Oh