第4部分(第3/7 页)

ring　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　obso