第5部分(第3/8 頁)

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　regre