第21部分(第2/8 頁)

nighton？〃　she　asked。　〃Such　a　dear　fellow！　Just　at　first　I　didn't　remember　him　…　one　had　so　many　…　but　now　it　all　es　back。〃

〃He　was　a　bit　too　unimportant　to　be　remembered　before；〃　said　Lenox。　〃Now　that　he　is　a　secretary　to　an　American　millionaire；　it　is　a　very　different　matter。〃

〃Darling！〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　in　her　vague　reproachful　voice。

〃What　did　Major　Knighton　ring　up　about？〃　inquired　Katherine。

〃He　asked　if　you　would　like　to　go　to　the　tennis　this　afternoon。　If　so；　he　would　call　for　you　in　a　car。　Mother　and　I　accepted　for　you　with　empressement。　Whilst　you　dally　with　a　millionaire's　secretary；　you　might　give　me　a　chance　with　the　millionaire；　Katherine。　He　is　about　sixty；　I　suppose；　so　that　he　will　be　looking　about　for　a　nice　sweet　young　thing　like　me。〃

〃I　should　like　to　meet　Mr　Van　Aldin；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　earnestly；　〃one　has　heard　so　much　of　him。　Those　fine　rugged　figures　of　the　Western　world　…〃　she　broke　off　…　〃so　fascinating；〃　she　murmured。

〃Major　Knighton　was　very　particular　to　say　it　was　Mr　Van　Aldin's　invitation；〃　said　Lenox。　〃He　said　it　so　often　that　I　began　to　smell　a　rat。　You　and　Knighton　would　make　a　very　nice　pair；　Katherine。　Bless　you；　my　children！〃

Katherine　laughed；　and　went　upstairs　to　change　her　clothes。

Knighton　arrived　soon　after　lunch　and　endured　manfully　Lady　Tamplin's　transports　of　recognition。

When　they　were　driving　together　towards　Cannes　he　remarked　to　Katherine：　〃Lady　Tamplin　has　changed