第14部分(第3/8 頁)

e？〃

〃Exactly　that；　sir。〃

〃It　is　very　odd；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Very　odd；　indeed；　unless　the　woman　had　been　impertinent　or　something　of　that　kind。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　objected　Knighton；　〃surely　Mrs　Kettering　would　have　paid　her　down　a　sum　of　money；　and　told　her　to　go　back　to　England。　She　would　hardly　have　sent　her　to　the　Ritz。〃

〃No；〃　muttered　the　millionaire；　〃that's　true。〃

He　was　about　to　say　something　further；　but　checked　himself。　He　was　fond　of　Knighton　and　liked　and　trusted　him；　but　he　could　hardly　discuss　his　daughter's　private　affairs　with　his　secretary。　He　had　already　felt　hurt　by　Ruth's　lack　of　frankness；　and　this　chance　revelation　which　had　e　to　him　did　nothing　to　allay　his　misgivings。

Why　had　Ruth　got　rid　of　her　maid　in　Paris？　What　possible　object　or　motive　could　she　have　had　in　so　doing？

He　reflected　for　a　moment　or　two　on　the　curious　bination　of　chance。　How　should　it　have　occurred　to　Ruth；　except　as　the　wildest　coincidence；　that　the　first　person　that　the　maid　should　run　across　in　Paris　should　be　her　father's　secretary？　Ah；　but　that　was　the　way　things　happened。　That　was　the　way　things　got　found　out。

He　winced　at　the　last　phrase；　it　had　arisen　with　plete　naturalness　to　his　mind。　Was　there　then　'something　to　be　found　out'？　He　hated　to　put　this　question　to　himself；　he　had　no　doubt　of　the　answer。　The　answer　was　…　he　was　sure　of　it　…　Armand　de　la　Roche。

It　was　bitter　to　Van　Aldin　that　a　daughter　of　his　should　be　gu