第14部分(第4/8 頁)

lled　by　such　a　man；　yet　he　was　forced　to　admit　that　she　was　in　good　pany　…　that　other　well…bred　and　intelligent　women　had　succumbed　just　as　easily　to　the　Count's　fascination。　Men　saw　through　him；　women　did　not。

He　sought　now　for　a　phrase　that　would　allay　any　suspicion　that　his　secretary　might　have　felt。

〃Ruth　is　always　changing　her　mind　about　things　at　a　moment's　notice；〃　he　remarked；　and　then　he　added　in　a　would…be　careless　tone；　〃The　maid　didn't　give　any　…　er　…　reason　for　this　change　of　plan？〃

Knighton　was　careful　to　make　his　voice　as　natural　as　possible　as　he　replied：

〃She　said；　sir；　that　Mrs　Kettering　had　met　a　friend　unexpectedly。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃

The　secretary's　practised　ears　caught　the　note　of　strain　underlying　the　seemingly　casual　tone。

〃Oh；　I　see。　Man　or　woman？〃

〃I　think　she　said　a　man；　sir。〃

Van　Aldin　nodded。　His　worst　fears　were　being　realized。　He　rose　from　his　chair；　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　a　habit　of　his　when　agitated。　Unable　to　contain　his　feelings　any　longer；　he　burst　forth：

〃There　is　one　thing　no　man　can　do；　and　that　is　to　get　a　woman　to　listen　to　reason。　Somehow　or　other；　they　don't　seem　to　have　any　kind　of　sense。　Talk　of　woman's　instinct　…　why；　it　is　well　known　all　the　world　over　that　a　woman　is　the　surest　mark　for　any　rascally　swindler。　Not　one　in　ten　of　them　knows　a　scoundrel　when　she　meets　one；　they　can　be　preyed　on　by　any　good…looking　fellow　with　a　soft　side　to　his　tongue