第14部分(第5/8 頁)

。　If　I　had　my　way　…〃

He　was　interrupted。　A　page…boy　entered　with　a　telegram。　Van　Aldin　tore　it　open；　and　his　face　went　a　sudden　chalky　white。　He　caught　hold　of　the　back　of　a　chair　to　steady　himself；　and　waved　the　page…boy　from　the　room。

〃What's　the　matter；　sir？〃

Knighton　had　risen　in　concern。

〃Ruth！〃　said　Van　Aldin　hoarsely。

〃Mrs　Kettering？〃

〃Killed！〃

〃An　accident　to　the　train？〃

Van　Aldin　shook　his　head。

〃No。　From　this　it　seems　she　has　been　robbed　as　well。　They　don't　use　the　word；　Knighton；　but　my　poor　girl　has　been　murdered。〃

〃Oh；　my　God；　sir！〃

Van　Aldin　tapped　the　telegram　with　his　forefinger。

〃This　is　from　the　police　at　Nice。　I　must　go　out　there　by　the　first　train。〃

Knighton　was　efficient　as　ever。　He　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃Five　o'clock　from　Victoria；　sir。〃

〃That's　right。　You　will　e　with　me；　Knighton。　Tell　my　man；　Archer；　and　pack　your　own　things。　See　to　everything　here。　I　want　to　go　round　to　Curzon　Street。〃

The　telephone　rang　sharply；　and　the　secretary　tilted　the　receiver。

〃Yes；　who　is　it？〃

Then　to　Van　Aldin。

〃Mr　Goby；　sir。〃

〃Goby？　I　can't　see　him　now。　No　…　wait；　we　have　plenty　of　time。　Tell　them　to　send　him　up。〃

Van　Aldin　was　a　strong　man。　Already　he　had　recovered　that　iron　calm　of　his。　Few　people　would　have　noticed　anything　amiss　in　his　greeting　to　Mr　Goby。

〃I　am　pressed　for　time；　Goby。　Got　anything　important　to　tell　me