藍色特快上的秘密-藍色列車之謎-藍色列車(英文版)

第14部分 (第2/7頁)

o　what　Knighton　was　saying　with　his　usual　air　of　keen　attention；　but　in　reality　not　one　word　of　it　perated　his　mind。　He　nodded　automatically；　however；　and　the　secretary　turned　to　some　other　paper。

As　he　was　sorting　them　out；　his　employer　spoke：

〃Do　you　mind　telling　me　that　over　again；　Knighton？〃

For　a　moment　Knighton　was　at　a　loss。

〃You　mean　about　this；　sir？〃　He　held　up　a　closely　written　pany　report。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Van　Aldin；　〃what　you　told　me　about　seeing　Ruth's　maid　in　Paris　last　night。　I　can't　make　it　out。　You　must　have　been　mistaken。〃

〃I　can't　have　been　mistaken；　sir；　I　actually　spoke　to　her。〃

〃Well；　tell　me　the　whole　thing　again。〃

Knighton　plied。

〃I　had　fixed　up　the　deal　with　Barthermers；〃　he　explained；　〃and　had　gone　back　to　the　Ritz　to　pick　up　my　traps　preparatory　to　having　dinner　and　catching　the　nine　o'clock　train　from　the　Gare　du　Nord。　At　the　reception　desk　I　sars　Kettering's　maid。　I　went　up　to　her　and　asked　if　Mrs　Kettering　was　staying　there。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Of　course。　Naturally。　And　she　told　you　that　Ruth　had　gone　on　to　the　Riviera　and　had　sent　her　to　the　Ritz　to　await　further　orders　there？〃

〃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　ha