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第24部分（第3页）

But；　lifting　his　hat；　Derek　passed　straight　on　without　stopping。

When　he　got　back　to　his　hotel；　the　concierge　detached　himself　from　his　wooden　pen　and　accosted　him。

〃A　gentleman　is　waiting　to　see　you；　Monsieur。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　Derek。

〃He　did　not　give　me　his　name；　Monsieur；　but　he　said　his　business　with　you　was　important；　and　that　he　would　wait。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃In　the　little　salon；　Monsieur。　He　preferred　it　to　the　lounge　he　said；　as　being　more　private。〃

Derek　nodded；　and　turned　his　steps　in　that　direction。

The　small　salon　was　empty　except　for　the　visitor；　who　rose　and　bowed　with　easy　foreign　grace　as　Derek　entered。　As　it　chanced；　Derek　had　only　seen　the　te　de　la　Roche　once；　but　found　no　difficulty　in　recognizing　that　aristocratic　nobleman；　and　he　frowned　angrily。　Of　all　the　consummate　impertinence！

〃The　te　de　la　Roche；　is　it　not？〃　he　said。　〃I　am　afraid　you　have　wasted　your　time　in　ing　here。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　the　te　agreeably。

His　white　teeth　glittered。

The　tes　charm　of　manner　was　usually　wasted　on　his　own　sex。　All　men；　without　exception；　disliked　him　heartily。　Derek　Kettering　was　already　conscious　of　a　distinct　longing　to　kick　the　Count　bodily　out　of　the　room。　It　was　only　the　realization　that　scandal　would　be　unfortunate　just　at　present　that　restrained　him。　He　marveled　anew　that　Ruth　could　have　cared；　as　she　certainly　had；　for　this　fellow。　A　bounder；　and　worse　than　a　bounder。　He　looked　with　distaste　at　the　Counts　exquisitely　manicured　hands。

〃I　called；〃　said　the　te；　〃on　a　little　matter　of　business。　It　would　be　advisable　I　think；　for　you　to　listen　to　me。〃

Again　Derek　felt　strongly　tempted　to　kick　him　out；　but　again　he　refrained。　The　hint　of　a　threat　was　not　lost　upon　him；　but　he　interpreted　it　in　his　own　way。　There　were　various　reasons　why　it　would　be　better　to　hear　what　the　te　had　to　say。

He　sat　down　and　drummed　impatiently　with　his　fingers　on　the　table。

〃Well；〃　he　said　sharply；　〃what　is　it？〃

It　was　not　the　tes　way　to　e　out　into　the　open　at　once。

〃Allow　me；　Monsieur；　to　offer　you　my　condolences　on　your　recent　bereavement。〃

〃If　I　have　any　impertinence　from　you；〃　said　Derek　quietly；　〃you　go　out　by　that　window。〃

He　nodded　his　head　towards　the　window　beside　the　te；　and　the　latter　moved　uneasily。

〃I　will　send　my　friends　to　you；　Monsieur；　if　that　is　what　you　desire；〃　he　said　haughtily。

Derek　laughed。

〃A　duel；　eh？　My　dear　Count；　I　dont　take　you　seriously　enough　for　that。　But　I　should　take　a　good　deal　of　pleasure　in　kicking　you　down　the　Promenade　des　Anglais。〃

The　te　was　not　at　all　anxious　to　take　offence。　He　merely　raised　his　eyebrows　and　murmured：

〃The　English　are　barbarians。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Derek；　〃what　is　it　you　have　to　say　to　me？〃

〃I　will　be　frank；〃　said　the　te；　〃I　will　e　immediately　to　the　point。　That　will　suit　us　both；　will　it　not？〃

Again　he　smiled　in　his　agreeable　fashion。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Derek　curtly。

The　te　looked　at　the　ceiling；　joined　the　tips　of　his　fingers　together；　and　murmured　softly：

〃You　have　e　into　a　lot　of　money；　Monsieur。〃

〃What　the　devil　has　that　got　to　do　with　you？〃

The　te　drew　himself　up。

〃Monsieur；　my　name　is　tarnished！　I　am　suspected　…　accused　…　of　foul　cri