博炮作文网

第4部分（第1页）

ly　possible　way　out。　Ruth　had　agreed　to　the　proposed　solution　with　more　readiness　than　he　had　hoped　for。　Yet；　in　spite　of　her　acquiescence；　he　was　left　with　a　vague　sense　of　uneasiness。　Something　about　her　manner；　he　felt；　had　not　been　quite　natural。　He　frowned　to　himself。

〃Maybe　Im　fanciful；〃　he　muttered；　〃and　yet　…　I　bet　theres　something　she　has　not　told　me。〃

Chapter　5

A　USEFUL　GENTLEMAN

Rufus　Van　Aldin　had　just　finished　the　sparse　breakfast　of　coffee　and　dry　toast；　which　was　all　he　ever　allowed　himself　when　Knighton　entered　the　room。

〃Mr　Goby　is　below；　sir；　waiting　to　see　you。〃

The　millionaire　glanced　at　the　clock。　It　was　just　half…past　nine。

〃All　right；〃　he　said　curtly。　〃He　can　e　up。〃

A　minute　or　two　later；　Mr　Goby　entered　the　room。　He　was　a　small；　elderly　man；　shabbily　dressed；　with　eyes　that　looked　carefully　all　round　the　room；　and　never　at　the　person　he　was　addressing。

〃Good　morning；　Goby；〃　said　the　millionaire。　〃Take　a　chair。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr　Van　Aldin。〃

Mr　Goby　sat　down　with　his　hands　on　his　knees；　and　gazed　earnestly　at　the　radiator。

〃I　have　got　a　job　for　you。〃

〃Yes；　Mr　Van　Aldin？〃

〃My　daughter　is　married　to　the　Hon　Derek　Kettering；　as　you　may　perhaps　know。〃

Mr　Goby　transferred　his　gaze　from　the　radiator　to　the　left…hand　drawer　of　the　desk；　and　permitted　a　deprecating　smile　to　pass　over　his　face。　Mr　Goby　knew　a　great　many　things；　but　he　always　hated　to　admit　the　fact。

〃By　my　advice；　she　is　about　to　file　a　petition　for　divorce。　That；　of　course；　is　a　solicitors　business。　But；　for　private　reasons；　I　want　the　fullest　and　most　plete　information。〃

Mr　Goby　looked　at　the　cornice　and　murmured：

〃About　Mr　Kettering？〃

〃About　Mr　Kettering。〃

〃Very　good；　sir。〃

Mr　Goby　rose　to　his　feet。

〃When　will　you　have　it　ready　for　me？〃

〃In　a　hurry；　sir？〃

〃Im　always　in　a　hurry；〃　said　the　millionaire。

Mr　Goby　smiled　understandingly　at　the　wall。　〃Two　oclock　this　afternoon；　sir？〃

〃Excellent；〃　approved　the　other。　〃Good　morning；　Goby。〃

〃Good　morning；　Mr　Van　Aldin。〃

〃Thats　a　very　useful　man；〃　said　the　millionaire　as　Goby　went　out　and　his　secretary　came　in。　〃In　his　own　line　hes　a　specialist。〃

〃What　is　his　line？〃

〃Information。　Give　him　twenty…four　hours　and　he　would　lay　the　private　life　of　the　Archbishop　of　Canterbury　bare　for　you。〃

〃A　useful　sort　of　chap；〃　said　Knighton；　with　a　smile。

〃He　has　been　useful　to　me　once　or　twice；〃　said　Van　Aldin。　〃Now　then；　Knighton；　Im　ready　for　work。〃

The　next　few　hours　saw　a　vast　quantity　of　business　rapidly　transacted。　It　was　half…past　twelve　when　the　telephone　bell　rang；　and　Mr　Van　Aldin　was　informed　that　Mr　Kettering　had　called。　Knighton　looked　at　Van　Aldin；　and　interpreted　his　brief　nod。

〃Ask　Mr　Kettering　to　e　up；　please。〃

The　secretary　gathered　up　his　papers　and　departed。　He　and　the　visitor　passed　each　other　in　the　doorway；　and　Derek　Kettering　stood　aside　to　let　the　other　go　out。　Then　he　came　in；　shutting　the　door　behind　him。

〃Good　morning；　sir。　You　are　very　anxious　to　see　me；　I　hear。〃

The　lazy　voice　with　its　slightly　ironic　inflection　roused　memories　in　Van　Aldin。