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　and　couldn't　place　him　for　the　moment。〃　

Ruth　Kettering　had　recovered　her　posure。　

〃I　want　to　tell　you　one　thing；　Dad；　you　are　wrong　about　Armand　…　the　te　de　la　Roche；　I　mean。　Oh；　I　know　there　were　several　regrettable　incidents　in　his　youth　…　he　has　told　me　about　them；　but　…　well；　he　has　cared　for　me　always。　It　broke　his　heart　when　you　parted　us　in　Paris；　and　now　…〃　

She　was　interrupted　by　the　snort　of　indignation　her　father　gave。　

〃So　you　fell　for　that　stuff；　did　you？　You；　a　daughter　of　mine！　My　God！〃　

He　threw　up　his　hands。　

〃That　women　can　be　such　darned　fools！〃　he　murmured。　

Chapter　6　

MIRELLE

Derek　Kettering　emerged　from　Van　Aldin's　suite　so　precipitantly　that　he　collided　with　a　lady　passing　across　the　corridor。　He　apologised；　and　she　accepted　his　apologies　with　a　smiling　reassurance　and　passed　on；　leaving　him　with　a　pleasant　impression　of　a　soothing　personality　and　rather　fine　grey　eyes。
For　all　his　nonchalance；　his　interview　with　his　father…in…law　had　shaken　him　more　than　he　cared　to　show。　He　had　a　solitary　lunch；　and　after　it；　frowning　to　himself　a　little；　he　went　round　to　the　sumptuous　flat　that　housed　the　lady　known　as　Mirelle。　A　trim　Frenchwoman　received　him　with　smiles。
'But　enter　then；　Monsieur。　Madame　reposes　herself。'
He　was　ushered　into　the　long　room　with　its　eastern　setting　which　he　knew　so　well。　Mirelle　was　lying　on　the　divan；　supported　by　an　incredible　amount　of　cushions；　all　in　varying　shades　of　amber；　to　harmonise　with　the　yellow　ochre　of　her　plexion。　The　dancer　was　a　beautifully　made　woman；　and　if　her　face；　beneath　its　mask　of　yellow；　was　in　truth　somewhat　haggard；　it　had　a　bizarre　charm　of　its　own；　and　her　orange　lips　smiled　invitingly　at　Derek　Kettering。
He　kissed　her；　and　flung　himself　into　a　chair。
'What　have　you　been　doing　with　yourself？　Just　got　up；　I　suppose？'
The　orange　mouth　widened　into　a　long　smile。
'No；'　said　the　dancer。　'I　have　been　at　work。'
She　flung　out　a　long；　pale　hand　towards　the　piano；　which　was　littered　with　untidy　music　scores。
'Ambrose　has　been　here。　He　has　been　playing　me　the　new　Opera。'
Kettering　nodded　without　paying　much　attention。　He　was　profoundly　uninterested　in　Claud　Ambrose　and　the　latter's　operatic　setting　of　Ibsen's　Peer　Gynt。　So　was　Mirelle；　for　that　matter；　regarding　it　merely　as　a　unique　opportunity　for　her　own　presentation　as　Anitra。
'It　is　a　marvellous　dance；'　she　murmured。　'I　shall　put　all　the　passion　of　the　desert　into　it。　I　shall　dance　hung　over　with　jewels　…　ah！　and；　by　the　way；　mon　ami；　there　is　a　pearl　that　I　saw　yesterday　in　Bond　Street　…　a　black　pearl。'
She　paused；　looking　at　him　invitingly。
'My　dear　girl；'　said　Kettering；　'it's　no　use　talking　of　black　pearls　to　me。　At　the　present　minute；　as　far　as　I　am　concerned；　the　fat　is　in　the　fire。'
She　was　quick　to　respond　to　his　tone。　She　sat　up；　her　big　black　eyes　widening。
'What　did　you　say；　Dereek？　What　has　happened？'

〃My　esteemed　father…in…law；〃　said　Kettering；　〃is　preparing　to　go　off　the　deep…end。〃　

〃Eh？〃　

〃In　other　words；　he　wants　Ruth　to　divorce　me。〃　

〃How　stupid！〃　said　Mirelle。　〃Why　should　she　want　to　divorce　you？〃　

Derek　Kettering　grinned。　

〃Mainly　because　of　you；　cherie！〃　he　said。　

Mirelle　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃That　is　foolish；〃　she　observed　in　a　matter…of…fact　voice。　

〃Very　foolish；〃　agreed　Derek。　

〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃　demanded　Mirelle。　

〃My　dear　girl；　what　can　I　do？　On　the　one　side；　the　man　with　unlimited　money；　on　the　other　side；　the　man　with　unlimited　debts。　There　is　no　question　as　to　who　will　e　out　on　top。〃　

〃They　are　extraordinary；　these　Americans；〃　mented　Mirelle。　〃It　is　not　as　though　your　wife　were　fond　of　you。〃　

〃Well；〃　said　Derek；　〃what　are　we　going　to　do　about　it？〃　

She　looked　at　him　inquiringly。　He　came　over　and　took　both　her　hands　in　his。　

〃Are　you　going　to　stick　to　me？〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？　After　…〃　

〃Yes；〃　said　Kettering。　〃After；　when　the　creditors　e　down　like　wolves　on　the　fold。　I　am　damned　fond　of　you；　Mirelle；　are　you　going　to　let　me　down？〃　

She　pulled　her　hands　away　from　him。　

〃You　know　I　adore　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　caught　the　note　of　evasion　in　her　voice。　

〃So　that's　that；　is　it？　The　rats　will　leave　the　sinking　ship。〃　

〃Ah；　Dereek！〃　

〃Out　with　it；〃　he　said　violently。　〃You　will　fling　me　over；　is　that　it？〃　

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　

〃I　am　fond　of　you；　mon　ami　…　indeed　I　am　fond　of　you。　You　are　very　charming　…　un　beau　gar？on；　but　ce　n'est　pas　pratique。〃　

〃You　are　a　rich　man's　luxury；　eh？　Is　that　it？〃　

〃If　you　like　to　put　it　that　way。〃　

She　leaned　back　on　the　cushions；　her　head　flung　back。　

〃All　the　same；　I　am　fond　of　you；　Dereek。〃　

He　went　over　to　the　window　and　stood　there　some　time　looking　out；　with　his　back　to　her。　Presently　the　dancer　raised　herself　on　her　elbow　and　stared　at　him　curiously。　

〃What　are　you　thinking　of；　mon　ami？〃　

He　grinned　at　her　over　his　shoulder；　a　curious　grin　that　made　her　vaguely　uneasy。　

〃As　it　happened；　I　was　thinking　of　a　woman；　my　dear。〃　

〃A　woman；　eh？〃　

Mirelle　pounced　on　something　that　she　could　understand。　

〃You　are　thinking　of　some　other　woman；　is　that　it？〃　

〃Oh；　you　needn't　worry；　it　is　purely　a　fancy　portrait。　'Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes。'〃　

Mirelle　said　sharply；　〃When　did　you　meet　her？〃　

Derek　Kettering　laughed；　and　his　laughter　had　a　mocking；　ironical　sound。　

〃I　ran　into　the　lady　in　the　corridor　of　the　Savoy　Hotel。〃　

〃Well！　what　did　she　say？〃　

〃As　far　as　I　can　remember；　I　said；　'I　beg　your　pardon；'　and　she　said；　'It　doesn't　matter；'　or　words　to　that　effect。〃　

〃And　then？〃　persisted　the　dancer。　

Kettering　shrugged　his　shoulders。　

〃And　then　…　nothing。　That　was　the　end　of　the　incident。〃　

〃I　don't　understand　a　word　of　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　declared　the　dancer。　

〃Portrait　of　a　lady　with　grey　eyes；〃　murmured　Derek　reflectively。　〃Just　as　well　I　am　never　likely　to　meet　her　again。〃　

〃Why？〃　

〃She　might　bring　me　bad　luck。　Women　do。〃　

Mirelle　slipped　quickly　from　her　couch；　and　came　across　to　him；　laying　one　long；　snake…like　arm　round　his　neck。　

〃You　are　foolish；　Dereek；〃　she　murmured。　〃You　are　very　foolish。　You　are　beau　gar？on；　and　I　adore　you；　but　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor　…　no；　decidedly　I　am　not　made　to　be　poor。　Now　listen　to　me；　everything　is　very　simple。　You　must　make　it　up　with　your　wife。〃　

〃I　am　afraid　that's　not　going　to　be　actually　in　the　sphere　of　practical　politics；〃　said　Derek　drily。　

〃How　do　you　say？　I　do　not　understand。〃　

〃Van　Aldin；　my　dear；　is　not　taking　any。　He　is　the　kind　of　man　who　makes　up　his　mind　and　sticks　to　it。〃　

〃I　have　heard　of　him；〃　nodded　the　dancer。　〃He　is　very　rich；　is　he　not？　Almost　the　richest　man　in　America。　A　few　days　ago；　in　Paris；　he　bought　the　most　wonderful　ruby　in　the　world　…　'Heart　of　Fire'　it　is　called。〃　

Kettering　did　not　answer。　The　dancer　went　on　musingly：　

〃It　is　a　wonderful　stone　…　a　stone　that　should　belong　to　a　woman　like　me。　I　love　jewels；　Dereek；　they　say　something　to　me。　Ah！　to　wear　a　ruby　like　'Heart　of　Fire。'〃　

She　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　then　became　practical　once　more。　

〃You　don't　understand　these　things；　Dereek；　you　are　only　a　man。　Van　Aldin　will　give　these　rubies　to　his　daughter；　I　suppose。　Is　she　his　only　child？〃　

〃Yes。〃　

〃Then　when　he　dies；　she　will　inherit　all　his　money。　She　will　be　a　rich　woman。〃　

〃She　is　a　rich　woman　already；〃　said　Kettering　drily。　〃He　settled　a　couple　of　millions　on　her　at　her　marriage。〃　

〃A　couple　of　millions！　But　that　is　immense。　And　if　she　died　suddenly；　eh？　That　would　all　e　to　you？〃　

〃As　things　stand　at　present；〃　said　Kettering　slowly；　〃it　would。　As　far　as　I　know　she　has　not　made　a　will。〃　

〃Mon　Dieu！〃　said　the　dancer。　〃If　she　were　to　die；　what　a　solution　that　would　be。〃　

There　was　a　moment's　pause；　and　then　Derek　Kettering　laughed　outright。　

〃I　like　your　simple；　practical　mind；　Mirelle；　but　I　am　afraid　what　you　desire　won't　e　to　pass。　My　wife　is　an　extremely　healthy　person。〃　

〃Eh；　bien！〃　said　Mirelle；　〃there　are　accidents。〃　

He　looked　at　her　sharply　but　did　not　answer。　

She　went　on。　

〃But　you　are　right；　mon　ami；　we　must　not　dwell　on　possibilities。　See　now；　my　little　Dereek；　there　must　be　no　more　talk　of　this　divorce。　Your　wife　must　give　up　the　idea。〃　

〃And　if　she　won't？〃　

The　dancer's　eyes　widened　to　slits。　

〃I　think　she　will；　my　friend。　She　is　one　of　those　who　would　not　like　the　publicity。　There　are　one　or　two　pretty　stories　that　she　would　not　like　her　friends　to　read　in　the　newspapers。〃　

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Kettering　sharply。　

Mirelle　laughed；　her　head　thrown　back。　

〃Parbleu！　I　mean　the　gentleman　who　calls　himself　the　te　de　la　Roche。　I　know　all　about　him。　I　am　Parisienne；　you　remember。　He　was　her　lover　before　she　married　you；　was　he　not？〃　

Kettering　took　her　sharply　by　the　shoulders。　

〃That　is　a　damned　lie；〃　he　said；　〃and　please　remember　that；　after　all；　you　are　speaking　of　my　wife。〃　

Mirelle　was　a　little　sobered。　

〃You　are　extraordinary；　you　English；〃　she　plained。　〃All　the　same；　I　dare　say　that　you　may　be　right。　The　Americans　are　so　cold；　are　they　not？　But　you　will　permit　me　to　say；　mon　ami；　that　she　was　in　love　with　him　before　she　married　you；　and　her　father　stepped　in　and　sent　the　te　about　his　business。　And　the　little　Mademoiselle；　she　wept　many　tears！　But　she　obeyed。　Still；　you　must　know　as　well　as　I　do；　Dereek；　that　it　is　a　very　different　story　now。　She　sees　him　nearly　every　day；　and　on　the　fourteenth　she　goes　to　Paris　to　meet　him。〃　

〃How　do　you　know　all　this？〃　demanded　Kettering。　

〃Me？　I　have　friends　in　Paris；　my　dear　Dereek；　who　know　the　te　intimately。　It　is　all　arranged。　She　is　going　to　the　Riviera；　so　she　says；　but　in　reality　the　te　meets　her　in　Paris　and　…　who　knows！　Yes；　yes；　you　can　take　my　word　for　it；　it　is　all　arranged。〃　

Derek　Kettering　stood　motionless。　

〃You　see；〃　purred　the　dancer；　〃if　you　are　clever；　you　have　her　in　the　hollow　of　your　hand。　You　can　make　things　very　awkward　for　her。〃　

〃Oh；　for　God's　sake　be　quiet；〃　cried　Kettering。　〃Shut　your　cursed　mouth！〃　

Mirelle　flung　herself　down　again　on　the　divan　with　a　laugh。　Kettering　caught　up　his　hat　and　coat　and　left　the　flat；　banging　the　door　violently。　And　still　the　dancer　sat　on　the　divan　and　laughed　softly　to　herself。　She　was　not　displeased　with　her　work。　


Chapter　7　

LETTERS

〃Mrs　Samuel　Harfield　presents　her　pliments　to　Miss　Katherine　Grey　and　wishes　to　point　out　that　under　the　circumstances　Miss　Grey　may　not　be　aware　…〃
Mrs　Harfield；　having　written　so　far　fluently；　came　to　a　dead　stop；　held　up　by　what　has　proved　an　insuperable　difficulty　to　many　other　people　…　namely；　the　difficulty　of　expressing　oneself　fluently　in　the　third　person。　

After　a　minute　or　two　of　hesitation；　Mrs　Harfield　tore　up　the　sheet　of　notepaper　and　started　afresh。
〃Dear　Miss　Grey；
Whilst　fully　appreciating　the　adequate　way　you　discharged　your　duties　to　my　Cousin　Emma　（whose　recent　death　has　indeed　been　a　severe　blow　to　us　all）；　I　cannot　but　feel　…〃
Again　Mrs　Harfield　came　to　a　stop。　Once　more　the　letter　was　consigned　to　the　wastepaper…basket。　

It　was　not　until　four　false　starts　had　been　made　that　Mrs　Harfield　at　last　produced　an　epistle　that　satisfied　her。　It　was　duly　sealed　and　stamped　and　addressed　to　Miss　Katherine　Grey；　Little　Crampton；　St　Mary　Mead；　Kent；　and　it　lay　beside　that　lady's　plate　on　the　following　morning　at　breakfast…time　in　pany　with　a　more　important　looking　munication　in　a　long　blue　envelope。　

Katherine　Grey　opened　Mrs　Harfield's　letter　first。　The　finished　production　ran　as　follows：
〃Dear　Miss　Grey；
My　husband　and　I　wish　to　express　our　thanks　to　you　for　your　services　to　my　poor　cousin；　Emma。　Her　death　has　been　a　great　blow　to　us；　though　we　were；　of　course；　aware　that　her　mind　has　been　failing　for　some　time　past。　I　understand　that　her　latter　testamentary　dispositions　have　been　of　a　most　peculiar　character；　and　they　would　not　hold　good；　of　course；　in　any　court　of　law。　I　have　no　doubt　that；　with　your　usual　good　sense；　you　have　already　realized　this　fact。　If　these　matters　can　be　arranged　privately　it　is　always　so　much　better；　my　husband　says。　We　shall　be　pleased　to　remend　you　most　highly　for　a　similar　post　and　hope　that　you　will　also　accept　a　small　present。　Believe　me；　dear　Miss　Grey；　yours　c