t　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　te's　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　Count's　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　te's　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。

Der