lete　idea；〃　he　said。　〃There's　nothing　in　a　title　nowadays。　Still；　Leconbury　is　a　very　fine　old　place；　and；　after　all；　we　are　one　of　the　oldest　families　in　England。　It　will　be　very　annoying　for　Ruth　if　she　divorces　me　to　find　me　marrying　again；　and　some　other　woman　queening　it　at　Leconbury　instead　of　her。〃

〃I　am　serious；　young　man；〃　said　Van　Aldin。

〃Oh；　so　am　I；〃　said　Kettering。　〃I　am　in　very　low　water　financially；　it　will　put　me　in　a　nasty　hole　if　Ruth　divorces　me；　and；　after　all；　if　she　has　stood　it　for　ten　years；　why　not　stand　it　a　little　longer？　I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　that　the　old　man　can't　possibly　last　out　another　eighteen　months；　and；　as　I　said　before；　it's　a　pity　Ruth　shouldn't　get　what　she　married　me　for。〃

〃You　suggest　that　my　daughter　married　you　for　your　title　and　position？〃

Derek　Kettering　laughed　a　laugh　that　was　not　all　amusement。

〃You　don't　think　it　atch？〃　he　asked。

〃I　know；〃　said　Van　Aldin　slowly；　〃that　you　spoke　very　differently　in　Paris　ten　years　ago。〃

〃Did　I？　Perhaps　I　did。　Ruth　was　very　beautiful；　you　know　…　rather　like　an　angel　or　a　saint；　or　something　that　had　stepped　down　from　a　niche　in　a　church。　I　had　fine　ideas；　I　remember；　of　turning　over　a　new　leaf；　of　settling　down　and　living　up　to　the　highest　traditions　of　English　home…life　with　a　beautiful　wife　who　loved　me。〃

He　laughed　again；　rather　more　discordantly。

〃But　you　don't　believe　that；　I　suppose？〃　he　said。

〃I　have　no　doubt　at　all　that　you　married　Ruth　for　her　money；〃　said　Van　Aldin　unemotionally。

〃And　that　she　married　me　for　love？〃　asked　the　other　ironically。

〃Certainly；〃　said　Van　Aldin。

Derek　Kettering　stared　at　him　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　he　nodded　reflectively。

〃I　see　you　believe　that；〃　h