y　beautiful。　But　with　something　…　grey　eyes　that　might　perhaps　see　too　much。　He　knew　as　he　went　out　of　the　door　that　in　some　way　he　was　afraid　of　this　woman。　He　had　a　sense　of　fatality。

He　went　back　to　his　rooms　in　Jermyn　Street　and　summoned　his　man。

〃Take　this　cheque；　Pavett；　cash　it　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　go　around　to　Cook's　in　Piccadilly。　They　will　have　some　tickets　there　booked　in　your　name；　pay　for　them；　and　bring　them　back。〃

〃Very　good；　sir。〃

Pavett　withdrew。

Derek　strolled　over　to　a　side…table　and　picked　up　a　handful　of　letters。　They　were　of　a　type　only　too　familiar。　Bills；　small　bills　and　large　bills；　one　and　all　pressing　for　payment。

The　tone　of　the　demands　was　still　polite。

Derek　knew　how　soon　that　polite　ton