“I will state the proposition in the fewest possible words.”

“Go on.”

Knighton did not look at the other. His voice was curt and matter-of-fact.

“The matter is simply this. Mrs. Kettering, as you know, is about to file a petition for divorce. If the case goes undefended you will receive one hundred thousand on the day that the decree is made absolute.”

Derek, in the act of lighting his cigarette, suddenly stopped dead. “A hundred thousand!” he said sharply. “Dollars?”

“Pounds.”