“Comte de la Roche!” snorted Van Aldin. “I told you at the time that the man was no better than a swindler. You had entangled yourself with him then very deeply, but I got you out of his clutches.”

“Yes, you did,” said Ruth bitterly. “And I married Derek Kettering.”

“You wanted to,” said the millionaire sharply.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“And now,” said Van Aldin slowly, “you have been seeing him again⁠—after all I told you. He has been in the house today. I met him outside, and couldn’t place him for the moment.”

Ruth Kettering had recovered her composure.