Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Mr. Helpful

When Knighton entered the room, von Arden had just finished a simple breakfast of coffee and sour wine. "Mr. Goby is waiting downstairs for you to see him." The millionaire checked his watch. It was exactly half past nine. "Okay," he said curtly, "let him come up." A minute later Mr. Gorby entered the room.He was a dwarf, poorly dressed, with curious eyes looking at everything in the room, without looking at the person with whom he was talking. "Good morning, Goppy!" said the millionaire. "Sit down, please." "Thank you, Herr von Alding."

Goby sat down with his hands on his knees and his eyes fixed on the fireplace. "I found you a business." "A business? Herr von Alding?" "As you may know, my daughter is married to Derek Kettering." Goby turned his gaze to the desk drawer, and a slight smile spread across his face.Goby knew some details, but he seldom revealed them. "According to my proposal, my daughter will file for a divorce from my son-in-law. It is true that this is a lawyer's business, but because of my wish, I would like to receive detailed and complete information on this matter."

Gorby looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "About Mr. Kettering?" "Yes, about Mr. Kettering." "Okay, sir." Goby stood up. "When will I hear from you?" "Is it urgent, sir?" "My affairs are always urgent," replied the millionaire. Gabby looked at the fireplace and smiled knowingly. "Then set it at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon." "Great, goodbye, Goby." "Good-bye, Herr von Alding." "A very useful man," said the millionaire to the secretary when Goby came out of the room. "He's an old hand at what he does, and there's hardly anything to fault him."

"Which line?" "Information. You give him twenty-four hours, and he'll get to the bottom of the private life of the Archbishop of Canterbury." "He is indeed a guy who can be used." Knighton said with a smile. "He's done me a job or two already. Now, let's get to work, Knighton." They were completely busy with work for the next few hours.At half past twelve in the afternoon Derek Kettering came. "Send Mr. Kettering upstairs, please." The secretary sorted out the files and left the room.He met Derek at the door, and Derek Kettering stepped aside and walked into the room.

"Good morning, my lord. I heard that you are eager to speak to me." He always looked indifferent, lowered his voice in a mocking tone and said carelessly.Von Arden stared intently at his son-in-law.Derek Kettering was a well-proportioned young man with a narrow, dark complexion.Although he was already thirty-four years old, he still looked very young. "Sit down!" said von Arden briefly. Caitlin sat on the wicker chair, looked at his father-in-law, showing an indifferent and playful expression. "Long time no see," he said, with passion between the lines. "Almost two years. Have you met Ruth?"

"last night." "Looks like she's all right, isn't she?" "As far as I know, you have no time to ask her about her life," said von Alding dryly. Derek Kettering frowned. "God, we always see each other in the same nightclub." "I have neither the time nor the inclination to spend much time with you. Ruth accepts my advice and proposes a divorce." Derek Kettering sat stiffly. "What a cruel decision!" he muttered. "Can I smoke?" He lit a cigarette, and said lazily: "What's Ruth's attitude on the matter?"

"Ruth decided to take my advice." "Really?" "Have you nothing else to say?" asked von Arden gravely. Kaitlyn flicked off the ashes."Things have gotten to the point of no return. I think she made a big mistake," he said. "From your standpoint, of course," said von Arden angrily. "We'd better get out of the personal relationship. I'm not just thinking about myself now, I'm thinking about Ruth too. My old father will not live long, the doctors agree on that. If Ruth waits a little longer In two years, I shall then be Lauder Rivecombe, and she shall be Mistress of Rycombe Palace. That is why she married me."

"I've heard enough of your shameless slander," growled Von Arden. Derek Kettering smiled and remained motionless. "You're right, it's a stupid idea indeed. Who cares about titles of nobility these days? But we're an old-fashioned English family after all. If one day it's discovered that Mrs. Raycombury was replaced by another woman Ruth, that would cause an uproar." "I'm talking to you seriously, young man!" von Alding reminded. "Me too, my lord father-in-law, I am also very serious. In terms of finances, it can be said that I am already in trouble. If Ruth leaves me, then I will be very embarrassed. However, Ruth has been with me for ten years, why let her What about waiting for another period? I can say frankly that my father can only live for eighteen months at most. It would be a pity if she didn't achieve her goal of marrying me."

"Do you think my daughter married you for your title and your social status?" Derek Kettering laughed wildly, very harshly. "Do you still believe that this is a marriage of love?" "I know," said von Arden. "Ten years ago you were in Paris quite differently." "Did I say? It's possible. Ruth was very beautiful, of course you know that. How she looked like an angel or a Madonna flying down from a church shrine. into a new life, to be an ideal husband. to have a beautiful wife who loves me and always looks at me affectionately." He smiled ferociously again.

"But you wouldn't believe that, would you?" "I see that you and Ruth married only for money, there is no doubt about it," said von Alding nonchalantly. "And she married me out of love, didn't she?" the other said mockingly. "Of course," replied von Alding. Derek Kettering stared at each other for a full minute, then lowered his head and fell into deep thought. "You believe so?" Caitlin said. "I believed it at the time, but I told you frankly, father-in-law, that I soon learned to behave myself." "I'm not in the least interested in whether you learn to be good or not. Anyway, your behavior to Ruth is very shameless."

"Of course I admit it." Caitlin added. "But what about her? She's your daughter. You've always been serious, but Ruth is more serious than you. You love someone else besides yourself, but Ruth can't." "Enough," said von Arden, "I have called you here to express my intentions openly. My daughter has a right to a minimum of happiness. Don't forget that she has my back." Derek Kettering stood up and walked over to the fireplace.Throwing his head into the fire, his tone was calm. "Be more specific, what exactly do you want?" "I mean," replied the father-in-law, "that you should not object to the divorce." "Ah, that's what it is," Kaitlyn said. "Is this a threat?" "If you like, you can understand it this way." Kaitlyn moved the chair to the desk and sat across from the millionaire. "What if I don't agree to a divorce?" Von Alden shrugged his shoulders. "Then it only proves that you are a fool. What you have done is known in London." "Ruth might be a little jealous about my affair with Miret. Look how silly she is. I never ask her about my mistress." "What do you mean?" asked von Alden sharply. Derek Kettering laughed. "It seems that you still don't know anything about it." He took his hat and cane and went to the door. "I'm not used to persuading others. But in this case, I'd like to persuade you, father and daughter, to be honest with each other." As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared outside the door, which was then closed.The father-in-law jumped up in anger. "Despicable!" asked von Alding secretly: what did he mean by that? That unpleasant feeling came to my heart again, and it was so strong.There was something hidden in these words of his son-in-law, and von Arden decided to find out at once.He picked up the phone and dialed his daughter's number. "Hi, is that 81-907, Mayfair? Is Ms. Kettering home? ... Oh, out to dinner? When is she coming back? ... You don't know yet? Well. ... No, nothing I can tell you." He put down the microphone with an annoyed look on his face. Goby should be here at two o'clock.Von Alden paced up and down the room.The helpful gentleman arrived ten minutes after two. "How?" asked the millionaire angrily. The dwarf remained calm.He sat down unhurriedly, took out an old notebook, and narrated in a monotonous voice, and the millionaire listened attentively.Immediately a cheerful look appeared on his face.Gorby finally finished reading his notes, and then his eyes were fixed on the wastebasket. "Well," murmured Von Alding, "here are some useful materials. The business has already begun. Is the material enough to prove the date at the hotel?" "Of course." Goby looked at the gold-inlaid armchair viciously. "He's completely in trouble. According to what you just said, he's borrowing money everywhere, and the debt has already exceeded his father's possible inheritance after his death. Once the news of this divorce gets out, there is no doubt that he will go anywhere. Don’t even think about borrowing a penny, not only that, but people who want to collect debts from him will definitely flock. He is already in our hands, firmly in our hands.” Von Alding's palm landed on the table with a "slap", and an angry sneer appeared on his face. "It appears," said Goby in a low voice, "that you are satisfied with my information." "I'm going to my daughter at once," said the millionaire. "I thank you very much, Gorby. You are a very useful man indeed." A satisfied smile appeared on the dwarf's face. "Thank you, Herr von Alding. Where there is a will, there is a way." Von Alden did not go directly to his daughter's house.He first went to the city for two talks.Then I took the subway to the station near where his daughter lives.When he came to Gulson Street, he saw a man coming out of house No. 160 unexpectedly.It might be Derek Kettering, he thought, who resembled his son-in-law in body and size.However, when he walked up to the man, he realized that it was a stranger.But not entirely unfamiliar, the expression on the man's face reminded him of an unpleasant face.He racked his brains to recall where this man had met.He shook his head as he walked.Is his memory fading? Ruth Kettering had been waiting for von Arden.She ran up to her father and kissed him. "Why, Dad, how are things going with us?" "Very well, boy . . . I need to talk to you." Von Alden felt instinctively that there was something strange about her.Ruth's face took on an expression of expectation.She sat down in the big rocking chair. "About what, Dad?" "I spoke to your husband this morning." "Have you talked to Derek?" "Yes. He told me all he could, and was as rascal as before. He said something incomprehensible as he left. He said that father and daughter should be open and honest. What does he mean by that?" "How do I know, Dad?" "I'm sure you know. He said something else, as if he didn't care about you or your friend. What does that mean?" "I have no idea." Von Alding sat down, and a few angry expressions appeared on his face. "Listen, Ruth. Of course I don't want to be lured into a bad situation by this guy. The idiot must have some bad idea. Of course I can silence him if I need to. But I know, Is there any need for such a coercive measure. Who is this man he speaks of, your friend?" Ms. Kettering shrugged her shoulders. "Bless God, I have many friends and many acquaintances." She said not firmly. "I really don't know who he is talking about?" "No, you know." Von Alden spoke in the tone of doing business with a rival. "I want to simplify the problem, who is this person?" "Which person?" "That man. It goes without saying that there is one who is especially close to you. Don't worry, Ruth, I know it's all right, but we've got to make sure there's nothing wrong with it before the courts. These legal men Turns a mosquito into an elephant. I want to know, who is this guy? How deeply do you feel attached to him?" Ruth said nothing.She fidgeted nervously with both hands. "Don't be afraid in front of your old father, my dear!" said von Arden in a conciliatory tone. "Did I be too hard on you in Paris? . . . Damn it, yes!" He suddenly remembered something. "Now I know who he is," he murmured. "I recognized his face immediately." "What are you talking about, Dad, I don't understand you." The millionaire stands in front of his daughter and grabs the backs of her hands with both hands. "Tell me the truth, Ruth, are you with this man again?" "Who is it?" "You know who I'm talking about!" "You mean," said Ruth hesitantly, "you mean Count Roger?" "What a count! I told you once that this fellow is a complete rogue and a liar. You were too intimate with him ten years ago. But thank God I rescued you from his clutches just in time." "Yes, you did," said Ruth bitterly, "and so I married Derek Kettering." "As others will," added the millionaire. Ruth shrugged. "But now," continued von Alding, "you are hanging out with him again, and you don't listen to my advice. . . . He was in the house today. I saw him outside." Ruth Kettering had regained her self-control. "I want to say something, papa. You are wrong about Armante, I mean Comte Rocher. I know, of course, that he had some mischief in his youth. He himself told me But he loved me. His heart was almost broken when we had to part in Paris because of you. And now..." An angry voice cut her off. "Now, now you've been fooled again? You, my daughter! My God! What a frightful bunch of fools women are!"