"If Colton's people ring up—"
"Tell them to go to the devil," said Van Aldin.
"Very well," said the secretary unemotionally.
Van Aldin had his overcoat on by now. Cramming his hat upon his head, he went towards the door. He paused with his hand upon the handle.
"You are a good fellow, Knighton," he said. "You don't worry me when I am rattled."
Knighton smiled a little, but made no reply.
"Ruth is my only child," said Van Aldin, "and there is no one on this earth who knows quite what she means to me."
A faint smile irradiated his face. He slipped his hand into his pocket.
"Care to see something, Knighton?"
He came back towards the secretary.