阳光下的罪恶08

III

Kenneth Marshall tapped on his wife’s door. When her voice answered, he opened the door andwent in.

Arlena was just putting the finishing touches to her toilet. She was dressed in glittering greenand looked a little like a mermaid². She was standing³ in front of the glass applying mascara to hereyelashes. She said:

“Oh, it’s you, Ken¹.”

“Yes. I wondered if you were ready.”

“Just a minute.”

Kenneth Marshall strolled to the window. He looked out on the sea. His face, as usual,displayed no emotion of any kind. It was pleasant and ordinary.

Turning round, he said:

“Arlena?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve met Redfern before, I gather?”

Arlena said easily:

“Oh yes, darling. At a cocktail⁵ party somewhere. I thought he was rather a pet.”

“So I gather. Did you know that he and his wife were coming down here?”

Arlena opened her eyes very wide.

“Oh no, darling. It was the greatest surprise!”

Kenneth Marshall said quietly:

“I thought, perhaps, that that was what put the idea of this place into your head. You were verykeen we should come here.”

Arlena put down the mascara. She turned towards him. She smiled—a soft seductive smile. Shesaid:

“Somebody told me about this place. I think it was the Rylands. They said it was simply toomarvellous—so unspoilt! Don’t you like it?”

Kenneth Marshall said:

“I’m not sure.”

“Oh, darling, but you adore bathing and lazing about. I’m sure you’ll simply adore it here.”

“I can see that you mean to enjoy yourself.”

Her eyes widened a little. She looked at him uncertainly.

Kenneth Marshall said:

“I suppose the truth of it is that you told young Redfern that you were coming here?”

Arlena said:

“Kenneth darling, you’re not going to be horrid⁶, are you?”

Kenneth Marshall said:

“Look here, Arlena. I know what you’re like. They’re rather a nice young couple. That boy’sfond of his wife, really. Must you upset the whole blinking show?”

Arlena said:

“It’s so unfair blaming me. I haven’t done anything—anything at all. I can’t help it if—”

He prompted her.

“If what?”

Her eyelids⁷ fluttered.

“Well, of course. I know people do go crazy about me. But it’s not my doing. They just get likethat.”

“So you do admit that young Redfern is crazy about you?”

Arlena murmured:

“It’s really rather stupid of him.”

She moved a step towards her husband.

“But you know, don’t you, Ken, that I don’t really care for anyone but you?”

She looked up at him through her darkened lashes⁴.

It was a marvellous look—a look that few men could have resisted.

Kenneth Marshall looked down at her gravely. His face was composed. His voice quiet. Hesaid:

“I think I know you pretty well, Arlena….”

 

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