THE ROOM AT THE TONTY
103
"The interior of the box is sandalwood—yes," Baraka answered curiously.
"Ah! Sandalwood! Quite distinctly I smell it now," said Max with satisfaction. "Before, I thought so—but I could not be certain; for outside it iss all iron—only inside it iss sandalwood."
"What of that?" McAdams demanded; and when Max, sniffing more leisurely, only smiled in reply the detective attempted to lift the cover of the box, which did not yield.
"It is locked?" he questioned Baraka.
"It is always locked; to push down the cover is to lock it."
"Open it then."
Baraka demurred. "Once I open the box with him by, and misfortune came." But he finally consented on condition that they turn their backs.
