THE GUNSHOT WOUND AGAIN
233
"I will tell you that I did not realize it would bring danger of this sort to you."
"That is all there is to this third circumstance?" he asked, gently.
"Yes; and there are only those three."
"Then you are ready, no doubt, to make the request of me which you said you had come here to make?"
"Yes." She sat still, paling and reddening in turn; then she looked swiftly up at him. "Yesterday I asked you to return the emerald to Baraka and you refused. So I have no intention of asking that again. But—Mr. Hereford, will you please give it to me?"
Her lip trembled and she stretched out her hands. He stiffened and drew back from her, shaking his head. She whitened suddenly; when she stood up she had regained
