300
THE SURAKARTA
"That is a partnership affair, Mr. Hereford. You can place the responsibility as you wish. I suggested it and Mr. Schimmel carried it out."
He flushed again.
"No doubt, in suggesting it, you had reasons that seemed sufficient to yourself?"
"Quite. You were equally in demand last night, Mr. Hereford, by Baraka and the police. Mr. Schimmel saw to it that the police did not get you, and Baraka—" she hesitated—"well, was prevented," she finished.
He turned unhappily away from her, and sat down in front of the fire which burned in Max's little grate.
"Where is Max now?" he asked at last.
"Mr. Schimmel—if I understand his somewhat indefinite message to me over the
