318
THE SURAKARTA
beg you to send him back the emerald. But I could do nothing with you.
"I knew Baraka could not be held off long; I thought if he was allowed to break into your rooms, as he was determined, I might save you from personal danger. I knew he was to attempt it that evening; so, when I was waiting below in your building trying to decide what to do and when your man came down and left you alone, I made the excuse of going to your office to take you away from the danger!"
"Lorine! Lorine!" he cried.
"Then, when the fire was started in Baraka's rooms and the danger grew still greater, I even tried to make Baraka think that you had given me the emerald! And all the while you did not have it"
