MR. HEREFORD ENTERTAINS
23
his ward—to go direct to Lorine with this fantastic story, of which he had no more evidence than the narrative of a total stranger. The mere mention of it, if there was no truth behind it at all, would be an insult which might destroy forever the influence, slight as it was, that he had been able to maintain over her.
Hereford went to the closet and got his hat.
The best thing obviously was a visit to Max Schimmel.
