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Rh "Mr. Hereford, I have been disingenuous with you," she said at last, with a note of sincerity which now he could not doubt. "I know why Baraka visited your office this afternoon and what the very private message was he left there with you; for Baraka himself sent me word of it quite frankly. Don't you understand that that is why I came here tonight? Baraka gave you, as you have said, something over twenty-four hours in which to return the emerald; in default of which he assured you of your death. He left upon your desk when he went away a knife as witness of his purpose and the method. You see—I do know."

"Yes; you seem to have the facts," Hereford returned.

"But his threat did not frighten you?"

"It did not find me mentally unprepared.