"A place of safety, Herr Liederman," he sneered. "So safe a place, indeed, that it would never have been discovered."
Georg Senf quieted the tumult with an effort.
"Herr Liederman will proceed. Herr Hochwald will be heard in a moment."
"While engaged in this occupation," Liederman went on in a louder tone, "Herr Khodkine, a member of the Council from the Moscow Committee, came upon Herr Rowland and Fräulein Korasov in the vault. What he had come there for is best left to your imagination. An altercation between Herr Rowland and Herr Khodkine followed, and a struggle in which firearms were freely used and Herr Rowland was left for dead at the vault. Madame Rochal and I, hearing the sounds of the explosions, rushed out of the house but by this time Herr Khodkine had fled, taking with him not only the money but Fräulein Korasov as well."
"In whose machine, Herr Liederman?" asked Hochwald, with a laugh.
Zoya Rochal had sprung to her feet.
"In mine, where it had been left just outside the wall."
Her cool tones fell like a naked sword between them.
Hochwald shrugged and sat.
"Silence!" cried Senf.