"Doesn't it occur to you that under the circumstances a full confession might be the very best thing for you?I shouldn't wonder if these people would be inclined to be lenient with you if you'd return the money.Doesn't it occur--""It might occur to me if I had anything to confess--about this purse.""How long since you've seen Mrs.Edward Ramsay?"He rushed the question at me.
I jumped.
"How do you know I've ever seen her?"
"I do know you have."
"I don't believe you."
"Thank you;neither do I believe you,which is more to the point.Come,answer the question:how long is it since you have seen the lady?"I looked at him.And then I looked at my glove,and slowly pulled the fingers inside out,and then--then I giggled.Suddenly it came to me--that silly,little insane dodge of mine in the Bishop's carriage that day;the girl who had lost her name;and the use all that affair might be to me if ever--"I'll tell you if you'll let me think a minute,"I said sweetly."It--it must be all of fifteen months.""Ah!You see I did know that you've met the lady.If you're wise you'll draw deductions as to other things I know that you don't think I do.And where did you see her?""In her own home."
"Called there,"he sneered,"alone?"
"No,"I said very gently."I went there,to the best of my recollection,with the Bishop--yes,it was the Bishop,Bishop Van Wagenen.""Indeed!"
I could see that he didn't believe a word I was saying,which made me happily eager to tell him more.
"Yes,we drove up to the Square one afternoon in the Bishop's carriage--the fat,plum-colored one,you know.We had tea there--at least,I did.I was to have spent the night,but--""That's enough of that."
I chuckled.Yes,Mag Monahan,I was enjoying myself.I was having a run for my money,even if it was the last run I was to have.
"So it's fifteen months since you've seen Mrs.Ramsay,eh?""Yes."
He turned on me with a roar.
"And yet it's only a week since you saw her at Mrs.Gates'.""Oh,no."
"No?Take care!"
"That night at Mrs.Gates'it was dark,you know,in the front room.I didn't see Mrs.Ramsay that night.I didn't know she was there at all till--""Till?"
"Till later I was told."
"Who told you?"
"Her husband."
He threw down his pencil.
"Look here,this is no lark,young woman,and you needn't trouble yourself to weave any more fairy tales.Mr.Ramsay is in a--he's very ill.His own wife hasn't seen him since that night,so you see you're lying uselessly.""Really!"So Edward didn't go back to Mrs.Gates'that night.
Tut!tut!After his telephone message,too!
"Now,assuming your innocence of the theft,Miss Olden,what is your theory;how do you account for the presence of that purse in your flat?""Now,you've hit the part of it that really puzzles me.How do you account for it;what is your theory?"He got to his feet,pushing his chair back sharply.
"My theory,if you want to know it,is that you stole the purse;that your friend Obermuller believes you did;that you got away with the three hundred,or hid it away,and--""And what a stupid thief I must be,then,to leave the empty purse under my lounge!""How do you know it was empty?"he demanded sharply.
"You said so.Well,you gave me to understand that it was,then.What difference does it make?It would be a still stupider thief who'd leave a full purse instead of an empty one under his own lounge.""Yes;and you're not stupid,Miss Olden."