"It is gone," she said in quite a light and
cheerful way, "but I am really sorry I mentioned it. As I said just
now, I don't intend to investigate the matter. I may have fallen
asleep and taken the five-pound note out in a dream and torn it up or
put it on the fire. Anyhow, it has vanished, and that is all I have to
say. Come, Prissie, I want to hear what Miss Heath said to you last
night."
"No," suddenly exclaimed Annie Day, "Miss Peel, you must not leave the
room just now. You have made a statement, Miss Oliphant, which I for
one do not intend to pass over without at least asking a few
questions. You did not tear up that note in a dream. If it is lost,
some one took it. We are St. Benet's girls, and we don't choose to
have this kind of thing said to us. The thief must confess and the
note must be returned."
"All right," said Maggie, "I sha'n't object to recovering my property.
Priscilla, I shall be walking in the grounds; you can come to me when
your council of war is over."
The moment Maggie left the room Rosalind Merton made a remark. "Miss
Peel is the only person who can explain the mystery," she said.
"What do you mean?" asked Priscilla.
"Why, you confess yourself that you were in Miss Oliphant's room the
greater part of the evening.
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