"But why in the churchyard?" he asked, gently.
"Because of the bell. If it comes to that"—Miss Gabriel threw herself desperately on the offensive—"how do you account for the woman we saw here, just now?"
"I beg your pardon? A—a woman, did you say?" (Oh, Major Vigoureux!)
"Yes, sir—a woman; a bedizened woman."
"My dear Elizabeth," pleaded Mrs. Pope feebly, "are we quite sure that we saw her?—that it wasn't a—a sort of mistake? It certainly seemed—for a moment—— But really, you know, there is no one in the Islands——"
"My dear Charlotte, didn't we see her with our own eyes?"
Mrs. Pope sighed. "It seems to me I have seen such a number of things—of incredible things—to-night."
"You are sure it wasn't Mrs. Treacher?" suggested the Commandant, wickedly.
"Mrs. Treacher! Mrs. Trea—— Does Mrs. Treacher go about in silks and furs and low bodices with a thousand pounds' worth of diamonds on her abandoned neck?"
"Certainly not to my knowledge. But," said the Commandant, turning, as the door opened, "you had better ask her for yourself."