"Sainte Marie!" exclaimed the ruddy-faced sister,—"lost it, I'll wager!"
"Where on earth did you put it, child?"
"Here, madame," said the latter, still fumbling and not a little frightened at the possible consequences of losing the bit of cardboard. "Ah! here—no, it isn't. Mon Dieu!"
"Fouchette!"
The voice of the pale religieuse was stern, though her face rested perfectly immobile, no matter what she said.
"Let me see——"
"Search, Sister Agnes."
The ruddy-faced woman obeyed by plunging her fat hand down the front of the child's dress, where she fished around vigorously but unsuccessfully.
"Nothing but bones!" she ejaculated.
Meanwhile, everybody else had left the platform, and the gatekeeper was growing impatient.