“But you didn’t scream immediately,” observed Mrs. Hilliard. “You must have waited to dress.”
“I had dressed in the bathroom, before I knew the bag was stolen.”
“Wasn’t anybody else in your room all morning, Mrs. Macgregor?” Mary Louise couldn’t help asking.
“Only Miss Stoddard. She had gone out to buy me some thread—she does my mending for me—and she stopped in on her return from the store and took some of my lingerie to her room.”
At this moment the chambermaid, a girl of about twenty-two, approached the group. Either she knew nothing about the robbery, or else she was a splendid actress, for she appeared entirely unconcerned.
“You wanted me, Mrs. Hilliard?” she inquired.
“Listen to the innocent baby!” mocked Mrs. Macgregor scornfully.
Ida looked puzzled, and Mrs. Hilliard briefly explained the situation. The girl denied the whole thing immediately.
“There wasn’t any bag on the bureau, Mrs. Macgregor,” she said. “I know, because I changed the cover.”
“Maybe it wasn’t on the bureau,” admitted Mrs. Macgregor. “But it was somewhere in the room. You’re going to be searched!”