"Exactly," said Miss Nelson. She was not listening to all the boy's words. Her thoughts were far away.
"Ermie is difficult," she began. Then she stopped and uttered an exclamation.
"Look, Basil, is that a key at your feet?"
Basil stooped, and picked up the key of Miss Nelson's cupboard.
"Put it in the lock of the cupboard behind you, my boy. I am glad it is found—truly glad. I thought I could not have put it away. And yet Ermengarde seemed so sure that it was not in the lock when she was in the room."
"Oh, it fell out, I suppose," said Basil. He was not interested in the key, and he stood up now, prepared to go.
"Those photographs I spoke about are in the cupboard, Basil. I could not bring them to you because I could not find the key. Would you like to see them now?"
"Thanks," said Basil. "Perhaps, if you don't mind, I had better look at them by daylight."
When Basil said this, Miss Nelson also stood up. He looked at her, being quite sure now she would wish him good-night and let him go. Her eyes had a peculiar, terrified, staring expression. She rushed to the mantelpiece; then she turned and grasped the boy's arm.
"Basil," she said, "the picture is gone!"