“Was it in the same compartment of the purse as the gold and silver?”
“No, sir; but it could be seen if the purse was opened, and why it was not taken too I cannot imagine.”
“That is not so difficult of explanation. But now I must ask you a painful question; but it is your bounden duty to answer it without reserve. Have you any suspicions as to who may have taken it?”
“None whatever, sir. I am almost certain that there was not a boy in the house. I was the last to remain in. Indeed I found all but three in the football field, and I know where they were, for I saw them playing at fives as I passed the court. At least two were playing, and the third, who had hurt his foot, was looking on.”
“Do you mean to say, for it is necessary to be accurate, that you recognised every boy in the house except these three in the football field yourself?”
“Not exactly, sir; but we have been talking the matter over, and those whom I did see can answer for all the rest.”
“And who were the three boys in the Fives Court?”
“I was the looker-on, sir,” said Gould, stepping forward.
“And when did you leave?”
“When the others left off play, sir. We all returned together at tea-time.”