"She has befooled every one in this house except myself," cried Mabel; "but I am not so easily deceived. I demand that her room shall be searched, every possible hole and corner looked into, and I will abide by the result."
"Then if your ring be not found, do you take back your accusation?"
"I do," replied Mabel.
"And supposing some one else, and not Margery, has purloined the jewel?"
"I ask that you should dismiss, without a character, any one who is proved guilty."
"Be it so," rejoined Mrs. Beach solemnly. "I myself will superintend the search, so that it may be done with fairness."
"But meanwhile Margery must not be allowed to return to her room," said Mabel excitedly.
"Margery has no wish to return to her room until we have quite done with it," replied Mrs. Beach. "But if you are afraid, Mabel, go with Margery now, lock her door, and bring me the key."
[CHAPTER VI.]
THE PLOT FAILS.