For a time they were more stunned than anything else. The charge was so outrageous that it seemed impossible to take it seriously. Yet they were aware that it was serious enough. They were more than ever aware of this when they received word from Miss Romaine, summoning them to the office.
The summons was brought to them by Lily Darrow. The girl looked as pale and sickly as ever, yet there was unusual determination in her step, in the set of her mouth.
"I'm going with you," she told the girls as they left the room together. "I asked Miss Romaine if I could stay in the office, and she said I could. I may—" She paused, then added in a low voice: "I may have something to tell her."
The girls glanced at her suspiciously. After all, although Lily Darrow had always seemed friendly toward them, she was constantly seen with Kate Speed. Probably her sympathies were with that side. Perhaps she had come, at Kate's bidding, to add further "evidence" to the already staggering amount against them.
They reached Miss Romaine's door. Jo pushed it open and they stepped within the office.
Miss Romaine was at her desk, and as the girls entered she looked up at them gravely. Before her, within reach of her fingers, were a signet ring, a handkerchief and the envelope of a letter.
The girls looked dumbly at these things, then steadily met Miss Romaine's glance as it rested upon each of them in turn.
"Have you girls any idea how these articles came to be in my office on the night of the robbery?" she asked.
Before they could reply in their own defense, Lily Darrow stepped up to the desk. Her eyes blazed black in her white face but her chin was held high as she said, in a startlingly clear voice:
"I can tell you, Miss Jane. I know all about it!"