"Then you've dropped the bills in the office."
"No, I have not. I was holding the purse over the table when I opened it, and I perceived at once that it was empty, even to my small change."
"Well, that shows that the money has been dropped out of the purse some time when you opened it. If I put the bills somewhere else, what's become of the change? You've lost it all out together, you see."
"Then it must be in the house somewhere," said the doctor, evidently staggered, "for I haven't been out since those bills were brought home."
"Yes, you have," urged Mrs. Lively from her vantage-ground. "You were called up last night to see that child on Morgan street."
"But I didn't lose it there. For when I wanted to make change for a five-dollar bill, I found that I hadn't my purse; and that reminds me, I found it in my pocket this morning, though it wasn't there last night."
"I can explain that," said Mrs. Lively after a moment's hesitation. "I put the purse under my pillow last night, and returned it to your pocket this morning."
"Then of course you lost the money out," said the doctor promptly.
"Of course! I might have known you would lay it on me if there was a shadow of a chance. I had nothing in the world to do with the losing of that money."
"You ought to have got a cheque."