of the drawer, but no money!  I took everything out of the drawer, piece by piece, and put it back again.  I simply cannot tell you how I felt!  I went out to the landing with a match.  There was no money there.  And then I went downstairs in the dark.  I never knew it to be so dark, in spite of the street-lamp.  I knocked against the clock.  I nearly knocked it over.  I managed to light the gas in the back room.  I made sure that I must have left all the notes on the top of the cupboard instead of only part of them.  But there was nothing there at all.  Nothing!  Then I looked all over the sitting-room floor with a candle.  When I got upstairs again I didn’t know what I was doing.  I knew I was going to be ill, and I just managed to ring the bell for dear Rachel, and the next thing I remember was I was in bed here, and Rachel putting something hot to my feet—­the dear child!”

Her eyes glistened with tears.  And Rachel too, as she pictured the enfeebled and despairing incarnation of dignity colliding with grandfather’s clocks in the night and climbing on chairs and groping over carpets, had difficulty not to cry, and a lump rose in her throat.  She was so moved by compassion that she did not at first feel the full shock of the awful disappearance of the money.

Mr. Batchgrew, for the second time that morning unequal to a situation, turned foolishly to the wardrobe, clearing his throat and snorting.

“It’s on one of the sliding trays,” said Mrs. Maldon.

“What’s on one of the sliding trays?”

“The serviette.”

Rachel, who was nearest, opened the wardrobe and immediately discovered the missing serviette and ring, which had the appearance of a direct dramatic proof of Mrs. Maldon’s story.

Mr. Batchgrew exclaimed, indignant—­

“I never heard such a rigmarole in all my born days.”  And then, angrily to Rachel, “Go down and look on th’ top o’ th’ cupboard, thee!”

Rachel hesitated.

“I’m quite resigned,” said Mrs. Maldon placidly.  “It’s a punishment on me for hardening my heart to Julian last night.  It’s a punishment for my pride.”

“Now, then!” Mr. Batchgrew glared bullyingly at Rachel, who vanished.

In a few moments she returned.

“There’s nothing at all on the top of the cupboard.”

“But th’ money must be somewhere,” said Mr. Batchgrew savagely.  “Nine hundred and sixty-five pun.  And I’ve arranged to lend out that money again, at once!  What am I to say to th’ mortgagor?  Am I to tell him as I’ve lost it?...  No!  I never!”

Mrs. Maldon murmured—­

“Nay, nay!  It’s no use looking at me.  I thought I should never get over it in the night.  But I’m quite resigned now.”