The Madcap of the School Part 32

"You certainly didn't."

"What nonsense, Ray! You know I brought them," protested Veronica indignantly. "You were practising, and I said: 'Don't stop, I'll put them inside your drawer.' Hermie was with me at the time."

A conscious look spread over Raymonde's face. She blushed hotly.

"Was it last Friday?" she asked quickly.

"Of course it was Friday. The notes must be in your drawer. Have you the key? Then come along, and we'll go and find them."

Raymonde unwillingly followed Veronica upstairs. Her manner was embarra.s.sed in the extreme. She unlocked her drawer in the bureau, and turned out the possessions she had there, but no notes were among them.

"What's become of them?" demanded Veronica sharply.

"I--I really don't know!" faltered Raymonde.

"Then you must find out. As treasurer for your Form, you are responsible."

"You're sure you put them in my drawer, and not in anybody else's?"

"Certain. It was the bottom one on the right-hand side, and it was open just as you left it when you gave me the silver. I couldn't be mistaken."

Raymonde flung herself down on a chair, and buried her face in her hands.

"I want to think," she murmured.

Veronica gazed at her with growing suspicion.

"I'm sorry, but it's my duty to report this to Miss Beasley," she remarked freezingly.

"Oh, no, please!" pleaded Raymonde, starting up in great agitation.

"Can't you give me just a few days, and then--well perhaps it will be all right. Leave it over till Sat.u.r.day."

"It will be all wrong!" said the monitress sternly. "I can't understand you, Raymonde, for either you have the money or you haven't. If you have, you must hand it over; and if you haven't, we've got to find out where it's gone. That's flat! So come along with me at once to the study."

The Princ.i.p.al, on being told the facts of the case, was astonished and distressed.

"There may possibly be some misunderstanding," she urged. "Before anybody is accused we will make sure that the notes were not placed in a wrong drawer. Tell every member of the Fifth to come at once to the practising-room, and bring her keys. You will go upstairs with me, Raymonde."

Veronica's message spread consternation through the Form. The girls trooped to the sanctum with scared faces. They found Miss Beasley there, looking very grave, and Raymonde, her eyes downcast and her mouth set in its most obstinate mould, standing by the bureau.

"I wish you each to unlock your drawer in my presence," said the Princ.i.p.al. "The money collected at your concert is missing, and perhaps it may have been misplaced."

In dead silence the girls complied, every one in turn showing her possessions. There were certainly no notes among them. Miss Beasley turned to Veronica.

"What time was it when you took up the money?"

"About five minutes to six, Miss Beasley. It was just before I went into preparation. Hermie was with me."

"Did you leave the drawer open or shut?"

"I shut it, but did not lock it. Raymonde's keys were dangling in it.

I thought she would lock it for herself when she had finished practising."

"Who came into the room next? Maudie Heywood? Then, Maudie, did you notice the keys hanging in the drawer when you arrived at 6.15?"

"No, Miss Beasley, they were certainly not there."

"Thank you, girls, you may go now. Veronica, tell Hermie to go to my study and wait for me. Raymonde, you will stay here. I wish to speak to you alone."

The Princ.i.p.al waited until the door had closed on her other pupils, then turned to the white-faced little figure near the bureau.

"Raymonde, this is a sad business," she said solemnly. "You had better confess at once that you have taken this money."

CHAPTER XXIII

A Mystery Unravelled

Raymonde started, and faced the Princ.i.p.al with flaming eyes.

"I didn't! I didn't!" she protested.

"Then where is it?"

"That I don't know."

"Perhaps you will explain," continued Miss Beasley, watching her searchingly, "how it is that you were seen at Marlowe post office on Friday afternoon, and that you bought a postal order for twelve and sixpence. Oh, Raymonde, you may well blus.h.!.+ Mrs. West was calling only an hour ago, and told me that she had seen you in the shop. She asked if I knew about it, or if you had been there without leave. Why did you get a postal order?"

Raymonde was silent for a moment. Then:

"To send for a fountain pen," she stammered.

"You admit that you visited the post office? Now, I know that you had finished all your pocket-money. You drew the last of your allowance from me on the day of your concert."

"I had a pound-note of my own, put away in my handkerchief case. My uncle gave it to me last holidays."

"If that is so, then where is the money for which you were treasurer?"

"I don't know."

"Raymonde, I can't believe such a story. You're not telling me the truth!"

"Indeed, indeed I am!" burst out Raymonde. "Oh! what shall I do? I can't explain, and I can't say any more. If you'd only wait a few days!"

"Indeed I shall not wait," returned the headmistress coldly. "The matter must be investigated at once."