"I don't believe it for a moment--not for a single instant. I am convinced that she supposes herself to be speaking the absolute truth. Even granting that she is mistaken, in what position do I stand? I cannot go and say, 'I have lost your bag, but it doesn't matter, for the will was not inside.' Would she not be entitled to reply, 'Return me the bag in the condition in which I intrusted it to your keeping, and I will show that you are wrong'? It will not be enough for me to repeat that I have not the bag; my sister threw it into her dust-hole." "Philip!" "May she not retort, 'Then, for all the misfortunes which the loss of the bag brings on me, you are responsible'? The letter of the law might acquit me. My conscience never would. Agatha, I fear you have done me a serious injury." "Don't talk like that! Under the circumstances you had no right to give me the bag at all." "You are wrong; I did not give it you. On the contrary, I implored you not to take it. But you insisted." "Philip, how can you say such a wicked thing? I remember exactly what happened. I had been buying some veils. I was saying to you how I hated carrying parcels, even small ones----" "Agatha, don't let us enter into this matter now. You may be called upon to make your statement in another place. I can only hope that our statements will not clash." For the first time Mrs. Tranmer showed symptoms of genuine anxiety. "You don't mean to say that I'm to be dragged into a court of law because of that twopenny-halfpenny bag?" "I think it possible. What else can you expect? "I must tell this unfortunate young lady how the matter stands. I apprehend that I shall have to repeat my statement in open court, and that you will be called upon to supplement it. I also take it that no stone will be left unturned to induce you to give a clear and satisfactory account of what became of the bag after it passed into your hands." "My goodness! And I know no more what became of it than anything." "I must go to Miss Angel at once." "Philip!" "I must. Consider my position. I cannot enter the court as a juryman again without explaining to someone how I am placed. The irregularity would transgress all limits. I must communicate with Miss Angel immediately; she will communicate with her advisers, who will no doubt communicate with you." "My goodness!" repeated Mrs. Tranmer to herself after he had gone. Still she did not proceed upstairs to dress. CHAPTER III THE PLAINTIFF IS STARTLED