"If you only knew how I have searched for you high and low, and now, after all, you appear in the very nick of time." "Exactly." "It would almost seem as if you had chosen the dramatic moment; for this is the time of all times when your presence on the scene was most desired." "It's very good of you to say so;--but if you will allow me to interrupt you--I am afraid I am not entitled to your thanks. The fact is, I--I haven't the bag." "You haven't the bag?" Although he did not dare to look at her he was conscious that the fashion of her countenance had changed. At the knowledge a chill seemed to penetrate to the very marrow in his bones. "I--I fear I haven't." "You had it--I left it in your charge!" "Unfortunately, that is the most unfortunate part of the whole affair." "What do you mean?" He explained. For the second time that night he told his tale. It had not rolled easily off his tongue at the first time of telling. He found the repetition a task of exquisite difficulty. In the presence of that young lady it seemed so poor a story. Especially in the mood in which she was. She continually interrupted him with question and comment--always of the most awkward kind. By the time he had made an end of telling he felt as if most of the vitality had gone out of him. She was silent for some seconds--dreadful seconds; Then she drew a long breath, and she said:-- "So I am to understand, am I, that your sister has lost the bag--my bag?" "I fear that it would seem so, for the present." "For the present? What do you mean by for the present? Are you suggesting that she will be able to find it during the next few hours? Because after that it will be too late." "I--I should hardly like to go so far as that, knowing my sister." "Knowing your sister? I see. Of course I am perfectly aware that I had no right to intrust the bag to your charge even for a single instant: to you, an entire stranger; though I had no notion that you were the kind of stranger you seem to be. Nor had I any right to slip, and fall, and become unconscious and so allow that train to leave me behind. Still--it does seems a little hard. Don't you think it does?" "I can only hope that the loss was not of such serious importance as you would seem to infer." "It depends on what you call serious. It probably means the difference between affluence and beggary. That's all." "On one point you must allow me to make an observation. The will was not in the bag." "The will was not in the bag!" There was a quality in the lady's voice which made Mr. Roland quail. He hastened to proceed. "I have here all which it contained." He produced a neat packet, in which were discovered four keys, two handkerchiefs, scraps of what might be chocolate, a piece of pencil, a pair of brown shoe-laces. She regarded the various objects with unsympathetic eyes. "It also contained the will."