"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 Saturday." "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 Principal, 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 Principal. "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 Principal 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 Principal 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 blush! 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?"