Mrs. Sellars disagreed. "Why, Martha was a most religious woman, and so good as to be almost unpleasant. She would never have sent you on an errand which had to do with anything wrong, my dear." "You can judge for yourself," said Miss Carrol, quietly. "I am telling you all that has taken place." Harkness pondered. "You say that you left this house at half-past eight, and wandered in Hyde Park until half-past eleven. How can you prove this?" "Very easily, Mr. Inspector. I met a policeman in Crook Street when I left the house and asked him the time. He told me that it was half-past eight. At half-past eleven I spoke to another policeman near the Achilles statue, saying I had lost myself in the fog. I asked him the time also, and told him to whistle me up a cab. He said it was half-past eleven and got me the cab. Mrs. Sellars told me in my bedroom that you had questioned the cabman, sir, so he must substantiate my story." Harkness nodded. "Yes. He told me that a policeman had put you in the cab at Hyde Park Corner about the time you mentioned. I see that you can account for leaving the house and returning to it. But what were you doing in the meantime?" "I have told you," said Patricia, annoyed at having her word doubted. "Yes, you have told me; but can you prove what you say?" "Luckily I can, unless the things are stolen." "What things?" "The umbrella, the lantern and the empty box, which I left on the bench in the broad Bayswater path. I was sitting there when the man robbed me." "What was the man who robbed you like?" "I can't say. It was foggy and he only remained for a single moment." "And what was the man who gave you the box like?" "I can only make you the same answer," said Patricia. "Both incidents happened so swiftly that I had no time to observe anything. But if you will send to the Park you will perhaps find the articles I left on the bench." The inspector nodded, and rising from his chair, went out of the room. Mrs. Sellars caught the girl's hand when they were alone. "What does it all mean, my dear?" she asked helplessly. "I can't say," replied Patricia, shaking her head. "You know all that I know, and must form your own opinion." "What is yours?" "I have none. I am quite bewildered." At this moment Inspector Harkness re-entered the room and returned to his seat. "I have sent to the Broad Walk in Hyde Park," he said bluffly; "so if your story is true, the articles will be found." "My story is true," said Patricia, flushing with anger. "But while I was away someone may have sat on the bench and----" "And have taken the articles," finished the officer dryly. "Well, yes; but I hope for your sake that your tale--a very strange one--will be substantiated by these proofs." "Do you believe that I am telling you a falsehood?" asked Patricia in her most indignant manner. "I believe nothing and I say nothing until these articles are found." "And if they are not?"