looking carefully at the cutter which he had taken in his hand,
but not so carefully that he failed to note that the look of
distress was not lifted from the mother's face either by her
daughter's words or manner.

"You have washed this?" he asked.

"No. Why should I wash it? It was clean enough. I was just going
down to give it in at the desk. I wasn't going to carry it away."
And she turned aside to the window and began to hum, as though done
with the whole matter.

The old detective rubbed his chin, glanced again at the paper-cutter,
then at the girl in the window, and lastly at the mother, who had
lifted her head again and was facing him bravely.

"It is very important," he observed to the latter, "that your
daughter should be correct in her statement as to the condition of
this article when she picked it up. Are you sure she did not wash
it?"

"I don't think she did. But I'm sure she will tell you the truth
about that. Caroline, this is a police matter. Any mistake about
it may involve us in a world of trouble and keep you from getting
back home in time for your coming-out party. Did you--did you
wash this cutter when you got upstairs, or--or--" she added, with
a propitiatory glance at Mr. Gryce--"wipe it off at any time between
then and now? Don't answer hastily. Be sure. No one can blame you
for that act. Any girl, as thoughtless as you, might do that."