"Let us set to work, then," I said, and I sat down to her table.

"Are you in earnest?" she asked, looking at me in alarm and
bewilderment.

"Natalie, do be reasonable!" I said appealingly, seeing from her face
that she meant to protest. "I beg you, trust my experience and my sense
of honour."

"I don't understand what you want."

"Show me how much you have collected and how much you have spent."

"I have no secrets. Any one may see. Look."

On the table lay five or six school exercise books, several sheets of
notepaper covered with writing, a map of the district, and a number of
pieces of paper of different sizes. It was getting dusk. I lighted a
candle.

"Excuse me, I don't see anything yet," I said, turning over the leaves
of the exercise books. "Where is the account of the receipt of money
subscriptions?"

"That can be seen from the subscription lists."

"Yes, but you must have an account," I said, smiling at her naivete.
"Where are the letters accompanying the subscriptions in money or in
kind? _Pardon_, a little practical advice, Natalie: it's absolutely
necessary to keep those letters. You ought to number each letter and