in his own mind that the bag story was all false, was made up
between mistress and maid, and that the part about the departing
cousin was an artistic touch added by Elsa.

The coroner, too, seemed inclined to disbelieve the present
witness, and he sat thoughtfully snapping the catch of the bag.

He turned again to Miss Lloyd. "Having given away your own bag,"
he said suavely, "you have perhaps provided yourself with
another, have you not?"

"Why, no, I haven't," said Florence Lloyd. "I have been
intending to do so, and shall get one shortly, but I haven't yet
selected it."

"And in the meantime you have been getting along without any?"

"A gold-mesh bag is not an indispensable article; I have several
bags of other styles, and I'm in no especial haste to purchase a
new one."

Miss Lloyd's manner had taken on several degrees of hauteur, and
her voice was incisive in its tone. Clearly she resented this
discussion of her personal belongings, and as she entirely
repudiated the ownership of the bag in the coroner's possession,
she was annoyed at his questions.

Mr. Monroe looked at her steadily.

"If this is not your bag, Miss Lloyd," he said, with some