Mrs. Potter jerked up the table cloth, but there was no sign of the handbag on the floor.
“It isn’t here, Jane.”
With a low moan, Mrs. Willoughby sank into a chair.
“Oh, what shall I do?” she wailed. “Someone has stolen it! Emily’s inheritance!”
“I can’t believe it!” cried Mrs. Potter frantically. “The purse must be here! But perhaps you dropped it in your chair,” she suggested hopefully.
“No, I’ve looked there. And it isn’t on the floor. Oh, what shall I do?”
“Are you sure it didn’t drop behind the table? Here, let me pull it out.”
Mrs. Potter grasped the edge of the table as she spoke and pulled it away from the window. The missing handbag was not revealed!