Accusations
By this time a number of the diners, attracted by the strange actions and excited voices of the two women, had crowded about them. The manager came hurrying up to inquire what the trouble was.
“My handbag!” Mrs. Willoughby wailed. “Someone has taken it!”
“Oh, there must be a mistake,” the manager assured her.
“There’s no mistake. I left it on the table when I ran to the window at the sound of the crash. I couldn’t have had my back turned more than a minute. When I rushed back to the table my handbag was gone.”
“This is very serious, Madam. Are you certain you did not have the bag in your hand when you left the table?”
Miserably, Mrs. Willoughby shook her head.
“I’m sure I didn’t.”
“Someone must have stolen it,” Mrs. Potter interposed. “That’s the only explanation.”
“I’ll never leave this place until I get my handbag back!” Mrs. Willoughby screamed hysterically. “I’ll have everyone searched!”
“Just a minute, please,” the cool voice of the manager interposed. “Let me get this straight. How much do you claim that you lost?”
“Claim?” Mrs. Willoughby cried angrily. “Do you mean to insinuate that my handbag wasn’t stolen?”