What little
money she had by her was in the drawing-room, and the drawing-room, as it
seemed, had not been entered. In truth, all Mrs. Carbuncle's possessions
in the house were not sufficient to have tempted a well-bred, well-
instructed thief. But it behooved her to be indignant; and she could be
indignant with grace, as the thief was discovered to be, not her maid, but
Patience Crabstick. The policemen followed Mrs. Carbuncle, and the maids
followed the policemen; but Lizzie Eustace kept her seat in the chair by
the wall. "Do you think they have taken much of yours?" said Lucinda,
coming up to her and speaking very gently. Lizzie made a motion with her
two hands upon her heart, and struggled, and gasped, as though she wished
to speak but could not. "I suppose it is that girl who has done it all,"
said Lucinda. Lizzie nodded her head, and tried to smile. The attempt was
so ghastly that Lucinda, though not timid by nature, was frightened. She
sat down and took Lizzie's hand, and tried to comfort her. "It is very
hard upon you," she said, "to be twice robbed." Lizzie again nodded her
head. "I hope it is not much now. Shall we go up and see?" The poor
creature did get upon her legs, but she gasped so terribly that Lucinda
feared that she was dying.
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