"Give it to Shirley and Caroline; they did it," was alleged, with more attention to effect than truth.
"Traitor and false witness!" cried both the girls. "We never laid hands on a thing, except in the spirit of laudable inquiry!"
"Exactly so," said Moore, with his rare smile. "And what have you ferreted out, in your 'spirit of laudable inquiry'?"
He perceived the inner drawer open.
"This is empty," said he. "Who has taken----"

"Shirley and Caroline did it."
"False!" cried both the girls. "We never laid hands on a thing, except in the spirit of laudable inquiry!"
"Exactly so," said Moore, with his rare smile. "And what have you ferreted out?"
He perceived the inner drawer was open. "This is empty," said he. "Who has taken-"
