about the money if Maslova had not been in accord with them,"

said the clerk of Jewish extraction.

"Well, do you think that it was she who stole the money?" asked

"I will never believe it," cried the kindly merchant; "it was all

"They are a nice lot, all of them," said the colonel.

"But she says she never went into the room."

"Oh, believe her by all means."

"I should not believe that jade, not for the world."