One of themselves, he said, must have carried them away for some friend outside the palace.

Then a housemaid, who had not long been one of them, said she had seen someone like a page running in the direction of the cellar with something in his hands.

Instantly all turned upon the pages, accusing them, one after another.

All denied, but nobody believed one of them: Where there is no truth there can be no faith.
To the cellar they all set out to look for the missing pie and loaf.
Lina heard them coming, as well she might, for they were talking and quarrelling loud, and gave her master warning.

They snatched up everything, and got all signs of their presence out at the back door before the servants entered.