You're joking, aren't you?" inquired the teacher, though there was something very serious on Francesca's expressive face. "No." She was very tense and looked like she was going to cry. "Yesterday, while going home from school, I was carrying the money in a folder. I had been bringing it to school and back so many times that I forgot I had it. It happened near the bus station. I was laughing and chatting with a friend. She gave me a sudden push and my folder fell to the ground. Before I had the time to pick it up,a bus arrived and ran over it. When I collected it, it was all muddy .Without thinking, I threw it into the dustbin next to the bus stop." Nobody thought Francesca was telling a lie. Something in her voice was very convincing. The teacher and the bookseller looked at each other. "I'll refund the money myself" said Francesca in a low but determined voice. Some of the students said that they would contribute too. Then the teacher had an idea. The school is situated very near the bus station. She asked Francesca if she could go to check the dustbin in case the money was still there.