Ribby has two ovens, one above the other, and she puts her mouse pie in the "lower" oven. She tidies the house, sets the table, and leaves to buy tea, marmalade, and sugar. Duchess meantime has left home with her ham and veal pie in a basket, passes Ribby on the street, and hurries on to Ribby's house. She puts her pie into the "upper" oven, and searches quickly for the mouse pie (which she does not find because she neglects to look in the "lower" oven). She slips out the back door as Ribby returns.