"A neighbour even declared that she had seen him picking something up in the road, but she could not say what it was."
This line illustrates Matre Hauchecome's conflict in "A Piece of String". Matre Hauchecome is falsely accused of stealing a pocketbook and becomes upset because no one believes his innocence. The line implies that Matre Hauchecome is being watched and judged by his neighbors, which adds to his conflict and sense of injustice.