The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-26
CHAPTER XX.-coSIISurp.


CHAPTER XX.-coSIISurp.
This time he looked my way. II was down.
right frightful to hear him piling up proof AFTER
proof against Miss Rachel, and to know, while
Que WAS Ion ging 70 defend her, that there was
no disputing the truth VI what he said. l am
(thank Col ci!)oonstitutionally superior to reason.
This enabled me 10 hold hrm 10 my lsdy's views,
which was my view also. This reused my spirit,
and made ne put bold face on Il before Ser
gsant Cuff. Profit, good friends, besceeh you.
by my example. twill save you from many
troubles Of the veIing sort Cultivate q supe-
rio..,:y TO reason, and see how you pare the
claws Of all the sensible people when they try to
scratch you for your own good
Finding that | made no remark, and that my
mistress made no. remark, Sergeant CUT pro-
ceeded. Lord how IL did enrage me to notice
that he Vas not in the least put out by our 81
lcuce
There is the case, my lady. As il stands
against Miss verinder alone,' he said. The
next thing Is 10 put the case as II stands against
Miss ysrinder and the deceased RosannA spear
man, taken together. We will 70 back for q
moment. IL you please. to your daughters re
fusal to let her wardrobe be examined. My
mind being made up after that circumstance,
I had two questions TO consider next. First, as
10 the right method Of conducting my inquiry.
Second. as 10 whether Miss verinder had an
accomplish among the female servants in the
house. Amer carefully thinking II over de-
termined 10 conduct the inquiry in. what we
should call at our Office, highly irregular man
ner. For this reason: had family scandal
TO deal with, which IL was my business 10 keep
within the family limits. The less noise male,
and the fewer strangers employed to help me,
the better. As TO the usual course OF taking
people into custody ON suspicion. going before
the magistrate, and all the rest Of it-nOthing
of the sort was to Be thought OF, when your lsdy-
ship's daughter was(ss believci)at the bottom
Of the whole business. In this case felt that
q person Of Mr.. Bet,eredge's character and po-
sition in the bouse--knowing the servants rs he
did, and having the honor Of the family at
heart-would be safer 30 take as an assistant
than any other person whom I could lay my
hand ON. I should have tried Mr.. Blake a. well
but for one obstacle in the way. He saw the
drift ofmy proceedings at . very early date (;
and. with his interest in Miss verinder. any
mutual understanding Was impossible between
him and me. trouble your ladyship With
these particulars 10 show you that have kept
the family secret within the family circle. I
nm the only outsider who knows it-and my
professional existence depends on holding my
tongue
Here felt that my professional existence de-
pended on not holding my tongue. To be held
up before my mistress, in my old age, as . sort
Of deputy policeman was, once again more than
my Christianity was strong enough TO bear.
Il beg to inform your lsdyship,' I said. that
never. to my knowledge, helPci this abomin-
able detective business, in any way. from first
10 last and summon Sergeant Cuff TO contra
dict me, II he dares =
Having given vent in those words, I felt
greatly relieved. Her ladyship honorcl me by
n little friendly pat on the shoulder. lookol
with righteous indignation at the Sergeant to
see what he thought Of such testimony as
HAT! The Sergeant looked hack like lamb,
and seemcd TO like me better than ever.
My lady informed him that he might contin-
ne his statement Il understand she said. that
you have honestly done your best, in what you
believed TO be my interest. am ready TO hear
what you have to say next
what I have 10 say next answered. Sergeant
Cuff, relates 20 RosAnna Spearman. lrecognir
cd the young woman, as your ladyship may TO
member, when she brought the westinghouse
into this room. Up to that time was inclined
TO doubt whether Miss Verindcr had trusted her
secret to any one. When saw Rosanna alter
cd my mind. suspected her at once Of being
privy to the suppression ofthe Diamond The
poor creature has met her death by . dresdml
end. and don't want your ladyship TO think,
now she's gone, was unduly hard on her. II
this hal been Q common case Of theiving,
should have given Rosanna the benefit OF the
doubt just as freely rs should have given II
TO any Of the other servants in the house. Our
experience Of the reformatory women Is, that
when tricd in seryice-snd when kindly and
judiciously trcated-they prove themselves in
the majority Of cases 10 be honestly penitent.
and honestly worthy Of the pains taken with
them. But this was not . common case Of
theiving. TWAS csse-in my mind-of deep
mond at the bottom Of Il. Holding this view,
the first consideration which naturally present.
ell itself 10 me, In connection with Rosanna,
was this. Would Miss verinder be satisfied
(begging your ladyships psricn)vith leading
us ali 10 think that the Moonsscne was merely
lost Or would she 70 step further. and de
lude US into believing that the Moonstone was
stolen In the latter event. there was RosAnna
ready TO her hand the person Of all others 20
lead your lAdyship OF. and to lead me of, on q
false scent
Was IL possible Q askei my.elO that he
could put his case against Miss Rachel and Ro-
sAnna In q more horrid point Of view than this 7
IL ras possible, - you shall now see.
Il had another reason for suspeetng the de-
ceased woman he said, which appears TO me
to have been stronger still. Who would be the
very person to help Miss verindr In raising
money privately on the Dianondf Rnsanns
Spcsrman. No yca,g lady In Mis- Verinder's
position could manage such risky matter rs
that by herself A go-between she must have,
and Who 80 6t, ask again, - Rosanna sPeaf,
mani Your ladyship's deceased house maid
Was at the top Of her profession when she was 4
thief. She had relations, TO my certain knowl-
edge. with one of the few men In London( lin the
money-lending llne)who would advance large
sum on such notable jewel as the Mconstone,
without asking awksrd questions or insisting
on awkArd conditions. Bear this in mind. my
Lady and now let me show you how my sus-
picious have been justified BY Rosanna's own
nets. aud BY the plain references TO be drawn
from them,' f.-.
He thercupon passed the whole Of Rosanns's
proceciings under review. Youac already As
veil acquainted With those proceedings ss l am |;
n you win understand how unsnswcrably this
,>rt Of his report fixed the guilt OF being con-
,ernei in the disappeannoe Of the Moonstons
m the memory ON the poor dead girl. Even
ny mistress was daunted BY what he said now.
The made him no answer when he had done.
q didn't seem to matter 10 the Sergeant wheth-
r he was answered or not. On he went (dc-
ii take him), just s steady Is ever.
Having stated the whole cass q undcr-
tand t., he said, 4 have only to tell your lady
hip, now. what propose 70 do next. zee