The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-11-05
CHAPTER XIV.-coSIISuEp.

southern District OF New York
CHAPTER XIV.-coSrISuEp.
Left alone, under those circumstances, q de-
voaring curiosity pushed me on 10 make some
discoveries for myself
II was plain that Sergeant Cud's suspicious OF
Rosanna hal been reused by something that he
had found out at his examination Of the servants
in my room. Now, the only two servants Tex
cepting Rosanna HERSELF who had remained un-
der examination for any length Of time were my
lAdy's own maid and the first house-mail, those
two being also the women who hal taken the
lead in prosecuting their unfortunate fellow-ser-
want from the 6rst. Reaching these conclusions,
looked in on them, casually as il might be, in
the servants hall, and, finding tea going for
ward. Instantly invited myealf to that meal.
My reliance on that teapot rs an ally did not
20 unrcwarled. In less than half an hour
knew as much as the Sergeant himself
Ny lady's maid and the house-maid bad, Il
appesrs, neither Of them believed in ROsanna's
illness Of the previous day. These two devils
ask your pardon bat how else can you de-
scribe couple Of spitefal women had stolen
up stairs, at intervals during the Tuesday after
noon hal tried RcsannaIs door, and found il
locked had knocked, and not been answered.
had listened, and not heard q sound inside.
When the girl had come down TO tea, and had
bsen sent up, still out Of sorts, TO bed again, the
two devils aforesaid hal tried her door once
more, and found il locked (; had looked at the
keyhole, and found II stopped up had seen n
light under her door at midnight, and had heard
the cracking Of a FIRE "a fre in q servants bed
room in the month Of June y at four in the
morning. All this they had told the Sergeant
Cuff, who, In return for their anxiety to enlight-
en- him, had eyed them with sour and suspicious
looks, and had shown them plainly that he didn't
believe either one or the other. Hence the un-
favorable reports Of him which these two women
had brought out with them from the exainina-
ton. Hence, also without reckoning the in
fuence Of the tes-pot), their readiness 10 let
their tongues run to any length on the subject
Of the Sergcant's ungrScious behavior 20 them.
Having had some cx perience Of the great Cuffs
roundabout ways, and having last seen him eyi-
IDENTIFY bent on following Rossnna privately when
she went out for her walk, IL seemed clear TO me
that he had thought Il unadvisable to let the
lady's maid and the house-msid know how ma
ter<ally they had helped him. They were just
.tfe sort Of women, II he had treated their eyi-
dence ss Trustworthy, to have been pulled up
by IL. and to have said or done something which
would have put Rosanna Spcarman on her
guard.
walked out in the fine summer evening. very
sorry for the poor girl. and very uneasy in my
mind. generally. at the turn things had taken.
Drifting toward the shrubbcry, there met Mr..
Fraaklinin his favorite walk. lie had been back
some time from the station, and had been with
my lady, holding long conversation with her.
She had told him Of Miss Rachel's unaccount-
able refusal 10 let her wardrobe be examined.
and had put him In such low spirits about my
young lady that he seemed TO shrink from speak
ing on the subject. The family temper appeared
in his face that even ing for the first time in my
experience of him.
'Well, Bettercdge,' he said, show does the at
mOspherc Of mystery and suspicion In which we
arc all living now agree with your Do you re-
member that morning when first came here
with the Moonstoner l wish to God We had
thrown Il into the quicksAnd =
After breaking out in that way, he abstsined
from speaking again until he had composed him
self We walked silently. aide by side, for a
minute or two, and then he asked me what had
become Of Sergeant Cuff II was impossible to
put Mr. Franklin of with the excuse Of the Ser
geant being in my room, composing his mind.
I to,d him exactly what had happened. MENTION
ing particularly what my lady's maid and the
house-maid had said about Rosanna Spearman.
y
Sergeant's suspicious had taken. in the twink
ling OF an eye.
Didn't you tell me this morning. he said
'thst one Of the tradesPeople declared he hal
met Rosanna yesterday, ON the foot-way to Fri
zinghau, when We supposed her to be III In her
roomr
.Yes, SIR
IF my aunt's maid and the other woman
have spoken the truth. You may depend upon IL
the trsdesmsn did meet her. The girls attack
OF illness was blind TO deceive US. She had
some guilty reason for going TO the town secret
iy. The paint-stalned dress Is dress Of hers
and the dre heard cracking in her room ut four
in the morning Was hrc lit to destroy H.. Ro-
s,nna Spearman has stolen the Diamond. I'll
20 In directly, and tell my aunt the turn things
have taken
Not just yet. IL you please, Sir said mel
ancholy voice behind US.
We both turnci about, and found ourselves
face to face with Sergeant Cuff.
why not Just yet . asked Mr.. franklin.
Because, Sir. II you tell her ladyship, her
ladyship will tell Miss verinder.'
Suppose she docs. What thcnr Mr.. Frank
lin said those words with sudden heat and We
hemence, ss II the Sergeant hal mortally offend-
ell him.
DO you think it's wise. SIR said Sergeant
Cuff. quietly, Ito put such question rs that to
meat such time as this!'
There was moments silence between them
Mr.. Franklin walked close up 10 the Sergeant
The two looked each other straight in the face.
Mr. Franklin spoke arst dropping his voice as
suddenly a. he had raised Il.
'Isupposs you know, Mr.. Cuf,' he said, that
You arc trcading on delicate groundi'
1T isn't the first time, by q good many hun
dreis, that find myself trcading on delicate
ground.' answered the other Just As immovable
As ever.
Il sm TO understand that you forbid me to tell
my aunt what has happencdr
you are to understand. IL you please, Sir.
that throw up the case. IL you tell LAZY We
rinder. or tell anybody, what has happened until
give you leave
That settled L. Mr.. Franklin had no choice
but 10 submit. lie turned away in anger, and
left US,
had stood there listening 10 them. all In a
trcmble not knowing whom IN suspect, or what
10 think next In the midst Of my confusion.
two things. however. were plain 10 me. First.
that my young lady was, in some unaccountable
manner. at the bottom Of the sharp speeches that
had passed between them Second, that they
thoroughly understood each other without having
previously exehanged word Of explanation on
either side.
.Mr. Bettercige.' said the Sergeant. you have
done very fcolsh thing in my absence. You
have done little detective business on your own
account For the fsture. perhaps you viii be 30
ohlging ~ 10 do your detective business sloug
with me-
He took me BY the arm. and walked me away