The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-29
CHAPTER XIII.

pieces of the puzzle are not all put together yet"
CHAPTER XIII.
found my lady in her own sitting-room.
She started and looked annoyed when mentio n
ed that Sergeant Cuff wishei to speak to her.
".fust see him 20 she asked. "Can't you
represent me, Gabrieli'
Ifelt at loss to understand this. and showed
II plainly, suppose, In my face. My lady was
as good rs to explain herself. ...l
81 am afraid my nerves are little shaken,"
she said. "There is something In that police
officer from London which | recoil from-l don't
know why. Ihaye preseutiment that he is
bringing trouble and misery with him into the
house. Very foolish and very unlike me-but 50
IL is"
hardly knew what to say to this. = The moro
Issw of Sergeant Cuff the better liked him.
My lady rallied little after having opened her
heart to me-bcing naturally q woman Of high
courage, rs have already told you.
"If l must see him, I must" she said. .'But
can't prevail on myself to see him alone.
Bring him in, Gabriel, and stay here as long as
he stays"
This was the first attack Of the megrims that
remembered in my mistress since the time
when she was young girl. went back to the
"bourloir." Mr.. Franklin strolled out into the
garden. and joined Mr.. Godfrey, whose time for
departure was now drawing near. Sergeant Cuff
and went straight to my my MISTRESS room.
declare my lady turned shade paler ut the
sight Of him She commanded herself, how
ever, on other respects, and asked the Sergeant
IL he had any objection to my being present.
She was so good as to add that was her trust
ed adviser as well rs her old servant, and t5at
-. an, - .t,I II
was the person whom il might be most profitable
to consult. The Sergeant politely answered that
he would take my presence rs q favor, having
something to say about the servants In gensral
and having found my experience in that quarter
already Of some use to him. My lady pointed
TO two chairs, and we set in for our conference
Immediately.
"I have already formed an opinion on this
case" says Sergeant Cuff, (which beg your
ladyship's permission to keep to myself for the
present. My business now is to mention what
| have discovered up stairs in Miss Verinder's
sitting-roou, and what have decided with
your ladyships leave) on doing next"
lie then went into the matter Of the smear on
the paint, aud stated the conclusions he drew
from it-just as he had stated them (only with
greater respect Of husuage) to Superintendent
Seegrsve. "0ne thing" he said in conclusion,
sis certain. The Diamond is missing ont Of the
drawer in the cabinet Another thing Is next to
certain. The marks from the smear on the door
must be on some article Of dress belonging to
somebody in this house. We must discover that
article Of dress baforc we 20 a step farther"
''And that discovery" remarked my mistress,
"implies, presume, the discovery OF the thieff'
al beg your ladyships pardon--I don't say
the Diamond Is stolen. I only say, at present,
that the Diamond Is missing. The discovery of
the stained dress may lead the way to finding
it,"
Her ladyship looked at me- "Do you UNDER
stand thsI' she said.
Sergeant Cuff understands it, my lady,"I
answered.
"How do you propose TO discover the stained
dress - inquired my mistress, addressing herself
once more to the Sergeant my good servants,
who have been With me for years, have, am
ashamed to say, had their boxes and rooms
searched already by the other officer. l can't
and won't permit them to be insulted In that
way second time ~
There was a mistress to serve, There was
woman in ten thousand, IL you like y
''That is the very point was about to put to
your ladyship." said the Sergeant. "The other
officer has done world Of harm TO this inquiry
by letting the servants see that he suspected
them. III give them cause to think themselves
suspected q second time, there's no knowing
what obstacles they may not throw In my way
1.-The women especially. At the same time,
their boxes must be searched again-for this
plain reason. that the first investigation only
looked for the Diamond, and that the second In
vestigation must look for the stained dress.
quite agree with you. my lady, that The serv-
ants feelings ought to be consulted. But am
equally clear that the servants' warlrobes ought
10 be searched"
This looked very like dead lock. My lady
said %, in choiccr language than mine.
81 have got . plan to meet the dificulty,"
said Sergeant Cuf, "if your ladyship will con-
sent to il. IprOposc explaining the case to the
servants" rT
.The women win think themselves suspected
DIRECTLY" said, interrupting him.
"The women won't, Mr.. Bettercdge, )" answer
ed the Sergeant, "if can tell them am going
to examine the wardrobes Of srery 6ody-from
her ladyship downward-wbo slept In the house
on Wednesday night It's . mere formality,"
hs sdded. with side look at my mistress; ''but
the servants win accept IL as even dealing be-
tween them and their betters; and, instead Of
hindering the investigation, they will make q
point Of honor OF assisting IT,"
saw the truth Of that. My lady, aftcr her
first surprise Was over, saw the truth Of Il also.
"You are certain the Investigation b neccs-
saryi" she said.
''Its The shortest way that can 30, my
LADY, 70 tho end ws have in view"
Ny mistress roee 70 ring the ben for her