The Moonstone - Page 382/404

In a quarter of an hour more, the cab stopped in Shore Lane, and

Gooseberry opened the door for us to get out.

"All right?" asked the Sergeant.

"All right," answered the boy.

The moment we entered "The Wheel of Fortune" it was plain even to my

inexperienced eyes that there was something wrong in the house.

The only person behind the counter at which the liquors were served, was

a bewildered servant girl, perfectly ignorant of the business. One or

two customers, waiting for their morning drink, were tapping impatiently

on the counter with their money. The bar-maid appeared from the inner

regions of the parlour, excited and preoccupied. She answered Sergeant

Cuff's inquiry for the landlord, by telling him sharply that her master

was up-stairs, and was not to be bothered by anybody.

"Come along with me, sir," said Sergeant Cuff, coolly leading the way

up-stairs, and beckoning to the boy to follow him.

The barmaid called to her master, and warned him that strangers

were intruding themselves into the house. On the first floor we were

encountered by the Landlord, hurrying down, in a highly irritated state,

to see what was the matter.

"Who the devil are you? and what do you want here?" he asked.

"Keep your temper," said the Sergeant, quietly. "I'll tell you who I am

to begin with. I am Sergeant Cuff."

The illustrious name instantly produced its effect. The angry landlord

threw open the door of a sitting-room, and asked the Sergeant's pardon.

"I am annoyed and out of sorts, sir--that's the truth," he said.

"Something unpleasant has happened in the house this morning. A man in

my way of business has a deal to upset his temper, Sergeant Cuff."

"Not a doubt of it," said the Sergeant. "I'll come at once, if you will

allow me, to what brings us here. This gentleman and I want to trouble

you with a few inquiries, on a matter of some interest to both of us."

"Relating to what, sir?" asked the landlord.

"Relating to a dark man, dressed like a sailor, who slept here last

night."

"Good God! that's the man who is upsetting the whole house at this

moment!" exclaimed the landlord. "Do you, or does this gentleman know

anything about him?"

"We can't be certain till we see him," answered the Sergeant.

"See him?" echoed the landlord. "That's the one thing that nobody has

been able to do since seven o'clock this morning. That was the time when

he left word, last night, that he was to be called. He WAS called--and

there was no getting an answer from him, and no opening his door to see

what was the matter. They tried again at eight, and they tried again

at nine. No use! There was the door still locked--and not a sound to be

heard in the room! I have been out this morning--and I only got back a

quarter of an hour ago. I have hammered at the door myself--and all to

no purpose. The potboy has gone to fetch a carpenter. If you can wait

a few minutes, gentlemen, we will have the door opened, and see what it

means."