The Moonstone - Page 385/404

"He's pulling off his wig!" whispered Gooseberry, compassionating my

position, as the only person in the room who could see nothing.

There was a pause--and then a cry of astonishment among the people round

the bed.

"He's pulled off his beard!" cried Gooseberry.

There was another pause--Sergeant Cuff asked for something. The landlord

went to the wash-hand-stand, and returned to the bed with a basin of

water and a towel.

Gooseberry danced with excitement on the chair. "Come up here, along

with me, sir! He's washing off his complexion now!"

The Sergeant suddenly burst his way through the people about him,

and came, with horror in his face, straight to the place where I was

standing.

"Come back to the bed, sir!" he began. He looked at me closer, and

checked himself "No!" he resumed. "Open the sealed letter first--the

letter I gave you this morning."

I opened the letter.

"Read the name, Mr. Blake, that I have written inside."

I read the name that he had written. It was GODFREY ABLEWHITE.

"Now," said the Sergeant, "come with me, and look at the man on the

bed."

I went with him, and looked at the man on the bed.

GODFREY ABLEWHITE!