The Moonstone - Page 92/404

"And that discovery," remarked my mistress, "implies, I presume, the

discovery of the thief?"

"I beg your ladyship's 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 understand this?" 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, I am ashamed to say,

had their boxes and rooms searched already by the other officer. I can't

and won't permit them to be insulted in that way a second time!"

(There was a mistress to serve! There was a woman in ten thousand, if

you like!) "That is the very point I was about to put to your ladyship," said the

Sergeant. "The other officer has done a world of harm to this inquiry,

by letting the servants see that he suspected them. If I give them cause

to think themselves suspected a second time, there's no knowing what

obstacles they may not throw in my way--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 investigation must look for the stained dress. I quite agree with

you, my lady, that the servants' feelings ought to be consulted. But I

am equally clear that the servants' wardrobes ought to be searched."

This looked very like a dead-lock. My lady said so, in choicer language

than mine.

"I have got a plan to meet the difficulty," said Sergeant Cuff, "if

your ladyship will consent to it. I propose explaining the case to the

servants."

"The women will think themselves suspected directly, I said,

interrupting him.

"The women won't, Mr. Betteredge," answered the Sergeant, "if I can tell

them I am going to examine the wardrobes of EVERYBODY--from her ladyship

downwards--who slept in the house on Wednesday night. It's a mere

formality," he added, with a side look at my mistress; "but the servants

will accept it as even dealing between them and their betters; and,

instead of hindering the investigation, they will make a point of honour

of assisting it."

I saw the truth of that. My lady, after her first surprise was over, saw

the truth of it also.

"You are certain the investigation is necessary?" she said.

"It's the shortest way that I can see, my lady, to the end we have in

view."

My mistress rose to ring the bell for her maid. "You shall speak to the

servants," she said, "with the keys of my wardrobe in your hand."