The Moonstone - Page 98/404

I had got on very fairly well with Sergeant Cuff so far. But the slyness

with which he slipped in that last question put me on my guard. In plain

English, I didn't at all relish the notion of helping his inquiries,

when those inquiries took him (in the capacity of snake in the grass)

among my fellow-servants.

"I noticed nothing," I said, "except that we all lost our heads

together, myself included."

"Oh," says the Sergeant, "that's all you have to tell me, is it?"

I answered, with (as I flattered myself) an unmoved countenance, "That

is all."

Sergeant Cuff's dismal eyes looked me hard in the face.

"Mr. Betteredge," he said, "have you any objection to oblige me by

shaking hands? I have taken an extraordinary liking to you."

(Why he should have chosen the exact moment when I was deceiving him to

give me that proof of his good opinion, is beyond all comprehension! I

felt a little proud--I really did feel a little proud of having been one

too many at last for the celebrated Cuff!) We went back to the house; the Sergeant requesting that I would give him

a room to himself, and then send in the servants (the indoor servants

only), one after another, in the order of their rank, from first to

last.

I showed Sergeant Cuff into my own room, and then called the servants

together in the hall. Rosanna Spearman appeared among them, much as

usual. She was as quick in her way as the Sergeant in his, and I suspect

she had heard what he said to me about the servants in general, just

before he discovered her. There she was, at any rate, looking as if she

had never heard of such a place as the shrubbery in her life.

I sent them in, one by one, as desired. The cook was the first to enter

the Court of Justice, otherwise my room. She remained but a short time.

Report, on coming out: "Sergeant Cuff is depressed in his spirits; but

Sergeant Cuff is a perfect gentleman." My lady's own maid followed.

Remained much longer. Report, on coming out: "If Sergeant Cuff doesn't

believe a respectable woman, he might keep his opinion to himself, at

any rate!" Penelope went next. Remained only a moment or two. Report,

on coming out: "Sergeant Cuff is much to be pitied. He must have been

crossed in love, father, when he was a young man." The first housemaid

followed Penelope. Remained, like my lady's maid, a long time. Report,

on coming out: "I didn't enter her ladyship's service, Mr. Betteredge,

to be doubted to my face by a low police-officer!" Rosanna Spearman went

next. Remained longer than any of them. No report on coming out--dead

silence, and lips as pale as ashes. Samuel, the footman, followed

Rosanna. Remained a minute or two. Report, on coming out: "Whoever

blacks Sergeant Cuff's boots ought to be ashamed of himself." Nancy,

the kitchen-maid, went last. Remained a minute or two. Report, on coming

out: "Sergeant Cuff has a heart; HE doesn't cut jokes, Mr. Betteredge,

with a poor hard-working girl."