Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2071 page)

Cuff
(
with his eye on
GODFREY). I met the servant at the station here, sir, and got my telegram before it went to London.

Godfrey.
A strange coincidence! What brought you to the station here?

Cuff.
Another case, sir, confided to my care. I left it to one of my colleagues, and came on here directly I read Mr. Blake’s message.

Godfrey.
May I venture to ask what interested you so greatly in Mr. Blake’s message?

Cuff
(
as before
). I think it must have been the dulness of the other case, sir, and the hope of meeting with something pleasanter to my feelings here. The other case, you see, was so dreadfully common. (
Watching
GODFREY’S
face.
) The old story! False entries detected in a cash-book; a sum of money embezzled; private inquiries into the lives and habits of the persons suspected, and nothing positive discovered up to this time. (
He walks back to the window, and stands with his hands in his pockets, looking through it.
)

Godfrey.
Ah, indeed? Just so — just so! To return to our case here. (
He follows
CUFF.
The Sergeant keeps his back turned on
GODFREY,
as if absorbed in the view from the window.
) As a practical man, what is your opinion — ?

Cuff
(
indignantly
). Just look at that rose-garden! (
He points through the window, still keeping his back turned on
GODFREY.)

Godfrey
(
persisting
). What is your opinion of the loss of the diamond?

Cuff
(
as before, pretending not to hear him
). Just look at it! I should like to punch the head of the man who laid that garden out! The walks between the rose-beds are made of gravel. It’s enough to turn one sick to look at them! (
Suddenly addressing
GODFREY.) Grass walks between your roses, Mr. Ablewhite! nice, soft, velvety grass walks! Gravel’s too hard for them, pretty creatures! (
He turns away again up the stage on the right, and notices the roses ranged between the window and the back of the hall.
)

Godfrey
(
aside, distrustfully
). He has got on his favourite subject already. Is that an excuse for not answering me?

Cuff
(
admiring the roses
). Ah, here’s something worth looking at, if you like! Here’s a sweet pretty lot of white and blush roses! They always mix well together, don’t they? Here’s the white musk-rose, Mr. Ablewhite — our old English rose — holding up its head along with the best and the newest of them. Pretty dear! (
He fondles the rose with his hand.
)

Godfrey
(
looking at him distrustfully
). A taste for flowers, Sergeant, is rather a strange taste for a man in your line of life.

Cuff.
If you will look about you, sir — which most people won’t do — you will see that the nature of a man’s taste is, nine times out often, as opposite as possible from the nature of a man’s business. I began my life among the roses in my father’s nursery-garden, and I shall end my life among them if I can. Yes; one of these days I shall retire from catching thieves, and try my hand at growing roses. There will be grass walks in my rose-garden, Mr. Ablewhite — no gravel! no gravel! (
Suddenly changing his tone.
) Can I see Mr. Franklin Blake, sir?

Godfrey.
Mr. Blake is engaged, at present, with the Inspector of police at our town here.

Cuff.
Mr. Blake may dismiss the Inspector whenever he wishes. It’s another of my queer tastes to prefer working single-handed. Who first discovered the loss of the jewel?

Godfrey.
Mr. Betteredge, the house steward. A most intelligent man — a most reliable witness. You will wish to examine Betteredge, of course? Allow me to ring the bell! (
He goes to the fireplace and rings the bell.
)

Cuff
(
to himself
). Allow him to ring the bell! The most obliging gentleman I ever met with. (
He takes a turn in the room and whistles to himself softly the first few notes of “The Last Rose of Summer.”
)

Godfrey
(
looking after him in surprise
). Somebody whistling?

Cuff.
I beg your pardon, sir. It’s a bad habit of mine to whistle when I’m in good spirits — when I see my way, you know, to something pleasant and encouraging. You won’t find my whistling much of a nuisance — I only know one tune.

Godfrey.
And that is, “The Last Rose of Summer”?

Cuff.
Yes, sir. It must be something about the roses, or it wouldn’t do for me. (
He looks towards the hall door.
ANDREW
appears.
) Here’s the servant, sir.

Godfrey
(
to
ANDREW). Send Mr. Betteredge here directly. Stop! (
He turns to
CUFF.) A point for your consideration, Sergeant. The Inspector is attended by a policeman in plain clothes. In small matters of detail now — matters that are beneath your notice — the policeman might perhaps be of use to you.

Cuff
(
aside
). First he rings the bell, and now he provides me with a policeman! (
To
GODFREY.) I’ll try the man, sir, out of respect for your opinion.

Godfrey
(
to
ANDREW). Send the policeman here with Mr. Betteredge! (ANDREW
goes out.
GODFREY
continues to
CUFF.) I am going this morning to Frizinghall, our town here.

Cuff.
Shall you be long away, sir?

Godfrey.
Only a few hours. If you decide to search the house before I come back (
he points to his room
), there is my room entirely at your service.

Cuff
(
aside
). Another delicate attention! Here’s his room at my service, now! (
He looks towards the hall door.
) There’s somebody at the door, sir.

Godfrey
(
turning
). This way, Betteredge — this way. (BETTEREDGE
enters, followed by the policeman in plain clothes.
GODFREY
presents
BETTEREDGE.) Betteredge, this is Sergeant Cuff. Sergeant, this is the policeman.

Cuff.
Take a seat, Mr. Policeman. (
He turns to
BETTEREDGE.) Proud to be introduced, sir, to the witness who discovered the loss of the diamond.

Betteredge.
Your most obedient servant, Sergeant. (
They shake hands.
GODFREY
looks at his watch.
)

Godfrey.
Betteredge, is Miss Rachel still in the garden?

Rachel
(
entering by the window
). Miss Rachel is here. (CUFF
joins the policeman at the back, without being noticed by
RACHEL,
speaks to him in dumb show, and then watches
GODFREY
while he and
RACHEL
are speaking.
BETTEREDGE
crosses to the fireplace on the left and makes up the fire.
RACHEL
continues to
GODFREY.) Not gone yet! Mind, I expect you back before dinner-time.

Godfrey
(
tenderly, in an undertone
). Do you really feel any interest in my return?

Rachel
(
to
GODFREY). Your father will be wondering what has become of you? Go to Frizinghall!

Godfrey.
Have you forgotten what I said to you the last time we were together?

Rachel.
My memory is not to be trusted, Godfrey! (
She turns aside to the roses.
GODFREY
tries vainly to persuade her to listen to him.
CUFF
speaks to the policeman in a low tone.
)

Cuff.
Now, do what I told you! Now is your time. (
The policeman goes out by the hall door.
GODFREY
speaks to
RACHEL.)

Godfrey
(
kissing her hand
). Rachel! my faithful heart still worships you, and still hopes!

Rachel
(
leaving him
). Go to Frizinghall!

Godfrey
(
aside
). I’ll try her again, when I come back! (
To
CUFF.) Good-morning, Sergeant. (
He checks himself as he goes out, and looks round the room.
) Where is the policeman?

Cuff.
I’ve found him useful already, sir. I’ve sent him on a little errand. (GODFREY
goes out by the hall door.
RACHEL
looks suspiciously at
CUFF.)

Rachel.
Betteredge, who is that?

Betteredge.
Sergeant Cuff, miss, of the detective police.

Rachel
(
aside
). The very sight of a policeman is hateful to me! (
She approaches her own room.
CUFF
advances to stop her.
)

Cuff.
Be so very good, miss, as not to leave the room. I may have some questions to ask you.

Rachel
(
contemptuously
). I decline to answer your questions.

Betteredge
(
scandalised by
RACHEL’S
want of politeness
). In the interest of the servants’ characters, Miss Rachel, don’t treat the Sergeant so harshly. I am your old servant, and I ask it as a favour.

Rachel
(
frankly offering him her hand
). More than my old servant — my old friend! (BETTEREDGE
kisses her hand.
) I will wait, Betteredge, to please you. (
She seats herself, turning her back on
CUFF,
and takes up a newspaper.
)

Betteredge
(
aside, with immense relief
). Ah, now I know Miss Rachel again! (
He turns a little pompously to
CUFF,
proud of
RACHEL’S
compliment to him.
) Ask your questions, Mr. Sergeant; ask your questions.

Cuff.
When the diamond was put away for the night, where was it put?

Betteredge
(
pointing to the cabinet
). In that drawer.

Cuff
(
examining the cabinet
). Were the cabinet doors locked? (
He tries the lock.
) I see! The lock won’t act. (
He looks again at the cabinet, and puts his nose to it.
) Has this cabinet been varnished lately? (RACHEL
suddenly puts down the paper and listens.
)