CANDY).What news of your sleep-walking patient, Mr. Candy? What does the London doctor say?
Mr. Candy. The London doctor, after hearing my opinion, put it to the proof on a plan of his own--and the proof disappointed us both. I'll tell you about it when I have a little more time. (He looks at his watch.) My patients are waiting, and my only errand here was to inquire after Mr. Blake.
Godfrey (confidentially). I doubt if Mr. Blake passed quite so quiet a night as he supposes. I thought I heard him moving.
Mr. Candy. Quite likely. In his state of health he must have been restless after that supper last night. He had dreams, you may rely on it.
Godfrey. He seems to have entirely forgotten his dreams.
Mr. Candy. There is nothing wonderful in that. Recollect what my patient in the town did when he was asleep and dreaming, and how absolutely unconscious of it he was when he woke. My respects to Miss Rachel, and I hope she will soon recover the diamond. Good-morning.
Godfrey. Good-morning. (MR. CANDY goes out by the hall door. GODFREY looks at the clock on the mantelpiece, and speaks a little anxiously.) I have some time to spare. Shall I risk proposing to Rachel while I have the chance? I should like to feel sure of my charming cousin before I leave her--with Franklin in the house! She was in the rose-garden when I last heard of her. (He approaches the window, and is met by SERGEANT CUFF, entering from the garden.)
Cuff. Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite, I believe?
Godfrey (a little surprised). You know me?
Cuff. Everybody knows you, sir.
Godfrey (rather suspiciously). May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking? (CUFF takes a card out of his pocket-book, and silently hands it to GODFREY. GODFREY starts as he reads the name.) "Sergeant Cuff, Detective Police Force." (He turns to CUFF, speaking rather confusedly). How is it, Sergeant, that you--I mean, why are you left to find your way in here, without a servant to announce you?
Cuff. It's a habit of mine, in cases of theft, to slip in quietly, and take the place, as it were, by surprise.
Godfrey (recovering himself). You have taken us all by surprise, Sergeant. We never expected to see you so soon.
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.