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.)
Betteredge. Varnished by Mr. Franklin Blake no later than yesterday evening.
Cuff (still examining the cabinet). Where is Mr. Blake?
Betteredge. He heard you had come, Sergeant, and like the rest of us, he didn't know where to find you. When last I saw him he was off to the stables to question the man who drove you.
Cuff (pointing to a place at the lower part of the cabinet). Hullo! here's a smear on the varnish!
Betteredge. Lord bless us, so there is! I saw no smear there when I locked up the house close on twelve o'clock last night.
Cuff (looking at the smear through a magnifying glass). Was the varnish dry then?
Betteredge. No, sir. Mr. Franklin told me it would not be dry before two in the morning.
Cuff (to himself). Aha! (He looks again through the magnifying glass, and, while he looks, whistles the first notes of his favourite air.)
Betteredge (to himself).What's he whistling for?
Cuff (hearing him). Do you never whistle yourself, Mr. Betteredge?
Betteredge. I have done such a thing, sir, when I had reason to feel particularly well pleased with myself.
Cuff. My case exactly! I whistle when I think I've got the clue in my hand. I think I've got it now.
Betteredge (eagerly).Where?
Cuff (pointing). Here! The clue to the missing diamond begins at this smear on the varnish.
Betteredge (To RACHEL). Do you hear that, Miss Rachel?
Rachel (coldly). No. I am reading the newspaper.
Cuff (continuing). To the best of my judgment, the smear has been made by a loose article of dress that has swept over the wet varnish.
Betteredge. Do you mean a woman's petticoat, sergeant?
Cuff. Yes. Or, may be, the tail of a man's dressing-gown. (RACHEL starts. The newspaper drops from her hand, CUFF observes her.) Anything wrong, miss?
Rachel (coldly). I don't understand you.
Cuff (aside). She knows something about it! (to RACHEL.) Sorry to trouble you, miss. After what I have discovered on this cabinet, I must examine the things for the wash.
Betteredge (admiring CUFF). Wonderful man! He's going to find the thief in the dirty-linen bag.
Cuff (to RACHEL, continuing). You see, miss, the reason's plain enough. If it's a petticoat that has made the smear, the woman that petticoat belongs to must be able to tell me what she was doing here between midnight and two in the morning. If it's a dressing-gown--
Rachel (impatiently).What do you want?
Cuff. Your authority, miss, to give my orders to the laundry-maid.
Rachel (as before). Give your orders.
Cuff. Now, Mr. Betteredge. Introduce me to the laundry-maid.
Betteredge. With pleasure, Mr. Sergeant. (He whispers in CUFF'S ear.) She's a nice plump young girl--you couldn't begin with a better one. (They go out at the hall door.)
Rachel (springing to her feet). He wore his dressing-gown last night! His room will be searched--the stain will be discovered--he will be exposed as a thief before every creature in the house! (She walks distractedly to and fro.) After all I have suffered, to see him publicly disgraced--ruined, ruined for life! It's maddening to think of it! (She pauses, reflecting.) The dressing-gown may be in his room at this moment; the one chance of saving him is to destroy it before the search begins! (She looks round her.) Franklin is at the stables--I heard Betteredge say so. Miss Clack has not returned yet. There is nobody to see me. Can I--dare I--risk it? Oh, Franklin! Franklin! (She rushes up the stairs.