登陆注册
5166200000190

第190章

We waited another half-hour for the boy, and waited in vain.It was then time for Mr.Bruff to go to Hampstead, and for me to return to Rachel in Portland Place.I left my card, in charge of the porter at the chambers, with a line written on it to say that I should be at my lodgings at half-past ten, that night.The card was to be given to the boy, if the boy came back.

Some men have a knack of keeping appointments; and other men have a knack of missing them.I am one of the other men.Add to this, that I passed the evening at Portland Place, on the same seat with Rachel, in a room forty feet long, with Mrs.Merridew at the farther end of it.Does anybody wonder that I got home at half-past twelve instead of half-past ten? How thoroughly heartless that person must be! And how earnestly I hope I may never make that person's acquaintance!

My servant handed me a morsel of paper when he let me in.I read in a neat legal handwriting, these words:-- `If you please, sir, I am getting sleepy.I will come back to-morrow morning, between nine and ten.' Inquiry proved that a boy, with very extraordinary-looking eyes, had called, and presented my card and message, had waited an hour, had done nothing but fall asleep and wake up again, had written a line for me, and had gone home--after gravely informing the servant that `he was fit for nothing unless he got his night's rest.'

At nine, the next morning, I was ready for my visitor.At half-past nine, I heard steps outside my door.`Come in, Gooseberry!' I called out.

`Thank you, sir,` answered a grave and melancholy voice.The door opened.

I started to my feet, and confronted--Sergeant Cuff.

`I thought I would look in here, Mr.Blake, on the chance of your being in town, before I wrote to Yorkshire,' said the Sergeant.

He was as dreary and as lean as ever.His eyes had not lost their old trick (so subtly noticed in Betteredge's Narrative) of `looking as if they expected something more from you than you were aware of yourself.' But, so far as dress can alter a man, the great Cuff was changed beyond all recognition.He wore a broad-brimmed white hat, a light shooting-jacket, white trousers, and drab gaiters.He carried a stout oak stick.His whole aim and object seemed to be to look as if he had lived in the country all his life.When I complimented him on his Metamorphosis, he declined to take it as a joke.He complained, quite gravely, of the noises and the smells of London.I declare I am far from sure that he did not speak with a slightly rustic accent! I offered him breakfast.The innocent countryman was quite shocked.His breakfast hour was half-past six--and he went to bed with the cocks and hens!

`I only got back from Ireland last night,' said the Sergeant, coming round to the practical object of his visit, in his own impenetrable manner.

`Before I went to bed, I read your letter, telling me what has happened since my inquiry after the Diamond was suspended last year.There's only one thing to be said about the matter on my side.I completely mistook my case.How any man living was to have seen things in their true light, in such a situation as mine was at the time, I don't profess to know.But that doesn't alter the facts as they stand.I own that I made a mess of it.Not the first mess, Mr.Blake, which has distinguished my professional career! It's only in books that the offices of the detective force are superior to the weakness of making a mistake.'

`You have come in the nick of time to recover your reputation,' I said.

`I beg your pardon, Mr.Blake,' rejoined the Sergeant.`Now I have retired from business, I don't care a straw about my reputation.I have done with my reputation, thank God! I am here, sir, in grateful remembrance of the late Lady Verinder's liberality to me.I will go back to my old work--if you want me, and if you will trust me--on that consideration, and on no other.Not a farthing of money is to pass, if you please, from you to me.

This is on honour.Now tell me, Mr.Blake, how the case stands since you wrote to me last.'

I told him of the experiment with the opium, and of what had occurred afterwards at the bank in Lombard Street.He was greatly struck by the experiment--it was something entirely new in his experience.And he was particularly interested in the theory of Ezra Jennings, relating to what I had done with the Diamond after I had left Rachel's sitting-room, on the birthday night.

`I don't hold with Mr.Jennings that you hid the Moonstone,' said Sergeant Cuff.`But I agree with him, that you must certainly have taken it back to your own room.'

`Well?' I asked.`And what happened then?'

`Have you no suspicion yourself of what happened, sir?'

`None whatever.'

`Has Mr.Bruff no suspicion?'

`No more than I have.'

Sergeant Cuff rose, and went to my writing-table.He came back with a sealed envelope.It was marked `Private'; it was addressed to me; and it had the Sergeant's signature in the corner.

`I suspected the wrong person, last year,' he said: `and I may be suspecting the wrong person now.Wait to open the envelope, Mr.Blake, till you have got at the truth.And then compare the name of the guilty person, with the name that I have written in that sealed letter.'

I put the letter into my pocket--and then asked for the Sergeant's opinion of the measures which we had taken at the bank.

`Very well intended, sir,' he answered, `and quite the right thing to do.But there was another person who ought to have been looked after besides Mr.Luker.'

`The person named in the letter you have just given to me?'

`Yes, Mr.Blake, the person named in the letter.It can't be helped now.I shall have something to propose to you and Mr.Bruff, sir, when the time comes.Let's wait, first, and see if the boy has anything to tell us that is worth hearing.'

It was close on ten o'clock, and the boy had not made his appearance.

同类推荐
  • 知空蕴禅师语录

    知空蕴禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 高僧传

    高僧传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 奉送王信州崟北归

    奉送王信州崟北归

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 经穴汇解

    经穴汇解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 塞外杂识

    塞外杂识

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 微光莫辞景唯一

    微光莫辞景唯一

    青梅配竹马,天生是一对。对于靳辞而言,她是他的全世界。对于微一来说,他是宠她的哥哥。在高中,每当有女生像靳辞告白,她的心里总觉得有些酸酸的。直到后来,才明白靳辞于她之间不是亲情,不是友情,而是伟大的爱情。她想要说明他们之间的关系,可是这时她被母亲匆忙带走。……优士校园内,男舍201住着冷草,男舍301冷草,两大高冷校草,一个学医,一个学金融,201住着靳辞,301住着美国混血儿竹枭。女舍502住着宅萌花,学医,名字叫做景唯一。“大姐,我跟竹枭真的只是朋友。”“我们不信。”“不信就不信吧!”景唯一觉得自己再解释只会越描越黑。清者自清,浊者自浊……
  • 每天都会用到的生活经济学

    每天都会用到的生活经济学

    随着社会的发展,近年来经济学以一副通俗亲切的面孔逐渐走进人们的视野,更多的人开始用经济学理论指导自己的经济生活,本书从出行经济学到职场经济学,从人脉经济学到投资经济学,从婚姻到房价,从新闻到国家政策……现代人行走于社会中可能涉及的经济生活皆被囊括其中,以简明的道理、易懂的语言细细阐释。
  • 快穿攻略之反派逆袭

    快穿攻略之反派逆袭

    每个世界的反派总会花样作死,而顾凉就是被系统选中去拯救反派的人。第一个位面:哥,别追了,我不认识你。第二个位面:叔,你好眼熟奥。第三个位面:小子,我们以前是不是见过。第四个位面:。。。。。。
  • 末日君王之主

    末日君王之主

    公元2035年,盛夏,灾难在夜晚降临,一场在全球范围内同时下起的绿雨,改变了全球人的生活。原本的钢铁城市,一夜之间变成了森林的海洋,而动物则在一夜之间变成了史前巨兽,而已经安逸的许久的人类,在这灾难中该何去何从?而万物归灵,空间壁垒消失,曾经的人上人,却变成被肆意屠杀的异类。且看小人物董小白如何在这混乱的时代,起起伏伏,看穿人情冷暖,最后耸立在万物之巅。
  • 天降妖妃太难追

    天降妖妃太难追

    一朝穿越洞房花烛,没有温香软语,却有渣男一只对她百般欺凌!丫的!如此渣男不打天理不容!什么?渣男是皇帝?欺她者,管他谁,一个字:打!于是乎,一夜间皇后沦为通缉犯!画像贴满帝国每一个角落!某女手拿画像无语望苍天:请问,古代可以整容咩?俗话说,没有最惨只有更惨!悲催的逃亡路上一不小心招惹了这个大陆最不能惹的煞神,从此在逆天的不归路上越滚越远。。。******那一日,她从天而降砸坏了他的马车落进了他的怀里,该看的不该看的……不但看了,某女还笑得甚是猖狂,“美男,给姑娘笑一个!”男子面沉如冰,目光森寒,“该死!”从此,这世间追杀她的人又多了一只!还是变态级美男!******那一夜,月黑风高她入宫寻宝,一不小心撞破贵妃奸情,忽然发现藏身的房梁上还有一人……某女眨了眨眼睛,“兄台,你也?”不对!这气场怎么有些熟悉?好像在哪儿……“女人!是你!”顿时,空中寒气四射温度降至冰点!“啊!不好!快跑--”流年不利啊!她不就是寻个宝也能遇到这煞神!人品离家出走了么?话说,她不是已经整容了么?怎么还能认出来?难道,整的不到位?******那一年,她为躲桃花北上从军,打倒一片人杀进前十名!想着,怎么着也该封个校尉当当……“发去伙房。”一声比冰渣子还要冷的嗓音让某女一个激灵当场傻眼:虾米情况?这尊煞神怎会在此?!冤家路窄啊!不过,她都已经整成这幅德行了,他应该认不出来了吧?“将军,这位风兄弟身手不错,表现极好……”“眼睛,不喜。”军师困惑,那双眼睛灿若星辰,灵动有神,很招人喜欢啊!将军这是怎么了?某女差点咬碎了一口的小白牙:丫的变态!本姑娘的眼睛非礼你了么?!让她烧火?行啊!咱们新仇旧恨一起算!吃不死你姐坑死你!【一对一宠文,男强女强,轻松欢脱,且看腹黑妖孽的她如何将这阴冷孤煞的杀神调教为旷古烁今第一新好男人!喜欢的菇凉们点个收藏哦!么么哒!】推荐灵希完结文,一对一宠文《病王绝爱一品傻妃》《妃本轻狂之傻王盛宠》
  • 超越平凡:自我的力量

    超越平凡:自我的力量

    安东尼·莫里斯·尼克编著的这本《超越平凡:自我的力量》介绍了心智的力量以及如何释放出心智的潜能以获取成功。它为自我帮助和自我发展指明了基本方向,实施为了成功而必须采取的行为,从而有所作为。它描述了无意识惊人的力量,展示了大脑的工作机理以及它是如何释放其巨大的力量并利用它在生活中获得成功。
  • 逆世魔武

    逆世魔武

    持剑:信念与守护。魔法:残酷世界唯一的希望。“若不想成为他人之食,就努力成为世界最强者。”“就像那秋天划落的枫叶,孤独却又不寂寞,正如我所希望的你那样——自由而又不失羁绊。”“这个世界如此残酷,但你的心依旧残留些许温柔。对于我而言,这就足够了,喜欢——便是这种感觉...吧?”伙伴?师尊?亲人?爱人?“不,那些虚幻的名词不足以形容!若要说的话,他们便是这颗心脏——一点一点的构成我的心!”且看这个不屈的少年是如何打破世界的残酷,写下一幕幕传奇人生!
  • 氪命玩家

    氪命玩家

    陈景乐:“我愿意用50年寿命换个金手指!”“叮~您的系统已上线。”陈景乐:“……”等等,现在后悔还来得及么?
  • 一个月亮和一杆老枪

    一个月亮和一杆老枪

    一个生命对一个生命的感悟和融合 一个灵魂对一个灵魂的叛逆和忏悔。
  • 山村老尸

    山村老尸

    “鬼、鬼、鬼抓人啦!”夏夜的宁静,被这一声喊打破了。古墓村邓家的院子里,人们像往常一样,围在院子里的大石桌旁,正吃着自家的稀饭。这声凄厉的哭喊,使大家放下了碗筷。“咚——”分明是一声水响,再听却没了任何声音。“快去洗了睡。”大人们开始催促小孩子。就在这时,远处黑影一闪,人们的心又悬了起来。眼见着那黑影越来越近,几个大胆的便迎了出去,一看,原来是个人。那人这时也已蹿到跟前,借着月光,大家一看,是傻子邓刚。只见他头脸全身都给糊满了稀泥,一见大家,便蹲到地上,浑身直打颤。