"Why are you not in your proper
bed?"
"I am not in my proper bed," answered the Sergeant, "because I am one
of the many people in this miserable world who can't earn their money
honestly and easily at the same time. There was a coincidence, this
evening, between the period of Rosanna Spearman's return from the Sands
and the period when Miss Verinder stated her resolution to leave the
house. Whatever Rosanna may have hidden, it's clear to my mind that your
young lady couldn't go away until she knew that it WAS hidden. The two
must have communicated privately once already to-night. If they try to
communicate again, when the house is quiet, I want to be in the way, and
stop it. Don't blame me for upsetting your sleeping arrangements, Mr.
Betteredge--blame the Diamond."
"I wish to God the Diamond had never found its way into this house!" I
broke out.
Sergeant Cuff looked with a rueful face at the three chairs on which he
had condemned himself to pass the night.
"So do I," he said, gravely.
CHAPTER XVII
Nothing happened in the night; and (I am happy to add) no attempt at
communication between Miss Rachel and Rosanna rewarded the vigilance of
Sergeant Cuff.
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