ssion, supposing she decides to keep it. If her debts press, and
she decides on sending it away, then we have our man ready, and we meet
the Moonstone on its arrival in London."

To hear her own daughter made the subject of such a proposal as this,
stung my mistress into speaking angrily for the first time.

"Consider your proposal declined, in every particular," she said. "And
go on to your other way of bringing the inquiry to an end."

"My other way," said the Sergeant, going on as easy as ever, "is to try
that bold experiment to which I have alluded. I think I have formed a
pretty correct estimate of Miss Verinder's temperament. She is quite
capable (according to my belief) of committing a daring fraud. But she
is too hot and impetuous in temper, and too little accustomed to deceit
as a habit, to act the hypocrite in small things, and to restrain
herself under all provocations. Her feelings, in this case, have
repeatedly got beyond her control, at the very time when it was plainly
her interest to conceal them. It is on this peculiarity in her character
that I now propose to act. I want to give her a great shock suddenly,
under circumstances that will touch her to the quick. In plain English,
I want to tell Miss Verinder, without a word of warning, of Rosanna's
death--on the chance that her own better feelings will hurry her
into making a clean breast of it. Does your ladyship accept that
alternative?"

My mistress astonished me beyond all power of expression. She answered
him on the instant:

"Yes; I do."

"The pony-chaise is ready," said the Sergeant. "I wish your ladyship
good morning."

My lady held up her hand, and stopped him at the door.

"My daughter's better feelings shall be appealed to, as you propose,"
she said. "But I claim the right, as her mother, of putting her to
the test myself. You will remain here, if you please; and I will go to
Frizinghall."

For once in his life, the great Cuff stood speechless with amazement,
like an ordinary man.

My mistress rang the bell, and ordered her water-proof things. It was
still pouring with rain; and the close carriage had gone, as you know,
with Miss Rachel to Frizinghall. I tried to dissuade her ladyship from
facing the severity of the weather. Quite useless! I asked leave to
go with her, and hold the umbrella. She wouldn't hear of it. The
pony-chaise came round, with the groom in charge. "You may rely on
two things," she said to Sergeant Cuff, in the