Penelope examined: Took a lively interest in the painting on the door,

having helped to mix the colours. Noticed the bit of work under

the lock, because it was the last bit done. Had seen it, some hours

afterwards, without a smear. Had left it, as late as twelve at night,

without a smear. Had, at that hour, wished her young lady good night in

the bedroom; had heard the clock strike in the "boudoir"; had her hand

at the time on the handle of the painted door; knew the paint was wet

(having helped to mix the colours, as aforesaid); took particular pains

not to touch it; could swear that she held up the skirts of her dress,

and that there was no smear on the paint then; could not swear that her

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dress mightn't have touched it accidentally in going out; remembered the

dress she had on, because it was new, a present from Miss Rachel; her

father remembered, and could speak to it, too; could, and would, and

did fetch it; dress recognised by her father as the dress she wore that

night; skirts examined, a long job from the size of them; not the ghost

of a paint-stain discovered anywhere. End of Penelope's evidence--and

very pretty and convincing, too. Signed, Gabriel Betteredge.

The Sergeant's next proceeding was to question me about any large dogs

in the house who might have got into the room, and done the mischief

with a whisk of their tails. Hearing that this was impossible, he next

sent for a magnifying-glass, and tried how the smear looked, seen that

way. No skin-mark (as of a human hand) printed off on the paint. All the

signs visible--signs which told that the paint had been smeared by some

loose article of somebody's dress touching it in going by. That somebody

(putting together Penelope's evidence and Mr. Franklin's evidence) must

have been in the room, and done the mischief, between midnight and three

o'clock on the Thursday morning.

Having brought his investigation to this point, Sergeant Cuff discovered

that such a person as Superintendent Seegrave was still left in the

room, upon which he summed up the proceedings for his brother-officer's

benefit, as follows: "This trifle of yours, Mr. Superintendent," says the Sergeant, pointing

to the place on the door, "has grown a little in importance since you

noticed it last. At the present stage of the inquiry there are, as I

take it, three discoveries to make, starting from that smear. Find out

(first) whether there is any article of dress in this house with the

smear of the paint on it. Find out (second) who that dress belongs to.

Find out (third) how the person can account for having been in this

room, and smeared the paint, between midnight and three in the morning.

If the person can't satisfy you, you haven't far to look for the hand

that has got the Diamond. I'll work this by myself, if you please, and

detain you no longer-from your regular business in the town. You have

got one of your men here, I see. Leave him here at my disposal, in case

I want him--and allow me to wish you good morning."




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