"My good servants, who have been with me for years, have, I am ashamed to say, had their boxes and rooms searched already by the other officer.

I can't and won't permit them to be insulted in that way a second time!" (There was a mistress to serve! There was a woman in ten thousand, if you like!) "That is the very point I was about to put to your ladyship," said the Sergeant.

"The other officer has done a world of harm to this inquiry, by letting the servants see that he suspected them.

If I give them cause to think themselves suspected a second time, there's no knowing what obstacles they may not throw in my way--the women especially.

At the same time, their boxes must be searched again--for this plain reason, that the first investigation only looked for the Diamond, and that the second investigation must look for the stained dress.