But this is certain, he began with the Royal Family, the Primitive Methodists, and the price of fish; and he got from that (in his dismal, underground way) to the loss of the Moonstone, the spitefulness of our first house-maid, and the hard behaviour of the women-servants generally towards Rosanna Spearman.

Having reached his subject in this fashion, he described himself as making his inquiries about the lost Diamond, partly with a view to find it, and partly for the purpose of clearing Rosanna from the unjust suspicions of her enemies in the house.

In about a quarter of an hour from the time when we entered the kitchen, good Mrs.Yolland was persuaded that she was talking to Rosanna's best friend, and was pressing Sergeant Cuff to comfort his stomach and revive his spirits out of the Dutch bottle.
Being firmly persuaded that the Sergeant was wasting his breath to no purpose on Mrs.Yolland, I sat enjoying the talk between them, much as I have sat, in my time, enjoying a stage play.

The great Cuff showed a wonderful patience; trying his luck drearily this way and that way, and firing shot after shot, as it were, at random, on the chance of hitting the mark.

Everything to Rosanna's credit, nothing to Rosanna's prejudice--that was how it ended, try as he might; with Mrs.Yolland talking nineteen to the dozen, and placing the most entire confidence in him.