The Moonstone Read online

  I

  The Statement of SERGEANT CUFF'S MAN (1849)

  On the twenty-seventh of June last, I received instructions fromSergeant Cuff to follow three men; suspected of murder, and described asIndians. They had been seen on the Tower Wharf that morning, embarkingon board the steamer bound for Rotterdam.

  I left London by a steamer belonging to another company, which sailedon the morning of Thursday the twenty-eighth. Arriving at Rotterdam,I succeeded in finding the commander of the Wednesday's steamer. Heinformed me that the Indians had certainly been passengers on board hisvessel--but as far as Gravesend only. Off that place, one of the threehad inquired at what time they would reach Calais. On being informedthat the steamer was bound to Rotterdam, the spokesman of the partyexpressed the greatest surprise and distress at the mistake which he andhis two friends had made. They were all willing (he said) to sacrificetheir passage money, if the commander of the steamer would only put themashore. Commiserating their position, as foreigners in a strange land,and knowing no reason for detaining them, the commander signalled for ashore boat, and the three men left the vessel.

  This proceeding of the Indians having been plainly resolved onbeforehand, as a means of preventing their being traced, I lost no timein returning to England. I left the steamer at Gravesend, and discoveredthat the Indians had gone from that place to London. Thence, I againtraced them as having left for Plymouth. Inquiries made at Plymouthproved that they had sailed, forty-eight hours previously, in the BEWLEYCASTLE, East Indiaman, bound direct to Bombay.

  On receiving this intelligence, Sergeant Cuff caused the authorities atBombay to be communicated with, overland--so that the vessel might beboarded by the police immediately on her entering the port. This stephaving been taken, my connection with the matter came to an end. I haveheard nothing more of it since that time.