human
Mrs. Eversley would like to speak to you, my lord, as soon as convenient,
gpt
I'll see her at once,
human
Come in, Mrs. Eversley, cried Cyril.
gpt
I'm glad to see you again. I've never forgotten you or your doughnuts.
human
It's very kind of you to remember them, my lord, very kind indeed, and glad I am to see you again. The smile vanished.
gpt
This is a terrible business, my lord.
human
Terrible,
gpt
His poor lordship! Mrs. Valdriguez has said for months and months that something like this was sure to happen some day.
human
Do you mean to say that she prophesied that her ladyship would kill his lordship?
gpt
Yes, my lord, indeed she did! It made me feel that queer when it really 'appened.
human
I should think so. It's most extraordinary.
gpt
But begging your pardon, my lord, there is something special as made me ask to speak to you--something I thought you ought to know immediately.
human
What is it?
gpt
One of the servants has disappeared, my lord.
human
Disappeared? How? When?
gpt
Perhaps I'm making too much of it, but this murder has that upset me that I'm afraid of my own shadow and I says to myself, says I: 'Don't wait; go and tell his lordship at once and he'll know whether it is important or not.'
human
You did perfectly right. But who has disappeared?
gpt
Priscilla Prentice and perhaps she hasn't disappeared at all. This is how it is: The day before yesterday----
human
The day of the murder?
gpt
Yes, my lord. Prentice came to me and asked if she could go to Newhaven to see a cousin she has there. The cousin is ill--leastways so she told me--and she wanted as a great favour to be allowed to spend the night with her, and she promised to come back by the carrier early next morning. It seemed all right, so I gave her permission and off she goes. Then yesterday this dreadful thing happened and Prentice went clean out of my head. I never thought of her again till breakfast this morning when Mr. Douglas says to me: 'Why, wherever is Miss Prentice?' You could 'ave knocked me down with a feather, I was that taken aback! So I says, 'Whatever can 'ave happened to her?'
human
When she heard of the murder, she may have taken fright. She may be waiting to return to the castle till the inquest and funeral are over,
gpt
Then she ought at least to have sent word. Besides she should have got back before she could have heard of the murder.
human
You had better send to the cousin's and find out if she is there. She may have been taken ill and had nobody to send a message by.
gpt
We none of us know whereabouts this cousin lives, my lord.
human
Newhaven is not a large place. It can't be difficult to find her.
gpt
But we don't know her name, my lord.
human
That certainly complicates matters. How long has this girl been at the castle?
gpt
Six months, my lord.
human
Who did you get her from?
gpt
I advertised for her, my lord. Mrs. Valdriguez's eyes are not what they were and so she 'ad to have somebody to do the mending. I must say foreigners sew beautifully, so it was some time before I could get any one whose work suited Mrs. Valdriguez.
human
What references did the girl give?
gpt
It was this way, my lord. She's very young, and this is her first place. But she was excellently recommended by Mr. Vaughan, vicar of Plumtree, who wrote that she was a most respectable girl and that he could vouch for her character. Those are his very words, my lord.
human
That certainly sounded satisfactory.
gpt
I'm glad you think so, my lord. So she came. Such a nice young woman she seemed, so 'ard-working and conscientious; one who kept 'erself to 'erself; never a word with the men--never, though she is so pretty.
human
Oh, she is pretty, is she?
gpt
Yes, my lord, as pretty as a picture.
human
What does she look like?
gpt
She is tall and slight with dark hair and blue eyes,
human
Could she--would it be possible to mistake her for a lady?
gpt
Well, my lord, it's strange you should ask that, for Douglas, he always has said, 'Mark my words, Miss Prentice isn't what she seems,' and I must say she is very superior, very.
human
Did she see much of her ladyship?
gpt
Lately, Mrs. Valdriguez, seeing as what she was such a quiet girl, has allowed her to put the things she has mended back into her ladyship's room, and I know her ladyship has spoken to her, but how often she has done so I couldn't really say. Prentice didn't talk much.
human
Did she seem much interested in her ladyship?
gpt
At first very much so. If we were talking about her ladyship, she would always stay and listen. Once, when one of the housemaids 'ad said something about her being crazy, I think, Prentice got quite excited, and when Mrs. Valdriguez had left the room, she said to me, 'I don't believe there is anything the matter with her ladyship; I think it just cruel the way she is kept locked up!' Begging your pardon, my lord, those were her very words. She made me promise not to repeat what she had said--least of all to Mrs. Valdriguez, and I never have, not till this minute.
human
Did she ever suggest that she would like to help her ladyship to escape?
gpt
Why, my lord! exclaimed Mrs. Eversley, staring at her master in astonishment.
human
That's just what she did do, just once--oh, you don't think she did it! And yet that's what they're all saying----
gpt
Is anything missing from her room?
human
I can't say, my lord; her trunk is locked and she took a small bag with her. But there are things in the drawers and a skirt and a pair of shoes in the wardrobe.
gpt
From the appearance of the room, therefore, you should judge that she intended to return?
human
Ye-es, my lord--and yet I must say, I was surprised to see so few things about, and the skirt and shoes were very shabby.
gpt
I suppose that by this time every one knows the girl is missing?
human
The upper servants do, and the detective was after me to tell him all about her, but I wouldn't say a word till I had asked what your lordship's wishes are.
gpt
I thought Judson had left the castle?
human
So he has, my lord; this is the man from Scotland Yard. Griggs is his name. He was 'ere before Judson, but he had left the castle before you arrived.