Miss Summerson that was here when Gridley died--that was the name, I know--all right--where does she live?"
The trooper has just come from there and gives him the address, near Oxford Street.
"You won't repent it, George.
Good night!"
He is off again, with an impression of having seen Phil sitting by the frosty fire staring at him open-mouthed, and gallops away again, and gets out in a cloud of steam again.
Mr. Jarndyce, the only person up in the house, is just going to bed, rises from his book on hearing the rapid ringing at the bell, and comes down to the door in his dressing-gown.
"Don't be alarmed, sir."
In a moment his visitor is confidential with him in the hall, has shut the door, and stands with his hand upon the lock.
"I've had the pleasure of seeing you before.
Inspector Bucket.
Look at that handkerchief, sir, Miss Esther Summerson's.
Found it myself put away in a drawer of Lady Dedlock's, quarter of an hour ago.
Not a moment to lose.
Matter of life or death.
You know Lady Dedlock?"
"Yes."
"There has been a discovery there to-day.
Family affairs have come out.
Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, has had a fit--apoplexy or paralysis--and couldn't be brought to, and precious time has been lost.
Lady Dedlock disappeared this afternoon and left a letter for him that looks bad.
Run your eye over it.
Here it is!"
Mr. Jarndyce, having read it, asks him what he thinks.
"I don't know.
It looks like suicide.
Anyways, there's more and more danger, every minute, of its drawing to that.
I'd give a hundred pound an hour to have got the start of the present time.
Now, Mr. Jarndyce, I am employed by Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, to follow her and find her, to save her and take her his forgiveness.
I have money and full power, but I want something else.
I want Miss Summerson."
Mr. Jarndyce in a troubled voice repeats,
"Miss Summerson?"
"Now, Mr. Jarndyce"--Mr. Bucket has read his face with the greatest attention all along--"I speak to you as a gentleman of a humane heart, and under such pressing circumstances as don't often happen.
If ever delay was dangerous, it's dangerous now; and if ever you couldn't afterwards forgive yourself for causing it, this is the time.
Eight or ten hours, worth, as I tell you, a hundred pound apiece at least, have been lost since Lady Dedlock disappeared.
I am charged to find her.
I am Inspector Bucket.
Besides all the rest that's heavy on her, she has upon her, as she believes, suspicion of murder.
If I follow her alone, she, being in ignorance of what Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, has communicated to me, may be driven to desperation.
But if I follow her in company with a young lady, answering to the description of a young lady that she has a tenderness for--I ask no question, and I say no more than that--she will give me credit for being friendly.
Let me come up with her and be able to have the hold upon her of putting that young lady for'ard, and I'll save her and prevail with her if she is alive.
Let me come up with her alone--a hard matter--and I'll do my best, but I don't answer for what the best may be.
Time flies; it's getting on for one o'clock.
When one strikes, there's another hour gone, and it's worth a thousand pound now instead of a hundred."
This is all true, and the pressing nature of the case cannot be questioned.
Mr. Jarndyce begs him to remain there while he speaks to Miss Summerson.
Mr. Bucket says he will, but acting on his usual principle, does no such thing, following upstairs instead and keeping his man in sight.
So he remains, dodging and lurking about in the gloom of the staircase while they confer.
In a very little time Mr. Jarndyce comes down and tells him that Miss Summerson will join him directly and place herself under his protection to accompany him where he pleases.
Mr. Bucket, satisfied, expresses high approval and awaits her coming at the door.