A curious and stupefying restlessness got possession of me.

I did a dozen different needless things in and out of the house, not one of which I can now remember.

I don't even know how long it was after the Sergeant had gone to the sands, when Duffy came running back with a message for me.

Sergeant Cuff had given the boy a leaf torn out of his pocket-book, on which was written in pencil, "Send me one of Rosanna Spearman's boots, and be quick about it." I despatched the first woman-servant I could find to Rosanna's room; and I sent the boy back to say that I myself would follow him with the boot.
This, I am well aware, was not the quickest way to take of obeying the directions which I had received.

But I was resolved to see for myself what new mystification was going on before I trusted Rosanna's boot in the Sergeant's hands.