登陆注册
19909600000083

第83章

I HAD kept the pony-chaise ready, in case Mr.Franklin persisted in leaving us by the train that night.The appearance of the luggage, followed downstairs by Mr.Franklin himself, informed me plainly enough that he had held firm to a resolution for once in his life.

`So you have really made up your mind, sir?' I said, as we met in the hall.`Why not wait a day or two longer, and give Miss Rachel another chance?'

The foreign varnish appeared to have all worn off Mr.Franklin, now that the time had come for saying good-bye.Instead of replying to me in words, he put the letter which her ladyship had addressed to him into my hand.The greater part of it said over again what had been said already in the other communication received by me.But there was a bit about Miss Rachel added at the end, which will account for the steadiness of Mr.Franklin's determination, if it accounts for nothing else.

`You will wonder, I dare say' (her ladyship wrote), `at my allowing my own daughter to keep me perfectly in the dark.A Diamond worth twenty thousand pounds has been lost--and I am left to infer that the mystery of its disappearance is no mystery to Rachel, and that some incomprehensible obligation of silence has been laid on her, by some person or persons utterly unknown to me, with some object in view at which I cannot even guess.Is it conceivable that I should allow myself to be trifled with in this way?

It is quite conceivable, in Rachel's present state.She is in a condition of nervous agitation pitiable to see.I dare not approach the subject of the Moonstone again until time has done something to quiet her.To help this end, I have not hesitated to dismiss the police-officer.The mystery which baffles us, baffles him too.This is not a matter in which any stranger can help us.He adds to what I have to suffer; and he maddens Rachel if she only hears his name.

`My plans for the future are as well settled as they can be.My present idea is to take Rachel to London--partly to relieve her mind by a complete change, partly to try what may be done by consulting the best medical advice.

Can I ask you to meet us in town? My dear Franklin, you, in your way, must imitate my patience, and wait, as I do, for a fitter time.The valuable assistance which you rendered to the inquiry after the lost jewel is still an unpardoned offence, in the present dreadful state of Rachel's mind.

Moving blindfold in this matter, you have added to the burden of anxiety which she has had to bear, by innocently threatening her secret with discovery, through your exertions.It is impossible for me to excuse the perversity that holds you responsible for consequences which neither you nor I could imagine or foresee.She is not to be reasoned with--she can only be pitied.

I am grieved to have to say it, but, for the present, you and Rachel are better apart.The only advice I can offer you is, to give her time.'

I handed the letter back, sincerely sorry for Mr.Franklin, for I knew how fond he was of my young lady; and I saw that her mother's account of her had cut him to the heart.`You know the proverb, sir,' was all I said to him.`When things are at the worst, they're sure to mend.Things can't be much worse, Mr.Franklin, than they are now.'

Mr.Franklin folded up his aunt's letter, without appearing to be much comforted by the remark which I had ventured on addressing to him.

`When I came here from London with that horrible Diamond,' he said, `I don't believe there was a happier household in England than this.Look at the household now! Scattered, disunited--the very air of the place poisoned with mystery and suspicion! Do you remember that morning at the Shivering Sand, when we talked about my uncle Herncastle, and his birthday gift?

The Moonstone has served the Colonel's vengeance, Betteredge, by means which the Colonel himself never dreamt of!'

With that he shook me by the hand, and went out to the pony-chaise.

I followed him down the steps.It was very miserable to see him leaving the old place, where he had spent the happiest years of his life, in this way.Penelope (sadly upset by all that had happened in the house) came round crying, to bid him good-bye.Mr.Franklin kissed her.I waved my hand, as much as to say, `You're heartily welcome, sir.' Some of the other female servants appeared, peeping after him round the corner.He was one of those men whom the women all like.At the last moment, I stopped the pony-chaise, and begged as a favour that he would let us hear from him by letter.He didn't seem to heed what I said--he was looking round from one thing to another, taking a sort of farewell of the old house and grounds.

`Tell us where you are going to, sir!' I said, holding on by the chaise, and trying to get at his future plans in that way.Mr.Franklin pulled his hat down suddenly over his eyes.`Going?' says he, echoing the word after me.`I am going to the devil!' The pony started at the word, as if he had felt a Christian horror of it.`God bless you, sir, go where you may!' was all I had time to say, before he was out of sight and hearing.

A sweet and pleasant gentleman! With all his faults and follies, a sweet and pleasant gentleman! He left a sad gap behind him, when he left my lady's house.

It was dull and dreary enough, when the long summer evening closed in, on that Saturday night.

同类推荐
  • 山家绪余集

    山家绪余集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北方毗沙门多闻宝藏天王神妙陀罗尼别行仪轨

    北方毗沙门多闻宝藏天王神妙陀罗尼别行仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 拙轩词话

    拙轩词话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古诗源

    古诗源

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 辟邪集

    辟邪集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 层展的世界

    层展的世界

    人生精彩贵乎未知,生命真谛在于奋争。人生之若初见,是失败者对于美好的回忆。人生命运一半掌握在上天手中,另一半掌握在自己手中。成功就是用自己手中的一半去赢得上天手中的另一半。
  • 异界蛤蟆功

    异界蛤蟆功

    异界版蛤蟆文太?一头魔兽的成长史。王海非自愿的重生到一头巨蛤身上。成为了帕卡特大陆上最低级的魔兽。在这个生命受到威胁的世界,王海为了活下去只能让自己更像一头巨蛤,虽然这头巨蛤是蛤王。于是,帕卡特大陆的天变了……
  • 海岛奇兵之海岛争霸

    海岛奇兵之海岛争霸

    本书针对游戏海岛奇兵编写,具体讲述了一个指挥官参与海岛争霸的故事。面对那近乎无敌的严防死守,谁与争锋?
  • 倾颜天下:狂傲乱世妃

    倾颜天下:狂傲乱世妃

    倾颜天下,换来的是一世安好还是家破人亡!她,将军府的嫡女,只因是废物,傻子,不能修炼玄灵气,被庶姐暴打,爹爹不管,换来的是,她,金牌杀手——千羽寒。不是说轩王浑身全是毒么?一碰就挂了,这是怎么回事!“娘子,为夫来伺候你了。”某妖孽男坏笑,“给老娘滚!”且看她一个废物怎样玩翻天下,惊掉所有人的眼球!
  • 武法武天

    武法武天

    神奇的绿芒带苏岩来到异世,绿色的丹田,神秘的心法,让他成为天才,而他又能否修炼上等修为,收获真挚爱情?这是一个来自地球的灵魂穿越者,在经历废柴变天才的大起大落后,虚心向学,彻底改变命运的逆天励志故事!
  • 惊天调皮妃

    惊天调皮妃

    王妃太调皮(腹黑,偶尔也会有些小温柔啦),王爷太变态,这真可谓是绝配啊!王妃不愿嫁,非要比武招亲,结果呢,输给人家了吧,还不是一样照嫁给他~虽说被迫,但王爷似乎很可怜,不是拳打脚踢就是拳打脚踢的,这帅哥可总有一天要毁容啊!可就是这王妃的调皮,无理,小温柔让这王爷爱不释手~永久独宠!
  • 醉挽清羽

    醉挽清羽

    君清羽,异世孤魂,自幼于道观中长大。某日,芊芊问:“我说清羽,你老看着学堂干嘛?”答曰:“芊芊,你觉得我们建个书院如何?”某女抽了抽嘴角,绝尘而去。
  • 网游之星辰

    网游之星辰

    我不是小白!也不是菜鸟!5年后为了一帮兄弟再次游戏!走向辉煌!第一
  • 魅夜狂妃:未来歌姬

    魅夜狂妃:未来歌姬

    满天飞雪,我却还在原地静静地等候你的出现……我希望你的诺言会实现,哪怕是一万年!倾缠绵骨,一举的挥手,足以操控整个时空!足矣……那时的你,是否还是童真无忌?!她死了,灵魂得到了她的身体,本就强悍无比,却败在一个男人手中,同名同姓?同一个人,苍天待我很好,我定要他死给我看!一切都是孽缘,都是你的策划,我要不断的破了你的阵法,为我所用!冒险,是我最爱做的事,你也知否……
  • 偷星九月天之沧玄二月

    偷星九月天之沧玄二月

    她,是卡伦卡亚最后的公主。他,是卡伦卡亚的皇子。他们是兄妹,相互依靠。当命运的齿轮开始转动,神秘陨石坠落古悉兰,卡伦卡亚消失,带来的是怎么样的命运......(哈哈哈哈,这是一篇短篇小说,所以不要看着简介觉得很长,随时完结,要是觉得结局不好,自己去评论给我写一个你想要的结局呗!但目前还未完结啊,你们可以自己去猜一下剧情在评论哪里,我可能会采纳哦!)