‘Tae Moonstone break the agreement, Rachel, every time I see you,” he replied. break the agreement every time I think of you. . am T mad to hope that one day in the future you may ye me?” His voice trembled and he put his white handkerchief to his eyes. eve me, Godfrey, I am the most miserable person * Rachel cried. ‘ou? How is that possible?” asked Godfrey. “There is a man I love, who does not deserve my love. But | cannot tear out this love from my heart, He does not know this. I will never speak to him again. Please, Godirey, leave me. T want to be alone.” Godfrey, however, got down on the floor on both knees. “Noble creature!” he exclaimed. “A woman like you is the most valuable treasure. Let me try to cure your broken heart. Rachel, will you honour me, will you bless me, by being my wife?” he asked. Godirey, however, got down on the floor on both knees. 40 ‘THE ENGAGEMENT Is BROKEN “Godfrey, you must be mad!” Rachel exclaimed. “never spoke more reasonably, dearest!” Godfrey replied. “I promise I will give you time and I will not ask too much of you. I have always dreamed that one day you would be my wife.” “Oh, Godfrey,” Rachel sighed. “I think you are a fine man ‘and you must love me very much. Yes, I will marry you, but I ‘Whatever you want, my dear,” Godttey said. He rose to kiss Rachel on her cheek. Thrilled, Miss Clack decided to give the young couple some time alone, and quiet CHAPTER 10 ‘Tae ENGAGEMENT Is BROKEN A few days later, Miss Clack went to Montague Square again, As she and Rachel were drinking tea in the drawing- room, they suddenly heard a servant Where are you, Miss Rachel?” “In here,” called Rachel, The servant entered the drawing-room. His face was white. “Please come quickly, miss!” he urged. “My lady has fainted!” “Call the doctor!” Rachel ordered, and ran out of the room, She was soon at her mother’s side. She took Lady Verinder’s head in her arms, and waited for the doctor to arrive. When he did, he sent Rachel out of the room. A few minutes later, the doctor gave Rachel the sad news — her mother had died. In her will, Lady Verinder requested that her brother-in-law, Godfrey Ablewhite’s father, officially become Rachel's guardian, until Rachel either married or reached the age of twenty-one. Now, the engagement between Godfrey and Rachel was no longer a secret. Godfrey's father wanted to make life as pleasant as possible for the wealthy young lady who was going to marry a‘THe MoonsTone. his son, He rented a quiet home nearby for Rachel to live in with Godfrey's sister, until the wedding day. One day, Mr Bruff, the lawyer, came to visit Rachel in her new home and took her for a walk after lunch. Miss Clack was not happy. She was now occupied in trying to save Rachel’s soul, and she had hoped that Rache! would accompany her to the afternoon church service. During their walk together, Mr Bruff told Rachel that he had received a question about the contents of Lady ‘The question was from Godfrey Ablewhite. The Rachel would inherit two houses which she could ‘on condition that she did not sell them, In this Verinder had protected her daughter against losing everything to ‘a greedy husband. “Godfrey's real intentions will become clear, now that he has this infor ‘Mr Bruff said to Rachel. “It all depends ‘on his financial situation. If he is not desperate for money, he will still want to marry you. If, on the other hand, he needs a lot of money urgently, he will not be able to use your money, and therefore he will not marry you.” ‘When the church service finished, Miss Clack hurried back to see Rachel. As she entered the house, she met Rachel and Mr Bruff standing in the hallway. Rachel looked very thoughtful, and Mr Bruff was looking at her with great respect, ” the lawyer was asking. she wished to see him that afternoon, ‘The meeting between Rachel and Godfrey went well, for the simple reason that they both wanted to break the engagement. She told him that she had made her promise too quickly and that he should try to find happiness with another woman. Godfrey, for his part, said that to take a wife who loved another man was not a good basis for marriage. a2 ‘THE ENGAGEMENT Is BROKEN “I shall make the announcement,” Rachel that Ihave thought about it, and that I am satis for both of us if we part.” ‘The following morning, Godirey's mother and father came to see Rachel. Miss Clack was already there. asked Rachel whether she had agreed to m: ‘weeks earlier, Rachel answered him clearly. “I did, anger. His wife tried to calm hhim, but she was unable to. Miss Clack was shocked. She could not understand why Rachel did not wish to marry the wonderful Godfrey Ablewhite, She thought she should say something, and she cleared her throat, “Dear Mr Ablewhite,” she began. Mr Ablewhite opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, Miss Clack continued, “As a friend who is used to assisting others, especially in times of great need, please allow ‘me to try and help you.” She held up her Bible. “Ido not wish to hear what either you or the Bible has to say!" shouted Mr Ablewhite angrily. Miss Clack gasped, and pulled out one of her religious readings, which she handed to Mr Ablewhite. “I think you should read But the old man tore up the readi ‘Then he turned to Rachel. “From this moment, I shall not act as Yyour guardian, Miss Verin« “T suggest that you leave house as soon as possi {fe to call the carriage and they both left the house. Rachel quickly sent a message to Mr Bruff and told him what had happened. The lawyer invited her to live with him and convince her to come and live with her continue her work to save Rachel's soul. However, Rachel refused and Miss Clack went home unhappily. a3‘THE MoonsTone. CHAPTER BRUFF RECEIVES A Vistr The following day, Mr Bruff was told that a man was ‘waiting to see him at his office, When the man entered the room, Mr Bruff noticed that he was an Indian, dressed in European clothes. He showed Bruff alittle box, covered in jewels. “T have come, sir,” he said, “to ask you to lend me some money. I will leave this box as a guarantee that I will pay my debt.” “Lam sorry, but I never lend money in this way,” said Bruff, “The money I have i ts. [never lend, money to strangers or wit With no argument, the Indian got up to leave. “May I ask cone question before I go? ” he said. “Certai “If I find someone to lend me the money, how long would 1 hhave to pay it back?” he asked. “According to the law of this country, you would have one year from the date on which you received the money.” Bruff replied. The Indian thought about this information for a few seconds. Then he walked silently out of the office Mr Bruff thought for a short time, and suddenly, he ‘understood what the Indians were planning next. “I see!” he exclaimed to himself. “The Indians think that the diamond has been given to someone as a guarantee for a loan, and that it is now in a bank. The diamond was stolen at the end of last June, about six months ago. If the person who stole the Moonstone gave it as a guarantee for a loan, he only has until the end of June this year to repay the debt and get the diamond back. The Indians have been defeated twice. [believe that they will not be defeated a third time, Whoever leaves the bank with the Moonstone in his pocket will be in great danger.” 44 BLAKE RETURNS CHAPTER 12 BLAKE RETURNS In May of 1849, Franklin Blake was still abroad when he received news that his father had died, Franklin was now heir to a great fortune, Mr Bruff asked him to return to London as soon ‘as possible. Blake left for England the next day. ‘On his way home, Blake thought about Rachel all the time. ‘When he arrived in London, he asked Bruff about her. Blake was pleased to hear that she had broken her engagement to Godfrey Ablewhite, Mr Bruff told Franklin Blake that Rachel was now living with his own family. Blake tried to achel there without success, She wouldn’t see him or receive letters from him. Feeling desperate, he decided that he would go and speak to Betteredge, who still lived at the Verinder house in Yorkshire. When Betteredge heard why Blake had come to see him, he said, “I think I can help you. Do you remember poor Rosanna Spearman?” “Of course,” replied Blake. “I heard she killed herself.” “Sadly, yes,” said Betteredge. “But she left a letter for you with Lucy Yolland, the fisherman's daughter. Lucy refused 10 ive it to anyone except you. “Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Blake. “By the time I knew about the letter, you had left England. T didn’t know where you were,” Betteredge replied. ‘The two men decided to go immediately to the fisherman's ‘cottage. Lucy came to the door. She looked at Blake. “Mr Betteredge,” she said, “The gentleman's name answered. Lucy suddenly left the room. She returned with a letter in her hand and asked Blake to follow her. She led him to a quiet 45‘THe Moonstone, Lucy said to herself. She threw the letter at Blake and limped away. Blake tore it open, and began to read. Sin If you want to know why [behaved so strangely to you while ‘you were staying in the house of Lady Verinder, do what you are asked to do in this letter: Go to the Shivering Sand at sunset. Walk south until you see the light of the Lighthouse. Puta stick down on the rocks exactly in the line of the Lighthouse. There you will find a chain, Run your hand along the chain until you come to the part of it that goes over the edge of the rocks, down into the quicksand. Then pull the chain. Rosanna Spearma Blake and Betteredge had just enough ti place before the sun went down, With found the correct place surface of rocks. He fe the chain, Betteredge then helped him pull the chain out of the quicksand, There was a metal box at the end of the chain, In the box, Blake found a nightgown and a letter. He put the letter in his pocket, and unfolded the nightgown. There was a 2” he asked Betteredge. “Sergeant Cuff said that the owner of the stained gown was responsible for taking the diamond. Look at the name marked on the back of the gown,” Betteredge suggested. Blake looked, ‘Then his face went white. 46 Blake looked. Then his face went wl 47‘Tur Moonstone my own name! But — how? I returned to Yorkshire to find out why Rachel will not see me, and now I discover that I am a thief!” Blake looked at Betteredge in disbelief. “I do not know or remember anything about stealing the diamond, but here is the evidence against me!” Betteredge assured Blake that he believed him. Then, he reminded Blake about the letter which he had found in the metal box with the nightgown. lake took the letter out of his pocket. He tried to ‘much, He handed it to Betteredge, and asked him to read it out loud. Betteredge began to read. Sir, Thave something to tell you — a confession which I would not be able to make if Iwere alive. Ilove you. Betteredge looked up, but Blake asked him to continue. Thave tried, without success, to persuade you to notice me. Sometimes, [hated Miss Rachel because of your feelings for her Rachel often put a rose in your bedroom, and Tused to take hers cout secretly and replace it with one of my own, It made me very happy to do this: The morning that the diamond disappeared, I went to clean and tidy your bedroom, as usual. was always the happiest time of the day for me. was cleaning, I found your nightgown on your “ed some paint from Rachel's door on it. did not ‘on the nightgown, but I decided to keep it for myself, and make you another to replace it. At this point, I did not imagine that you had stolen the diamond. However, when Sergeant Cuff found the paint smeared on Rachel's door I thought that you must have taken the diamond. 48 RACHEL’s ACCUSATION Penelope had told me that you spent money easily and had debts, so T thought you had taken the diamond to sell it or give it to someone as @ guarantee for a loan. I tried to speak to you in the library about what I thought. I wanted you to know that I had removed the evidence against you, but I heard Mr Beuteredge approaching and I missed the opportunity: Betteredge stopped reading the leiter. “Do you understand any of this?” he asked, Blake shook his head, Retteredge continued reading. ‘My main problem was how to hide the nightgown, especially from Sergeant Cuff. I decided to wear it. I did not destroy the nightgown because I loved you. It was the only proof I had that Thad saved you from discovery. T tried to meet you a few more times, but each time, you ignored me. Then I heard you tell Sergeant Cuff that you had no interest in me. I realised that you would never love me, and I did thout you. So, at the first opportunity, I hurried 10 the fisherman's cottage, where I left you a letter with Lucy. Then, I hid the nightgown, and ended my sand. Twill always be your faithful servant, Rosanna Spearman CHAPTER 13 RACHEL’S ACCUSATION Blake decided to show Mr Bruff the letter immediately. He walked to the train station with Betteredge, carrying the letter and the nightgown. The two men were silent. After a while, Blake said, “Before I go to London, I have jons to ask you. First, was I drunk on the night of birthday party?” “No,” replied Betteredge, “but you looked so pale and tired 49‘THE Moonstone, that night, that I offered you a glass of brandy.” do not uswally drink brandy. Maybe .” said Betteredge. “I knew that, so I poured you half a glass of brandy and filled up the rest of the glass with cold water, Blake nodded, and asked his second question. “When I was, young, did I ever sleepwalk during the nigh “No, sir,” Betteredge replied. When Blake arrived in London, it was to0 late to find Mr Brut at his office, so he went to the lawyer's home instead. ‘The lawyer read the letter “Franklin Blake,” he sai is very serious, Rachel’s strange behaviour towards you is no longer a mystery. She believes you stole the “The 1g You must do,” continued the lawyer, “is speak to Rachel. You must persuade fh thinks that you took the Moonstone. the back of the nightgown proves that it was yours. But what evidence is there that you are the person who wore it on the night the diamond was stolen?” Blake could not speak “Rosanna has shown herself to be good at deception,” Mr Bruff continued. “Maybe she showed the nightgown to Rachel and that is why Rachel believes you stole the diamond, I don’t know who took the diamond. It may have been Rosanna herself! ‘What I do know is that the disappearance of the diamond gave Rosanna, a former thief who was in love with you, an id wear the nightgown that “I don't see how that can be proved. Let’s wait and see why 50 RACHEL’s ACCUSATION Rachel suspects you. The main difficulty now is how to make Rachel talk to you about the diamond. Do you have any suggestions?” asked the lawyer. “Lhave decided to ask Rachel myself,” said Blake. will you be able to see her? “She is a guest in this house,” said Blake. “May I ask you to arrange a meeting here?” ‘The lawyer arranged for Rachel to have Iunch with his wife and daughters the following day. He gave Blake the key to his gate in the back garden and told him to be there at 3 pm. “Let yourself into the house, and make your way to the drawing-ro0! At exactly three o'clock the next afternoon, Blake unlocked Mr Bruff's garden gate, His hand was shaking. He walked nervously towards the drawing-room. He could hear someone playing a piano. After a minute, he opened the door. As Blake entered the room, Rachel rose from the piano, Blake closed the door behind him. They stood looking at each other in silence. Rachel seemed unable to move. uke said gently, walking towards her. She sat down again, and Blake bent down to kiss her. ‘She pushed him away. “You coward!” she cried. “What have I done?” Blake asked, “What have you done? I have kept your action a secret, and have suffered greatly, Do not insult me by asking me what you eman, dear to my mother and to me...” Rachel stopped speaking. She turned her back to Blake, and covered her face with her hands. Blake asked her to listen to what he had to say. He told her 51Ti Moosstont RACHEL's ACCUSATION what he had found at the Shivering Sand and all the events that had led up to the discovery. “IT have a question to ask you,” said Blake. “Did Rosanna Spearman show you the nightgown?" Rachel stood up and walked towards Blake. She looked up at him, mad?” she asked. “No,” replied Blake, “but why do you think that I stole your diamond?” “I saw you take the diamond with my own eyes!” Blake sat down in shock. Rachel said, “I have not told anyone what I saw. Thave or told you because you asked me to. Why did you come here? ‘What do you think I will do?” Blake did not know how to answer her. “You saw me— with your own eyes — take the diamond?” he asked. He looked happened, Rachel, from the time we wished each other goodnight, to the time you saw me take the diamond. We are of a terrible misunderstandin, , Rachel began to speak. “After the party, I went straight to bed, but I did not fall asleep because I was thinking about you. At about one o” clock, I got up to get a book from my sitting-room. T lit a candle and opened the bedroom door. Suddenly, I heard someone coming towards my room. I thought it might be my mother ~ I knew that she was worried about the diamond. I blew out my candle, but before I had time to go back to bed, you came into the sitting-room. I knew it was you because your face was clearly lit by your candle. “You came to the middle of the room and looked around. Then, you looked through the drawers of the cabinet until you found the diamond. I could see it shining in your hand. You “You looked through the drawers of the cabinet u diamond, I could see it shining in y 52 53‘THE MoonsTONE, stood still for a long time, as if you were worried about ing. Then, you left the room, holding the diamond and le. You did not close the door. lid not go back to bed at all that night, But I decided to protect you because [ loved you. Rachel tried to calm hersel spoke without looking at ite of what I saw, I did not tell anyone. I didn’t want i you were a thief, But when I saw how you helped investigation, I was very angry with you. pretended to help the police and used the diamond as a guarantee for a loan in London, where people now suspect Godfrey Ablewhite, an innocent man. You then left the country. there was only one thing more that you could do, not even admit to me that -d with tears, He got up to leave, “One day you will know that you are wrong!” he cried, and closed the oor behind him, CHAPTER 14 ‘Tue Discovery Later that evening, Bruff arrived at Blake's house. Blake told him what had happened during his meeting with Rachel ‘Now.” said Bruff, “you say you are sure that Rachel has told the truth. You cannot blame her for believing that you are although we know that there has been a terrible mistake. ink about what we know. think that the Moonstone was given to Mr Luker as a ‘guarantee for a loan of money. It is now in Mr Luker’s bank, are now in the will be a year since the diamond was stolen. I person who used the diamond as a guarantee for a loan will 54 ‘THE Discovery come (o repay the loan. Mr Luker will have to take the diamond out of the bank and give it to him. I suggest that we find watch the bank between now and the end of the if Mr Luker takes the diamond out.” Blake agreed, fou may remember Mr Candy from Miss Rachel Verinder’s birthday party last year Mr Jennings told me that the doctor has asked to speak to you urgently, when you are next in Fritzinghall. Mr Candy is very ill. how much Mr Candy had changed. His hair was completely arey, and he looked much older. His body was thin and weak. The doctor was pleased to sce Blake, but he was a li confused, He told Blake that he had som: When Blake reached the hall downstairs, he went to see Mr Jennings, the doctor’s assistant “It appears that Mr Candy's illness was far more serious for him to remember what has happened in the past. However, there is a way of discovering 55‘THE Moonstone Tue Discovery Mr Candy's memories by looking at notes of what he said to me while he was very ill. During this time, 1 sat beside him and ‘wrote what he said.” Blake began to explain to Mr Jennings what he had found ingland. Jennings was very excited. * replied Blake, looking is time last year? Were you know what Mr Candy wanted to T-can prove that you didn’t know ‘ook the diamond!” about using medicine to help him sleep better. “Yes,” he said. 56 37‘Tue MoonsToNE, “At the dinner for Rachel's birthday last year.” 12 reasons, The diamond was part of a Hindu said Blake. “I was worried about giving it to Jennings picked up a book and looked through it, until he found a particular page. “Mr Blake,” he said, “please read this.” Blake looked at Jennings for a moment, and began to read. Blake is pleasant and clever, but he thinks a Sleeping Twas going to go an in the morning. L wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted to say: “What do you say about the art of medicine now?” Blake sat, with the book in his hand, completely shocked “Try and forgive poor Mr Candy,” Jennings said gently. “I ‘admit that he has caused terrible trouble, but if you look at the notes, you will see that he was planning to return to Lady Verinder’s house the next mornin; ‘you of the trick he had played on you. Unfortunately, he did not get the chance because hhe became ill that night. However, I'm sure that the night you took the diamond from Miss Verinde \g-room, you were under the influence of opium. You had no idea what you were . “Let us showy Sergeant Cuff these ‘Tue Discovery “Unfortunately, we cannot use them to prove anything, because I wrote them myself with no witnesses when Mr Candy was talking during his fever,” said Jennings, “But your innocence can be proved, and you are the one who can do it.” ke. “Are you willing to take part in an experi “Just tell me what to do and P'll do “Are you smoking regularly again’ beginning to guess what Jennings was going to say. “Ifyou stop smoking, you will find it difficult to sleep again. If we make the Verinder house look the same as it did on the tht of Miss Verinder’s party, and I give you the same d ium, you will probably repeat what you did that night. time, however, we will be watching you, Maybe you have len the diamond, but you cannot remember where.” Blake agreed to take part in the experiment, and asked Jennings to the necessary arrangements. letter to Betteredge, asking him t house 1ook Tike it had been for Rachel's party. He wi Blake must sleep in the same room as he had that night, Blake asked Jennings to write to Rachel as well, telling her about the experiment, and Jennings said he would ‘The following day, Mr Jennings received a reply from Rachel. She wrote that she now believed that Blake was innocent, and asked if she could be present at the experiment. Jennings wrote back to Rachel. He told her that Blake must not know that she would be in the house during the experiment, wy affect his behaviour during the night. He advised 1¢ house at 9 pm, when Blake would already be 59‘THE MOONSTONE, in his bedroom. ‘When Betteredge heard about the plan, he was not happy. He was shocked that Mr Jennings wanted to play a “magic” trick on Mr Blake. However, he assured Mr Jennings that he would not say anything to Miss Rachel. As a loyal servant, he did what he was asked to do. Jennings also received a letter from Miss Clack. She wrote had heard about the plan, and she did not think that Rachel should come, unaccompanied, to a house full of men, replied that Miss Clack was welcome to accompany if she wished. s then sent a letter to Sergeant Cuff. He explai the experiment, and wrote that Cuff would be a valuable witness. Cuff wrote back that he would not be able to come to the house to see the experiment, because he had to go to Ireland. He wrote that he was not sure that the experiment would prove anything, but that he was happy to help find the diamond Jennings sent a letter to Mr Bruff, who agreed to be present as a witness to the experiment CHAPTER 15 ‘Tie EXPERIMENT ‘The day of the experiment arrived. Tt was Monday, 25th June, Blake was feeling restless after many nights of bad sleep. AA few minutes later, Mr Bruff and the ladies . Jennings came into Rachel’s si Rachel got up from her seat wit “Tcan’t thank you enough, Mr rates she said. “Tam so happy that we can now prove that Franklin is innocent. Where 60 ‘THe EXPERIMENT. is he now? How is he? Has he said anything about me?” ‘She continued, “You have given me a new life. Eove him. 1 have loved him throughout this terrible year. I hope he will forgive me for the cruel things I said to him, Do you think that tomorrow, when he knows that I am in the house, do you think ... 2 fomorrow,"” said Jennings, “I think you should tell him ‘what you have just told me.” Beteredge came in and asked Jennings to go drawing-room, where Miss Clack was sitting, s 8," she said when they entered experiments [ attended at school ‘ow ate quite safe from any explosions, madam, I assure Jennings said. With a sigh, Miss Clack wished him goodnight, and went to bed. Jennings went to find Mr Bruff. He asked the lawyer to come and see him prepare the opium, which he took from Lady wder's medicine-chest. He also asked if Mr Bruff would watch him when he gave it to Blake, and if he would wait in Blake’s room to see what happened. Bruff agreed, but he told Jennings that he did not believe that the experiment would work. Jennings measured out the opium, and Brutf added the required amount of water. At the same time, Rachel put a crystal, which was the same size as the Moonstone, in the drawer in her cabinet, where she had placed the real diamond a year before. ‘Then, Jennings asked her to wait in her bedroom. He told her to blow out her candle as soon as she heard anyone coming into the sitting-room. Blake lay down in his bed, watched from the hallway by Jennings, Bruff and Betteredge. About five minutes before OL