The Moonstone - Page 155/404

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."