The Moonstone - Page 75/404

"Yes, miss."

"He wished to speak to me, didn't he?"

"Yes, miss."

"Where is he now?"

Hearing voices on the terrace below, I looked out of window, and saw the

two gentlemen walking up and down together. Answering for my daughter, I

said, "Mr. Franklin is on the terrace, miss."

Without another word, without heeding Mr. Superintendent, who tried

to speak to her, pale as death, and wrapped up strangely in her own

thoughts, she left the room, and went down to her cousins on the

terrace.

It showed a want of due respect, it showed a breach of good manners, on

my part, but, for the life of me, I couldn't help looking out of window

when Miss Rachel met the gentlemen outside. She went up to Mr. Franklin

without appearing to notice Mr. Godfrey, who thereupon drew back and

left them by themselves. What she said to Mr. Franklin appeared to be

spoken vehemently. It lasted but for a short time, and, judging by what

I saw of his face from the window, seemed to astonish him beyond all

power of expression. While they were still together, my lady appeared

on the terrace. Miss Rachel saw her--said a few last words to Mr.

Franklin--and suddenly went back into the house again, before her mother

came up with her. My lady surprised herself, and noticing Mr. Franklin's

surprise, spoke to him. Mr. Godfrey joined them, and spoke also. Mr.

Franklin walked away a little between the two, telling them what had

happened I suppose, for they both stopped short, after taking a few

steps, like persons struck with amazement. I had just seen as much

as this, when the door of the sitting-room was opened violently. Miss

Rachel walked swiftly through to her bed-room, wild and angry, with

fierce eyes and flaming cheeks. Mr. Superintendent once more attempted

to question her. She turned round on him at her bed-room door. "I have

not sent for you!" she cried out vehemently. "I don't want you. My

Diamond is lost. Neither you nor anybody else will ever find it!" With

those words she went in, and locked the door in our faces. Penelope,

standing nearest to it, heard her burst out crying the moment she was

alone again.

In a rage, one moment; in tears, the next! What did it mean?

I told the Superintendent it meant that Miss Rachel's temper was upset

by the loss of her jewel. Being anxious for the honour of the family,

it distressed me to see my young lady forget herself--even with a

police-officer--and I made the best excuse I could, accordingly. In

my own private mind I was more puzzled by Miss Rachel's extraordinary

language and conduct than words can tell. Taking what she had said at

her bed-room door as a guide to guess by, I could only conclude that

she was mortally offended by our sending for the police, and that

Mr. Franklin's astonishment on the terrace was caused by her having

expressed herself to him (as the person chiefly instrumental in fetching

the police) to that effect. If this guess was right, why--having lost

her Diamond--should she object to the presence in the house of the very

people whose business it was to recover it for her? And how, in Heaven's

name, could SHE know that the Moonstone would never be found again?