Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2074 page)

Franklin.
Patience? There is the dressing-gown accusing me on the plainest evidence of being a thief! Who can be patient under that?

Betteredge
(
angrily
). The dressing-gown’s a liar!

Cuff.
Gently, Mr. Betteredge. The dressing-gown is only a witness that can’t speak. (
To
FRANKLIN.) There’s one awkward difficulty in our way, sir. Miss Rachel has given me my dismissal from the house.

Franklin
(
passionately
). Neither you nor I can leave the house until my innocence is established! In the frightful position in which I am placed I want all your experience to help me. (
He walks to and fro excitedly.
) Rachel’s conduct is simply inhuman! “I have nothing to tell you — ” that is all she has to say; with my dressing-gown found in her room, and with my reputation at stake. I will make her explain herself. (
He approaches the door on the left.
CUFF
and
BETTEREDGE
stop him.
)

Cuff.
You were good enough to say just now, sir, that you wanted my experience to help you. If you speak a word to Miss Rachel as things are at present, you force me to throw up the case.

Betteredge.
Don’t do that, Master Franklin! Just let me give you a word of advice. There’s a mine of hidden perversity in the best woman that ever lived. (FRANKLIN
shows impatience.
) Wait a bit, sir; I have something to propose. You keep out of Miss Rachel’s way for the present, and let me tell her, when she next inquires after you, that you have left the house.

Cuff
(
To
FRANKLIN). Not a bad notion! What the young lady won’t say before your face, she
may
say behind your back.

Betteredge
(
scandalised
). That’s not my notion, Mr. Sergeant! When I set a trap for my young lady, it’s baited with love. (
to
FRANKLIN.) This is what I speculate on, Mr. Franklin! When Miss Rachel thinks that you have left her, take my word for it she will be sorry she treated you so ill. Then show yourself, and catch her unawares, with her heart softened towards you and the tear in her eye!

Cuff.
Follow his advice, Mr. Blake. An hour’s rest will do you no harm. You’re looking sadly upset, sir.

Franklin
(
giving way
). I am broken by this dreadful discovery, and I can’t hide it any longer! Take me away, Betteredge.

Betteredge.
Come into my little sitting-room, Master Franklin; you will be in safe hiding there. (
He puts
FRANKLIN’S
arm in his, turns to lead him out, sees the dressing-gown thrown on the chair and apostrophises it.
) As for you, you scandal-mongering, mischief-making, varnish-stinking, substitute-bed-gown — come along! (
He angrily snatches up the dressing-gown with his free hand, and leads
FRANKLIN
out by the hall door.
)

Cuff
(
alone
). Now I have got rid of them I can think a little. Two roads to discovery lie before me: a long road that starts from the dressing-gown, and a short cut that starts from the first suspicion I had in my mind when I entered this house. If I follow the long road I travel in the dark, and lose time by the way. If I try the short cut, I know where
that
is likely to lead me before the next train takes Miss Rachel to London. My choice: Try the short cut. (
He looks at his watch.
) Why hasn’t the policeman come back from his errand? Why doesn’t he send in his report? (
He rings the bell, and then glances at
RACHEL’S
door.
) I suppose I have time to make an inquiry before Miss Rachel turns me out of the house! (ANDREW
enters by the hall door with a letter in his hand.
)

Andrew.
A letter for you, sir.

Cuff.
Who brought it?

Andrew.
The policeman, sir.

Cuff.
Is he waiting?

Andrew.
Yes, sir. (CUFF
leaves
ANDREW,
so as to turn his back on the servant, and speaks while he reads the letter.
)

Cuff.
The policeman’s written report! After the errand I sent him on, it wouldn’t do to risk his being found here in private conversation with me. (
He reads the report, and then, looking up, whistles the first notes of his favourite air.
) My suspicion has hit the mark! There are one or two people in this house who will be rather surprised when the truth comes out. (
He turns towards
ANDREW.) Are there any telegraph forms on the writing-table there?

Andrew
(
producing the forms
). Here they are, sir.

Cuff
(
seating himself at the table
). Wait, while I write. (ANDREW
waits at the back.
CUFF
writes his telegram, and reads what he has written, to himself.
) “Have you seen or heard anything of a large yellow diamond, now missing from this house? Answer immediately. All expenses paid.” That will do! (
He seals the telegram in an envelope, writes on the envelope, and hands it to
ANDREW.) Give that to the policeman at once. Has he got a fly at the door?

Andrew.
Yes, sir — the fly he came in.

Cuff.
Tell him to go at a gallop to the station. He is to wait there for the telegram reply, and to bring it to me, as fast as a fresh horse and carriage can take him. (ANDREW
goes out with the telegram.
CUFF
rises, puzzled by his own symptoms.
) What’s the matter with me? Is my heart beating faster than usual? I declare I am excited for the first time in my life! This will never do! I must compose my mind — I’ll have a look at the roses. (
He crosses to the flowers.
) Ah, my darlings! It takes the dirty taste of a thief out of one’s mind only to look at you! (
He glances out of the window into the garden.
) I can’t endure the sight of those gravel walks in the rose-garden. Grass walks among your roses, Miss Rachel — grass walks next time. I beg and pray of you! (
He looks round sharply at the hall door, and sees
GODFREY
entering.
) Fine day for a walk, sir. I hope you have enjoyed it.

Godfrey.
Any news, Sergeant?

Cuff.
No news, sir.

Godfrey
(
carelessly
).What are you going to do next? (
He walks to the library table and takes up a newspaper.
)

Cuff
(
aside, looking towards
RACHEL’S
door.
) As things are now, I’d better keep out of Miss Rachel’s way till I get my telegram (
to
GODFREY.) I am going to take a turn in the garden, sir.

Godfrey
(
satirically
). Do you expect to find the Moonstone there?

Cuff
(
very quietly and emphatically
). Perhaps I may surprise you, sir, by finding the Moonstone sooner than you think. (
He goes out on the right.
)

Godfrey
(
alone
). What does he mean? He is evidently at his wits’ end. Sergeant Cuff is a highly overrated man. (
He looks towards
RACHEL’S
door.
) Where is my charming cousin, I wonder? (
He goes to the door and speaks.
) Are you in your room, Rachel?

Rachel
(
speaking inside
). Is that Godfrey?

Godfrey.
Yes, dear Rachel!

Rachel
(
unlocking the door, and appearing
). I am glad to see you back again. (
Aside.
) Oh, what a relief it is to find somebody whom I can still respect! (
to
GODFREY.) Have you seen anything — ? (
She stops short.
)

Godfrey.
Yes?

Rachel.
Have you seen anything of Franklin?

Godfrey.
Nothing. I have only this moment returned.

Rachel
(
aside
). What has become of that miserable wretch?

Godfrey
(
aside
). She’s thinking of Franklin. I had better make haste. (
to
RACHEL.) May I ask a bold question, dear Rachel?

Rachel
(
absorbed in her own thoughts
). I beg your pardon. (
She rings the bell.
) I want Betteredge for a moment. (BETTEREDGE
enters by the hall door.
)

Betteredge.
Did you ring, miss?

Rachel
(
speaking to him apart from
GODFREY). Where is Mr. Franklin Blake?

Betteredge.
Mr. Franklin Blake has left the house, miss. (
Aside.
) I’ve told my lie, and now I’m comfortable! (
He goes out.
)

Rachel
(
sadly, to herself
). Gone! (
She turns away to the fireplace, and stands there looking sadly at the bright flame.
MISS CLACK
appears in the gallery.
)

Godfrey
(
looking at
RACHEL
from the other side of the stage
). Has Franklin proposed? and has she refused him?

Miss Clack
(
gaily, as she descends the stairs
). Mr. Godfrey! I thought you would be back by this time!

Godfrey
(
to himself
). The devil take Miss Clack!

Miss Clack
(
advancing
). Have you been to Frizinghall?

Godfrey
(
sullenly
).Yes, Miss Clack.

Miss Clack.
So have I! How unfortunate that we never met! (GODFREY
is silent.
MISS CLACK
looks at him with interest.
) Excuse me for remarking it, dear Mr. Godfrey, your walk appears to have fatigued you.

Godfrey
(
absently
).Very likely; I used to be a better walker than I am now. (
He glances at
RACHEL,
still standing thoughtfully by the fire.
) There she is, ready to listen to me — if I could only get rid of Miss Clack! (
He turns away.
MISS CLACK
follows him, and tenderly resumes the conversation.
)

Miss Clack.
I have sometimes thought, Mr. Godfrey, that your charitable business is perhaps a little too much for you. Why not employ a devoted person in the capacity of assistant? (
She looks down in modest confusion.
) Speaking as a true friend, I sometimes think you might find that devoted person in a wife. (GODFREY
starts and looks alarmed.
) She is to be found — yes, dear Mr. Godfrey (though you look as if you doubted it), the right woman — the woman worthy of you —
is
to be found.