Orakel Classics
The Moonstone
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, prepared as a public-domain Orakel edition with 70 chapter-aware companion links.
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PROLOGUE
PROLOGUE from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open2I
I from The Moonstone. My object is to explain the motive which has induced me to refuse the right hand of friendship to my cousin, John Herncastle. The reserve which I have hitherto maintained in this matter has been misinterpreted by members of my family whose good opinion I cannot consent to forfeit. I request them to suspend their decision until they have read my narrative. And I declare, on my word of honour, that what I am now about
Open3II
II from The Moonstone. One of the wildest of these stories related to a Yellow Diamond—a famous gem in the native annals of
Open4III
III from The Moonstone. So, as told in our camp, ran the fanciful story of the Moonstone. It made no serious impression on any of us except my cousin—whose love of the marvellous induced him to believe it. On the night before the assault on Seringapatam, he was absurdly angry with me, and with others, for treating the whole thing as a fable. A foolish wrangle followed; and Herncastle’s unlucky temper got the better of him. He declared, in
Open5IV
IV from The Moonstone. I beg it to be understood that what I write here about my cousin (unless some necessity should arise for making it public) is for the information of the family only. Herncastle has said nothing that can justify me in speaking to our commanding officer. He has been taunted more than once about the Diamond, by those who recollect his angry outbreak before the assault; but, as may easily be imagined, his own
Open6FIRST PERIOD
FIRST PERIOD from The Moonstone. The Events related by Gabriel Betteredge, house-steward in the service of Julia, Lady
Open7CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I from The Moonstone. In the first part of Robinson Crusoe, at page one hundred and twenty-nine, you will find it thus
Open8CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II from The Moonstone. I spoke of my lady a line or two back. Now the Diamond could never have been in our house, where it was lost, if it had not been made a present of to my lady’s daughter; and my lady’s daughter would never have been in existence to have the present, if it had not been for my lady who (with pain and travail) produced her into the world. Consequently, if we begin with my lady, we are pretty sure of beginning far enough
Open9CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III from The Moonstone. The question of how I am to start the story properly I have tried to settle in two ways. First, by scratching my head, which led to nothing. Second, by consulting my daughter Penelope, which has resulted in an entirely new
Open10CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV from The Moonstone. I am truly sorry to detain you over me and my beehive chair. A sleepy old man, in a sunny back yard, is not an interesting object, I am well aware. But things must be put down in their places, as things actually happened—and you must please to jog on a little while longer with me, in expectation of Mr. Franklin Blake’s arrival later in the
Open11CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V from The Moonstone. The first thing I did, after we were left together alone, was to make a third attempt to get up from my seat on the sand. Mr. Franklin stopped
Open12CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI from The Moonstone. Keeping my private sentiments to myself, I respectfully requested Mr. Franklin to go on. Mr. Franklin replied, “Don’t fidget, Betteredge,” and went
Open13CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII from The Moonstone. While I was in this bewildered frame of mind, sorely needing a little quiet time by myself to put me right again, my daughter Penelope got in my way (just as her late mother used to get in my way on the stairs), and instantly summoned me to tell her all that had passed at the conference between Mr. Franklin and me. Under present circumstances, the one thing to be done was to clap the extinguisher upon Penelope’s
Open14CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII from The Moonstone. On summoning up my own recollections—and on getting Penelope to help me, by consulting her journal—I find that we may pass pretty rapidly over the interval between Mr. Franklin Blake’s arrival and Miss Rachel’s birthday. For the greater part of that time the days passed, and brought nothing with them worth recording. With your good leave, then, and with Penelope’s help, I shall notice certain dates only in this
Open15CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX from The Moonstone. June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up
Open16CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X from The Moonstone. One on the top of the other the rest of the company followed the Ablewhites, till we had the whole tale of them complete. Including the family, they were twenty-four in all. It was a noble sight to see, when they were settled in their places round the dinner-table, and the Rector of Frizinghall (with beautiful elocution) rose and said
Open17CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI from The Moonstone. When the last of the guests had driven away, I went back into the inner hall and found Samuel at the side-table, presiding over the brandy and soda water. My lady and Miss Rachel came out of the drawing-room, followed by the two gentlemen. Mr. Godfrey had some brandy and soda water, Mr. Franklin took nothing. He sat down, looking dead tired; the talking on this birthday occasion had, I suppose, been too much for
Open18CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII from The Moonstone. The Thursday night passed, and nothing happened. With the Friday morning came two pieces of
Open19CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII from The Moonstone. I found my lady in her own sitting room. She started and looked annoyed when I mentioned that Sergeant Cuff wished to speak to
Open20CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV from The Moonstone. The nearest way to the garden, on going out of my lady’s sitting-room, was by the shrubbery path, which you already know of. For the sake of your better understanding of what is now to come, I may add to this, that the shrubbery path was Mr. Franklin’s favourite walk. When he was out in the grounds, and when we failed to find him anywhere else, we generally found him
Open21CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV from The Moonstone. The Sergeant remained silent, thinking his own thoughts, till we entered the plantation of firs which led to the quicksand. There he roused himself, like a man whose mind was made up, and spoke to me
Open22CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI from The Moonstone. We found my lady with no light in the room but the reading-lamp. The shade was screwed down so as to overshadow her face. Instead of looking up at us in her usual straightforward way, she sat close at the table, and kept her eyes fixed obstinately on an open
Open23CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII from The Moonstone. Nothing happened in the night; and (I am happy to add) no attempt at communication between Miss Rachel and Rosanna rewarded the vigilance of Sergeant
Open24CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII from The Moonstone. It went against the grain with me, after what had passed between us, to show him that I felt any sort of interest in his proceedings. In spite of myself, however, I felt an interest that there was no resisting. My sense of dignity sank from under me, and out came the words: “What news from
Open25CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX from The Moonstone. The news of Rosanna’s disappearance had, as it appeared, spread among the out-of-door servants. They too had made their inquiries; and they had just laid hands on a quick little imp, nicknamed “Duffy”—who was occasionally employed in weeding the garden, and who had seen Rosanna Spearman as lately as half-an-hour since. Duffy was certain that the girl had passed him in the fir-plantation, not walking, but running, in
Open26CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX from The Moonstone. Those in front had spread the news before us. We found the servants in a state of panic. As we passed my lady’s door, it was thrown open violently from the inner side. My mistress came out among us (with Mr. Franklin following, and trying vainly to compose her), quite beside herself with the horror of the
Open27CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI from The Moonstone. “Sergeant Cuff,” she said, “there was perhaps some excuse for the inconsiderate manner in which I spoke to you half an hour since. I have no wish, however, to claim that excuse. I say, with perfect sincerity, that I regret it, if I wronged
Open28CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII from The Moonstone. My mistress having left us, I had leisure to think of Sergeant Cuff. I found him sitting in a snug corner of the hall, consulting his memorandum book, and curling up viciously at the corners of the
Open29CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII from The Moonstone. 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
Open30SECOND PERIOD.
SECOND PERIOD. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open31FIRST NARRATIVE.
FIRST NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open32CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I from The Moonstone. I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early
Open33CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II from The Moonstone. Mr. Godfrey followed the announcement of his name—as Mr. Godfrey does everything else—exactly at the right time. He was not so close on the servant’s heels as to startle us. He was not so far behind as to cause us the double inconvenience of a pause and an open door. It is in the completeness of his daily life that the true Christian appears. This dear man was very
Open34CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III from The Moonstone. Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips. I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might
Open35CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV from The Moonstone. The signing of the Will was a much shorter matter than I had anticipated. It was hurried over, to my thinking, in indecent haste. Samuel, the footman, was sent for to act as second witness—and the pen was put at once into my aunt’s hand. I felt strongly urged to say a few appropriate words on this solemn occasion. But Mr. Bruff’s manner convinced me that it was wisest to check the impulse while he was in the room.
Open36CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V from The Moonstone. My hand dropped from the curtain. But don’t suppose—oh, don’t suppose—that the dreadful embarrassment of my situation was the uppermost idea in my mind! So fervent still was the sisterly interest I felt in Mr. Godfrey, that I never stopped to ask myself why he was not at the concert. No! I thought only of the words—the startling words—which had just fallen from his lips. He would do it today. He had said, in a tone
Open37CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI from The Moonstone. (1.) “Miss Clack presents her compliments to Mr. Franklin Blake; and, in sending him the fifth chapter of her humble narrative, begs to say that she feels quite unequal to enlarge as she could wish on an event so awful, under the circumstances, as Lady Verinder’s death. She has, therefore, attached to her own manuscripts, copious Extracts from precious publications in her possession, all bearing on this terrible
Open38CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII from The Moonstone. The foregoing correspondence will sufficiently explain why no choice is left to me but to pass over Lady Verinder’s death with the simple announcement of the fact which ends my fifth
Open39CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII from The Moonstone. “I have lost a beautiful girl, an excellent social position, and a handsome income,” Mr. Godfrey began; “and I have submitted to it without a struggle. What can be the motive for such extraordinary conduct as that? My precious friend, there is no
Open40SECOND NARRATIVE.
SECOND NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open41CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I from The Moonstone. My fair friend, Miss Clack, having laid down the pen, there are two reasons for my taking it up next, in my
Open42CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II from The Moonstone. The next thing I have to do, is to present such additional information as I possess on the subject of the Moonstone, or, to speak more correctly, on the subject of the Indian plot to steal the Diamond. The little that I have to tell is (as I think I have already said) of some importance, nevertheless, in respect of its bearing very remarkably on events which are still to
Open43CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III from The Moonstone. The prominent personage among the guests at the dinner party I found to be Mr.
Open44THIRD NARRATIVE.
THIRD NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open45CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I from The Moonstone. In the spring of the year eighteen hundred and forty-nine I was wandering in the East, and had then recently altered the travelling plans which I had laid out some months before, and which I had communicated to my lawyer and my banker in
Open46CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II from The Moonstone. “Betteredge!” I said, pointing to the well-remembered book on his knee, “has Robinson Crusoe informed you, this evening, that you might expect to see Franklin
Open47CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III from The Moonstone. I have only the most indistinct recollection of what happened at Hotherstone’s
Open48CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV from The Moonstone. My impression is that the shock inflicted on me completely suspended my thinking and feeling power. I certainly could not have known what I was about when Betteredge joined me—for I have it on his authority that I laughed, when he asked what was the matter, and putting the nightgown into his hands, told him to read the riddle for
Open49CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V from The Moonstone. Having told me the name of Mr. Candy’s assistant, Betteredge appeared to think that we had wasted enough of our time on an insignificant subject. He resumed the perusal of Rosanna Spearman’s
Open50CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI from The Moonstone. I walked to the railway station accompanied, it is needless to say, by Gabriel Betteredge. I had the letter in my pocket, and the nightgown safely packed in a little bag—both to be submitted, before I slept that night, to the investigation of Mr.
Open51CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII from The Moonstone. I closed the door behind me. We confronted each other in silence, with the full length of the room between us. The movement she had made in rising appeared to be the one exertion of which she was capable. All use of every other faculty, bodily or mental, seemed to be merged in the mere act of looking at
Open52CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII from The Moonstone. There was a noticeable change in the lawyer’s manner. It had lost its usual confidence and spirit. He shook hands with me, for the first time in his life, in
Open53CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX from The Moonstone. The doctor’s pretty housemaid stood waiting for me, with the street door open in her hand. Pouring brightly into the hall, the morning light fell full on the face of Mr. Candy’s assistant when I turned, and looked at
Open54CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X from The Moonstone. How the interval of suspense in which I was now condemned might have affected other men in my position, I cannot pretend to say. The influence of the two hours’ probation upon my temperament was simply this. I felt physically incapable of remaining still in any one place, and morally incapable of speaking to any one human being, until I had first heard all that Ezra Jennings had to say to
Open55FOURTH NARRATIVE.
FOURTH NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. 1849.—June 15.... With some interruption from patients, and some interruption from pain, I finished my letter to Miss Verinder in time for today’s post. I failed to make it as short a letter as I could have wished. But I think I have made it plain. It leaves her entirely mistress of her own decision. If she consents to assist the experiment, she consents of her own free will, and not as a favour to Mr. Franklin
Open56FIFTH NARRATIVE.
FIFTH NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open57CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I from The Moonstone. But few words are needed, on my part, to complete the narrative that has been presented in the Journal of Ezra
Open58SIXTH NARRATIVE.
SIXTH NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open59I
I from The Moonstone. Dorking, Surrey, July 30th, 1849. To Franklin Blake, Esq. Sir,—I beg to apologise for the delay that has occurred in the production of the Report, with which I engaged to furnish you. I have waited to make it a complete Report; and I have been met, here and there, by obstacles which it was only possible to remove by some little expenditure of patience and
Open60II
II from The Moonstone. It appears to be established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he was killed (while he was asleep, or immediately on his waking) by being smothered with a pillow from his bed—that the persons guilty of murdering him are the three Indians—and that the object contemplated (and achieved) by the crime, was to obtain possession of the diamond, called the
Open61III
III from The Moonstone. With regard to the subject now in hand, I may state, at the outset, that Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite’s life had two sides to
Open62IV
IV from The Moonstone. Late on the evening of Friday, the twenty-third of June (’forty-eight), Mr. Luker was surprised by a visit from Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite. He was more than surprised, when Mr. Godfrey produced the Moonstone. No such Diamond (according to Mr. Luker’s experience) was in the possession of any private person in
Open63V
V from The Moonstone. This was the story told by your cousin (under pressure of necessity) to Mr.
Open64SEVENTH NARRATIVE.
SEVENTH NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. Frizinghall, Wednesday, September 26th, 1849.—Dear Mr. Franklin Blake, you will anticipate the sad news I have to tell you, on finding your letter to Ezra Jennings returned to you, unopened, in this enclosure. He died in my arms, at sunrise, on Wednesday
Open65EIGHTH NARRATIVE.
EIGHTH NARRATIVE. from The Moonstone. I am the person (as you remember no doubt) who led the way in these pages, and opened the story. I am also the person who is left behind, as it were, to close the story
Open66EPILOGUE.
EPILOGUE. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open67THE FINDING OF THE DIAMOND.
THE FINDING OF THE DIAMOND. from The Moonstone. This section is available as a chapter-aware Orakel companion.
Open68I
I from The Moonstone. On the twenty-seventh of June last, I received instructions from Sergeant Cuff to follow three men; suspected of murder, and described as Indians. They had been seen on the Tower Wharf that morning, embarking on board the steamer bound for
Open69II
II from The Moonstone. I am requested by Sergeant Cuff to set in writing certain facts, concerning three men (believed to be Hindoos) who were passengers, last summer, in the ship Bewley Castle, bound for Bombay direct, under my
Open70III
III from The Moonstone. Have you any recollection, my dear sir, of a semi-savage person whom you met out at dinner, in London, in the autumn of ’forty-eight? Permit me to remind you that the person’s name was Murthwaite, and that you and he had a long conversation together after dinner. The talk related to an Indian Diamond, called the Moonstone, and to a conspiracy then in existence to get possession of the
Open