The Moonstone

Having reached that result, Mr. Luker opened his lips, and put a

question: "How did you come by this?" Only six words! But what volumes

of meaning in them!

Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite began a story. Mr. Luker opened his lips again,

and only said three words, this time. "That won't do!"

Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite began another story. Mr. Luker wasted no more

words on him. He got up, and rang the bell for the servant to show the

gentleman out.

Upon this compulsion, Mr. Godfrey made an effort, and came out with a

new and amended version of the affair, to the following effect.

After privately slipping the laudanum into your brandy and water, he

wished you good night, and went into his own room. It was the next

room to yours; and the two had a door of communication between them. On

entering his own room Mr. Godfrey (as he supposed) closed his door.

His money troubles kept him awake. He sat, in his dressing-gown and

slippers, for nearly an hour, thinking over his position. Just as he was

preparing to get into bed, he heard you, talking to yourself, in your

own room, and going to the door of communication, found that he had not

shut it as he supposed.

He looked into your room to see what was the matter. He discovered you

with the candle in your hand, just leaving your bed-chamber. He heard

you say to yourself, in a voice quite unlike your own voice, "How do I

know? The Indians may be hidden in the house."

Up to that time, he had simply supposed himself (in giving you the

laudanum) to be helping to make you the victim of a harmless practical

joke. It now occurred to him, that the laudanum had taken some effect

on you, which had not been foreseen by the doctor, any more than by

himself. In the fear of an accident happening he followed you softly to

see what you would do.

He followed you to Miss Verinder's sitting-room, and saw you go in. You

left the door open. He looked through the crevice thus produced, between

the door and the post, before he ventured into the room himself.

In that position, he not only detected you in taking the Diamond out of

the drawer--he also detected Miss Verinder, silently watching you from

her bedroom, through her open door. His own eyes satisfied him that SHE

saw you take the Diamond, too.

Before you left the sitting-room again, you hesitated a little. Mr.

Godfrey took advantage of this hesitation to get back again to his

bedroom before you came out, and discovered him. He had barely got back,

before you got back too. You saw him (as he supposes) just as he was

passing through the door of communication. At any rate, you called to

him in a strange, drowsy voice.