my hands of all responsibility in respect of
the pins on the carpet, and the litter in
Mr. Franklin's room. Speaking as a servant, I
am deeply indebted to you. Speaking as a
man, I consider you to be a person whose head
is full of maggots, and I take up my testimony
against your experiment as a delusion and a
snare. Don't be afraid, on that account, of my
feelings as a man getting in the way of my duty
as a servant! You shall be obeyed—the
maggots notwithstanding, sir, you shall be obeyed,
If it ends in your setting the house on fire,
Damme if I send for the engines, unless you
ring the bell and order them first!"

With that farewell assurance, he made me a
bow, and walked out of the room.

"Do you think we can depend on him?" I
asked.

"Implicitly," answered Mr. Blake. " When
we go to the house, we shall find nothing
neglected, and nothing forgotten."

June 19th.—  Another protest against our
contemplated proceedings! From a lady this
time.

The morning's post brought me two letters.
One, from Miss Verinder, consenting, in the
kindest manner, to the arrangement that I
have proposed. The other from the lady under
whose care she is living—one Mrs. Merridew.

Mrs. Merridew presents her compliments,
and does not pretend to understand the subject
on which I have been corresponding with Miss
Verinder, in its scientific bearings. Viewed in
its social bearings, however, she feels free to
pronounce an opinion. I am probably, Mrs.
Merridew thinks, not aware that Miss Verinder
is barely nineteen years of age. To allow a
young lady, at her time of life, to be present
(without a " chaperone ") in a house full of men
among whom a medical experiment is being
carried on, is an outrage on propriety which
Mrs. Merridew cannot possibly permit. If the
matter is allowed to proceed, she will feel it to
be her duty—at a serious sacrifice of her own
personal convenience—to accompany Miss
Verinder to Yorkshire. Under these
circumstances, she ventures to request that I will
kindly reconsider the subject; seeing that Miss
Verinder declines to be guided by any opinion
but mine. Her presence cannot possibly be
necessary; and a word from me, to that effect,
would relieve both Mrs. Merridew and myself
of a very unpleasant responsibility.

Translated from polite commonplace, into
plain English, the meaning of this is, as I take
it, that Mrs. Merridew stands in mortal fear of
the opinion of the world. She has unfortunately
appealed to the very last man in existence
who has any reason to regard that opinion
with respect. I won't disappoint Miss Verinder;
and I won't delay a reconciliation between two
young people who love each other, and who
have been parted too long already. Translated
from plain English into polite commonplace,
this means that Mr. Jennings presents his
compliments to Mrs. Merridew, and regrets that he
cannot feel justified in interfering any farther
in the matter.

Mr. Blake's report of himself, this morning
was the same as before. We determined
not to disturb Betteredge by overlooking him
at the house to-day. To-morrow will be time
enough for our first visit of inspection.

June 20th.—Mr. Blake is beginning to feel
his continued restlessness at night. The sooner
the rooms are refurnished, now, the better.

On our way to the house, this morning, he
consulted me, with some nervous impatience
and irresolution, about a letter (forwarded to
him from London) which he had received from.
Sergeant Cuff.

The Sergeant writes from Ireland. He
acknowledges the receipt (through his housekeeper)
of a card and message which Mr. Blake
left at his residence near Dorking, and announces
his return to England as likely to take place in
a week or less. In the meantime, he requests
to be favoured with Mr. Blake's reasons for
wishing to speak to him (as stated in the
message) on the subject of the Moonstone. If
Mr. Blake can convict him of having made any
serious mistake, in the course of his last year's
inquiry concerning the Diamond, he will
consider it a duty (after the liberal manner in
which he was treated by the late Lady Verinder)
to place himself at that gentleman's disposal.
If not, he begs permission to remain in his
retirement, surrounded by the peaceful floricultural
attractions of a country life.

After reading the letter, I had no hesitation
in advising Mr. Blake to inform Sergeant Cuff,
in reply, of all that had happened since the
inquiry was suspended last year, and to leave him
to draw his own conclusions from the plain
facts.

On second thoughts, I also suggested inviting
the Sergeant to be present at the experiment, in
the event of his returning to England in time
to join us. He would be a valuable witness to
have, in any case; and, if I proved to be wrong
in believing the Diamond to be hidden in
Mr. Blake's room, his advice might be of great
importance, at a future stage of the proceedings
over which I could exercise no control. This
last consideration appeared to decide Mr. Blake.
He promised to follow my advice.

The sound of the hammer informed us that
the work of refurnishing was in full progress, as
we entered the drive that led to the house.

Betteredge, attired for the occasion in a
fisherman's red cap, and an apron of green
baize, met us in the outer hall. The moment
he saw me, he pulled out the pocket-book and
pencil, and obstinately insisted on taking notes
of everything that I said to him. Look where
we might, we found, as Mr. Blake had foretold,
that the work was advancing as rapidly and
as intelligently as it was possible to desire.
But there was still much to be done in the
inner hall, and in Miss Verinder's room. It
seemed doubtful whether the house would be
ready for us before the end of the week.