who was still a minor in the year eighteen
hundred and forty-eight. That the Trust was
to lapse, and that the young gentleman was to
receive the twenty thousand pounds, on the
day when he came of age, in the mouth of
February, eighteen hundred and fifty. That,
pending the arrival of this period, an income of
six hundred pounds was to be paid to him by
his two Trustees, half yearly—at Christmas, and
at Midsummer Day. That this income was
regularly paid by the active Trustee, Mr.
Godfrey Ablewhite. That the twenty thousand
pounds (from which the income was supposed
to be derived) had, every farthing of it, been
sold out of the Funds, at different periods,
ending with the end of the year eighteen
hundred and forty-seven. That the power of
attorney, authorising the bankers to sell out the
stock, and the various written orders telling
them what amounts to sell out, were formally
signed by both the Trustees. That the signature
of the second Trustee (a retired army
officer, living in the country) was a signature
forged, in every case, by the active Trustee
otherwise, Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite.

In these facts, lies the explanation of Mr.
Godfrey's honourable conduct, in paying the
debts incurred for the lady and the villa—
and (as you will presently see) of more besides.

We may now advance to the date of Miss
Verinder's birthday (in the year eighteen
hundred and forty-eight)—the twenty-first of June.

On the day before, Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite
arrived at his father's house, and asked (as I
know from Mr. Ablewhite, senior, himself) for
a loan of three hundred pounds. Mark the
sum; and remember at the same time, that the
half yearly payment to the young gentleman
was due on the twenty-fourth of the month.
Also, that the whole of the young gentleman's
fortune had been spent by his Trustee, by the
end of the year 'forty-seven.

Mr. Ablewhite, senior, refused to lend his
son a farthing.

The next day Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite rode
over, with you, to Lady Verinder's house. A
few hours afterwards, Mr. Godfrey (as you
yourself have told me) made a proposal of
marriage to Miss Verinder. Here, he saw his
way no doubt—if accepted—to the end of all
his money-anxieties, present and future. But,
as events actually turned out, what happened?
Miss Verinder refused him.

On the night of the birthday, therefore, Mr,
Godfrey Ablewhite's pecuniary position was
this. He had three hundred pounds to find on
the twenty-fourth of the month, and twenty
thousand pounds to find in February eighteen
hundred and fifty. Failing to raise these sums,
at these times, he was a ruined man.

Under those circumstances, what takes place
next?

You exasperate Mr. Candy, the doctor, on
the sore subject of his profession; and he plays
you a practical joke, in return, with a dose of
laudanum. He trusts the administration of
the dose (prepared in a little phial) to Mr.
Godfrey Ablewhite—who has himself confessed the
share he had in the matter, under circumstances
which shall presently be related to you. Mr.
Godfrey is all the readier to enter into the
conspiracy, having himself suffered from your sharp
tongue, in the course of the evening. He joins
Betteredge in persuading you to drink a little
brandy and water before you go to bed. He
privately drops the dose of laudanum into your
cold grog. And you drink the mixture.

Let us now shift the scene, if you please,
to Mr. Luker's house at Lambeth. And
allow me to remark, by way of preface, that Mr.
Bruff and I, together, have found a means of
forcing the money-lender to make a clean breast
of it. We have carefully sifted the statement he
has addressed to us; and here it is at your
service.

IV.

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 Europe.

Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite had two modest
proposals to make, in relation to this magnificent
gem. First, Would Mr. Luker be so good as
to buy it? Secondly, Would Mr. Luker (in
default of seeing his way to the purchase) under-
take to sell it on commission, and to pay a sum
down, on the anticipated result?

Mr. Luker tested the Diamond, weighed the
Diamond, and estimated the value of the
Diamond, before he answered a word. His
estimate (allowing for the flaw in the stone) was
thirty thousand pounds.

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
goodnight, 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 this 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.