Mr. Franklin snatched a morsel from the luncheon-table, and rode off

to Frizinghall--to escort his cousins, as he told my lady. To fetch the

Moonstone, as was privately known to himself and to me.

This being one of the high festivals on which I took my place at the

side-board, in command of the attendance at table, I had plenty to

occupy my mind while Mr. Franklin was away. Having seen to the wine,

and reviewed my men and women who were to wait at dinner, I retired to

collect myself before the company came. A whiff of--you know what, and

a turn at a certain book which I have had occasion to mention in these

pages, composed me, body and mind. I was aroused from what I am inclined

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to think must have been, not a nap, but a reverie, by the clatter of

horses' hoofs outside; and, going to the door, received a cavalcade

comprising Mr. Franklin and his three cousins, escorted by one of old

Mr. Ablewhite's grooms.

Mr. Godfrey struck me, strangely enough, as being like Mr. Franklin in

this respect--that he did not seem to be in his customary spirits. He

kindly shook hands with me as usual, and was most politely glad to see

his old friend Betteredge wearing so well. But there was a sort of cloud

over him, which I couldn't at all account for; and when I asked how he

had found his father in health, he answered rather shortly, "Much

as usual." However, the two Miss Ablewhites were cheerful enough for

twenty, which more than restored the balance. They were nearly as big

as their brother; spanking, yellow-haired, rosy lasses, overflowing with

super-abundant flesh and blood; bursting from head to foot with health

and spirits. The legs of the poor horses trembled with carrying them;

and when they jumped from their saddles (without waiting to be

helped), I declare they bounced on the ground as if they were made of

india-rubber. Everything the Miss Ablewhites said began with a large O;

everything they did was done with a bang; and they giggled and

screamed, in season and out of season, on the smallest provocation.

Bouncers--that's what I call them.

Under cover of the noise made by the young ladies, I had an opportunity

of saying a private word to Mr. Franklin in the hall.

"Have you got the Diamond safe, sir?"

He nodded, and tapped the breast-pocket of his coat.

"Have you seen anything of the Indians?"

"Not a glimpse." With that answer, he asked for my lady, and, hearing

she was in the small drawing-room, went there straight. The bell rang,

before he had been a minute in the room, and Penelope was sent to tell

Miss Rachel that Mr. Franklin Blake wanted to speak to her.




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