"It is a matter of twenty thousand pounds, sir," I said, thinking of the

value of the Diamond.

"It's a matter of quieting Rachel's mind," answered Mr. Franklin

gravely. "I am very uneasy about her."

He left me suddenly; as if he desired to cut short any further talk

between us. I thought I understood why. Further talk might have let me

into the secret of what Miss Rachel had said to him on the terrace.

So they drove away to Frizinghall. I was ready enough, in the girl's own

interest, to have a little talk with Rosanna in private. But the needful

opportunity failed to present itself. She only came downstairs again

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at tea-time. When she did appear, she was flighty and excited, had what

they call an hysterical attack, took a dose of sal-volatile by my lady's

order, and was sent back to her bed.

The day wore on to its end drearily and miserably enough, I can tell

you. Miss Rachel still kept her room, declaring that she was too ill to

come down to dinner that day. My lady was in such low spirits about

her daughter, that I could not bring myself to make her additionally

anxious, by reporting what Rosanna Spearman had said to Mr. Franklin.

Penelope persisted in believing that she was to be forthwith tried,

sentenced, and transported for theft. The other women took to their

Bibles and hymn-books, and looked as sour as verjuice over their

reading--a result, which I have observed, in my sphere of life, to

follow generally on the performance of acts of piety at unaccustomed

periods of the day. As for me, I hadn't even heart enough to open my

ROBINSON CRUSOE. I went out into the yard, and, being hard up for a

little cheerful society, set my chair by the kennels, and talked to the

dogs.

Half an hour before dinner-time, the two gentlemen came back from

Frizinghall, having arranged with Superintendent Seegrave that he was to

return to us the next day. They had called on Mr. Murthwaite, the Indian

traveller, at his present residence, near the town. At Mr. Franklin's

request, he had kindly given them the benefit of his knowledge of the

language, in dealing with those two, out of the three Indians, who knew

nothing of English. The examination, conducted carefully, and at

great length, had ended in nothing; not the shadow of a reason being

discovered for suspecting the jugglers of having tampered with any of

our servants. On reaching that conclusion, Mr. Franklin had sent his

telegraphic message to London, and there the matter now rested till

to-morrow came.

So much for the history of the day that followed the birthday. Not

a glimmer of light had broken in on us, so far. A day or two after,

however, the darkness lifted a little. How, and with what result, you

shall presently see.




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