Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2069 page)

THE END OF THE FIRST ACT

THE SECOND ACT

Footsteps and voices of servants, followed by the unbarring of the house door, are audible outside.
BETTEREDGE
is next heard to unlock the hall door. He enters, followed by
ANDREW,
and by two housemaids. Under
BETTEREDGE’S
direction,
ANDREW
folds back the shutters, and lets the full daylight into the hall through the window. The women begin to put the hall tidy.
PENELOPE
enters next, and offers her morning greeting to her father.
BETTEREDGE
speaks as he kisses her.

Betteredge.
Good-morning, my dear! Are you going to wake Miss Rachel?

Penelope.
Yes, father. I had Miss Rachel’s orders to wake her early this morning. (
She crosses to
RACHEL’S
door, knocks, and enters.
BETTEREDGE
observes the cabinet, and approaches it.
)

Betteredge.
I may as well see that the Moonstone’s safe before I go to Mr. Franklin’s room. (
He opens the drawer, and starts back.
) Nothing in it! Have I mistaken the drawer? (
He opens all the other drawers.
) Lord bless us and save us! — the Moonstone’s gone! (ANDREW
and the
HOUSEMAIDS
hurry to
BETTEREDGE,
exclaiming together.
“GONE”)

Betteredge.
Down with you on your knees, you young ones, and see if the diamond has dropped behind the cabinet, or on the floor! It’s in a jeweller’s box — a little white card-box. Well, have you found it?

Andrew and the Servants.
No, sir!

Betteredge
(
bewildered
). Gone! A diamond worth ten thousand pounds, gone! This is the most dreadful thing that has happened in my time. Who can have taken it? We are all honest people in this house.

Andrew
(
to
BETTEREDGE). Will the servants be suspected, sir?

Betteredge
(
still bewildered
). The servants? I locked the hall door last night, and took the key into my own room. Don’t bother me with questions — I want time to think. (
To himself
). Only yesterday I marked it down on my almanac: “The wicked Colonel’s vengeance begins tonight.” The morning comes, and I find myself a true prophet! (
He pauses, and looks about him in perplexity.
) What is it my duty to do?

The Housemaids
(
hearing him
). To speak up for the servants’ characters!

Betteredge.
Hold your tongues! (
Recovering himself.
) My duty is plain. I must report what has happened to Miss Rachel, and I must send to Frizinghall for the police. (
He crosses to
RACHEL’S
room door and knocks.
PENELOPE
appears.
) Penelope, is Miss Rachel up?

Penelope
(
observing his agitation
). Lord bless us, father! what’s the matter?

Betteredge
(
impatiently
). Answer my question! Is Miss Rachel up?

Penelope.
Up and dressed, before I knocked at her door. I don’t know what has happened to her. She looks shockingly ill this morning.

Betteredge.
Ill or well, I must see her directly. (
He enters.
PENELOPE
follows him, closing the door.
ANDREW
and the
HOUSEMAIDS
are left alone on the stage.
)

First Housemaid
(
speaking firmly
). I’m glad he means to send for the police. The police will clear our characters.

Andrew.
That’s true, miss. I quite agree with you.

Second Housemaid
(
timidly
). Will the police search our boxes?

First Housemaid.
We are innocent people — what does it matter if they do? (BETTEREDGE
reappears with a note in his hand.
)

Betteredge
(
to
ANDREW). The groom is to ride to the police-station at Frizinghall, and he is to give that note to the Inspector. (ANDREW
hurries out with the note.
BETTEREDGE
reflects.
) I don’t know what to make of Miss Rachel. She flatly refused to let me send for the police. I was all but obliged to go on my knees before I could get her consent. I suppose I’d better tell Mr. Franklin about it next. Go on with your work, you girls — go on with your work. (
He ascends to
FRANKLIN’S
room.
)

Second Housemaid.
I’m in such a flutter, I don’t know what my work
is.

First Housemaid.
If you stand shivering and shaking like that, you’ll be suspected of the robbery. Pull yourself together and sweep the carpet.

Second Housemaid
(
taking the broom
). Oh, my poor nerves!

First Housemaid
(
dusting a chair
).
Your
nerves, indeed! If I chose to give way like you, I should go into hysterics in this chair. (FRANKLIN
appears in morning dress and speaks as he descends the stairs, followed by
BETTEREDGE.
The
HOUSEMAIDS
seeing him, go out with their brooms and dusters.
)

Franklin.
It’s no use appealing to me, Betteredge; I am as completely puzzled as you are. I can’t realise it. I can’t believe it. No doors have been forced open. Nobody has broken into the house. Who
can
have taken the diamond?
is
it stolen, or is it only lost? The mystery is simply impenetrable; I can’t find the slightest clue to it, think as I may.

Betteredge.
Let’s hope the police will enlighten us, sir.

Franklin
(
abruptly
). What police?

Betteredge.
The police from Frizinghall.

Franklin.
They will be of no use! The case is beyond the reach of the local police. We shall only lose time and have to send to London after all. (
He pauses and considers.
) I have it! I know the very man who will help us. Give me a form, I’ll telegraph to London at once!

Betteredge
(
giving him the form
). What for, sir?

Franklin.
For the famous detective, Sergeant Cuff.

Betteredge.
That’s a good notion, Mr. Franklin. Shall I tell Miss Rachel?

Franklin
(
writing
). No, no! I’ll tell Rachel myself. (ANDREW
enters by the hall door.
)

Andrew
(
to
BETTEREDGE). Where am I to lay the breakfast, sir?

Betteredge.
Lord bless me, I forgot the breakfast! Not in here; we may have the police in here. In the morning room, Andrew. (ANDREW
turns to go out.
)

Franklin
(
finishing his telegram
). Stop! send this to the railway station directly.

Andrew.
Yes, sir. (
He goes out with the telegram.
)

Betteredge.
When will Sergeant Cuff be here, sir?

Franklin.
He will start the instant he gets my telegram. How long is the railway journey from London?

Betteredge.
Barely an hour by a quick train. (GODFREY
appears at his room door.
BETTEREDGE
looks up.
) Here’s Mr. Godfrey, sir. Perhaps he’s got something to propose?

Franklin
(
while
GODFREY
descends the stairs
). Not he! When did you ever know a ladies’ man who was of any use in an emergency?

Godfrey.
Well, dear Franklin, what have you done about this dreadful business?

Franklin.
I’ve done the best I can — I have telegraphed for Sergeant Cuff.

Godfrey
(
starting
). The famous detective?

Franklin.
Yes; and just the man we want to find the diamond.

Godfrey.
You know him?

Franklin.
Perfectly well. The last time I was in town I had a look at the vagabond side of London life — the tramps and thieves, you know — and Sergeant Cuff was my guide. The queerest fellow you ever saw. Looks more like a Methodist parson than a detective. Has a taste for flowers, absolutely dotes on roses. Think of that for a policeman!

Godfrey.
Does Rachel know you have sent for this man?

Franklin.
I am going to tell her the moment she comes out of her room. (ANDREW
appears at the door.
)

Andrew.
Breakfast, gentlemen!

Franklin
(
taking
GODFREY’S
arm
). Come along, Godfrey! (
He stops as they pass the cabinet.
) If Rachel hadn’t forced me to put the diamond in that infernal cabinet — let’s go to breakfast! (
They go out.
)

Betteredge
(
alone
). Aye! aye! go to your coffee and cutlets. Whatever happens in a house, whether it’s robbery or murder, you must have your breakfast! (PENELOPE
enters from
RACHEL’S
room.
) Well, Penelope? What news of Miss Rachel?

Penelope.
You will see for yourself, father. Miss Rachel is coming to speak to you. Do you know if Miss Clack has gone out yet?

Betteredge.
Half-an-hour ago. I met her coming down the back staircase on her way to the town, to worry everybody about that new “Beer-and-Breeches-Society.” What do you want with her, Penelope?

Penelope.
Miss Clack had the impudence to give me a tract about my cap ribbons when I woke her this morning! I shall give it to her back again at the first opportunity. (
She goes out by the hall door.
)

Betteredge
(
alone
). I should chuck it into the fire and think no more about it. There’s the difference between a man and a woman! (
He looks towards
RACHEL’S
door.
) What does Miss Rachel want with me, I wonder? (RACHEL
enters suddenly from her room.
)

Rachel
(
in great agitation
). Betteredge! have you sent for the police?