I have tried to speak to her, and she won't see me. I have tried
to write to her, and she won't answer me. How, in Heaven's name, am I
to clear the matter up? The chance of searching into the loss of the
Moonstone, is the one chance of inquiry that Rachel herself has left
me."
Those words evidently put the case before him, as he had not seen it
yet. He asked a question which satisfied me that I had shaken him.
"There is no ill-feeling in this, Mr. Franklin, on your side--is there?"
"There was some anger," I answered, "when I left London. But that is
all worn out now. I want to make Rachel come to an understanding with
me--and I want nothing more."
"You don't feel any fear, sir--supposing you make any discoveries--in
regard to what you may find out about Miss Rachel?"
I understood the jealous belief in his young mistress which prompted
those words.
"I am as certain of her as you are," I answered. "The fullest disclosure
of her secret will reveal nothing that can alter her place in your
estimation, or in mine."
Betteredge's last-left scruples vanished at that.
"If I am doing wrong to help you, Mr. Franklin," he exclaimed, "all I
can say is--I am as innocent of seeing it as the babe unborn! I can put
you on the road to discovery, if you can only go on by yourself.
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