On the journey to Frizinghall I had arranged
what my explanation was to be--and I seized the opportunity now offered
to me of trying the effect of it on Mr. Candy.
"I was in Yorkshire, the other day, and I am in Yorkshire again now, on
rather a romantic errand," I said. "It is a matter, Mr. Candy, in which
the late Lady Verinder's friends all took some interest. You remember
the mysterious loss of the Indian Diamond, now nearly a year since?
Circumstances have lately happened which lead to the hope that it may
yet be found--and I am interesting myself, as one of the family, in
recovering it. Among the obstacles in my way, there is the necessity of
collecting again all the evidence which was discovered at the time, and
more if possible. There are peculiarities in this case which make it
desirable to revive my recollection of everything that happened in the
house, on the evening of Miss Verinder's birthday. And I venture to
appeal to her late mother's friends who were present on that occasion,
to lend me the assistance of their memories----"
I had got as far as that in rehearsing my explanatory phrases, when
I was suddenly checked by seeing plainly in Mr.
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