Bruff when I made my first
inquiries about the Moonstone, on my return to England. In answering
Ezra Jennings, I accordingly repeated what I had myself heard from the
lawyer's own lips--and what is already familiar to the readers of these
pages.
He showed plainly that he was not satisfied with my reply.
"With all deference to you," he said, "and with all deference to your
legal adviser, I maintain the opinion which I expressed just now. It
rests, I am well aware, on a mere assumption. Pardon me for reminding
you, that your opinion also rests on a mere assumption as well."
The view he took of the matter was entirely new to me. I waited
anxiously to hear how he would defend it.
"I assume," pursued Ezra Jennings, "that the influence of the
opium--after impelling you to possess yourself of the Diamond, with the
purpose of securing its safety--might also impel you, acting under the
same influence and the same motive, to hide it somewhere in your own
room. YOU assume that the Hindoo conspirators could by no possibility
commit a mistake. The Indians went to Mr. Luker's house after the
Diamond--and, therefore, in Mr. Luker's possession the Diamond must be!
Have you any evidence to prove that the Moonstone was taken to London
at all? You can't even guess how, or by whom, it was removed from Lady
Verinder's house! Have you any evidence that the jewel was pledged to
Mr.
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