Luker? He declares that he never heard of the Moonstone; and his
bankers' receipt acknowledges nothing but the deposit of a valuable of
great price. The Indians assume that Mr. Luker is lying--and you assume
again that the Indians are right. All I say, in differing with you,
is--that my view is possible. What more, Mr. Blake, either logically, or
legally, can be said for yours?"
It was put strongly; but there was no denying that it was put truly as
well.
"I confess you stagger me," I replied. "Do you object to my writing to
Mr. Bruff, and telling him what you have said?"
"On the contrary, I shall be glad if you will write to Mr. Bruff. If we
consult his experience, we may see the matter under a new light. For the
present, let us return to our experiment with the opium. We have decided
that you leave off the habit of smoking from this moment."
"From this moment?"
"That is the first step. The next step is to reproduce, as nearly as we
can, the domestic circumstances which surrounded you last year."
How was this to be done? Lady Verinder was dead. Rachel and I, so long
as the suspicion of theft rested on me, were parted irrevocably.
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