Be content with the confession that you have wrung from me. Go!
Franklin (as before). My infamy?
Rachel (drawing back from him on her side). He looks as if I had injured him! (She turns again, appealing to him for the last time.) I gave you one opportunity after another of owning the truth, or of making reparation in secret. I left unsaid nothing that I could say; I left undone nothing that I could do. (Her anger begins to rise.) And all the return you made was to look at me with your heartless pretence of innocence, as you are looking now!
Franklin (suddenly rising to indignation on his side). Of what infamy do you believe me guilty? Say it in plain words, or I will ring the bell, and call every soul in the house to judge between you and me!
Rachel (roused to passion). Oh! is there another man like this in the world? After seeing his dressing-gown in the policeman's hands! After hearing me refuse to give any explanation, for his sake! You villain, you mean villain, I would rather have lost fifty diamonds, than see your face lying to me as it lies now!
Franklin (passionately). What do you mean?
Rachel (more passionately on her side). What I say!
Franklin (staggering back). You believe that I stole the diamond?
Rachel (following him up furiously). Believe? I saw you steal the diamond with my own eyes!!! (FRANKLIN throws up his hands with a faint cry, and drops in a swoon at her feet. RACHEL starts back with a cry of horror.) Oh God! have I killed him? Help! help! (BETTEREDGE and CUFF enter together by the hall door. RACHEL appeals to them distractedly.) Look! oh, look at him!
Betteredge (kneeling by FRANKLIN, raising his head, and feeling his heart). Compose yourself, Miss Rachel. It's only a fainting-fit. (While BETTEREDGE is speaking, CUFF goes to a side-table, on which a bottle of water and some tumblers are placed, and returns to BETTEREDGE with a glass of water. RACHEL, at the same moment, pushes BETTEREDGE aside, and takes his place by FRANKLIN.)
Rachel (answering BETTEREDGE). Leave him to Me! Nobody shall touch him but Me! (She kneels over FRANKLIN, resting his head on her knee, and sprinkling his forehead with water from the tumbler which BETTEREDGE receives from CUFF, and holds for her.) Oh Betteredge, he doesn't move, his colour doesn't come back! (ANDREW appears at the hall door, followed by the POLICEMAN with a telegram in his hand.)
Andrew (entering the room). The carriage is at the door, miss.
Rachel. Send the carriage to the town for the doctor. Instantly! Instantly!
Andrew. Yes, miss! (He hurries out. RACHEL resumes her efforts to revive FRANKLIN. BETTEREDGE remains with her. CUFF notices the telegram in the POLICEMAN'S hands.)
Cuff (to the POLICEMAN). For me?
The Policeman. For you. (He hands the telegram to CUFF, and waits.)
Cuff (snapping his fingers in triumph, after a glance at the telegram). I've found the Moonstone! (The curtain falls.)
THE END OF THE SECOND ACT
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THE THIRD ACT Scene: as before. Time: evening, on the same day. The lamps are lit again, and the curtains are drawn over the window on the right, as in Act I. At the rise of the curtain, FRANKLIN, BETTEREDGE, and MR. CANDY are discovered. FRANKLIN is seated at a table, hiding his face in his hands. MR. CANDY stands on one side of him, and BETTEREDGE on the other.
Mr. Candy. Are you quite sure of the facts, Mr. Blake? You have not long recovered from a fainting fit, and your mind may still be a little confused.
Franklin. My mind is perfectly clear. Put me to the test in any way you like.
Mr. Candy. Repeat what you said to me about Miss Rachel just now.
Franklin (repeating it). Rachel told me, with her own lips, that she saw me take the diamond out of the cabinet drawer. And my dressing-gown has the stain of the wet varnish on it to prove that she spoke the truth.
Mr. Candy. And you know absolutely nothing about it yourself?
Franklin. Absolutely nothing. (MR. CANDY pauses and considers with himself. BETTEREDGE addresses him.)
Betteredge. What do you say to that, sir? Solomon himself would be at a loss to put the pieces of the puzzle together!
Mr. Candy (to BETTEREDGE). Was Mr. Blake at all anxious about the safe keeping of the diamond before he went to bed?
Betteredge. Anxious isn't the word, sir. Bothered is the word. Impossible to persuade him that the diamond was safe in the cabinet drawer.
Mr. Candy (suddenly turning to FRANKLIN). Are you composed enough to hear me patiently, Mr. Blake, if I venture on a bold guess?
Franklin (despondently). Say what you like!
Mr. Candy. I say this. You were dreaming of the Moonstone last night, and you took the diamond while you were walking in your sleep.
Franklin (starting up). Walking in my sleep!!!
Betteredge (indignantly). He never did such a thing in his life!
Mr. Candy (quietly). He did it for the first time last night, Mr. Betteredge. I defy you to explain what has happened in any other way.
Franklin. Have you any reason for what you say?
Mr. Candy. I have three reasons. First, the disordered condition of your nervous system. Second, your supper and your grog. Third, a case of somnambulism in my practice, which is in many respects like your case--as I believe it to be.
Franklin. Suppose you are right. What then?
Mr. Candy. If you will assist me, sir, I think I can prove that I am right.
Franklin. Can you find the lost diamond? Can you prove that I took it without knowing what I was about at the time? I am disgraced for life, and through no fault of mine. Betteredge! pack my portmanteau, I shall leave by the night express.
Betteredge. Don't say that, sir! What's the use of leaving us? Where are you going to?
Franklin (irritably). I am going to the devil!
Betteredge. God bless you, sir, go where you may!
Mr. Candy (to FRANKLIN). Decide nothing rashly, Mr. Blake. Let me say to Miss Rachel what I have just said to you. And let her tell us if she saw anything strange in your looks and your movements last night.
Betteredge. I'll fetch her, Master Franklin! She's only giving some orders in the servants'-hall. (He attempts to go out at the back. FRANKLIN stops him.)
Franklin. Rachel has deliberately charged me with stealing her diamond. Nothing will induce me to see her again until my innocence of the theft is a proved fact.
Betteredge. Leave it to me, sir, to tell her what Mr. Candy has said. Let me be the first to ease my dear young mistress's mind!
Franklin (impatiently). Tell your mistress what I have just said, and tell her anything else you like.
Betteredge. Thank you, sir, thank you. (Aside to MR. CANDY.) Make the most of your time with him before Miss Rachel comes in. (He goes out by the hall door.)
Mr. Candy. Your position is not so hopeless as you seem to think it, sir. Will you hear what I have to say?
Franklin. Tell me one thing first. What am I to expect in the future? Am I never to sleep quietly in my bed for the rest of my life?
Mr.