“Very good, sir.  We’ll say you were drunk, or walking in your sleep, when you took the jewel.  That accounts for the night and morning, after the birthday.  But how does it account for what has happened since that time?  The Diamond has been taken to London, since that time.  The Diamond has been pledged to Mr. Luker, since that time.  Did you do those two things, without knowing it, too?  Were you drunk when I saw you off in the pony-chaise on that Saturday evening?  And did you walk in your sleep to Mr. Luker’s, when the train had brought you to your journey’s end?  Excuse me for saying it, Mr. Franklin, but this business has so upset you, that you’re not fit yet to judge for yourself.  The sooner you lay your head alongside Mr. Bruff’s head, the sooner you will see your way out of the dead-lock that has got you now.”

We reached the station, with only a minute or two to spare.

I hurriedly gave Betteredge my address in London, so that he might write to me, if necessary; promising, on my side, to inform him of any news which I might have to communicate.  This done, and just as I was bidding him farewell, I happened to glance towards the book-and-newspaper stall.  There was Mr. Candy’s remarkable-looking assistant again, speaking to the keeper of the stall!  Our eyes met at the same moment.  Ezra Jennings took off his hat to me.  I returned the salute, and got into a carriage just as the train started.  It was a relief to my mind, I suppose, to dwell on any subject which appeared to be, personally, of no sort of importance to me.  At all events, I began the momentous journey back which was to take me to Mr. Bruff, wondering—­absurdly enough, I admit—­that I should have seen the man with the piebald hair twice in one day!

The hour at which I arrived in London precluded all hope of my finding Mr. Bruff at his place of business.  I drove from the railway to his private residence at Hampstead, and disturbed the old lawyer dozing alone in his dining-room, with his favourite pug-dog on his lap, and his bottle of wine at his elbow.

I shall best describe the effect which my story produced on the mind of Mr. Bruff by relating his proceedings when he had heard it to the end.  He ordered lights, and strong tea, to be taken into his study; and he sent a message to the ladies of his family, forbidding them to disturb us on any pretence whatever.  These preliminaries disposed of, he first examined the nightgown, and then devoted himself to the reading of Rosanna Spearman’s letter.

The reading completed, Mr. Bruff addressed me for the first time since we had been shut up together in the seclusion of his own room.

“Franklin Blake,” said the old gentleman, “this is a very serious matter, in more respects than one.  In my opinion, it concerns Rachel quite as nearly as it concerns you.  Her extraordinary conduct is no mystery now.  She believes you have stolen the Diamond.”

I had shrunk from reasoning my own way fairly to that revolting conclusion.  But it had forced itself on me, nevertheless.  My resolution to obtain a personal interview with Rachel, rested really and truly on the ground just stated by Mr. Bruff.