The Moonstone Second Period, Third Narrative, Chapters V–VII Summary & Analysis

Summary

Second Period, Third Narrative, Chapter V

Jennings has briefly made an impression on Franklin. Meanwhile, Betteredge turns back to Rosanna's letter and finishes reading it in silence.

Rosanna describes how she then tried to speak with Franklin several more times. She hid in the shrubbery to wait for him, but she saw him notice her and then turn and walk the other way. Here Franklin includes a footnote stating that, indeed, Rosanna was mistaken—he never saw her. Rosanna's letter continues, stating how she was questioned by Sergeant Cuff and then how she realized she had to hide the nightgown. She went to the Yollands' to write this letter and gather the materials to hide the gown. The letter ends by saying that she will try to speak to Franklin once more before he leaves the house, and if he is still cruel then she will commit suicide.

Betteredge spares Franklin the guilt he will feel as a result of the end of Rosanna's letter and tells him only that she states no more clues. Betteredge gives Franklin the letter to read later and warns him that it will be distressing. Franklin, at the time of writing, has read the letter and feels remorse at having (unknowingly) repelled the advances she had made toward him.

Second Period, Third Narrative, Chapter VI

On the way to the railroad station, Franklin asks Betteredge two questions: "Was I drunk on the night of Rachel's Birthday?"; and "Did you ever discover me walking in my sleep [as a boy]?" Betteredge answers no to both questions, realizing that Franklin is trying to account for how he could have taken the diamond without knowing it. Betteredge reminds Franklin that the diamond has been pledged to Mr. Luker in London and that Franklin couldn't have done all of that without remembering he had done so.

At the station, Franklin notices Ezra Jennings at a newspaper stand. The two men raise hats to each other as Franklin gets on the train to London. In London, Franklin takes the letter to Mr. Bruff, who reads it and reasons that Rachel, too, believes Franklin has stolen the diamond. Bruff resolves that Rachel must finally be questioned. Bruff suspects, that if Rachel suspects Franklin on the evidence of the nightgown only, Rosanna Spearman has framed him. Bruff asks Franklin if he had done anything to make his character seem questionable to Rachel, and Franklin confesses that a creditor had sought him out at Lady Verinder's and made his debts seem worse than they were. Rachel had overheard and chastised him.

Bruff and Franklin decide that Bruff will set up a visit for Rachel to his house, and Franklin will meet with her then and question her about her suspicions of him. Two days later, Bruff calls on him to tell him the visit has been arranged for the afternoon. In the meantime, Franklin opens a letter from Betteredge, stating that Ezra Jennings had reported seeing Franklin in the rail station and that Mr. Candy had expressed a desire to speak with him.

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