I beg it to be understood that what I write here about my cousin (unlesssome necessity should arise for making it public) is for the informationof the family only. Herncastle has said nothing that can justify me inspeaking to our commanding officer. He has been taunted more than onceabout the Diamond, by those who recollect his angry outbreak beforethe assault; but, as may easily be imagined, his own remembrance of thecircumstances under which I surprised him in the armoury has beenenough to keep him silent. It is reported that he means to exchange intoanother regiment, avowedly for the purpose of separating himself fromME.
Whether this be true or not, I cannot prevail upon myself to become hisaccuser--and I think with good reason. If I made the matter public, Ihave no evidence but moral evidence to bring forward. I have not only noproof that he killed the two men at the door; I cannot even declare thathe killed the third man inside--for I cannot say that my own eyes sawthe deed committed. It is true that I heard the dying Indian's words;but if those words were pronounced to be the ravings of delirium,how could I contradict the assertion from my own knowledge? Let ourrelatives, on either side, form their own opinion on what I havewritten, and decide for themselves whether the aversion I now feeltowards this man is well or ill founded.
Although I attach no sort of credit to the fantastic Indian legend ofthe gem, I must acknowledge, before I conclude, that I am influenced bya certain superstition of my own in this matter. It is my conviction,or my delusion, no matter which, that crime brings its own fatality withit. I am not only persuaded of Herncastle's guilt; I am even fancifulenough to believe that he will live to regret it, if he keeps theDiamond; and that others will live to regret taking it from him, if hegives the Diamond away.
THE STORY
FIRST PERIOD
THE LOSS OF THE DIAMOND (1848)
The events related by GABRIEL BETTEREDGE, house-steward in the serviceof JULIA, LADY VERINDER.