Wilkie Collins
The Moonstone
Classic Books Press
The Moonstone
Wilkie Collins
English · 1868 · Fiction
Wilkie Collins's novel investigates the theft of a sacred Indian diamond through multiple narrators, read as one of the first full-length detective novels in English.
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Contents
Prologue: The Storming of Seringapatam (1799) First Period: The Loss of the Diamond (1848) Chapter I In the first part of Robinson Crusoe, at page one hundred and… Chapter II I spoke of my lady a line or two back. Now the Diamond could never… Chapter III The question of how I am to start the story properly I have tried to… Chapter IV I am truly sorry to detain you over me and my beehive chair. A sleepy… Chapter V The first thing I did, after we were left together alone, was to make… Chapter VI Keeping my private sentiments to myself, I respectfully requested Mr.… Chapter VII While I was in this bewildered frame of mind, sorely needing a little… Chapter VIII Here, for one moment, I find it necessary to call a halt. Chapter IX June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled… Chapter X One on the top of the other the rest of the company followed the… Chapter XI When the last of the guests had driven away, I went back into the… Chapter XII The Thursday night passed, and nothing happened. With the Friday… Chapter XIII I found my lady in her own sitting room. She started and looked… Chapter XIV The nearest way to the garden, on going out of my lady’s… Chapter XV The Sergeant remained silent, thinking his own thoughts, till we… Chapter XVI We found my lady with no light in the room but the reading-lamp. The… Chapter XVII Nothing happened in the night; and (I am happy to add) no attempt at… Chapter XVIII Going down to the front door, I met the Sergeant on the steps. Chapter XIX The news of Rosanna’s disappearance had, as it appeared, spread among… Chapter XX Those in front had spread the news before us. We found the servants… Chapter XXI The first words, when we had taken our seats, were spoken by my lady. Chapter XXII My mistress having left us, I had leisure to think of Sergeant Cuff.… Chapter XXIII I had kept the pony chaise ready, in case Mr. Franklin persisted in… First Narrative Chapter I I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had… Chapter II Mr. Godfrey followed the announcement of his name—as Mr. Godfrey does… Chapter III Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I… Chapter IV The signing of the will was a much shorter matter than I had… Chapter V My hand dropped from the curtain. But don’t suppose—oh, don’t… Chapter VI (Signed) Drusilla Clack] ::: ::: Chapter VII The foregoing correspondence will sufficiently explain why no choice… Chapter VIII “I have lost a beautiful girl, an excellent social position, and a… Second Narrative Chapter I My fair friend, Miss Clack, having laid down the pen, there are two… Chapter II The next thing I have to do, is to present such additional… Chapter III The prominent personage among the guests at the dinner party I found… Third Narrative Chapter I In the spring of the year eighteen hundred and forty-nine I was… Chapter II “Betteredge!” I said, pointing to the well-remembered book on his… Chapter III I have only the most indistinct recollection of what happened at… Chapter IV I have not a word to say about my own sensations. Chapter V Having told me the name of Mr. Candy’s assistant, Betteredge appeared… Chapter VI I walked to the railway station accompanied, it is needless to say… Chapter VII At the moment when I showed myself in the doorway, Rachel rose from… Chapter VIII Late that evening, I was surprised at my lodgings by a visit from Mr.… Chapter IX The doctor’s pretty housemaid stood waiting for me, with the street… Chapter X How the interval of suspense in which I was now condemned might have… Fourth Narrative Fifth Narrative Sixth Narrative Chapter I To Franklin Blake, Esq. Sir—I beg to apologise for the delay that has… Chapter II It appears to be established, beyond any reasonable doubt, that he… Chapter III The side turned up to the public view, presented the spectacle of a… Chapter IV Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite had two modest proposals to make, in relation… Chapter V Mr. Luker believed the story to be, as to all main essentials… Seventh Narrative Eighth Narrative Epilogue: The Finding of the Diamond I: The Statement of Sergeant Cuff’s Man (1849) II: The Statement of the Captain (1849) III: The Statement of Mr. Murthwaite (1850)
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