Taken From an Old Family Letter
I am writing to my family to explain why I am no longer my cousin's friend, and to end the misunderstanding my silence has caused.
My disagreement with my cousin, John Herncastle, began in India in 1791, during the capture of the town of Seringapatam under General Baird. before the battle camp was alive with talk of gold and jewels in the Palace of Seringapatam, and particularly of a huge yellow diamond. Ancient Indian writings describe the diamond, know as the Moonstone, whose place was originally in the forehead of the Hindu God the Moon.
In the eleventh century a golden temple was built for the Mood-God in the holy city of Benares. the god Vishnu appeared in a dream to the three priests who guared the diamond. he ordered that it should continue to be guarded by three priests, night and day until the end of time. Vishnu foresaw disaster for anyone who might take the holy stone, disaster for his family and for all those who received it after him.
For centuries, three priests kept watch over the Moonstone until, in the early eighteenth century, the temple was destroyed by a Muslim army. Their leader, Arungzebe, broke up the Moon-God and took the jewel. Powerless to get back their holy treasure by force, the priests followed the Muslim army, watching and waiting.
Many years went by, Arungzebe died in a terrible death, and the Moonstone passed (carrying disaster with it) from one unlucky hand to another, always accompanied by three priests, waiting for their chance. In 1794, the Sultan of Seringapatam fitted the jewel into the handle of one of his ceremonial knives. Unknown to him, three Hindus, disguised as servants, were keeping watch in his palace.
The night before the attack I and officers laughed at my cousin when he became angry with us for not taking the story seriously.
We entered the palace at dusk the next day, The day's fighting had whipped my cousin into an excitement close to madness. i was sent to stop soldiers stealing gold and jewels. While I was trying to control the men I heard terrible screams. Rushing through a door I saw two Indians lying dead and a third, badly wounded, falling beside Herncastle who held a long knife, dripping with blood. A large precious stone in the handle flashed as he turned to me. 'The Moonstone will have its revenge on you and your family!' cried the Indian before dying. Herncastle turned to me, laughing like a madman, staring at the jewel. soldiers came in. 'Clear the room!' he shouted. I did so and left immediately, horrified by what I had seen.
