The Moonstone- Play by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)

By Wilkie Collins

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The Moonstone- Play by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Wilkie Collins’.

Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Collins includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.

eBook features:
* The complete unabridged text of ‘The Moonstone- Play by Wilkie Collins - Delphi Classics (Illustrated)’
* Beautifully illustrated with images related to Collins’s works
* Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook
* Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Jul 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9781788770989

Wilkie Collins

Wilkie Collins (January 8, 1824-September 23, 1889) was the author of thirty novels, more than sixty short stories, fourteen plays (including an adaptation of The Moonstone), and more than one hundred nonfiction pieces. His best-known works are The Woman in White, The Moonstone, Armadale, and No Name.

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The Complete Works of

WILKIE COLLINS

VOLUME 38 OF 47

The Moonstone- Play

Parts Edition

By Delphi Classics, 2015

Version 1

COPYRIGHT

‘The Moonstone- Play’

Wilkie Collins: Parts Edition (in 47 parts)

First published in the United Kingdom in 2017 by Delphi Classics.

© Delphi Classics, 2017.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.

ISBN: 978 1 78877 098 9

Delphi Classics

is an imprint of

Delphi Publishing Ltd

Hastings, East Sussex

United Kingdom

Contact: [e-mail]

www.delphiclassics.com

Wilkie Collins: Parts Edition

This eBook is Part 38 of the Delphi Classics edition of Wilkie Collins in 47 Parts. It features the unabridged text of The Moonstone- Play from the bestselling edition of the author’s Complete Works. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. Our Parts Editions feature original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of Wilkie Collins, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily.

Visit here to buy the entire Parts Edition of Wilkie Collins or the Complete Works of Wilkie Collins in a single eBook.

Learn more about our Parts Edition, with free downloads, via this link or browse our most popular Parts here.

WILKIE COLLINS

IN 47 VOLUMES

Parts Edition Contents

The Novels

1, Antonina

2, Basil

3, Hide and Seek

4, A Rogue’s Life

5, The Dead Secret

6, The Woman in White

7, No Name

8, Armadale

9, The Moonstone

10, Man and Wife

11, Poor Miss Finch

12, The New Magdalen

13, The Law and the Lady

14, The Two Destinies

15, The Haunted Hotel

16, The Fallen Leaves

17, Jezebel’s Daughter

18, The Black Robe

19, Heart and Science

20, I Say No

21, The Evil Genius

22, The Guilty River

23, The Legacy of Cain

24, Blind Love

The Short Story Collections

25, After Dark

26, The Queen of Hearts

27, Miss or Mrs.? and Other Stories in Outline

28, The Frozen Deep and Other Stories

29, Little Novels

30, Miscellaneous Short Stories

The Plays

31, The Frozen Deep

32, No Thoroughfare

33, Black and White

34, No Name- Play

35, The Woman in White- Play

36, The New Magdalen- Play

37, Miss Gwilt

38, The Moonstone- Play

The Non-Fiction

39, Memoirs of the Life of William Collins Esq, Ra

40, Rambles Beyond Railways

41, My Miscellanies

42, Miscellaneous Essays and Articles

The Biographies

43, Wilkie Collins’ Charms by Olive Logan

44, Men of Mark: W. Wilkie Collins by Edmund Yates

45, Wilkie Collins by William Teignmouth Shore

46, Extracts from ‘Memories of Half a Century’ by Rudolph Chambers Lehmann

47, Extracts from ‘Life of Charles Dickens’ by John Forster

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The Moonstone- Play

A DRAMATIC STORY IN THREE ACTS.

CONTENTS

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

THE FIRST ACT

THE SECOND ACT

THE THIRD ACT

PERSONS OF THE DRAMA

Franklin Blake.

Godfrey Ablewhite.

Sergeant Cuff.

Betteredge.

Mr. Candy.

Andrew.

A Policeman in Plain Clothes.

Rachel Verinder.

Miss Clack.

Penelope.

SCENE: KENT.

PERIOD: THE PRESENT TIME.

The action of the drama extends over twenty-four hours, and passes entirely in the inner hall of MISS VERINDER’S country-house. At the back of the hall is a long gallery, approached by a flight of stairs, and supposed to lead to the bedchambers of the house. The stairs must be so built that persons can pass backwards and forwards behind them, in the part of the hall which is situated under the gallery. Two of the bedchamber doors, leading respectively into the rooms occupied by FRANKLIN BLAKE and GODFREY ABLEWHITE, are visible to the audience. The other rooms are supposed to be continued off the stage on the left. The entrances are three in number. One, under the gallery, at the back, supposed to lead to the staircase in the outer hall and to the house door. One on the left, at the front of the stage, supposed to lead to RACHEL’S boudoir and bedroom. And one opposite, formed by a large window, which opens to the floor, and which is supposed to lead into a rose-garden. The fireplace is on the left, just above the door leading into RACHEL’S room. The stage directions refer throughout to the right and left of the actors as they front the audience.

THE FIRST ACT

At the rise of the curtain, the lamps hanging from the ceiling are lit in the hall. The time is between eight and nine o’clock in the evening. BETTEREDGE is discovered arranging cold refreshments on a table at the back. He leaves the table and takes a telegram out of his pocket.

Betteredge. There is one great misfortune in the lives of young ladies in general — they have nothing to do. As a natural consequence, their minds shift about like a weathercock; and every change in the wind blows a new botheration in the way of their unfortunate servants. (He opens a telegram.) Here is a proof of it! A week ago, my young mistress telegraphed to me as follows: (He reads the telegram.) Miss Rachel Verinder, London, to Gabriel Betteredge, House Steward, Crowmarsh Hall, Kent. I have made up my mind to pass the rest of the year in town. Cover up the furniture, and set the painters at work. (He speaks.) Very good. I covered up the furniture, and I set the painters to work. (He folds up the telegram, and produces another.) An hour ago comes another telegram. Miss Rachel Verinder, as before, to Gabriel Betteredge, as before. Uncover the furniture, and turn the painters out. I have made up my mind to pass the rest of the year in the country. Expect me by the seven-forty train from London. I shall bring Miss Clack, and my cousin, Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite. Send to Mr. Candy, and ask him to sup with us. (He folds up the second telegram.) Turn out the painters? All very well! Can I turn out the stink the painters have left behind them? There (he points to an open space under the cabinet) are their pots and brushes not cleared away yet. Invite Mr. Candy? Well, there’s some sense in inviting him. He’s the doctor at our town here — and he’ll be nice and handy when the smell of the paint has given the whole party the colic. I’ve sent for Mr. Candy! (PENELOPE hurries in excitedly by the hall door. She is smartly dressed, with gay cap ribbons.) Here’s a whirlwind in petticoats! What’s wrong now, Penelope?

Penelope (breathlessly). Oh, father, such news! A fly has just driven up to the door — and who do you think has come in it? Mr. Franklin Blake!

Betteredge. Mr. Franklin Blake? I remember Master Franklin, the nicest boy that ever spun a top or broke a window. Nonsense, Penelope! It’s too good to be true! (FRANKLIN’S voice is heard outside.)

Franklin. Betteredge!

Betteredge. That’s his voice, sure enough. This way, Mr. Franklin, this way! (FRANKLIN BLAKE enters by the hall door.)

Franklin. Dear old Betteredge, give me your hand! You don’t look a day older since I borrowed seven and sixpence of you the last time I was home for the holidays —

Betteredge. Which seven and sixpence you never have paid me back, Master Franklin, and never will. Welcome home, sir, from foreign parts!

Franklin (noticing PENELOPE). Who’s this? Not Penelope?

Penelope (simpering). I thought you didn’t remember me, sir.

Franklin. Remember you! You promised to be a pretty girl when I remember you, and you have kept your promise. Virtue claims its own reward. (He kisses her.) Betteredge, I am devoured by anxiety. I left the Dover train at Tunbridge on the chance that my cousin Rachel might be here. Have I made a mistake? Is she in London?

Betteredge. You have fallen on your legs, sir. Miss Rachel is coming here to-night.

Franklin. One more question, and my mind will be at ease again. Rachel isn’t married yet, is she?

Penelope (answering before her father can speak).