"And my father, as the wicked Colonel's executor, has given it in charge to me to bring down here." If the sea, then oozing in smoothly over the Shivering Sand, had been changed into dry land before my own eyes, I doubt if I could have been more surprised than I was when Mr.Franklin spoke those words.
"The Colonel's Diamond left to Miss Rachel!" says I."And your father, sir, the Colonel's executor! Why, I would have laid any bet you like, Mr.Franklin, that your father wouldn't have touched the Colonel with a pair of tongs!" "Strong language, Betteredge! What was there against the Colonel.

He belonged to your time, not to mine.

Tell me what you know about him, and I'll tell you how my father came to be his executor, and more besides.
I have made some discoveries in London about my uncle Herncastle and his Diamond, which have rather an ugly look to my eyes; and I want you to confirm them.

You called him the 'wicked Colonel' just now.

Search your memory, my old friend, and tell me why." I saw he was in earnest, and I told him.
Here follows the substance of what I said, written out entirely for your benefit.