ople's property being
confiscated to the Crown when they had been made out to be guilty of
certain great offences. Oh, how she wished that she had a rock!

When three o'clock came she had not started for Scotland or
elsewhere, and at last she received the major. Could she have
thoroughly trusted the servant, she would have denied herself at
the last moment, but she feared that she might be betrayed, and she
thought that her position would be rendered even worse than it was
at present by a futile attempt. She was sitting alone, pale, haggard,
trembling, when Major Mackintosh was shown into her room. It may be
as well explained at once that, at this moment, the major knew, or
thought that he knew, every circumstance of the two robberies, and
that his surmises were in every respect right. Miss Crabstick and
Mr. Cann were in comfortable quarters, and were prepared to tell all
that they could tell. Mr. Smiler was in durance, and Mr. Benjamin was
at Vienna, in the hands of the Austrian police, who were prepared
to give him up to those who desired his society in England, on the
completion of certain legal formalities. That Mr. Benjamin and Mr.
Smiler would be prosecuted, the latter for the robbery and the former
for conspiracy to rob, and for receiving stolen goods, was a matter
of course. But what was to be done with Lady Eustace? That, at the
present moment, was the prevailing trouble with the police. During
the last three weeks every precaution had been taken to keep the
matter secret, and it is hardly too much to say that Lizzie's
interests were handled not only with consideration but with
tenderness.

"Lady Eustace," said the major, "I am very sorry to trouble you. No
doubt the man who called on you this morning explained to you who I
am."

"Oh yes, I know who you are,--quite well." Lizzie made a great effort
to speak without betraying her consternation; but she was nearly
prostrated. The major, however, hardly observed her, and was by no
means at ease himself in his effort to save her from unnecessary
annoyance. He was a tall, thin, gaunt man of about forty, with large,
good-natured eyes;--but it was not till the interview was half over
that Lizzie took courage to look even into his face.

"Just so; I am come, you know, about the robbery which took place
here,--and the other robbery at Carlisle."

"I have been so troubled about these horrid robberies! Sometimes I
think they'll be the death of me."

"I think, Lad