eeded to convict the thieves, and she could
not be prosecuted for perjury when once she had been asked for
her evidence. "After all, she has only told a fib about her own
property," said the Turtle Dove. "About property not her own,"
replied Mr. Camperdown stoutly. "Her own,--till the contrary shall
have been proved; her own, for all purposes of defence before a jury,
if she were prosecuted now. Were she tried for the perjury, your
attempt to obtain possession of the diamonds would be all so much in
her favour." With infinite regrets, Mr. Camperdown began to perceive
that nothing could be done to her.

But she was to come to him and let him know, from her own lips,
facts of which nothing more than rumour had yet reached him.
He had commenced his bill in Chancery, and had hitherto stayed
proceedings simply because it had been reported,--falsely, as it
now appeared,--that the diamonds had been stolen at Carlisle. Major
Mackintosh, in his desire to use Lizzie's evidence against the
thieves, had recommended her to tell the whole truth openly to those
who claimed the property on behalf of her husband's estate; and now,
for the first time in her life, this odious woman was to visit him in
his own chambers.

He did not think it expedient to receive her alone. He consulted
his mentor, Mr. Dove, and his client, John Eustace, and the latter
consented to be present. It was suggested to Mr. Dove that he might,
on so peculiar an occasion as this, venture to depart from the
established rule, and visit the attorney on his own quarter-deck;
but he smiled, and explained that, though he was altogether superior
to any such prejudice as that, and would not object at all to call
on his friend, Mr. Camperdown, could any good effect arise from his
doing so, he considered that, were he to be present on this occasion,
he would simply assist in embarrassing the poor lady.

On this very morning, while Mrs. Carbuncle was abusing Lizzie in
Hertford Street, John Eustace and Mr. Camperdown were in Mr. Dove's
chambers, whither they had gone to tell him of the coming interview.
The Turtle Dove was sitting back in his chair, with his head leaning
forward as though it were going to drop from his neck, and the two
visitors were listening to his words. "Be merciful, I should say,"
suggested the barrister. John Eustace was clearly of opinion that
they ought to be merciful. Mr. Camperdown did not look merciful.
"What can you get by harassing the poor, we