the door leading up to Mr. Camperdown's chambers,
the carriage was already standing there. Lizzie had come up the
stairs, and had been delighted at hearing that Mr. Camperdown was
out, and would be back in a moment. She instantly resolved that
it did not become her to wait. She had kept her appointment, had
not found Mr. Camperdown at home, and would be off as fast as her
carriage-wheels could take her. But, unfortunately, while with a
gentle murmur she was explaining to the clerk how impossible it
was that she should wait for a lawyer who did not keep his own
appointment, John Eustace and Mr. Camperdown appeared upon the
landing, and she was at once convoyed into the attorney's particular
room.

Lizzie, who always dressed well, was now attired as became a lady of
rank, who had four thousand a year, and was the intimate friend of
Lady Glencora Palliser. When last she saw Mr. Camperdown she had
been arrayed for a long, dusty summer journey down to Scotland, and
neither by her outside garniture nor by her manner had she then been
able to exact much admiration. She had been taken by surprise in the
street, and was frightened. Now, in difficulty though she was, she
resolved that she would hold up her head and be very brave. She was
a little taken aback when she saw her brother-in-law, but she strove
hard to carry herself with confidence. "Ah, John," she said, "I did
not expect to find you with Mr. Camperdown."

"I thought it best that I should be here,--as a friend," he said.

"It makes it much pleasanter for me, of course," said Lizzie. "I am
not quite sure that Mr. Camperdown will allow me to regard him as a
friend."

"You have never had any reason to regard me as your enemy, Lady
Eustace," said Mr. Camperdown. "Will you take a seat? I understand
that you wish to state the circumstances under which the Eustace
family diamonds were stolen while they were in your hands."

"My own diamonds, Mr. Camperdown."

"I cannot admit that for a moment, my lady."

"What does it signify?" said Eustace. "The wretched stones are
gone for ever; and whether they were of right the property of my
sister-in-law, or of her son, cannot matter now."

Mr. Camperdown was irritated, and shook his head. It cut him to the
heart that everybody should take the part of the wicked, fraudulent
woman who had caused him such infinite trouble. Lizzie saw her
opportunity and was bolder than ever. "You will never get me to
acknowledge that they were