his manner and his language, she was quite aware that he
was in pursuit of her money. And from the moment in which she first
understood his object, she was resolved that she would never become
the wife of Mr. Emilius as long as there was a hope as to Frank
Greystock.

"I was told, Mr. Emilius," she said, "that some time since you used
to have a wife."

"It was a falsehood, Lady Eustace. From motives of pure charity I
gave a home to a distant cousin. I was then in a land of strangers,
and my life was misinterpreted. I made no complaint, but sent the
lady back to her native country. My compassion could supply her wants
there as well as here."

"Then you still support her?"

Mr. Emilius bethought himself for a moment. There might be danger
in asserting that he was subject to such an encumbrance. "I did do
so," he answered, "till she found a congenial home as the wife of an
honest man."

"Oh, indeed. I'm quite glad to hear that."

"And now, Lady Eustace, may I venture to hope for a favourable
answer?"

Upon this, Lizzie made him a speech as long and almost as well-turned
as his own. Her heart had of late been subject to many vicissitudes.
She had lost the dearest husband that a woman had ever worshipped.
She had ventured, for purposes with reference to her child which she
could not now explain, to think once again of matrimony with a man
of high rank, but who had turned out to be unworthy of her. She had
receded;--Lizzie, as she said this, acted the part of receding with a
fine expression of scornful face;--and after that she was unwilling
to entertain any further idea of marriage. Upon hearing this, Mr.
Emilius bowed low, and before the street-door was closed against him
had begun to calculate how much a journey to Scotland would cost him.

CHAPTER LXXIV

Lizzie at the Police-Court

On the Wednesday and Thursday Lizzie had been triumphant; for she had
certainly come out unscathed from Mr. Camperdown's chambers, and a
lady may surely be said to triumph when a gentleman lays his hand,
his heart, his fortunes, and all that he has got, at her feet. But
when the Friday came, though she was determined to be brave, her
heart did sink within her bosom. She understood well that she would
be called upon to admit in public the falseness of the oaths she had
sworn upon two occasions; and that, though she would not be made
amenable to any absolute punishment for her perjury, she would be
subject to very damaging