ow what you mean by that, Lord George."

"Just what you were saying, when you talked of your experiences.
These experiences do surprise one. I have knocked about the world a
great deal, and would have almost said that nothing would surprise
me. You are no more than a child to me, but you have surprised me."

"I hope I have not injured you, Lord George."

"Do you remember how you rode to hounds the day your cousin took that
other man's horse? That surprised me."

"Oh, Lord George, that was the happiest day of my life. How little
happiness there is for people!"

"And when Tewett got that girl to say she'd marry him, the coolness
with which you bore all the abomination of it in your house,--for
people who were nothing to you;--that surprised me!"

"I meant to be so kind to you all."

"And when I found that you always travelled with ten thousand pounds'
worth of diamonds in a box, that surprised me very much. I thought
that you were a very dangerous companion."

"Pray don't talk about the horrid necklace."

"Then came the robbery, and you seemed to lose your diamonds without
being at all unhappy about them. Of course, we understand that now."
On hearing this, Lizzie smiled, but did not say a word. "Then I
perceived that I--I was supposed to be the thief. You--you yourself
couldn't have suspected me of taking the diamonds, because--because
you'd got them, you know, all safe in your pocket. But you might as
well own the truth now. Didn't you think that it was I who stole the
box?"

"I wish it had been you," said Lizzie laughing.

"All that surprised me. The police were watching me every day as a
cat watches a mouse, and thought that they surely had got the thief
when they found that I had dealings with Benjamin. Well; you--you
were laughing at me in your sleeve all the time."

"Not laughing, Lord George."

"Yes, you were. You had got the kernel yourself, and thought that I
had taken all the trouble to crack the nut and had found myself with
nothing but the shell. Then, when you found you couldn't eat the
kernel, that you couldn't get rid of the swag without assistance, you
came to me to help you. I began to think then that you were too many
for all of us. By Jove, I did! Then I heard of the second robbery,
and, of course, I thought you had managed that too."

"Oh, no," said Lizzie

"Unfortunately you didn't; but I thought you did. And you thought
that I had done it! Mr. Benjamin was too clever for us both,