severity of his
demeanour as he asked the question.

"I know nothing about diamonds myself, but that is what they say they
were worth."

"Her leddyship's her ain sell seems nae to ha' been in ain story
aboot the box, Muster Greystock?" But Frank could not stand to be
cross-questioned on this delicate matter, and walked off, saying that
as the thieves had not yet been tried for the robbery, the less said
about it the better.

At four o'clock on that afternoon he had not seen Lizzie, and then
he received a message from her to the effect that she was still
so unwell from the fatigue of her journey that she could bear no
one with her but her child. She hoped that her cousin was quite
comfortable, and that she might be able to see him after breakfast
on the following day. But Frank was determined to leave Portray very
early on the following day, and therefore wrote a note to his cousin.
He begged that she would not disturb herself, that he would leave the
castle the next morning before she could be up, and that he had only
further to remind her that she must come up to London at once as
soon as she should be summoned for the trial of Mr. Benjamin and his
comrade. It had seemed to Frank that she had almost concluded that
her labours connected with that disagreeable matter were at an end.
"The examination may be long, and I will attend you if you wish it,"
said her cousin. Upon receiving this she thought it expedient to come
down to him, and there was an interview for about a quarter of an
hour in her own little sitting-room looking out upon the sea. She
had formed a project, and at once suggested it to him. If she found
herself ill when the day of the trial came, could they make her go up
and give her evidence? Frank told her that they could, and that they
would. She was very clever about it. "They couldn't go back to what
I said at Carlisle, you know; because they already have made me tell
all that myself." As she had been called upon to criminate herself,
she could not now be tried for the crime. Frank, however, would not
listen to this, and told her that she must come. "Very well, Frank. I
know you like to have your own way. You always did. And you think so
little of my feelings! I shall make inquiry, and if I must,--why I
suppose I must."

"You'd better make up your mind to come."

"Very well. And now, Frank, as I am so very tired, if you please I'll
say good-bye to you. I am very much obliged to you for coming wi