Billy Cann; and the
transfer of the diamonds by Mr. Benjamin to the man who recut them at
Hamburg was also proved. Many other morsels of collateral evidence
had also been picked up by the police,--so that there was no possible
doubt as to any detail of the affair in Hertford Street. There was a
rumour that Mr. Benjamin intended to plead guilty. He might, perhaps,
have done so had it not been for the absence of Lady Eustace; but as
that was thought to give him a possible chance of escape, he stood
his ground.

Lizzie's absence was a great disappointment to the sight-seers of
London, but nevertheless the court was crowded. It was understood
that the learned serjeant who was retained on this occasion to defend
Mr. Benjamin, and who was assisted by the acute gentleman who had
appeared before the magistrate, would be rather severe upon Lady
Eustace, even in her absence; and that he would ground his demand for
an acquittal on the combined facts of her retention of the diamonds,
her perjury, and of her obstinate refusal to come forward on the
present occasion. As it was known that he could be very severe, many
came to hear him,--and they were not disappointed. The reader shall
see a portion of his address to the jury,--which we hope may have
had some salutary effect on Lizzie, as she read it in her retreat at
Portray, looking out upon her own blue waves.

"And now, gentlemen of the jury, let me recapitulate to you the
history of this lady as far as it relates to the diamonds as to which
my client is now in jeopardy. You have heard on the testimony of Mr.
Camperdown that they were not hers at all,--that, at any rate, they
were not supposed to be hers by those in whose hands was left the
administration of her husband's estate, and that when they were first
supposed to have been stolen at the inn at Carlisle, he had already
commenced legal steps for the recovery of them from her clutches. A
bill in Chancery had been filed because she had obstinately refused
to allow them to pass out of her hands. It has been proved to you
by Lord Fawn that though he was engaged to marry her, he broke his
engagement because he supposed her possession of these diamonds to be
fraudulent and dishonest." This examination had been terrible to the
unfortunate Under-Secretary;--and had absolutely driven him away from
the India Board and from Parliament for a month. "It has been proved
to you that when the diamonds were supposed to have vanished at
Car