owever, that there was no difficulty in
the matter. The Messrs. Garnett were able to say that the necklace
had been in their keeping, with various other jewels still in their
possession, from the time of the death of the late Lady Eustace, up
to the marriage of the late Sir Florian, her son. They stated the
date on which the jewels were given up to be the 24th of September,
which was the day after Sir Florian's return from Scotland with his
bride. Lizzie's first statement had coincided with this entry in
the Messrs. Garnett's books; but latterly she had asserted that the
necklace had been given to her in Scotland. When Mr. Camperdown
examined the entry himself in the jewellers' book, he found the
figures to be so blotted that they might represent either the 4th or
24th September. Now, the 4th September had been the day preceding
Sir Florian's marriage. John Eustace only knew that he had seen the
necklace worn in Scotland by his mother. The bishop only knew that
he had often seen them on the neck of his sister-in-law when, as
was very often the case, she appeared in full-blown society. Mr.
Camperdown believed that he had traced two stories to Lizzie,--one,
repeated more than once, that the diamonds had been given to her in
London, and a second, made to himself, that they had been given to
her at Portray. He himself believed that they had never been in
Scotland since the death of the former Lady Eustace; but he was quite
confident that he could trust altogether to the disposition made of
them by the old Sir Florian. There could be no doubt as to these
being the diamonds there described, although the setting had been
altered. Old Mr. Garnett stated that he would swear to them if he saw
the necklace.

"You cannot suppose that Lady Eustace wishes to keep anything that is
not her own," said Frank Greystock.

"Of course not," said John Eustace.

"Nobody imagines it," said Mr. Camperdown. Lord Fawn, who felt that
he ought not to be there, and who did not know whether he might
with a better grace take Lizzie's part or a part against her, said
nothing. "But," continued Mr. Camperdown, "there is luckily no doubt
as to the facts. The diamonds in question formed a part of a set of
most valuable ornaments settled in the family by Sir Florian Eustace
in 1799. The deed was drawn up by my grandfather, and is now here.
I do not know how we are to have further proof. Will you look at
the deed, Mr. Greystock, and at the will?" Frank su